WITHOUT ANY DISCUSSION IN THE SANGAT THE JATHEDAR’S EDICT ON TATTOOING ISSUED UNDER PRESSURE
Giani Gurbachan Singh Jathedar Sri Akal Takhat Sahib |
ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਲਿਖਿ ਲੀਓ ਸਰੀਰ ॥੧॥ {ਪੰਨਾ 524}
Sikhism is a faith of Sangat and Guru. Guru repeatedly declared that Sangat is above him the Guru, so much so even the Tenth Emperor got himself baptized at the hands of Panj Pyaras. To prevent internal dissensions Guru gave the concept of Gurmata the resolution. Keeping in view the issue, Gurmata can be moved locally, for a region and for the entire nation.
The concept of eternal seat the Akal Takhat is thus in continuation of Gurmata principle. Akal Takhat head or jathedar is thus the authority to get an issue of national importance resolved. The Akal Takhat is the thus the collective conscience of Sangat the congregation.
Jathedar is thus a sort of president in an assembly; in this case the general body of the Sikh masses. His job is thus to know the conscience of the Sikh masses. But then again he himself alone is no body. He has to convene the Panj Pyara meeting and then pass a gurmata for the Sikh nation. To make more clear an issue in question is first deliberated in the sangat. After a reasonable discussion a consensus naturally occurs and the Jathedar thus promulgates hukamnama the edict to set at rest the discussion. So you can say he has to be the rubber stamp of Sikh Sangat.
Thus without consensus the Jathedar is an ordinary Sikh.
It has been the endeavour of Khalsa Panth to appoint such persons as Jathedar who are not self seeking persons. He has to be a low profile person and not a kind of ambitious person. Some kind of saintly figure.
Keeping in view the powers of Jathedar naturally no Govt would allow Govt within the Govt. The Akal Takhat had thus remained an eye sore for the Govt of Delhi. The endeavour of the Govts has thus been to manipulate appointment of the jathedar of their likings and to misuse his authority. It is said the first such Jathedar to be appointed was Ragi Darshan Singh.
The worst was Giani Pooran Singh who would issue hukamnama the edict every now and then at his whim and fancy. Later how ever it was proved that Giani was a tool in the hands of RSS.
Keeping in view the intensions of the Govt of India and RSS, we can only expect that the Sikh Diaspora would act as pressure group for Jathedar so that he can’t bow to the dictates of Delhi, RSS and Badals. But unfortunately the performance of Diaspora has so far been hopeless.
I am pained when I feel that my nation’s Jathedar has erred under some pressure. Recently the Jathedar was used to terminate the hunger strike of Bibi Nirpreet Kaur of Delhi. One can question the conduct of Jathedar in this, where was the consensus in this case? Where was the Gurmata the resolution. Sikh Diaspora should have questioned him. Similarly he issued edict against writing of gurbani on Rumalas.
I remember once Joginder Singh Vedanti was used to issue a hukamnama that no new Gurdwara be established. The people should have questioned him if not a gurdwara should we construct a temple. But none questioned him.
Why I am writing all this is that I am pained at the recent hukamnama of the jathedar on tattooing. (Well, so far as the issue of compliance of the order is concerned I will comply)
I feel the edict of the jathedar must have been issued under pressure from vested interests and I believe it is not in order in view of the following:-
1. That no discussion in the sangat took place as to use of Gurbani in tattooing.
2. That there is a need to change outlook. Because the Guru says God or His concept is daily fresh. (Sahib mera neet nava) Earlier Gurbani was written on paper (or may be cloth, wood or iron) but now it is available on computers, chips, cds, dvds. The computer has negative or sex oriented things also stored in it. But that doesn’t mean that Gurbani is desecrated. The respect about the Gurbani is in the mind of the user. Gurbani is a concept which can’t be desecrated unless some one willingly or deliberately does so as in the case of Piara Bhaniara. Thus if some one tattoos Ikonkar or Khanda on his body it is no desecration or disrespect. It is rather respect or preaching.
3. Also we have been seeing our gianis with tattoos of ‘Ikonkar’ on their hands.
4. Also the Gurbani basically stresses on love and tolerance. There is no room for fanaticism. Fanaticism has been harming Sikhism.
5. Even the Guru also wished that his mind was branded with the naam the name of God. ਰਾਮ ਹਮ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਲਾਲੇ ਕਾਂਢੇ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਹਮਰੈ ਮਸਤਕਿ ਦਾਗੁ ਦਗਾਨਾ ਹਮ ਕਰਜ ਗੁਰੂ ਬਹੁ ਸਾਢੇ ॥ (page 171 SGGS) O God, I am the slave of the True Guru. || 1 || Pause || My forehead has been branded with His brand; I owe such a great debt to the Guru. He has been so generous and kind to me.
