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Re: Idol worshipping in Sikhism: Sikhism a distinct bead in the Hindu necklace?
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To: soc-religion-hindu@uunet.uu.net
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Subject: Re: Idol worshipping in Sikhism: Sikhism a distinct bead in the Hindu necklace?
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From: rajwi@bu.edu (Rajwinder Singh)
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Date: 18 Jan 1996 11:14:25 GMT
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Newsgroups: soc.religion.hindu
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Organization: Karmee aapo aapNee ke neRai ke door(i)||
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References: <4d2a1v$6of@babbage.ece.uc.edu>
Rajiv Varma (rvarma@stallion.jsums.edu) wrote:
>Here Guru Gobind Singh ji seems to be advocating worshipping his own
>portrait. Isn't it Idol worshipping? [Emphasis mine]
It should be noted that the text quoted by Mr Varma is NOT Guru
Gobind Singh ji's own bani [words], but a writing of somebody
else.
Guru Gobind Singh ji unambiguously forbids Sikhs to worship
his pictures, idols etc. The only thing to worship in Sikhism
is the Shabad Guru, i.e. the message contained in Guru Granth
Sahib, and God. From Guru Gobind Singh ji's bani, here is an excerpt:
: Jo hum ko Parmasar Uchar Hai
: Ta Sub Narakh Khund May Per Hai
: The reference is PARCHATAK NATAK, Akal Purakh Baj Chopai, Slok 32
The translation is: Those who call me God, will go straight into
hell.
Guru Gobind Singh was unambiguous about idol worship: none is
allowed to his Sikhs. Sikhs are to bow only to the Guru and to God.
His Hukamnamahs ["orders" to Sikh sangats] make these statements
forbidding worship of idols and his own pictures explicitly.
It will be appreciated if Mr Varma desists from making outrageous claims
about Guru Gobind Singh ji and Sikhs, based entirely on second-hand
writings. He should have the courtesy to mention that the text he quotes
is _NOT_ Gurbani, and that since it is saying something which is
actually against the teachings and words of Guru Gobind Singh, it is
irrelevant to Sikhs. Mr. Varma is most welcome to discuss the real thing,
Gurbani.
As an analogy, I can write today that Jesus was a worshipper of Lord
Krishna. 200 years from now, someone can do what Mr Varma did. I do not
think Christians will appreciate that.
>|| Chopai ||
>-- Sri Guru Panth Prakash (Pattharchhapa), Bisram 13 (Amritsar Edition)
Panth Prakash is NOT the writing of any of the Sikh Gurus, nor is it
a part of Guru Granth Sahib.
>Earlier I had quoted a Sikh historical text, indicating that once at
>Harmandir Sahib stood an Idol of Maha Vishnu.
To brand something "Sikh historical text" is a very subjective thing.
It is true that there were idols in Harimandir Sahib at one time
[which, by the way, is AFTER 1708, when Guru Gobind Singh
passed away. He was the last human Guru.] These idols were placed by
the caretakers of Harimandir Sahib, in violation of Guru's command.
Popular Sikh movements successfully regained the control from the
mahants [caretakers] and restored the proper Sikh routines in
Harimandir Sahib.
Mr varma is welcome to disucss Sikhism. However, as a Sikh I will appreciate
if keeps his deconstructionist agenda out of the tranquil soc.religio.*
newsgroups. This post is meant to caution s.r.hinduism readers about
the employment of second hand irrelevant accounts by Mr Varma. It is
everyone's loss on soc.religion.hinduism if we argue on the basis of
strawmen arguments.
Gur Fateh
Rajwinder Singh http://photon.bu.edu/~rajwi/sikhism/
A Sikh; not a Hindu, Muslim, Christian etc.