LONDON, UK—On Saturday 28th January a controversial event was held at Sri Guru Singh Sabha London East (SSLE). The ‘Akali Darbar’ was organised by “East London Guru Ke Fauj and SSLE Youth committee”, the former an unheard of entity among the Sangat of East London and the latter the unelected youth committee of the Gurdwara, who’s current membership and selection process is unknown.
A video of the event has been circulating among social media and has understandably caused an enormous deal of outrage and upset amongst the UK sangat. A group of individuals can be seen standing in front of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee, reciting the Aarti-Aarta bani. During the reading of this bani, an individual in the sangat (in fact a member of the SSLE Youth committee) can clearly be seen holding and waving a thaali (ceremonial platter) bedecked with joats (candles) infront of the holy saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee.
Clearly the above description is more reminiscent of Hindu rituals to be seen in a Mandir as opposed to Sikh worship found in a Gurdwara. The hurt sangat of East London say they have been left questioning how these outsiders, unknown to the local sangat, were able to come and change the maryada of their Gurdwara by introducing a ceremony that had never taken place before, without consulting with any of the regular members of sangat.
In actual fact, such a ritual is a gross contravention of the Akal Takht’s Sikh Rehat Maryada (SRM);
“ਸ) ਉਪਰ ਦੱਸੇ ਸਾਮਾਨ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ ਧੂਪ ਜਾਂ ਦੀਵੇ ਮਚਾ ਕੇ ਆਰਤੀ ਕਰਨੀ, ਭੋਗ ਲਾਉਣਾ, ਜੋਤਾਂ ਜਗਾਉਣੀਆਂ, ਟੱਲ ਖੜਕਾਉਣੇ ਆਦਿ ਕਰਮ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਨਹੀਂ[ ਹਾਂ, ਸਥਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਸੁਗੰਧਿਤ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਫੁੱਲ, ਧੂਪ ਆਦਿ ਸੁਗੰਧੀਆਂ ਵਰਤਣੀਆਂ ਵਿਵਰਜਿਤ ਨਹੀਂ[ ਕਮਰੇ ਅੰਦਰ ਰੌਸ਼ਨੀ ਲਈ ਤੇਲ,ਘੀ ਜਾਂ ਮੋਮਬੱਤੀ, ਬਿਜਲੀ, ਲੈਂਪ ਆਦਿ ਜਗਾ ਲੈਣੇ ਚਾਹੀਦੇ ਹਨ |
- Anything except the afore-mentioned reverential ceremonies, for instance, such practices as the Aarti (waving of a platter with burning lamps and incense set in it in vertical circular motion) with burning incense and lamps, offerings of eatables to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, burning of lights, beating of gongs, etc., is contrary to Gurmat (the Guru’s way). However, for the perfuming of the place, the use of flowers, incense and scent is not barred. For light inside the room, oil or butter-oil lamps, candles, electric lamps, kerosene oil lamps, etc., may he lighted.”
Eminent Sikh scholar and saint, Sant Baba Gurbachan Singh Jee Bhindranwale (Damdami Taksal) has this to say on the issue:
ਆਰਤੀ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਬੈਠ ਕੇ ਪੜਨੇ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਕਰਨਾ ਹੀ ਯੋਗ ਹੈ।ਥਾਲ ਵਿਚ ਦੀਵੇ ਬਾਲ ਕੇ ਆਰਤੀ ਦਾ ਖੰਡਨ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਾਂ ਨੇ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ।
“It is best to sit and sing Shabads of Aarti. Doing Aarti with lighted lamps in plates has been rejected by Satguru Ji.” (Gurbani Paath Darpan)
Even a cursory glance at the opening shabad of the Aarti prayer itself, (Dhanasari M:1 Aarti) leaves no doubt as to the intention of this prayer as a total condemnation of the Hindu ritual which makes use of the steel thaali and lamps. Guru Nanak Dev Jee’s message in this shabad is clear; that the only true Aarti of the lord is the entire creation itself and the best way for a devotee to perform Aarti is to repeat the true name of the Lord, naam japna. To think that a person would find it appropriate to sing these very verses while performing the exact opposite is highly ironic and shows a complete disregard for the meaning of Gurbani.
Unconfirmed reports are stating that the Gurdwara committee is claiming that they were unaware that this ritual was taking place. This answers has confused members of the East London sangat and raised many questions:
- How are the committee able to claim ignorance when the individual holding the thaali (the organiser of the event) is himself a part of the SSLE Youth committee?
