Say no to Guru's pictures

[gurdeepsinghjohal]

Guru Nanak Sahib having mala in his hand.

Bhai Mardana and Bala.

Most of the historians says Bhai Mardana accompanied Guru Nanak Sahib in all the udassis.

[luckysingh99]

Did you know that most people when trying to meditate use that picture above on the left or Sobha SIngh's famous depiction to help them focus on Waheguru !

[gurdeepsinghjohal]

Who teaches these kind of things to sikhs.

Did you know that most people when trying to meditate use that picture above on the left or Sobha SIngh's famous depiction to help them focus on Waheguru !

[luckysingh99]

No one, this is what most people do when trying to meditate or just do some simran with focus.

It was something I read on some survey on another site some time ago !

I remember that there is an actual shabad and pangti that states this and I will try and find it.

see below-

ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਧਿਆਨੁ ॥
Gur kī mūraṯ man mėh ḏẖi▫ān.
Meditate on the image of the Guru within your mind

[GPS]

Guru Nanak Sahib having mala in his hand.

Bhai Mardana and Bala.

Most of the historians says Bhai Mardana accompanied Guru Nanak Sahib in all the udassis.

This is a typical missionary post. What is wrong with mala?

Are you telling us that Bhai Bala never existed. Speak clearly

Who teaches these kind of things to sikhs.

Gurdip

Do you do meditation.Pl tell us procedure of doing meditation.

[gurdeepsinghjohal]

Bala was not with Guru Sahib in udassi.

Mala to remember god, I do not think it is required.

[GPS]

Bala was not with Guru Sahib in udassi.

Mala to remember god, I do not think it is required.

Bala was not with Guru Sahib in udassi.

Mala to remember god, I do not think it is required.

If he was not in udassi with guru sahib that does not mean he was not there.

What is wrong with mala? Does mala not for concentration? Where it is written that mala is forbidden.Give ref.

[gurdeepsinghjohal]

Core message you should understand.

ਆਸਾ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥

Aasaa, Fifth Mehl:

ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਅਖਰ ਦੁਇ ਇਹ ਮਾਲਾ ॥

Har Har Akhar Dhue Eih Maalaa ||

These two words, Har, Har, make up my maalaa.

ਜਪਤ ਜਪਤ ਭਏ ਦੀਨ ਦਇਆਲਾ ॥੧॥

Japath Japath Bheae Dheen Dhaeiaalaa ||1||

Continually chanting and reciting this rosary, God has become merciful to me, His humble servant. ||1||

ਕਰਉ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਅਪੁਨੀ ॥

Karo Baenathee Sathigur Apunee ||

I offer my prayer to the True Guru.

ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਰਾਖਹੁ ਸਰਣਾਈ ਮੋ ਕਉ ਦੇਹੁ ਹਰੇ ਹਰਿ ਜਪਨੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Kar Kirapaa Raakhahu Saranaaee Mo Ko Dhaehu Harae Har Japanee ||1|| Rehaao ||

Shower Your Mercy upon me, and keep me safe in Your Sanctuary; please, give me the maalaa, the rosary of Har, Har. ||1||Pause||

ਹਰਿ ਮਾਲਾ ਉਰ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਧਾਰੈ ॥

Har Maalaa Our Anthar Dhhaarai ||

One who enshrines this rosary of the Lord's Name within his heart,

ਜਨਮ ਮਰਣ ਕਾ ਦੂਖੁ ਨਿਵਾਰੈ ॥੨॥

Janam Maran Kaa Dhookh Nivaarai ||2||

Is freed of the pains of birth and death. ||2||

ਹਿਰਦੈ ਸਮਾਲੈ ਮੁਖਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਬੋਲੈ ॥

Hiradhai Samaalai Mukh Har Har Bolai ||

The humble being who contemplates the Lord within his heart, and chants the Lord's Name, Har, Har, with his mouth,

ਸੋ ਜਨੁ ਇਤ ਉਤ ਕਤਹਿ ਨ ਡੋਲੈ ॥੩॥

So Jan Eith Outh Kathehi N Ddolai ||3||

Never wavers, here or hereafter. ||3||

ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਜੋ ਰਾਚੈ ਨਾਇ ॥

Kahu Naanak Jo Raachai Naae ||

Says Nanak, one who is imbued with the Name,

ਹਰਿ ਮਾਲਾ ਤਾ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਜਾਇ ॥੪॥੧੯॥੭੦॥

Har Maalaa Thaa Kai Sang Jaae ||4||19||70||

Goes to the next world with the maalaa of the Lord's Name. ||4||19||70||

[VanHelsingh]

Veerji I agree with that and very nicely said. But people do bow to these paintings and do the whole toof bati etc to them. In our Gurdwara Sahibs we have these paintings up in Darbar Sahibs so how can we condone these blind rituals? Why do we need a painting to help us focus as some have said when we have Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaaj sampuran satguru right in front of us?

I completely agree. I wouldn't be surprised if there's some Sikhs who aren't aware of the 'no idolatry' rule for Sikhs. I do think these basics need to be explained to the general sangat whenever there are huge diwaans and get-togethers in our Gurghars. The assumption that most people are aware of these issues is a rather dangerous one IMO.

Pictures for admiration and general interest, YES. Pictures for worship, NO.

[jandialvi]

On my trip to Punjab this year i saw so many people blindly doing matha tek to trees.

Granted our guru sahibs might of rested or even planted them but if that is the case then these people should be doing matha tek every 2 meters as surely our guru sahibs must of been there or in the vicinity.

When i tell people that what they are doing is wrong they either ignore me and carry on or start preaching that they are a better Sikh than i am, maybe as i am a mona.

As far as im concerned get the basics right.

The majority of the time this wrong bowing down is either for show or plain ignorance