The Siri Guru Granth Sahib with Granthi (Sevadar) in attendance. Today's
Hukamnama.
Ardas (Invocation)
Ik
Ong Kar, Whaheguru ji ki fateh. Siri Bhagauti ji sahae. Var Siri Bhagauti
ji ki
patshahi dasmeh. Pritum Bhagaute simar kai, Guru Nanak lain dhiae.
Phir Angad,
Guru te Amar Das, Ram Dasai hoin sahae. Arjun Hargobind no, simrau
Siri Har Rae.
Siri Harkrishan diaiai, jis dithe sabh dukh jae. Guru Teg Bahadar
simriai, ghar nau nidh
avai dhae. Sabh thain hoe sahae. Dasvan Patshah, Siri Guru Gobind
Singh Sahib ji,
Maharaj, sabh thain hoe sahae. Dasan Patshah di jot, Siri Guru Granth
Sahib
Ji de path didar da dhian dhar ke bolo ji, Sat Nam! Siri
Whahe Guru!
Translation
The
One Creator of Creation, all victory is His. May God's Sword be our
protection.
After first worshipping the Adi Shakti, the Primal Power, meditate
on Guru Nanak.
Then Angad, Guru Amar Das, and Ram
Das, may they grant us their protection.
Meditate on Guru Arjun, Hargobind, and Siri Har Rae. Meditate on Siri
Harkrishan,
upon seeing whom all sufferings shall depart. Meditate on Guru Teg
Bahadur,
and the nine treasures shall come to you. Supreme is Guru
Gobind Singh, protector of the Faith, Master of the unity, may he protect us
everywhere.
The Light of the ten gurus, the living Guru, Word of God, and Truth
of truths,
the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, by meditating on it Words, all sufferings
vanish.
Meditate O pure ones and utter Sat Nam! Siri
Whahe Guru! -- About
Ardas.
Preface
The
following is presented for the purpose of making the inquirer more
familiar with the lifestyle and practices of Sikh
Dharma, a householders' spiritual path by which practice and by
God's grace one may be blessed with the virtue known as humility and
the good fortune to overcome the mental and spiritual affliction known
as pride. And to advise that it is not the customary practice of the
followers of Sikh Dharma to proselytize others. In fact, Sikhs often
express the term "Sat Kartar," i.e., "God is the Doer."
In this sense meaning that only those with such destiny will become
students of Sikh Dharma.
"Sikhs
... Our purpose is the celebration of Naam, the Word."
"Think
about it. You grew your magnificent brain, perhaps the most
complicated thing in the world. And you grew it without even thinking
about it. A supremely intelligent Life Force of unknown origin created
and sustains this wondrous miracle of life. It's what we refer to
as God."
"Sikh
Dharma is a householders' spiritual path by which practice
one may, by God's grace, be blessed with the virtue known as
humility along with the good fortune to overcome the mental and
spiritual affliction known as pride." --
M.S.S. Hari Singh Khalsa
"God
is nothing but your own inner consciousness.
Now I will agree with you that you cannot always
feel this God, but that is because you think that you
are separate from God. We call it Maya. Maya
is the
illusion of separateness: it is the quicksand of this life.
Sometimes we sink into this quicksand and then we
need a hook; we need some guidance to help us pull
ourselves out so that we can continue our journey.
The hook that we use to do this is called the Guru." -- From the website Life
According To Yogi Bhajan.com.
Sikh
Dharma was founded by Guru
Nanak Dev in the Punjab area of Northwestern India, now Pakistan,
in the 15th Century. The Sikhs that live there speak the Punjabi language.
The word “guru” means one who can take you from darkness
to light and guides you on the right path. After his death a series
of nine Gurus led the Panth, i.e., the Sikh community, until 1708
CE.* At this time this function passed
to the Panth and the Siri
Guru Granth Sahib, which is the 11th and remaining Guru.
The
Siri Guru Granth Sahib is composed and compiled by the Sikh Gurus
themselves. Therefore, it is original and authentic.
All the Hymns (Gurbani) are written in a poetic form with specified
musical Raags (a total of 31). Singing these poetic Hymns with musical
notes calms and soothes the mind.
The Siri Guru Granth Sahib does not contain any autobiography of any
of the Gurus, or Sikh history. It contains Hymns which direct one
to lead a truthful and spiritual life, a message for the whole of
humanity.
The Siri Guru Granth Sahib is written in Gurmukhi script, the actual
contemporary language of the Gurus.