- How is it possible for the committee to claim they were unaware this was going to happen when the sangat had already warned and questioned them about whether this ritual would be taking place in a letter handed in two weeks prior to the event?
- Why was not a single member of the main committee or a single Granthi present in the Darbar Hall?
- What action will be taken to atone for this gross misconduct and appease the outraged sangat?
The event had already courted a huge deal of controversy before it even took place, as the original event poster had advertised kirtan by a ‘Gurbaksh Singh Namdhari Jatha’. The jatha believe in the namdhari faith which presents an entirely alternative view of history to the current account accepted by the Khalsa Panth. According to all factions of the namdhari faith, Guru Gobind Singh Jee did not give gurgaddi to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee and then ascend to Sachkhand in 1708, but in fact went into hiding (while the Sikh Panth underwent massacres and holocausts by the tyrannical Islamic rulers) until 1797, when Guru purportedly gave gurdgaddi to ‘Balak Singh’ who was followed by five more dehdari (human) ‘Gurus’. At present there are two sects, one believing in ‘Satguru Uday Singh’ and the other believing in ‘Satguru Thakur Dalip Singh’. In the above mentioned letter, the sangat of East London had explained that to allow a namdhari jatha to perfom kirtan on a gurdwara stage was nothing short of sacrilege and it was proven beyond all doubt that such an act would directly contravene Sikh Rehat Maryada and Akal Takht’s 2000 Hukamnama banning Namdharis from Gurdwara stages. It is appreciated that the SSLE committee took heed of the sangat and cancelled the Namdhari Jatha before the event took place.
Equally controversially, another jatha invited to the event was the, ‘Blue Lions Jatha’ made up of Kamalroop Singh and other self-proclaimed Nihangs (it is unknown to which Nihang dal these individuals belong and what, if any link they have with certified Nihang Singhs of Punjab). This group had recently come to the limelight for their beadbi of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee and flaunting of Akal Takht Maryada and hukamnamas (see: https://www.sikh24.com/2016/11/10/beadbi-uk-based-dr-kamalroop-singh-receives-flak-for-controversial-wedding-in-monaco/) . When sangat complained about the Namdhari jatha attending the event, a new poster was issued without the namdhari jatha and also with the Blue Lions Jatha removed. Strangely, the new poster had replaced the text ‘Blue Lions Jatha’ with ‘Akal Kirtan Jatha’, which on the day proved to be none other than the Blue Lions themselves. The motives behind this are questionable and join a long list of strange actions by the Gurdwara committee and event organisers throughout this saga.
It is understood that local sangat will again be approaching the Gurdwara committee with the aforementioned grievances, in the hopes that they will see sense and realign themselves with Akal Takht and the Panth.
Message to missionaries and their stooges (Rajinder Narang, RSS, Dhunda, Darshan, Afghana, etc etc.) including the sheep who follow them without any thought.
Have you ever dared to ask Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji himself about Sri Dasam Granth Sahib ji & Sri Sarbloh Granth Sahib ji ?
Have you ever dared to ask Baba Deep Singh ji about Sri Dasam Granth Sahib ji & Sri Sarbloh Granth Sahib ji ?
Have you ever dared to ask Shahid Singhs about Sri Dasam Granth Sahib ji & Sri Sarbloh Granth Sahib ji ?
If you truly believe traditions like Aarti-Aarta of Nihang Dal Panths are not according to Gurmat, why not ask Guru himself?
I challenge you, ask! You will see your lives turn upside down, Laathi ‘ch awaaj vi nahi aouni, ronday phirongay, te mudkay sabhna vi nahi kissay ne! Guru te, Guru sahib diyan baniyan te, Guru sahib diyan ladliyan faujan te, Guru sahib de Santa-Mahatma te kintu-prantu karan waliyo je hai jor taan puchoo Guru Sahib ji nu! Jawab jaroor miluga! Par Yaad rakhyo, je jindagi ‘ch dukh wadd gaya, maafi mang leyo Guru Maharaj kolo., sewa da pehra luyae binna shutkara nahi milna! Moorkho hallay ve tall jao!
