Gayatri Mantra

jasnoor · #1 (**permalink**) 21-Nov-2010, 19:57 PM

Hi all.

One of my favorite morning rituals is listening to some videos of The Gayatri Mantra. I love to hear it, but also to feel the message entering my heart. Would it be against Sikhism to recite this mantra? I have found it to be very universal and nothing in the mantra goes against other religions. It is merely asking the Beloved for Guidance to live in a way that we are made aware of Supreme Reality.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/interfaith-dialogues/33304-gayatri-mantra.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=33304

Are there mantras like this in the Sikh faith also? If so, I would love to hear about them.

Thank you!!!!

Jasnoor
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spnadmin · #2 (**permalink**) 21-Nov-2010, 23:59 PM

jasnoor ji

In my humble opinion, the Gayatri mantra has no place in Sikhi. These are ancient Sanskrit mantras that appear first in the vedas. Insofar as Guru Nanak rejected practices of Brahaminism, why would a Sikh engage in the practice of its recitation?

Now to be a realist -- which I am -- the practice of Hindu mantras and other Hindu practices are found in some sangats and sects of Sikhism. Most Sikhs are in India and are connected unavoidably to the ancient and collective memories of Hindu dharma. It is not easy to drop cultural ties for a new skin for many people. In addition, 3 HO Sikhs (Western Sikh Dhrama) employ mantras as part of their sadhana. I am not here to take any stand based on outrage. But point out that these were integrated with the practice of Sikhism because their founder Yogi Bhajan had his own roots in Vedic teachings and masters.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=33304

The history of Sikhism after the death of Guru Gobind Singh led to chaos and disruption because of the horrific religious persecution of Sikhs. During that period many Hindu practices crept back into Sikhi in some quarters.

The 19th and 20th Centuries show one interesting story after another of reform movements which reclaimed Sikhi as Guru Nanak taught it. This is evident in the Sikh Rehat Maryada, which you should read. There in that document is one area after another where it is made clear that Sikhs are neither Hindu nor Muslim, and that Hindu practices are specifically forbidden to baptized Sikhs.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=33304

I have attached a copy for you and hope you find it answers many of your questions.

jasnoor · #3 (**permalink**) 22-Nov-2010, 04:20 AM

Hi. I see I stuck my foot in my mouth yet again.

Please forgive me for the ignorance. I don't know too much about Hinduism or Sikhism so it was not intentional to offend. It was my lack of knowledge.

I read a little bit online this afternoon and found out that this mantra is attached to Brahmin priests. And if I am getting it right, this meant they were in a higher caste and the caste is something Sikhs rejected from day one. I also found out that a guru gives Hindus permission to recite mantras (not sure if that includes the Gayatri mantra). I saw somewhere there is a Sikh version of "Gayatri" mantra that was given to Sikhs so they could recite it. Do you know anything about this one? I think it is called something like "guru gayatri". Its hard trying to learn from the internet because its hard to know which sites are providing accurate info.

Jasnoor

Quote:

Originally Posted by spnadmin

jasnoor ji

In my humble opinion, the Gayatric mantra has no place in Sikhi. It is an ancient Sanskrit mantra that appears first in the vedas. Insofar as Guru Nanak rejected practices of Brahaminism, why would a Sikh engage in the practice of its recitation.

Now to be a realist -- which I am -- the practice of Hindu mantras and other Hindu practices are found in some sangats and sects of Sikhism. Most Sikhs are in India and are connected unavoidably to the ancient and collective memories of Hindu dharma. It is not easy to drop cultural ties for a new skin for many people. In addition, 3 HO Sikhs (Western Sikh Dhrama) employ mantras as part of their sadhana. I am not here to take any stand based on outrage. But point out that these were integrated with the practice of Sikhism because their founder Yogi Bhajan had his own roots in Vedic teachings and masters.

The history of Sikhism after the death of Guru Gobind Singh led to chaos and disruption because of the horrific religious persecution of Sikhs. During that period many Hindu practices crept back into Sikhi in some quarters.

