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Summary of Question:	Simple Question On Sitting In The Gurdwara
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Tuesday, 5/22/2001 12:14 AM MDT

When I was younger, I once was scolded for sitting against the side wall at the gurdwara because I was not facing directly towards the Guru Granth Sahib. I felt quite confused for I had been told the story of Sri Guru Nanak Ji, and how he had sat with his feet towards the Kabba at Mecca. How he had replied "Please turn my feet in the direction where there is no God", as was told to me. I found myself telling my younger cousin this same thing a little while back, that he should not sit with back towards the Guru Granth Sahib, but I felt wrong in my advice. Is it wrong to sit anyway aside from face forward to the granth sahib? Thank you for your time.

Yogi Singh Raina

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REPLY
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Sat Siri Akal, Yogi Singh:

What Guru Nanak said is so true, and it helps us to keep perspective and not to be fanatic.

It is not 'wrong' to sit with your face sideways to the Guru, but realize that some people there may feel it is disrespectful. Traditionally, it is considered disrespectful to face the bottoms of one's feet or one's back to the Guru, when sitting in Gurdwara; this is a very old tradition. I often see people sit against the wall at an angle of sorts, so that they are mostly faced towards the Guru (depends on the size of the Gurdwara and how many people are in it). Sometimes it cannot be helped to sit with one's side towards the Guru if Gurdwara is crowded and/or small.

I hope this helps.
--DKK