There
are five things that identify a person as a Sikh. These include uncut
hair that is worn with turban,
a steel bracelet, a small ornamental sword that is carried at all
times, a small comb, and a style of breeches or shorts that are worn
underneath one’s clothing.
Guru
Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, gave these five gifts to the Sikhs.
All Sikhs that choose to go through an initiation ceremony called
Amrit, wear these articles of faith. Sikh men take the name Singh,
meaning lion, and women take the name Kaur, meaning princess.
"Sikh
Dharma is a householders' spiritual path by which practice and only
by God's
grace, one may be blessed with the virtue known as humility and the
good fortune
to overcome the mental and spiritual affliction known as pride."
-- Hari Singh
"From
a woman all men are born. How then
can any man degrade any woman?" -- Hari
Kaur
The
Sikhs
"...
We gladly accept all, and we will exclude none, for after
all, we're the same - we are all One." -- Guru
Gobind Singh
The
12 Aspirations of the Sikhs
Believe God is Truth and Word
is Guru.
Believe God is the One Creator,
and all of Creation is God's manifestation.
Espouse the role of woman as
representing the Universal Mother.
Maintain their hair
and beard unshorn as God's gifts,
and wrap their hair in a turban.
Refrain from eating flesh
food, i.e., red meat, chicken or seafood.
Refrain from using tobacco,
drugs or alcohol.
Perform sadhana,*
i.e., spiritual practice before sunrise, and recite banis daily.**
Believe all religion and scripture
is an expression of the One Creator.
Respect the rights and freedoms
of all spiritual paths.
Espouse the sanctity of the
path of the householder.
Maintain 'Chardikala' (an exalted
and positive attitude towards life and other people).
Believe it is God's blessing
to serve others, and to protect the weak and innocent.
*Sadhana
is a word derived from the Sanskrit words Sa, meaning all, and Dhana,
meaning blessings.
"The
greatest reward of doing Sadhana is that the person becomes incapable
of being defeated. Sadhana is a self-victory, and it is a victory
over time and space. Getting up in the morning is a victory over time,
and doing it is a victory over space." -- Yogi
Bhajan
**Banis
are specific passages taken from the Guru and read each day.
Father
of the Khalsa Guru
Gobind Singh
Sikhs
believe in one formless God with many names, Who can be related to
by anybody through meditation. Sikhs recite the Name many times each
day and are prohibited from worshipping idols or icons. Sikhs believe
in karma and reincarnation as Hindus
do, but shun the caste system. Everybody has equal status in the eyes
of God.
During
the 18th century, there were a number of attempts to prepare an accurate
portrayal of Sikh customs. Sikh scholars and theologians started in
1931 to prepare the Reht Maryada, the Sikh code of conduct and conventions.
This action has achieved a high level of uniformity in the religious
and social practices of Sikhism throughout the world. The Reht contains
27 articles. Article 1 defines a Sikh. "Any
human being who faithfully accepts:
The utterances
and teachings of the ten Gurus, and
The baptism bequeathed
by the tenth Guru, and who does not owe allegiance to any other religion,
is a Sikh."
Sikhism
is founded on the principles of global Interfaith communities and
mutual Inter-community respect and harmony. The founders of Sikhism
defined and preached the principles of interfaith respect, dialogue,
and harmony. All members of the Sikh religion believe in only one
God. Sikhs are monotheists like Jews, Christians and Muslims. The
Sikh religion promotes equality among all people. That means that
everyone -- men and women -- are treated in the same way. Sikhs are
expected to work hard, to be good and giving people, to worship God,
and provide service for all Humanity. A Sikh, by definition, respects
and accepts all other world religions. Further, the Sikh protects,
guards, and allows the free practice of the customs and rituals of
other religions.
Today,
many Sikh youths belong to youth groups that are designed for Sikh
children and young adults. These groups teach Sikh youth about their
unique religious and cultural history and traditions. Many of these
youth groups are sponsored by a Sikh Gurdwara.
For Sikh families, the Gurdwara, Sikh
church or temple, is a gathering place for people to share their religious
traditions. It is the center for Sikh life and is a place where people
can gather for special social ceremonies like those marking a marriage,
the birth of a baby or a death in a family.
Gurdwaras maintain kitchens so that food can be prepared and shared
with the entire community. People of every religion are welcome at
Gurdwaras, and in the community kitchen. Also, when people pray and
worship in the Gurdwara, everyone sits on the floor, grouped together.
