Sikh Clergy to Scrap Nanakshahi Calendar?

Soul_jyot · #1 (**permalink**) 17-Oct-2009, 03:59 AM

source: The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News

Sikh clergy to scrap Nanakshahi calendar?
Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 16
In a move that could kick a storm in the entire Sikh world, the Sikh clergy is likely to give a re-thinking to the widely accepted Nanakshahi calendar even to the extent of its replacement with a new calendar in their bid to put an end to the long-standing dilemma over observance of important Sikh events.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/hard-talk/27105-sikh-clergy-to-scrap-nanakshahi-calendar.html

The Nanakshahi calendar is a solar calendar which starts with the birth of the first Sikh Guru Nanak in 1469 and it has been in use in over 90 per cent gurdwaras across the world since 2003, when it was released at the Takht Damdama Sahib on the Baisakhi Day in presence of the then Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti and the then SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar. Vedanti and Badungar, had got the first copies of calendar, which, however, was being opposed by a section of orthodox Sikh sects such as, the Sant Samaj and the Damdami Taksal.

The peculiar feature of the calendar was that since it was based on the length of the tropical solar year and not on the basis of the lunar cycle, the dates of important Sikh events did not fluctuate as was the case with the old lunar-based calendar. As of now, all important Sikh days, except for the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, were being observed in accordance with the Nanakshahi calendar, which, was even recognised by the Punjab and the Central governments.

The fresh and controversial discussion, it was learnt, would be held in an emergency but, secret meeting of the Sikh clergy to be held at the Akal Takht tomorrow. The meeting would be presided over by the Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh and other Sikh high priests Balwant Singh Nandgarh, Jathedar of the Takht Damdama Sahib, Tarlochan Singh, Jathedar of the Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Iqbal Singh,Jathedar of Takht Patna Sahib, and Kulwant Singh, the Jathedar of the Takht Hazoor Sahib or one of his representatives were likely to participate in the meeting which, was likely to end up as a stormy affair as some of Jathedars could put up an opposition to the idea of revocation or change of calendar on the grounds that it was already duly recognised world over and by apex Sikh institutes like the Akal Takht and the SGPC.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=27105

“We are going to have a discussion on the calendar issue as we want to put an end to the dilemma prevailing in the Sikh world,” was all what was said by one of the Jathedars when contacted about the agenda of the meeting.

The issue assumed importance and could have certain political overtones in view of the forthcoming elections for the president of the SGPC and the elections to general house of the SGPC to be held during next year. A large section of the Sikh community was of the view that the calendar was important as it re-affirmed the Sikh faith’s separate identity from the Hinduism or the Islam.

It would be a big blunder to replace the calendar and the entire Sikh diaspora would be opposing it, said Dr Pritpal Singh, vice-president of the American Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee

Gyani Jarnail Singh · #2 (**permalink**) 17-Oct-2009, 07:24 AM

FLIP FLOPS....to destroy any credibility that is left....attempts at pulling out any small roots that may still be alive....

vijaydeep Singh · #3 (**permalink**) 17-Oct-2009, 13:46 PM

Gurfateh
Well if Nanak Shahi Calender is made lunar, issues will be solved.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=27105

If Hindus use lunar Calendar of Vikrami, then it does not mean that they could absorb us.

Fact is that Muslims too use the Lunar Calendar and Hindus could not effect them either.

Gyani Jarnail Singh · #4 (**permalink**) 17-Oct-2009, 15:29 PM

Vijaydeep ji..Muslims EAT the Cow..Hindus venerate the Cow...no matter what "calendar" they use..the Hindus will NEVER SAY..Muslims are Hindu...
With SIKHS..its a different kettle of fish all together...

1. nanaksahi Calendar was finally approved..land certain issues were kept alive in it...( in Punjabi they call this Dudh ditta par meengnna pa ke ( literally..the She Goat provided the Milk..but also dropped some dung droppings into it ) There shoudl have been a CLEAN BREAK and ALL GURPURAB dates shoudl have been Permanently FIXED based on the ORIGINAL DATES 500-400-300-200 years ago. SO IF vasakhi in 1699 was on March 30th 1699..THAT is the DATE it shoudl be celebrated each year...BEST Solution to go with the Calednar that is WORLD CLASS...used throughout the world.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=27105
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=27105
Each Year the WAIT for the Banaras Pandits to DECIDE for us..on when to celebrate OUR GURPURABS was a major pain in the A**. The Amrtisar Jantries could not be printed until the benars ke thuggh gave their go ahead..a new form of slavery.

NOW..that the Vast MAJORITY of SIKHS conciled themsleves and accepted the mingganna wala dhudh...Filtered the milk and began to celebrate the Gurpurabs as per Nanaksahi Calendar...those sectors that wanted CHAOS then..want CHAOS NOW. These never expected the SIKHS to begin using this Calendar so well..hence the moves to BRING IT DOWN....a MULTI-FRONT WAR is on...read other THREADS to find out...any subject that seems like settling down..the."troublemakers" JUMP IN and AGITATE.
WHAT is the sudden urgency to RE-OPEN this Calendar Issue ??? 95% of Sikhs all over the world use it. ONLY the BABAS and DERAS oppose it..and these types will always OPPOSE everything the other side does. period.

vijaydeep Singh · #5 (**permalink**) 17-Oct-2009, 23:56 PM

Gurfateh
Das agrees to Gyani Sahib JI.