Typical response , you know the date when bachittar natak was renamed , I don’t have to ask anything from Guru Gobind Singh ji, he has given me everything , I know I am following his order to best of my ability.I am again requesting if you have any written manuscript by Guru Gobind Singh ji where he ordered sikhs to follow anything else other than Guru Granth Sahib ji please let us know.Regarding the shahids of the panth you don’t have to tell me anything they are respected as they should be. Concerning other granths again those were compiled by different persons and they are part of our literature but they are not bani’s.Those may have some history but again as new discoveries are made history changes but Guru Granth Sahib ji never changes and it was given only one name and that to by Guru Gobind Singh ji . May Waheguru bless you .
Every sikh knows the principals of sikhi, the people who are doing these mannmat activities, they should find their answers in kirtan sohila, if they are doing intentionally, they are guilty of Guru & Guru panth, they should understand if they are wearing bana, they should find answers from bani. There is no place for karam kand in sikh religion.
There needs to be a discussion around this, what this preformance means (eg. Is it actual worship, what is it worshiping really: Guru ji, Dasam Granth, the shasters or etc). This common practice and a tradition that has been carried on the main darbars of takht sri Hazoor Sahib and takht sri Patna sahib (read somewhere that it was also preformed in the other takhts as well till British occupation or something). I think it would be interesting if our collective sangat and intellectuals began to research and find where did these rehit maryadas come from which allows for arti-arta. How far back dp they go? What are the sources? I feel as if there’s is an opportunity to this situation.
Sukhmani Sahib 2nd astpadi – anik punrhcharan karat nehee tarai II—-> BY PERFORMING COUNTLESS RELIGIOUS RITUALS, YOU SHALL NOT BE SAVED . Har Ko Naam Kott Paap Parharai II—–> THE NAME OF THE LORD WASHES OFF MILLIONS OF SINS. Gurmukh naam japahu munn mere II —-> AS GURMUKH, CHANT THE NAAM, O MY MIND. Nanak paavahu sookh ghanaerae II —->NANAK, YOU SHALL OBTAIN COUNTLESS JOYS .
+Preetam Kaur
Why are you SO JEALOUS the attention given to Guru Granth Sahib Ji?
are you even a Sikh or one of the those Sikhs looking people in the mandir and in deras?
To these people, Guru Granth Sahib is a living being. It’s their form of self-expression. However they express it, let it be. Guru Granth Sahib has Guru Gobind Singh Ji as its defender. No harm will come to the panth.
I am just advocating that we need to be more tolerant of everyone so long as no harm is being done to the panth. Like garbage thrown around, bullet flying over Guru Granth Sahib or turmoil and fights breaking out in our communities. Let rule of peace reign in Sikhism.
If we want to correct some, please do so gently with kindness. People have feelings, be sensitive. You wouldn’t want to be scolded either when you are just trying to do an honorable thing for the Guru.
Rupie, what do you mean “people came to bless guru granth sahib”? No one is forbidden to seek Wahegurujis blessing. Don’t tell Sikhs how to conduct their prayers in the gurdwara.people like you should instead go to mandir.It’s shame there are so called Sikhs who are behaving in this manner.What the hell are you trying to prove?
They came for Guru Granth Sahib. Let’s Guru Ji speak to them and answer them accordingly. You do believe Guru Ji can speak to them, don’t you? These are newbies, not Sikhs, let them find their path through Guru Granth Sahib themselves. I simply don’t understand people getting so worked up?
yes they can come see guru granth sahib but there are some rules they have to follow they cant put their agenda on the panth if they did hindu rituals in a mosque with allah idol they probably would be attacked we don’t believe violence is the first step and im not against aarti arta as it is said to be just hym from the gurus but it the rituals that look more hindu and namdhari that is the problem
People who believe this is against Gurmat, are no doubt newbies of high school claiming to be post graduates of uni. Aarti-Aarta is an old tradition maintained by Nihang Singhs, which is being practised at Sri Hazoor Sahib and Patna Sahib. When Guru Sahib created Khalsa, the roop which came to be Khalsa was of Nihang singh itself. Hence Dashmesh Pita is referred as Akali Nihang Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji.
SGPC, Missionaries, Kala afghanaias, Dhundas – people of these kind preferred to give up Sikhi when Khalsa’s head was sold for merely Rs.100. Nihang Dals maintained sikhi, slept on Horse back, ate a handfull of “Chollay”, fought continuously, but never ever lost tradition, Asa di War was still sung, Rehraas was still recited in evening, Nagaray the drum was still beaten when Langar was ready even in vicinity of enemy. Today, Nihang Dals perform sewa of Horses, still waking up at 1am, still practising the old tradition. Still pracitsing the Military discipline, which was ordered by our Father.