No one sits in front of or, higher than, anyone else. In this way
Sikhs demonstrate their sense of social equality.
Greetings,
Names and Titles
Sat
Nam (Naam) means, you are Truth. You are the one Generator,
Organizer, and Doer, the One Reality, the Essence. You
are IT.
Sat
Siri (Sri) Akal means, the Supreme Truth never ends, i.e.,
your True Identity is undying.
Singh
means, Lion. All male Sikhs have
Singh as their middle name. A Sikh's given name, as in many other
traditions, usually denotes some aspect of God. Male and female Sikhs
often have the same given name, e.g., Hari Singh, man, and Hari Kaur,
woman.
Hari
is another name for God, meaning the creative aspect of God.
Kaur
means, Princess. All female Sikhs have Kaur as their middle
name. Their first name, as in many other traditions, usually denotes
some aspect of God.
Bhai
Sahiba and Bhai Sahib are titles of reverence
given to highly respected Sikh
women and men respectively for their spiritual insight and knowledge.
Sardarni
Sahiba and Singh Sahib(S.S.),
i.e., Noble Lioness and Noble Lion, are titles given to women and
men respectively who have become ordained Sikh ministers through Sikh
Dharma Worldwide.
Mukhia
Sardarni Sahiba and Mukhia Singh Sahib(M.S.S.),
i.e., Chief Noble Lioness and Chief Noble Lion, are ministerial titles
given to women and men respectively who have given exceptional service
to the community. Indicates an elder of Sikh
Dharma Worldwide.
Siri
Sardarni Sahiba andSiri
Singh Sahib (S.S.S.), i.e., Supreme Noble Lioness and
Supreme Noble Lion, are ministerial titles given to women and men
respectively who are the superior religious authorities within a particular
domain of Sikh Dharma
Worldwide.
Khalsameans, the Body of Pure Ones, i.e., all those who
contemplate the Lord; those who live by their inner purity and light;
those who are pure of heart. See Sikh
Dharma Glossary.
From
the Sacred Writings of the Sikhs Jap Sahib Meditation by Guru Gobind Singh
There
is no mark, which sets apart
The Ever Changeless Light of hearts.
No caste or sect, shape, form or hue;
Imagination can't construe
His Greatness or His countless Names;
The King Who o'er the three worlds reigns;
A million Indras can't compete;
God's men and demons touch His feet.
The
world's vast fortunes seem as weeds
Amidst the garden of His deeds.
Thus, by His deeds His Name is
placed;
Breath of Wisdom, Grace of grace.
Even forests slim or small
In glades and glens repeat the call,
"He is Infinite and All ... Infinite and All."
I
bow to Thee, Eternal,
Beyond death the Beauteous Form.
To the Merciful and Mighty,
O, I bow to Thee, Unborn;
To the One Who has no costume,
Who’s beyond all destiny,
Without treasure, without body, Indestructible is He;
Who is Nameless and cannot be named,
Who occupies no space,
Beyond karma, beyond dharma, beyond need of dwelling place.
O,
I bow to Thee Unconquerable, the Stranger to defeat.
To the Fearless, Self Sufficient One, the One without deceit;
To the One Who has no color, no beginning and no end,
Who is Bountiful and Faultless, Far Too Great to comprehend;
O, I bow to Thee Who art but One and Thee Who many be.
Beyond earth, air, water, fire and gas, I bow my Lord to Thee ...
Beyond earth, air, water, fire and gas, I bow my Lord to Thee.
I
bow to Him beyond all deeds, Who wears no special dress,
Who has no country, name or manner, the Desireless.
I bow to Thee Imperishable, Thee from sorrow free;
Beyond attachment, anger, pride, desire and greed is He;
To the One in need of no one, Who is worshipped in three worlds;
The Source of every treasure, He Who cannot be installed.
He Who’s free from all affliction, independent of all breath;
He Who organizes and destroys, Who is the Death of death.
O,
I bow to He Who generates, the One Who can't be known.
The Source of passion, strength and grace;
I bow to Thee, Unborn;
He Who is the Supreme Yogi, far beyond all intellect;
He in need of no support, yet Who supports the ocean's depth ...
He in need of no support, yet Who supports the ocean's depth.
I
bow to He Who has no caste, religion, faith or creed;
Sublime and All Prevailing Beauty, with no lineage;
The Countryless, the Garbless, Homeless, Spouseless, King of all,
Who dispenses death and mercy, He Who takes the shape of all.