The 19th and 20th Centuries show one interesting story after another of reform movements which reclaimed Sikhi as Guru Nanak taught it. This is evident in the Sikh Rehat Maryada, which you should read. There in that document is one area after another where it is made clear that Sikhs are neither Hindu nor Muslim, and that Hindu practices are specifically forbidden to baptized Sikhs.

I have attached a copy for you and hope you find it answers many of your questions.

jasnoor · #4 (**permalink**) 22-Nov-2010, 04:24 AM

PS- Here's the link to the page I read about concerning a "Sikh" Gayatri mantra. http://www.mrsikhnet.com/2006/03/25/the-guru-gayatri/
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=33304

Also thanks for referring me to the Code of Conduct. I knew of this, but had never read it. I will read it asap.

spnadmin · #5 (**permalink**) 22-Nov-2010, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasnoor

Hi. I see I stuck my foot in my mouth yet again.

Please forgive me for the ignorance. I don't know too much about Hinduism or Sikhism so it was not intentional to offend. It was my lack of knowledge.

I read a little bit online this afternoon and found out that this mantra is attached to Brahmin priests. And if I am getting it right, this meant they were in a higher caste and the caste is something Sikhs rejected from day one. I also found out that a guru gives Hindus permission to recite mantras (not sure if that includes the Gayatri mantra). I saw somewhere there is a Sikh version of "Gayatri" mantra that was given to Sikhs so they could recite it. Do you know anything about this one? I think it is called something like "guru gayatri". Its hard trying to learn from the internet because its hard to know which sites are providing accurate info.

Jasnoor

Dear jasnoor ji

You did not offend me that is for sure! And the question is legitimate and important to ask. So you did not put your foot in your mouth as far as I am concerned.

To put you at ease. There are no restrictions on listening to mantras or Hindu bachans for musical enjoyment. I am very fond of Karnatic music, much of which consists of Sanskrit bachans that sung and played in the raag tradition of South India.

I will check the link you posted above to see what is happening there. However, part of the practice of kundalini yoga ("as taught by Yogi Bhajan") does include both mantras and mudras (hand and finger positions). This is a feature of Sikhism as experienced in the 3HO or Western Sikh Dharma tradition.

On a historical note - which I hope clarifies things a bit. Whenever Guru Nanak spoke of "hindu" in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Maharaj, he was referring to Brahmins. A "Hindu" was essentially a Brahmin up to the time of the British raj. Hinduism has become referred to as a religion of diverse beliefs and practices, only as recently as the past 200 years. Prior to that, and from the first written records on the subject which are Persian and go back to about 1000 AD, the many different peoples of India who lived in historical Hindustan were not known as Hindus. They identified religiously according to the dharmic tradition they belonged to. Yes, the Brahmin priests gave the mantras to worshipers, women could not recite the vedas or even listen to them, and sudras could be killed for reciting the vedas.

spnadmin · #6 (**permalink**) 22-Nov-2010, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasnoor

PS- Here's the link to the page I read about concerning a "Sikh" Gayatri mantra. http://www.mrsikhnet.com/2006/03/25/the-guru-gayatri/

Also thanks for referring me to the Code of Conduct. I knew of this, but had never read it. I will read it asap.

I checked and could not make heads or tails of it. The Gayatri mantra according to my understanding, before we had this conversation, was not limited to one mantra. For example, if you were to listen to the recordings of Mohan Mistry you would hear him sing a number of these, more than one, and they are all different. So I did a little more research, not much, and discovered that this mantra has many forms and this link lists the Gayatri mantras for many Hindu deities. http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Gayatri...f_Several_GodsM

Moving the thread to Interfaith Dialogs

jasnoor · #7 (**permalink**) 22-Nov-2010, 06:02 AM

Hi. Not sure I'm replying in the right place since the thread is now in the Interfaith Forums. I have learned quite a bit today about the gayatri mantra and I had no idea how Hinduism has been practiced until the past couple centuries. It is good to learn these things. I guess I really am a "learner" like Sikh means. I find it good to open my heart to this learning and I am grateful for how you have taught me.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=33304
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=33304

Jasnoor