Now sillyheads comes around with a cause, oh! we need more intellectuals to sort things out. They are not sorting anything, they are causing more harm. These missionaries are taking the pure Sikhi away from you. Do your own research. Instead of believing in internet scholars, visit Nihang Dals, Nirmallas, Udasis, and seek wisdom from them. And mind you sillyheads! when Khalsa was driven out to Jungles, have you ever wondered who took care of Gurudawaras?? it was Nirmallay Sants, Udasis. No doubt some of them got corrupted, but this is Kaljug, bound to happen. Stop disrespecting ALL the Nirmalla Sants, Taksal, Udasis. Also, do not disrespect Hindu Devi Devtas. We are no doubt “Third” independent Dharam, but it doesn’t mean we have to slander Hindu Devi Devtas. By doing so, you are earning Maday Karam, you will never be granted Sikhi-Sidak by our Gurus. This is Klajug, you will see RSS and all those sillyheads institutions trying to harm Sikhi will pay dearly, their own Devi Devtas will punish them.
And stop being SHEEP! One person posted this has to stopped, all the sheep follows. Why? don’t you have brains? Why not do some research?
“Uthh Gayi Safa Malech Ki, kar kooda pasaar, Danka Baajay Fateh Ka, Nihkalank Avtar!!”
I thought Guru Gobind Singh ji created khalsa where does it say he should be called by any specific name. Again didn’t Guru Gobind Singh ji ordered every sikh to follow Guru Granth Sahib ji and nothing else. Again please tell us if there another order from Guru Gobind Singh Ji which we are not aware off.Traditions are started by humans and it is our duty as Sikhs to be sure that we don’t go astray from the path of described in Guru Granth Sahib ji.No one is underminig sacrifices made by the sikhs from the day our religion was created. If nirmalas and what not took care of our Gurdwaras that doesn’t mean we are supposed to forget teachings of Guru Granth Sahib ji and follow what they started preaching. Also what make you think they were working only as custodians of our religion and they were not profiting from the endeavour. I am pretty sure you know the history of masand’s even during the lifetime of Guru Gobind Singh ji. If people can become corrupt during his lifetime what makes you think these people would have stayed honest. Everyone knows what Mahant Narayan Das did at Nankana Sahib. Sikhi was saved to by Singh Sabha movement but they couldn’t finish the job. I don’t want to make this comment too long, but from personal experience I understand one thing completely it is very difficult to break tradition.It is extermely difficult after following something for so long and find out one was wrong to accept one’s mistake.Our Guru’s were extermenly smart persons they foresaw what can happen in the future that’s why they abolished human form of the Guru and gave us Guru Granth Sahib ji created under their guidance in which no word can be changed. And look what we are doing instead of following his order we are pushing something written by who knows who? It is extremely simple on one side we have true word of Guru’s in Guru Granth Sahib ji and on the other side we have something created by historians , and history changes with time. Decision is ours what to follow ?
This is to be stopped immediately!!
These people are just trying to create conflict & confusion in sikh sangat, but they are just fooling themselves, a Gursikh knows the path of Guru. With such activities they are hurting sikh sentiments & doing misleading activities, with these activities they won’t receive blessings of Guru Sahib & Vaheguru.
Guru Sahib showed a path how to be one with Vaheguru & guru Granth Sahib is always with you to guide you, even then if you’re making mistakes, may Vaheguru give you some wisdom.
Our Panth is completely blindsided by Hinduphobia.
The truth is Sikhi is a distinct and separate path; at the same time, the Sikh Gurus appropriated many Hindu and Islamic rituals/traditions. Guru Nanak was against empty rituals, i.e., those that were designed to exploit the gullible masses.
Isn’t administering prasad a “Hindu ritual”? So where’s the uproar over this “Hindu ritual” taking place in thousands of Gurdwaras every day? What next, Chaur Sahib? Isn’t that a ritual too? What’s the need for it in today’s day in age?
Aarti-Aarta has always been part of the Khalsa’s maryada until the formation of the so-called SGPC, a Protestant-Puritian British construct which from the get-go was designed to suppress and control Sikhi under the guise of reform. Nihangs were merely convenient scapegoats.