O, I bow to the Creator, the Sustainer, the True Lord;
To the One Annihilator, low I bow to Thee Unborn;
To the One Who has no secrets, He Who is the Death of all;
The Creator of all beauties, their destruction and their fall.
O,
I bow to the Sustainer, Omnipresent in all hues;
Who prevails throughout the universe, the Endless Well of Truths.
O, I bow to Thee, Immortal Lord, to Thee untouched by age;
To the Doer, the Forgiver, to the Fearless and the Sage ...
To the Doer, the Forgiver, to the Fearless and the Sage.
He
Who is Every Occupation, no relations, no restraint;
To the kind and constant Husband, Aspiration of the saint;
To the Endless and the Infinite, the Love of every soul;
The Creator and Destroyer, bend thou low, this mortal coil.
Bow down to the Lord of Yogis, the Sustainer of the wife;
The Enjoyer of all pleasures, the Caretaker of all life.
He
Who's kind and understanding, more impartial than the sea;
He Who dries up all life's fluids, O, I bow my God to Thee.
To the Bountiful and Fruitful, Who is not sustained by breath;
Who is Fearless and Desireless, He Who is the Death of death;
Who is Infinitely Gracious, Who’s within and out of me;
To the Only God whose Name is Truth, I bow, my Lord to Thee ...
To the Only God whose Name is Truth, I bow, my Lord to Thee.
I
bow to Thee, O Virtuous, upon Whom all rely;
He Who lives in everyone, the One from Whom all shapes arise;
To the Moon of moons, the King of kings, the most respected One;
Unto He Who has no comrade, Hymn of hymns and Sun of suns;
He Who is the Dance within the dance, the Sound within the sound.
To the Music of all music, to the Current, I bow down;
To the One Who is the Hand and is the hand's Activity,
Who contains all forms, all maya, Great and Glorious is He.
The
Dispute of all disputes, the Supreme Siddha of the verse;
To the User of all weapons, Mother of the universe;
Who is All-Supreme in wisdom, without lust and costume free;
To the Master of maneuvers, O, I bow my Lord to Thee ...
To the Master of maneuvers, O, I bow my Lord to Thee.
I
bow to He Who cures disease, Who takes our daily care;
Present in both gods and demons, Who is Dutiful and Fair.
He Who knows all forms of cunning, the Embodiment of love;
Who bestows all life and charity, All Seeing Lord above;
To the Mantra of all mantras, Pure of fire and the Pure;
To the Jantra of all jantras, Conqueror of the universe;
The Immortal, Without Master, to the True and Blissful Form;
To the Tantra of all tantras, low, I bow to Thee Unborn.
O,
I bow to He Who rules all wealth, the Brightest of the bright;
To the Seed of seeds, the Song of songs, the Form of dark and light;
To the Honored of all honored, without fear or mystery;
Object of all meditation, O, I bow my Lord to Thee ...
Object of all meditation, O, I bow my Lord to Thee.
I
bow to the Bestower of all knowledge time and space;
To the Source of love, the Source of strength, salvation, bliss and
grace.
He Who takes the form of passion, He Who takes the form of pain;
To the Harshest of the harsh, the Many and the One again;
To the Everlasting Sculptor Who is pleased with every mold;
The Embodiment of kindness, the Controller of the soul;
The Destroyer of the three conditions, future, past and now.
He
Who is the Life of life, bestowing undestroyable power;
To the Battle of all battles, the Embodiment of peace;
The Unalterable Essence, Formless through eternity;
To the Righteous Lord of Indras, Who’s within and out of me;
Meditation of all meditations, Lord, I bow to Thee ...
Meditation of all meditations, Lord, I bow to Thee.
*The
dates are given in BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era). These
years correspond to the same dates in BC and AD but by defining the
current period as the "Common Era" the nomenclature attempts
to treat all religions and beliefs as equal.
"We've
never started a war before, but we
have finished many." -- Livtar
Singh Khalsa
*'Bole
So Nihal': "One who speaks this shall be blessed."
An exaltation traditionally expressed on occasions when
a rallying affirmation is appropriate. The answer to this
call is 'Sat Siri Akal': "Truth is supreme and
undying."
Sikh Coalition helps get
historic protections
for millions of students in New York State.
Believe God is Truth and Word
is Guru.
One Immortal Being,
Greetings,
Names and Titles
