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Summary of Question:	Bowing Down To A Baba Is Correct In Gurmat
Category:	Sikh Practices
Date Posted:	Friday, 11/08/2002 3:43 PM MST

This is actually a response rather than a question. I hope that you will permit this to be posted.

I think there is confusion as to whether it is ok to bow down/touch feet of anyone other than Guru in the first place. If we call SriGuruGranthSaheb as GURU, then we should follow the example in GURU. Bowing down to a saint, touching feet is not just an indian custom, it is very much a part of the example in GURBANI. In Gurbani, this practice is ENCOURAGED. It is a way of respect outlined in gurbani itself. A true saint/true gurmukh will always lead one closer to Guru. It is of great benefit to be in the company of and service of sadh jan/bhagat jan/gurmukhs/sants. Gurbani is very clear in numerous places of how Guru wants us to pay respects to such holy gursikhs. Bhai Gurdas says that in this dark age do not leave the habit of touching the feet of a gursikh. Gurbani says in sukhmani saheb," He who God Himself causes to do simran does simran, of such a person I Nanak go to their feet". Elsewhere, "Make my skin into the shoes for the gursikh". "Guru yearns to fulfill the Sikh...gursikh yearns to meet the Guru and embrace, but slave nanak yearns to kiss the feet of a sadh". "...(jinaa pacchaata sach chummaa pair ...)"Whoever has recognized the Truth, I kiss their feet". also, "Whoever sees a gursikh should go low low to their feet. (Jo deesay gursikhrra tis niv niv laago paae jeeo)....that person should tell him all their problems. "make me the dust of a gursikh". "give me the dust of a gursikh" "the holy feet of the sants i put to my forehead. countless times I prostrate before the saints. this mind is a sacrifice to the saints "(santeh charan maathai mayro poth. anik baar santeh dandoth. eh man santan kai balhaarai). (sant in plural (e.g. santan, santeh) can never refer to Guru, because Guru is ONE and not many).

Gurbani is very clear.

Read gurbani, e.g. sukhmani saheb with CARE. In Sikhee a Gursikh can become God-Conscious, and achieve a state of Oneness with God in this very lifetime. Guru Gobind Singh says that "Between God, me and, them there is no difference", but this is to the very rare soul who is fully pure. Surely, when we meet (very rare) holy souls we should be permitted to touch their feet without being labelled as "so-called Sikhs" since we are only following GURBANI's example. To touch their feet (as in Bhai Gurdas - "do not give up the habit of touching the feet of a gursikh") , or even further as in "Whoever has realized the Truth, I kiss their feet (jinaa pachaataa sach chumaa pair...) is the way of paying respect that we find repeatedly in gurbani, the Bani we claim as our Guru.

Personally, I feel there are many fake sadhs out there, but with respect to the real gurmukhs, the real sadhs, are we not supposed to follow Gurbani's example? It is just a way of paying respect for goodness sake. When the Light has been awoken within, we should pay respect to that Light. It is not the physical person. Getting the dust off of the feet of a gursikh, and even kissing the feet of anyone you feel has attained Truth is DIRECTLY out of GURBANI. There is nowhere where Guru says that we are not to bow to any man as that would be contradicting what Gurbani says. Bani is Guru, Guru is Bani.

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REPLY
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Sat Siri Akaal. I appreciate your input. But you also say it yourself: many fake sadhus and sants out there. How is one to know? Sometimes there is NO question, other times it is doubtful. Does this mean a Sikh should bow to anyone who calls him or herself a sadhu or sant? I don't think so.

If you read the Rehit Maryada, you will see that Amritdhari Sikhs take a vow to bow to Siri Guru and ONLY to Siri Guru.

I have read much gurbani and have seen references such as those you mention above. But remember that bowing and touching the feet of the saints is figurative as well as literal. It is acknowledging in one's heart, very humbly, that there are many who worked very hard and became God's saints. If they have left this plane we bow to their greatness in our minds, and strive to follow there example. Guru's exhortation to bow to the saints is also saying stop hanging out with people who don't love God or who create nothing but negativity in the world. Living in the company of the holy is a reference to being in a sadh sangat that is striving, collectively and as individuals, to remember God.

THe water of all those devotees who wash their feet at Gurdwaras everywhere is often sipped by other Gursikhs, who understand that the dust of the feet of devotees is what Guru is talking about. In a true sadh sangat, we are ALL saints. Do we bow to each other? So, for anyone to set themselves above others and make a big deal of it is not really keeping Sikhi. And I will repeat again: in the presence of Siri Guru Granth, bowing to any person no matter who they are,is just not acceptable.
Guru ang sang,
-DKK