5. Why isn't there a women Granthi?
A man or a woman can perform the services of a Granthi in a Gurdwara. There is no gender bar or any kind of discrimination against any person for becoming a Granthi. Sometimes, we do see a woman sitting in the service of the Holy Guru Granth Sahib during the Diwan time. Being a Granthi is a very hard and demanding job. It is very difficult for a woman, particularly if she has children, to serve a full time Granthi. This is a responsibility which sometimes requires working during odd hours. During a function, at the house of a Sikh, a Granthi is required to go early in the morning to arrange for the function and travel alone back to the Gurdwara. Because of the nature of the duty, it is performed jointly by the husband and the wife. They share this responsibility depending upon the nature and time of the duty.



Questions & Answers - Sikh Faith Chapter05

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~~~**Jap mun Satnaam sda Satnaam...sda satnaam sda satnaam.....~~~

6. Why insist on suits for girls (no naked legs), when boys are allowed to wear shorts in the Gurdwara?
Good manners demand covering of legs by all people, men or women, boys or girls, Sikhs or non Sikhs visiting a Gurdwara. The reason for giving relaxation to the boys in some cases is again a question of culture. In the East (with particular reference to the Punjab) girls always wear Salwar (not even a skirt) when they reach their teens. Girls when in primary schools are permitted to wear skirts. However, with the passage of time, this is changing. Think of the veil. A Western girl is proud to wear it during her wedding. Why doesn't the male wear it at the time of his maffiage? These are only cultural differences. Incidentally, do you note that the youth, both boys and girls, go to a church for their wedding well dressed and with their legs covered? We Sikhs are expected to go to a Gurdwara always in a formal and respectful dress. Whatever the modern trend of wearing clothes, both boys and girls when in their teens, should attend Gurdwara or formal functions in formal clothes with their legs covered. This custom is not unique to Sikhs. In some ancient churches in Europe, such as St. Paul’s Cathedral, visitors (both male and female) are still required to cover their legs. If they have shorts, then they are made to purchase temporary “plastic” pants to wear for entering the churches.



Questions & Answers - Sikh Faith Chapter05

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~~~**Jap mun Satnaam sda Satnaam...sda satnaam sda satnaam.....~~~

7. Why do we do matha tek (bow to touch the ground with our forehead) to the holy Sikh Bible (Guru Granth Sahib)? Is it not idol worship?
Bowing before Guru Granth Sahib is not idol worship. The answer has been discussed earlier. It is to make us feel humble and reduce our ego, the cause of our all problems. To explain it further, culture plays a very important role in the rituals of a religion. We can find such examples all over the world. There are different methods of greeting your friend in different cultures. i) Folding hands in front of your chest and bending head slightly, ii) Bending your body at the waist with your head bending downwards and hands going backwards, as with the Japanese iii) Shaking right hands, the most common international custom iv) Embracing each other, particularly Panjabi women. v) Exchange of kisses, as among the people of the middle East.
In India, bending down so as to touch the feet of an elderly holy person, is an age old custom to express respects to him/her. It is practiced even today as good manners. When the children in the Punjab go to or come from their school, they bend to touch the feet of their parents, particularly their grandparents. In the same way children in the West wish good night to their parents before going to bed. Respecting your parents by bending your parents by bending before them is not human worship. It is a ritual to pay respect. In the West, people take off their hats to respect a woman or a senior person. Similarly, Sikhs, instead of taking off their hat (with a turban they cannot do it, even if they wanted to do it just like their Western friends), do math tek before the Guru to pay their respect and regards. Bending before Guru Granth Sahib is to show one’s respect and regards for the Guru; it is not idol worship. Philosophically, this means that the person who bows before Guru Granth makes a promise to himself to follow the path suggested by the Gurbani. It is something similar to taking an oath to the constitution by raising a hand. In this case, we bow the head instead of raising the hand. The act of bowing reminds a person of his or her being a Sikh and a believer in the teachings of Gurbani. It strengthens the faith in Gurbani which is essential to help us to walk on the path of the Guru.



Questions & Answers - Sikh Faith Chapter05

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~~~**Jap mun Satnaam sda Satnaam...sda satnaam sda satnaam.....~~~

Commercial Advertising Is Forbidden

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ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਗੁਰ ਗੋਵਿੰਦੁ ਸਮਾਲਿ ॥ man karehalaa gur govindh samaal O camel-like mind, dwell upon the Guru and the Lord of the Universe.

what was that?

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Journey ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

amarsanghera ji,

Was your question about my last comment? I can't tell. But if it is, you will see on about 7 or 8 threads the note that commercial advertising is forbidden. The statements are there because I was deleting commercial spamming and had to leave a note every time. The member who did this on all those threads has been kicked out of SPN. So all his/her ads have disappeared like magic. But my note remains. It must be mystifying.

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ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਗੁਰ ਗੋਵਿੰਦੁ ਸਮਾਲਿ ॥ man karehalaa gur govindh samaal O camel-like mind, dwell upon the Guru and the Lord of the Universe.

Could you please explain to me the difference between 'dev' and 'ji'? I have been told that they are a term of respect but what is the actual difference between the two words? Moreso, why is it that all the Gurus are addressed with 'dev' except for Guru Nanak whom is termed as Guru Nanak dev ji (both). Is there a reason for this or is it simply the translations that I am reading? Thank-you

Sorry if this is posted in the incorrect place, I am not too sure how to use this site yet!!