Today is the Gurpurab of the First Parkash of Sree Guru Granth Sahib Jee falling on 17 Bhadon (1st September). Below are some articles in relation to the respect of Sree Guru Granth Sahib Jee which we thought would be appropriate to highlight on a day like this.
Respect of Sree Guru Granth Sahib Jee
By Bhai Ram Singh jee (Jathedar) in Soora, Feb. 1983 & Sikh Missionary College in Soora, Sept 1994.
Translated by Admin www.tapoban.org
There is no limit in the amount of respect we can gave the focus of our faith. Whatever we do is not enough. Those who are in love with the Guru keep the following things in mind:
1) They take their shoes off far away and after washing their feet come into the Guru Darbar
2) With respect they bow before Guru Sahib and sit in Sangat
3) They sit cross-legged while facing Guru Sahib
4) Before leaving the Sangat to go outside, they first bow.
5) Whatever offerings they have, they do not throw in front of the Guru but slowly and respectfully place it before the Guru and then bow.
6) KaRah Parshaad is brought in a Sarbloh Bata with a white cloth over it and placed on a wooden table before Guru jee off to one side. They do not Bring the kaRaahee the degh was prepared in straight before Guru Sahib.
7) The sevaadaars who prepare Degh do so while repeating naam or baaNee
8) They prepare degh with a lot of care: it is not undercooked or burnt.
9) When bhog is done, the degh is not so hot that it can't be eaten.
10) They accept the degh in two hands and then bow their heads in thanks and when eating the Degh do not let any fall to the ground at all.
11) The Singh sitting in attendance of Guru Sahib keeps doing chaur. The Chaur is not to make flies go away but it is a form of respect to the divine jot that has been passed into Guru Sahib.
12) When taking Hukam, they do not hang the rumallas in Guru Sahib's ang (pages). (Hukam is taken from the left side's first shabad)
13) When putting the rumala back over Guru jee, they make sure no ang is bent.
14) When turning an ang, they carefully take the corner of the ang and separate it from the next one and turn slowly. When using the thumb or finger to turn from the middle of the ang, chances of damage or ripping increase so this should not be done.
15) A clean white rumalaa should be kept for the sevaa of the angs. Silk and nylon are not good for this task.
16) Before sitting in attendance of Guru jee, all grime and oil should be removed with soap otherwise it will mark the rumallas and the angs.
17) One only sits in taabiyaa (attendance) of Guru Saahib after washing the hair and while wearing clean clothes with a hazooriyaa. Washing the kes is also the maryada for doing degh and langar seva.
18) There should be a big and clean chaananee over Guru Sahib jee.
19) If parkaash is to be done in a paalkee, it should be big enough that chaur can easily be done.
20) The divaan is only over when ardaas after sukhaasan takes place.
21) When bringing/taking Guru Sahib, at least 5 Singhs should accompany.
22) When bringing degh into sangat, water should not be sprinkled on the carpets.
23) In that home where Sree Akhand Paath is taking place (or even in general) and Guru Sahib is not on a Takhat Posh but on a manjee placed over a mat, no one in the house should sleep on a bed.
24) When doing Sehaj Paath, the reader should not put a paper/sheet in Guru Sahib to serve as a marker. The number of the ang should be recorded in a separate diary or notebook.
25) For Guru jee's sukhaasan, at least two clean and big rumalaas are necessary.
From Soora Sept. 1994:
1) Wherever a Gurmat Smaagam is to take place, before doing parkaash of Guru Sahib, it should be noted that the place is according to the status and glory of Guru Sahib. It is disrespectful to do parkash in Hotels, Bazaars, dirty plots and tight areas.
2) No one in the presence of Satguru jee should have a special sitting place, chair, bed, etc. This is manmat.
3) Going into sangat bare-headed or veiled for women is against Gurmat
4) If Guru Sahib is parkaash at home, the room should be clean and fresh. No unnecessary things should be put in that room. PUTTING ANY PICTURES OF HUMANS OR REPRESENTATIONS OF GURUS IN PARKAASH AREA IS MANMAT.
5) Parkaash should be done at Amrit Vela (before sunrise). This is important regardless if it's a gurdvara or home.
6) Guru Sahib's parkaash should be on a high place or a takhat posh. If these both are for whatever reasons not possible, then the manjee should be placed on a clean cloth and parkaash done.
7) Rumallas for Guru jee should be beautiful and clean, but simple [preferably white or another Khalsa colour]. Too shiny, gaudy or very thin ones or ones with Gurus' pictures should not be used. Rumalas, pillows, sheets and other necessary items should all be clean. This is extremely important. Every day or seeing the need, they should be changed. Putting thin rumalas in the summer or warm ones in the winter in light of temperature should not be done. Does Guru Sahib feel hot or cold? Guru Sahib is shabad-roop.
8) At the end of divaan, Guru Sahib should be taken to the Sukh Asan place and only then should the sangat disperse. Usually after listening to katha/keertan, we take parshaad and run away. This shouldn't be done.
One additional note: When coming into Guru Sahib's darbaar, one should dress appropriately. For both men and women, BaaNaa is most appropriate. If we wear a uniform to work or school, then why not to the highest court of all? We should have open beards and be dressed in Guru Sahib's uniform. And of course, the biggest sevaa we can do today is make sure Guru Sahib's true form, Lareedaar Saroop is parkaash in all places. But like the first article has said, there is no limit to the amount of respect we should give. No amount is ever enough.
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Sree Guru Granth Sahib jee's Respect
By Bhai Sahib Randheer Singh jee
Translated by Admin www.tapoban.org
Before doing paath from Sree Guru Granth Saahib jee or taking a vaak, the Singh going to the taabiyaa (attendance) should do a panj-ishnaanaa (washing of 2hands+2feet+face=5). Sitting like this in taabiyaa is a sign of total respect and honour. Those people who in a rush shamelessly go and sit in taabiyaa without punj ishnaanaa and with the same unwashed feet that had shoes on them can not call themselves faithful Sikhs. This is a very big disrespect. Those people who sit at attendance of Sree Guru Granth Sahib jee with pyjamas they wore while going to the washroom are committing a very big error. True purity is in removing the pyjama and doing a punj ishnaanaa when sitting in attendance. Those people who aren't wearing kachheras or are wearing knicker-type "kachheras" are afraid of being exposed and sit in taabiyaa with their pyjamas.
For women, it is the hukam that when going in taabiyaa of Guru Granth Saahib jee, they should wear a separate pyjama and should never wear their usual soiled pyjamas. They should wash their feet before sitting. That pyjama which has touch the shoes should not be worn to taabiyaa. There is no doubt that a clean salvaar/pyjama is proper attire for the Guru Darbar. The reason is that at Sree Amritsar Darbaar Saahib (Harmandar Sahib), Guru Saahib's sevaadaars wear pyjamas. But it should be kept in mind that these pyjamas used for sevaa are specially kept for this task and they only wear them when doing seva, not for regular use. A sevaadaar who does not keep this full respect is accountable to Guru Sahib. Those individuals who shamelessly imitate these sevaadaars and wear dirty pyjamas to Guru Granth Saahib's taabiyaa are unaware/uncaring of the proper respect and rehit. Their dedicated devotion will never be completely fruitful (if they continue like this).