In light of above I request that the jathedar may kindly avoid indulging into such small things without the deliberation of issue in the Sangat. I feel the Jathedar might have issued the hukamnana under the pressure from vested interests. So that the concept of Hukamnama is harmed.
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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Clergy-isolated-on-legal-action-for-tattoos-on-Gurbani-verses/articleshow/20657165.cms
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Clergy-isolated-on-legal-action-for-tattoos-on-Gurbani-verses/articleshow/20657165.cms
Clergy isolated on legal action for tattoos on Gurbani verses
Yudhvir Rana & IP Singh, TNN | Jun 19, 2013, 04.16 AM IST
AMRITSAR/JALANDHAR: Various Sikh intellectuals and historians have expressed differences with Akal Takhtj athedar Giani Gurbachan Singh over pursuing legal action against those who tattoo Gurbani verses and even EkOnkar (first words in Guru Granth Sahib) on their body.
According to Gurtej Singh, an author and former professor of Sikhism, it's nothing but a diktat. "Sikh clergy has no business issuing such directions. If one does not have any intention of insulting Gurbani and is getting Ek Onkar tattooed out of devotion, how can the action be termed as 'maliciously hurting religious sentiments', as defined in Section 295A of IPC," he said.
"The clergy cannot have such intimate control on the body and minds of Sikhs. It is something between a person and guru or God and ones own convictions. How can they go to such an extent and do things which are not even in their domain. They are issuing fatwas (edicts) on all that is wrong and against Sikh tenets, in which Sikh Sangat is supreme and not any clergyman," he added.
B S Goraya, founder of Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib Langha Movement, said etching Ek Onkar on hand was an age old practice and didn't mean any disrespect to Gurbani. The jathedar should have held Panthic deliberations on the issue, he said. "It is a wrong decision and lacks panthic opinion," said Goraya.
On Monday, the jathedar had announced decision to recommend filing of FIR under Section 295A of IPC against persons tattooing verses of Gurbani or Ek Onkar on their body.
Professor Balwant Singh, who is a senior professor at Guru Nanak Dev University and member of several committees constituted by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and Akal Takht, opined that there should have been comprehensive guidelines on the issue to dispel confusion. He said the jathedar should have spoken about the extent of limitations to which Gurbani verses can be printed or written.
"Today we see Gurbani verses and Ek Onkar in print media, invitation cards, visiting cards, and decorative calligraphy among others. The Sikh clergy should also give guidelines on these," he said and added that every effort must be made to maintain the honour and respect of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
According to Jalandhar-based advocate Navtej Singh Monhas, intent is always the foremost point for registration of a criminal case. "From where does this criminal or malicious intent come if somebody is getting a tattoo out of love for God or Guru? The clergy is pushing the Sikhs back in the Stone Age. At most, they can issue an advisory on such issues," he said.
He also pointed out that several elderly Sikhs and prominent community leaders, including those from SGPC and SAD, had Ek Onkar inscribed on their hand or forearm.
The clergy's decision has not gone down well even with young radicals. President of Sikh Youth of Punjab, which owes allegiance to radical organization Dal Khalsa, Ranbir Singh said the clergy could have issued a well-reasoned advisory. "To threaten the youth, that too with legal action while giving up their own authority will push them further away from religion," he said.
Meanwhile, in what can be seen as an admission of the eroding authority of Sikh clergy in getting its directives implemented, the Akal Takht jathedar admitted on Tuesday that he was resorting to legal action as people had less care about religious punishment. "If they are not afraid of legal action or going to jail, they don't care much and think they'll go scotfree after tendering an apology," he claimed.
"We are ready to contemplate further on the issue and will do so when such matters are brought into our knowledge," he added.
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No to Sikh religious tattoos
Jathedars impose ban on religious tattoos like Ek Onkar, Khanda
Legal action under Section 295-A for engraving religious tattoos
Amritsar, June 18: If you are planning to engrave any Sikh religious symbol on your body, then drop your idea right away, anyways a legal action can be initiated against you. In the recent meeting of the Jathedar of five Sikh Takhts, a decision was taken that if someone would engrave religious symbols like ‘Ek Onkar’ or ‘ Khanda’ on their body parts as a tattoo, then a legal action under Section 295 A will be initiated against that person....
1 comment:
Religious symbols like ‘Ek Onkar’ or ‘ Khanda are sacred and are to be respected.If one engraves on the body,it is likely that the body or the part of the body where these sacred symbols are engraved gets in touch with something that is not pure''PAVITTAR''or ''PAK'' and is thus likely to be insulted.
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