But das feels that since the time of Tenth Master, Sikhs were themselves self sufficient in astronomy.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=27105
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=27105

As for the date of Baisakhi to formulate Khalsa, Guru did not consult Pandit, likewise while leaving Chamkaur, way via star was used by Sikhs and Guru alike.

To hell with Deradars. Das agrees that Bikrami is by now discarded all toagather by Sikhs.

Gyani Jarnail Singh · #6 (**permalink**) 18-Oct-2009, 08:05 AM

For SIKHS there is no such things as auspicious day or unauspicious days.."real" days or not so real...
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=27105
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=27105

BASICALLY..TIME is such that once a "moment" has PASSED it sin the past..and the EXACT SAME MOMENT can NEVER come back...so whats the BIG DEAL ?? NOTHING. The Special Time that was on Vasakhi Day 1469..when the DHUND disappeared and Channan Spread..or Vasakhi 1699 when the Guru Became the Chela and MERGED his Body in the KHALSA..ALL THAT is a ONE OFF SPECIAL MOMENT..never again to be repeated...what we commemorate are just COPYCAT MOMENTS..

SO the KHALSA PANTH shoudl continue to Be INDEPENDENT and use whatever calendar it deems fit to commmeorate those days...all of them cna be permanently FIXED so that in a few years every sikh man woman a nd child can know those dates by heart...as it is NOW..even the Gurdwara Granthi/Parbhandaks DONT KNOW..what date is the next Gurpurab ?? what an embarassing situation...over a no deal question...

Soul_jyot · #7 (**permalink**) 19-Oct-2009, 03:57 AM

Nanakshahi Calendar
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=27105
High priests mull middle path
Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 18
Apparently having realised that the Nanakshahi calendar issue could boomerang in case the widely accepted calendar was withdrawn quietly, the five Sikh high priests led by the Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh, have finally sought to resolve the vexed issue by resorting to a middle path by forwarding the calendar to the SGPC for effecting any proposed amendments in it.

The calendar is now scheduled to be amended or rectified by the Sikh scholars within about two months. The changed calendar is likely to be released on the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh on January 5.

The solar calendar, starting from the birth of Guru Nanak Dev in 1469, was designed by the Sikh scholar, Pal Singh Purewal, and was issued on Baisakhi at Takht Damdama Sahib in 2003. It was open to future amendments, if any.

Meanwhile, various Sikh organisations have flayed the alleged hush-hush move aimed at “revocation” of the calendar or effecting of any “large-scale changes” in it.

They have urged the Akal Takht to ensure that a unanimous decision was taken on the issue. Opposing any action leading to withdrawal of the calendar or introduction of any changes in it, the American Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee vice- president, Dr Pritpal Singh, and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief, Paramjit Singh Sarna, have suggested that even a Sarbat Khalsa could be called to discuss the issue at length so as to ensure a consensus on the calendar issue.

The decision to forward the calendar for amendments or rectifications, if any, was taken at a special meeting of the five Sikh high priests held at the Akal Takht on October 17.

Those who, participated in the meeting, included the Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh, the Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar, Balwant Singh Nandgarh, the Takht Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar, Tarlochan Singh, the Takht Patna Sahib Jathedar Iqbal Singh, a representative of the Takht Hazoor Sahib, Jathedar Kulwant Singh, and the SGPC chief Avtar Singh.

Though an effort was made by certain quarters to push for the withdrawal of the calendar at the outset of the meeting, the proposed move was shunned, following stiff opposition to the idea by the Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar, Balwant Singh Nandgarh, who, it was learnt, pitched for unanimity of Sikhs on the issue, highly placed sources said. His unflinching stance, it was learnt, forced the Akal Takht Jathedar and others to forward the calendar to the SGPC for an exhaustive study by the Sikh scholars and calendar experts.

The idea to bring about any sudden changes in the calendar, it was learnt, was also not taken well by the top SAD leadership.

The Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh’s written statement, issued on October 18, said to ensure unity among the Sikh Panth, some Panthic organisations and sects had extended certain “valuable” suggestions that have been forwarded to the SGPC. The SGPC would be discussing the issue with Sikh scholars, Panthic organisations and calendar experts and would be submitting its detailed report on the issue to the Akal Takht. The amended calendar would be issued on the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=27105

source: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091019/punjab.htm#18

dalbirk · #8 (**permalink**) 19-Oct-2009, 13:08 PM

In garb of doing some minor rectifications , RSS backed PS Badal's SGPC is hell bent on squandring whatever gains were made by partly correct Nanakshahi Calender & are ready to be surrendered to Hindu zealots & thus another setback on part of Sikhs to determine their independent identity .

Narayanjot Kaur · #9 (**permalink**) 19-Oct-2009, 13:11 PM

dalbirk ji
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=27105

Thanks for explaining it to me.