How Do Animations of Sikh Gurus/Heroes Hurt Religious Sentiments?

Recently, in fact only yesterday, a site on the web removed all of the digitized animations of a well-known series of stories about the life of Guru Nanak.

(An image grab of a frame from one of the videos is attached.)

The day before protests were lodged against You Tube and the video user removed the animations. Complaints were lodged with SGPC asking that legal action be taken for "hurting the religious sentiments of Sikhs." On facebook, a large number of discussions via personal pages and wall-to-wall posting raged.

At the bottom of the controversy was the belief that the digitized animations were not only disrespectful but they promoted idolatry. Idolatry is specifically forbidden in the Sikh Rehat Maryada.

But can that claim stand up? Do animations promote idolatry, any more than single images promote idolatry? Not to push the technicalities too much --- but --- an animation is nothing more than single images arranged in frames that are then timed to shift one to the other automatically, at a set speed.

So almost any image of our Gurus could be said to promote idolatry. Or hurt religious sentiments of Sikhs by promoting idolatry.

We have posted a poll so the membership can express its views. We would also like you to explain your views in this thread by posting comments as replies to the lead article.

• When you reply would you tell us how you define idolatry? What does that mean to you?
• Are there any images of our Gurus that would not promote idolatry in your opinion?
  Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/hard-talk/31668-how-do-animations-sikh-gurus-heroes.html
  
• Or do all images promote idolatry?
• And last question: What is your understanding of the term in Indian law "hurting religious sentiments?"

I have uploaded some images just to give a sense of how many different ways in which we have already integrated images of the Gurus in our lives.

 
Do share your immediate thoughts or reactions on this issue? We value your views! Login Now! or Sign Up Today! to share your views with us.. Gurfateh!

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The kinds of images we find on the Internet

First row from left to right:

1) Guru Arjan Dev and Bhai Gurdas from the Art of Punjab web site.
2) Image of Guru Nanak from a video presentation of Tu mera mata tu mera pita by Bhai Gopal Singh ji
3) Still frame from a video animation of the life of Sant Kabir ji

Second row from left to right:

4) Still frame from a video produced by sikhvideos, Guru Nanak Daata Bakshi Lai Mission
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=31668
5) Image taken from an e-card animation remembering the shaheed of Guru Teg Bahadur ji
6) Cover from an e-book, Guru Nanak and Prayer, found on the Sikhnet site

Third row from left to right:

7) Fresco of Sikh Gurus from the wall of a Gurdwara in India
8 ) Page grab of a 2006 claymation animated video on DVD of the life of Guru Nanak, by "Religions of the World: Our World Faiths Animated"

What you are going to do with thousands of murals and paintings on walls of Harmandir Sahib oe at Akal Thakat. Those too will come under this catagory. Are these people going to destroy or remove those too.

Hardip Singh ji

Forgive me but I was the one who asked the question because it has been the theme of the week on the Internet, it would seem. There was no other way to ask it. Without getting the question overly tangled up in words and phrases.

But I agree with you.

There is another question and it might require a lawyer. Do we truly understand what the Indian Constitution means by "attack religious sentiments" which I believe is the term it employs.

I for one do really feel that the images posters & videos of Guru Sahibaans will promote idol worship as we have already seen most of the rural folks bowing before pictures who do not know an iota of Gurmat .

I agree with views of Hardip Singh. Idolatory is bane of Sikh religion. U can find it in all Gurdwaras, including Golden Temple. Sikh pilgrims in Golden Temple worship Beri trees, Nishan Sahib, Hukamnamas written on display boards, Guru granth sahib and Monument to Shahid BAB DEEP SINGH with in the holy precincts. How can we avoid this Idolatory?
We behave neither like Muslims(non-idolators) nor Hindus(idolators) but our mode of WORSHIP resembles more like Hindus. We do not FOLLOW message of GURUs recorded in Sri Guru Granth Sahib but worship the Holy Book more like Hindu Idols. One can observe this ritual during early morning installation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in Golden Temple.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=31668
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=31668
H.S.VIRK

[quote=Harry Rakhraj;130797]I begin with Sir Shobha Singh's series of paintings depicting the Sikh Gurus. To me, his work is great art. At another level, it depicts the artist's perception of the divine qualities of the Gurus. Nothing more, but nothing less either. Owning, displaying or viewing these paintings, like all great works of Art is, to me, a source of inspiration. Do I consider this idolatry? No!
If I were to go beyond this and do an aarti of the paintings, that could,in a narrow sense, be idolatry. Idolatry then, to me is ascribing spiritual qualities to an inanimate thing, including a painting, digital image, statue, whatever. Having said this, I must hasten to clarify that the act of 'matha tek' to the Guru Granth Sahib is outside this definition for the simple reason that it is the 'baani' and not the physical granth that is the object of Sikh obeisance.

In some Sikh families, the Guru Granth Sahib is provided physical 'amenities' just as would be done in the case of a venerated elder. Even this I would not term as idolatry but only an aberration of customs and rituals that have come to us as part of our collective past. Does this practice hurt my religious sensibilities? No!

