13-foot Long Bir is Unacceptable: Akal Takht

spnadmin · #1 (**permalink**) 22-Jul-2011, 00:31 AM

Akal Takht, the supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs, today took a serious note of 13-ft long Bir (copy) of Guru Granth Sahib being prepared in Malaysia saying this was a sacrilegious act.Akal Takht Jathedar Gurbachan Singh said it had been brought to his notice that some Sikh religious groups based in Malaysia were preparing 13-ft long Bir of Guru Granth Sahib, the holy Sikh scripture.Their purpose was to get their achievement registered in the Guinness Book of World Record, he told PTI. This was a "sacrilegious act" and would badly hurt the sentiments of Sikhs, the head priest said.The Bir of Guru Granth Sahib was meant for medication or recitation and not for other purposes as the Malaysian Sikh group had planned, he said.The Jathedar said the importance of Bir of Guru Granth Sahib is great in the life of a Sikh, adding for the community "it is a living Guru".Even the Supreme Court had already described the holy Bir as living Guru of the Sikhs, he said.The Jathedar said the 13-ft long Bir would be difficult to carry from one place to another.It was also very difficult to keep it in the sanctum sanctorum of a gurdwara, he said adding the matter would be discussed on July 22 at the Akal Takht. The issue of disrespect of 100 Birs would also be discussed on the same day, Gurbachan Singh said. Last year, 100 Birs were damaged when swirling waters entered the premises of Delhi-based Mahant Chela Ram.All the damaged Birs were disposed of in a hush-hush manner without adhering to Sikh rituals, the head priest said adding this was a "blasphemous" act.—PTI
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/controversies/36413-13-foot-long-bir-unacceptable-akal.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36413

http://www.pbd.in/index.php?option=c...ation&Itemid=6

spnadmin · #2 (**permalink**) 22-Jul-2011, 00:35 AM

I have a question based on these two sections:

Quote:

This was a "sacrilegious act" and would badly hurt the sentiments of Sikhs, the head priest said.The Bir of Guru Granth Sahib was mea

Quote:

100 Birs were damaged when swirling waters entered the premises of Delhi-based Mahant Chela Ram.All the damaged Birs were disposed of in a hush-hush manner without adhering to Sikh rituals, the head priest said adding this was a "blasphemous" act.—PTI

There has to be a difference between a sacrilegious act or sacrilege, and a blasphemous act or blasphemy in Sikhi. Here they are being used inter-changeably. Does anyone know why?