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Summary of Question:	Bowing To (Human) Baba Ji Appropriate?
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Saturday, 9/07/2002 8:19 AM MDT

Sat shri akal.

As we go to Gurdwara's, we always find Baba ji's, who are there to teach us about Sikhism. Yet I have not understood, why we should do "matha tek" infront of them and even grant them money, when we are actually supposed to do that before Guru Granth Sahib.
Ofcourse I understand that we have to pay respects to baba ji, but isn't it wrong for them to make people grant money to them even though the money goes to the Gurdwara?
Another thing, a lot of Amritdhari Sikhs won't take langar from non-amritdhari Sikhs...why do they do that? It is totally against our faith, since we believe that all are equal.

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REPLY
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Sat Siri Akaal. It IS wrong to bow to 'Babaji' and give him money in front of Guru in a Gurdwara, and this practice should be stopped wherever it happens in Sikh Gurdwaras. (This is different than giving money to visiting ragis who are playing kirtan. It is OK to give them money IN ADDITION to your separate offering to Guru, but do not bow to them.) Some ragis and Babajis make their living by teaching/playing kirtan. So it is OK to support them financially, but it is WRONG to bow to them in Gurdwara or anywhere, since Sikhs do not bow to any one but Siri Guru Granth Sahib.

I have said elsewhere that one can be respectful to elders and Babajis without bowing to them as if they are Guru. A prayerful acknowledgement from the heart without bowing to the floor will do it.

It is acting like Hindu Brahmin to be amritdhari and and refuse food from non-Amritdhari. Sadly, the Rehit Maryada as published by the SGPC encourages this practice. It is, frankly, NOT Sikh to be so discriminatory and to set oneself above another simply because they have taken Amrit. The Amritdhari Sikh keeps the rehit without judging and sentencing others because they have not felt so called. Amritdhari Sikhs are supposed to be role models and leaders, not a special class or caste unto themselves. It is a shame the SGPC has encouraged this.
Guru ang sang,
-DKK