Previous

Next

Ask a Question

Summary of Question:	Guru's Sikhism: Amrit, Bani, Interfaith
Category:	Sikh Practices
Date Posted:	Saturday, 5/17/2008 7:28 AM MDT

WKWF,

There are few questions regarding Sikhism the answers to which are not clear to me.

1. Mundawani or Rag Mala Paath is not mentioned in the general gutkas, where and in which gutkas are they mentioned. Do Mundawani and Rag Mala means the same.

2. Why in Sikhism learning Gurmukhi is highly stressed. Does that mean that God can be achieved only if humans learn Gurmukhi and what are sarovars meant for in Gurdwaras.

3. If invited by a Hindu friend, can a baptised Sikh go to a temple and take prasad, what does the hardcore Sikhism has to say on this.

4. If one of the spouse's amrit gets khandit, does that mean that the other spouse's amrit automatically get's khandit and can one keep Kirpan without wearing a Gatra.

5. If one of the spouse is baptised, then does that mean the baptised spouse is not supposed to eat or drink the leftover of the spouse who is not baptised. If so, then what about the Sikh babies who don't get baptised untill they are grown up. Can't a baptised Sikh eat or drink from the plate of his own baby.

Thank-you.

----reply----
Sat nam. In order to your questions:
1. Mundavanee is one of the last shabads in Siri Guru Granth Sahib. It is also found in rehiras: "thaal vich tinn vasatoo pa-ee-o sat santokh veechaaro." Mundavanee means "seal" as in the seal of the Guru. Raag Mahala is the last poem in SGGS, and is not considered gurbani per se, but is considered part of the Siri Guru. (I have this on the authority of a scholar from Punjabi University's Dept of Sikh studies.) So these two are NOT the same.
2. Gurmukhi is the language of gurbani, and is really a pronounciation guide, since gurbani is actually written in a variety of language/dialects including old Hindi, Sanskrit, Persian, old Punjabi, etc. Gurmukhi lets us read all the bani in SGGS since it's all in the same alphabet. Gurbani is all rhymed poetry and creates a sound current that is not found in translation. So the ideal is for observant Sikhs to learn to at least READ Gurmukhi fluently, even if if s/he has to understand the meaning through translation.
3. There is no reason at all for an observant Sikh to avoid visiting a Hindu temple with someone, if invited. See it as an inter-faith gesture. However, it does not make sense for an observant Sikh to regularly worship in non-Sikh religious ceremonies.
4. No. AMrit, wearing of khandas, etc. is connected to the individual, and does not automatically include a spouse.
5. Nonsense. In families where some are Amritdhari and others are not, it makes no sense to be fanatical about eating off the same plate, or cooking in separate pots, etc. This is not what Guru instructed.

Guru ang sang,
DK