If any Sikh Guru is depicted as engaging in an activity that goes against the Sikh Maryada, that to me would be hurtful, though even then I would not say it has hurt my 'religious sensibilities'. To me, religion is a very personal and private thing and, as such, immune to any and every act of violence, including depiction of a Sikh symbol in a derogatory manner.

Summing up, there is nothing, repeat nothing whatsoever, that would hurt my religious sensibilities; not even witnessing the forced conversion of a Sikh. Of course this last would not only hurt me deeply but may even goad me into acts of violence that are alien to my nature. But then this would not be based in religion but in something much more primordial.

Historically, images have been used as a means of conveying concepts too obtuse to be readily understood by simple unlettered folks. If the aim of these images is to educate, there does not seem to be any case against the practice.

I think it would help to understand why idolatry is rejected. We recognize Ik Onkar – the One Universal Creator God, Beyond Birth and Self-Existent. To be all this, Ik Onkar’s whole state must be formless and timeless. Anything that is created and has form has the potential of being misused as an idol. Idolatry is excessive reverence toward the objects of faith, whether living created beings or images of created beings.

The difference between idol worship and worshipping Ik Onkar by focussing attention on an object of faith is a matter of where we attribute reverence. Is it the object that we revere, or is the object a focal point for those who cannot comfortably comprehend the One Who Is All? Not everyone’s mind can contemplate or develop communion with an infinite, formless Creator Being and they need a small chunk. That’s why almost all religions ‘package’ God in some kind of form. And most of us still need gurus and prophets because we haven’t evolved consciousness enough to commune or even acknowledge that such is possible. However, science and philosophy haves made a lot of progress defining ‘collective consciousness’, so we are now affirming that we are of the One Mind.

‘How do I define idolatry? What does that mean to me?’
Idolatry is believing that any created thing, animate, inanimate or even animation is greater than any of the myriad other created things. All of THIS is Ik Onkar. . . you, me and everything else too. Recognizing that all is the One, love for all things should be equal. Ah, but let’s not confuse love with ‘like’ and ‘dislike’.

We carry samsaras from one lifetime to the next, which give us unique preferences and attractions, but these sentiments are not love. These are the curricula of our unique life-lessons. Thinking that ones personal preferences are ‘right’ or ‘better’ than another person’s is simply ego play.

Love is the unconditional hope and will for the prosperity and wellbeing of God’s expression of creativity – life, in all its forms. We can enjoy what we like, because they are gifts from God, but we should also remember that these objects are gifts and not God in totality.

We also need to accept what we don’t like about creation, because these things too were given as gifts by God. For a creature, like you or me, to even think that THAT THING doesn’t belong here suggests that we believe our wisdom and our intelligence are higher and greater than God’s.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=31668
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=31668

’Are there any images of our Gurus that would not promote idolatry in your opinion?’
Well, if images and effigies of the goddess Kali have devotees, I would think any and all image of the Gurus could be used to promote idolatry too.

‘Do all images promote idolatry?’
Promote? I would say, ‘increase the potential risk’ of idolatry. Promotion of idolatry comes in the form of inculcated beliefs. Someone has to think or repeatedly be told to think that the object is to be revered like God. Social conditioning (and those samsaras) dictates what we each revere, hold sacred and consider holy.

As William Shakespear said, ‘There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.’ In my opinion, we should really be working to change our minds before we think to change our environment. When we set out on the path to eliminate risk, it become difficult to know where to draw the line. Should we cut down every tree and bury every rock to eliminate the risk of having Wickans worship them? Is there a chance that Sikh children will see Dora the Explorer animations and start thinking that Dora is God?

The Guru Nanak animations would not form the basis for idolatry unless someone in the lives of Sikh children (or naïve adults for that matter) led them to believe that the image they see is God. That would be very, very difficult, given that the child would also see all kinds of different images coming from that same TV or computer screen. Nothing short of brainwashing would be needed to accomplish a conversion of belief of this proportion.

‘What is your understanding of the term in Indian law "hurting religious sentiments?’
I’m not familiar with this term. Yet the language makes me wonder if those complaining about the animations are experiencing excessive reverence toward Guru Nanak.

Clearly the complaint was lodged due to intolerance toward others’ views. To require that all opinions and perspectives other than the ‘officially endorsed’ one be silenced seems contrary to Sikh principles to me.

On the other hand, if the animations featuring Guru Nanak or any other person were, in any way, misrepresentative of his character or deeds, there would be reason to take offence. Defamation of character is also contrary to Sikh principles.

So, what’s the system for arbitrating when two Sikh principles are used to counter and undermine the other? Should tolerance be upheld in this situation or should defamation be put down? Or are we going to allow the secular rule to stand, wherein might is right and the loudest cry wins?

In Sikhism there is no room to worship any Idol whether it is made from stone or mattel or painting on paper or canvas. Also there is no room in Sikhism to worship any living person or animal. I have been writing and talking about this for long time. But no one is interested to stop this. Or do any thing about it. An Idol is non living thing no matter what it is made of.
Hurting the religious sentiment is very broad word and it used by most every one. Every one uses it for his own benefit.
If the pictures and mettel are being sold in the compound of Harmander then how can any thing can be stopped? We all have to start with our self. I my self never had any Guru’s picture at my home nor I will have any.

Seeker3k