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Summary of Question:	Disrespect Of Guru Granth Sahib
Category:	Sikh Practices
Date Posted:	Friday, 2/13/2009 3:20 AM MST

waheguru ji ka khalsa, waheguru ji ki fateh

Respected Elders and Leaders of Sikh Panth,

I have come across an incident of disrespect of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji in a local Gurudwara Sahib at West Patel Nagar, Delhi. I have recently shifted to this location from Ludhiana, and yesterday when I went to Gurudwara Sahib, to my utmost surprise many people were sitting on stools in presence of Guru Sahib.

As per Panth Parvanit Sikh Rehat Maryada, it’s written that,

“Sitting on a cushion, a distinctive seat, a chair, a stool, a cot, etc. or in any distinctive position in the presence of the Guru Granth or within the congregation is contrary to gurmat (Guru’s way).”

I objected on this and talked to a member of committee of the said Gurudwara Sahib, which himself was also sitting on stool. I raised my objections with reference to sikh rehat maryada. But he took it very lightly and replied me tactfully that it’s not against rehat maryada because stools were not higher than cot of Guru Granth Sahib. He also conveyed to me that earlier, people used to sit on chairs in this Gurudwara Sahib, and those chairs used to be of more hights than of Guru Granth Sahib’s Cot. So now they have rectified their mistake and now sit on stools and not on chairs. I find this reply very ridiculous and contrary to Gurmat as those stools are also of 1 to 1.5 feet in height. Sadh Sangat seemed to be divided in two portions. Most of them were sitting on the ground as per gurmat, but few of them were on stools. He also told me that he has a problem of back pain so he can’t sit on ground. At the same time I noticed many young ladies sit on the stools which I believe had no physical problem. A 70-80 year old women was sit on ground at the same time which might be suffering from physical problems because of old age.

There are big question coming to my mind. If a person with back problem etc. is allowed to sit on stools in presence of Guru Sahib, then why I have never seen any stools, chairs in Darbar Sahib Amritsar, Takhat Sri Kesgarh Sahib or Gurudwara Sri Sis Ganj Sahib Delhi.

I took the contact no. of Mr. Gambhir Singh (09811316668), the so called president of that Gurudwara Sahib. He was not present there so I called him on his contact no. He also took the matter very lightly and advised me to meet in person some other time to clarify the doubts if any. I doubt that they will continue to overlook the Sikh Rehat Maryada and to disregard Jugo Jug Atal Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Mahraaj. So, I want you to intervene in this and help me in fighting against this.


Is our personal comfort more important and above the respect of Guru Sahib? Can we modify sikh rehat maryada as per our comfort and choice?


Gurmeet Singh
09413480998
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reply
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Bhai Sahib ji,
Ah, there is so much in the Gurdwara that falls short of Guru ji's instruction to us.
You are conveying a strong frustration with a situation that some feel is a correction. Stools rather than chairs. An adjustment to make or inquire about is that Baba ji's Palki and area is on an elevated platform so that ALL the Sadh Sangat are sitting below Guru ji's level. I hear your concern. This is a regular practice that is not correct at all.

Take it slow and with good humor to aid management to gradually correct the siruation. In some Gurdwara's, those who need seating aids are in a special section in the back or on the side. They
sit together....but seperate. So it is apparent that their seats are not the norm but they have health requirement or age associated requirement. Thus no one would be sitting on a stool out of lazyness.

No one should have to sit in pain in Guru's court. Nor should you be in mental anguish over this.

God bless you,
SK