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Summary of Question:	Isnt The Guru Granth Sahibji An Idol.
Category:	Sikh Practices
Date Posted:	Tuesday, 2/06/2001 5:06 PM MST

Sikhism has long been against the worship of idols, infact right from the beginnig of sikhi.

So isnt the Guru Granth Sahibji an idol which we bow to. After it is abook made of paper so it could be burned.

I deeply apoligise if i have cauesd any offence,

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REPLY
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Sat Siri Akal Sanj Ji:

You are right: Sikhism is against the worship of idols. To a casual observer, it indeed looks like we worship a mere book.

But Sikhs do not worship Siri Guru Granth Sahib AS A BOOK. To Sikhs, Siri Guru Granth Sahib is a LIVING GURU. It is the LIVING WORD (Shabd Guru) of the Guru, and though the poetry was written by many bhagats as well as Gurus, it was all recited through the mouth of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru. (He recited it to Bhai Mani Singh, because at the time, all existing versions of Siri Guru had been destroyed. Bhai Mani Singh wrote as Guruji recited.)

So, Siri Guru Granth Sahib is the Word of the Guru, and before he left his body, Guru Gobind Singh gave Guruship to the Siri Guru Granth. He said that we (his Sikhs) did not need a physical person/embodiment of Guru anymore and that Guruji's teachings and those of all his predecessors are embodied in Siri Guru Granth Sahib. Whenever we have a question on which we need divine guidance, we consult the Siri Guru, not a person. This is why Sikhs treat Siri Guru Granth Sahib like the embodiment of a great saint, because in ESSENCE that is what it is.

I hope this clarifies things for you.
God bless you,
-DKK