The SGPC has been at the root of everything wrong with Sikhi for the past 100 or so years. Until the majority of the Panth actually realizes this, we’re not going anywhere as a Panth.
there is no hindu phobia it is because there are some groups who are close to Hindu groups like rss and sant samaj but claim to be Sikhs and try to put their agenda on the panth you don’t see most Muslims do that but there are ahmadi who try to show a link between Sikhism and Islam by saying Guru nanak was a sufi mystic we are against them who do that as well we also have Christian missionaries at places like amritsar,gurdaspur,jalandhar who try to convert Sikhs in a way to fool them to think they have never left the Sikh faith by letting them to keep kaur and singh in their name and allow them to keep turban we are against them but right now I think the Hindu right wing are the biggest threat to the panth especially with the bjp being in the central government and being in alliance with akali dal in Punjab
Guru Nanak Dev ji composed the aarti at Jagannath Puri to show the brahmans the folly of their ways and now what are we doing. Aren’t we not insulting Guru Nanak dev ji by not following what he taught us? or the ritual created by some self centered person is more important than our Guru.As written above all I am saying is that we follow the order given by Guru Gobind Singh ji, If youhave any evidence where Guru Gobind Singh ji gave us any order which is different from what I mentioned please let everyone know where that order is written. As for rest of the rituals you mentioned we need the Sikh intellectuals to sit down and sort everything out based on what Guru Granth Sahib says and nothing else.
Vaheguru ji ka khalsa
Vaheguru ji kee fateh
Nothing wrong with this, Aarti of puran Guru, Sri Guru Granth sahib ji is being done , who we consider Vaheguru. Next you will question chaur sahib and rumale. Offering eatables is against so called british made Akal takht maryada to Guru ji, why do we offer the langar and karah prasaad degh to Guru Granth sahib ji then? You obvious have an issue with blue lions jatha and Nihangs. At least nihangs know that mool mantra starts with Ik onkaar and ends with Nanak hosi bhi sach, at least nihangs know that Raagmala is bani and don’t question the Guru. At least nihangs have not changed themselves to comply with the modern age ,they keep full faith in Guru sahib. Aarti is done at Sri hazur sahib and Sri patna sahib and all Dal panth every day and will always be done Sat sri Akaaallll!
Again the brits? Why they have to be in middle of everything???
I think we should welcome and love people. We should not discourage or make it difficult for anyone to access and meet God / Guru Granth Sahib in their own way so long as they pose no phyiscal danger, are clean, and covered. They will learn of Sikh norms and will adapt if they want to on their own will without forced coercions accourding to Sikh values..
People came to bless Guru Granth Sahib. I see nothing wrong. I am very sure God accepts the intentions of heart just like our prayer greetings.
Sorry but Guru Nanak explained this very clearly from my humble understanding. The best answer probably lies here: http://www.sikhanswers.com/rehat-maryada-code-of-conduct/what-is-the-sikh-view-on-aarti/
Educate and enlighten the masses through love.
The problem I have is that many sikhs bow before the Guru Granth Sahib but they never comprehend or study its scriptures. That form of bow I would call illegal as well.
Yes, I am sure Guru Nanak never bowed to the deities here. Here we bow to Guru Granth Sahib out of reverence to the Gurus’s Spirit. My question to you is does Guru Granth Sahib deserve our respect above all else?
With all the politics and divisions in this world, I believe it is the only answer to every problem so yes I think it deserves our respect in every form possible so long as it is lifted up not down.
People offer milk and food all the time before Guru Granth Sahib and it is then taken to the langar. Lamp-lit service to Guru Granth Sahib is an honor for all Sikhs and to Sikhism.
not all Sikhs are practicing Sikhs which is why they are ignorant and are easily influenced deras and missionary groups and food and milk should not be offered to guru granth sahibji like the way a hindu offers it to the idols
Why anyone is surprised? It is going to happen more and more.Hindutva forces in collusion with these deras ( too many to be named here) are attacking our religion almost from the beginning. How many of the so called sikhs went to Patna last month( During 350 birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh ji) bowed before Bachittar natak placed alongside the Guru Granth Sahib ji and saw so called arti being performed there and objected to what was happening there. Our so called sikh leadership SGPC has been silent or has been in collusion with rss for past 50 years.Any intellectual who tried to raise voice against these forces was just thrown out of the religion.In short I have a suggestion that we sikhs go back to our basics and follow the order of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, and that was Our only guru in this world is ” Guru Granth Sahib ji” and nothing else. We should stick with that and nothing else.By doing this we are showing our respect to our Guru Gobind Singh ji If we dont do this we are just pandering to whims of these mortals who in the name of Guru Gobind Singh ji are making fool of the sikhs and at the same time benefitting themselves financially.