Blessing/Ardaas for Kara

Gurfetehji

I recently heard that the Sikh kara is forged by a person reciting naam / bani, and is also blessed with an ardaas at Gurdwara before being given to a Sikh. Is this correct? Is it a common practice?

The discussion came about when someone asked if they could get a local blacksmith to forge an iron bracelet for them since they were having trouble getting one. Another member said it wouldn't be a kara unless it was forged by a Gursikh and blessed at a Gurdwara.

If this is true, what about the other kakkars?

Personally I don't see too much value in this kind of behaviour, as the symbolism is more important than the ritual. It is nice to think my kara may have been forged by a Gursikh reciting bani and then blessed with ardaas in the Gurdwara - just makes the item that much more special, but also puts the kara into the realm of being more than just a bracelet in the physical world. Then you run the risk of falling into ritualistic behaviour with regards to the kara. But I could be wrong here, I haven't given it much though.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/questions-and-answers/36947-blessing-ardaas-for-kara.html

I thought the symbolism in the item was what matters. Although, I must say, I had a Waheguru wristband before I got my kara, and I didn't really consider it a kara (not metal for starters). But even after that, I didn't want to buy a bracelet from a jewellry store to be my kara, I wanted one from the Gurdwara. So maybe there is some higher sense to it all.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36947

I appreciate your comments with regard to kara traditions and philosophical thought about blessing karas and other kakkars.

Ishna

 
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The real "POWER" of the Karra is AFTER the wearer wears it...its IN THE PERSON..not the steel band around his wrist.
There is nothing inherently powerful about anything...like a MAGNET has inherent power to PULL iorn...and it will pull iron no matter who is holding it....even an AUTOMATIC ROBOTIC ARM holding a magnet will work just as fine...the magnet will pull iron and attach itself to it..............BUT a KARRA has no such inherent "power". Its NOT going to automatically stop your hand from stealing/molesting/robbing/whatever....THAT DECISION to NOT do those acts must come form THE PERSON....and a Karra wearer can be a Rapist while a non karra wearer can be the policeman that catches him..and the judge that sends him to prison !! Just like the Uniform of a corrupt polcieman isnt going to hinder him...the Kakaars cant do anything to hinder a corrupt "singh"..Guru nanak Ji Himslef declares..Koi mughal na hoa andha...if someone expects the karra to magically become HOT..and "burn" the Hand that wears it so it wont steal...then I am afraid hes living in a fools paradise....no such will ever happen....or wearing the karra automatically attracts welath etc and brings good luck etc etc its all wrong.

One day, I was walking along the street and happened to see a piece of circular metal on the ground. I picked it up and it appeared to be possibly a machine part? It was engraved "Made in occupied Japan." For some reason that touched me. I put it on and wore it as a kara for several years. No one can ever convince me that it wasn't a genuine kara. In the intervening years, sadly, it has been lost, but should it turn up again, I would wear it proudly. BTW, a magnet would attract it, so it was made of the proper material. These gold "karas" I have seen are not karas; they are bangles for brahmins, imo.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36947
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36947

I do usually say Ardas over a new kakkar,: I don't know about others. Some of my ways are a bit eccentric, I've been told.

Thank you so much Mai ji for sharing that personal snippet. That's the sort of thing I'm looking for.

Gyani ji, if you don't mind my asking, do you know if it is common practice in Gurdwaras to bless karas with ardaas? The person I have been speaking with was adamant the kara had to be blessed at a gurdwara but when I asked how that was done precisely he could only say a special ardaas is said over it at the gurdwara but didn't know anything past that.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36947
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36947

Your knowledge is appreciated.

Ishna

Ishna JI..NO.
All the Karras and kakaars sold all over the world outside Gurdwaras and in shops are factory produced...amny KIRPANS are in fact manufactured in COMMUNIST CHINA which cna make them CHEAPER !! That "special ardass" bit is a Sikh URBAN LEGEND...ha ha.
But If you really want soemthing special..proceed to Hazoor sahib..there they use FRESH GOAT BLOOD daily..to apply to shashatrs..perhaps you can get afew drops for the karra kirpan etc..or you cna JHATKA a goat (maybe a rabbit/baby kangroo/koalal bear).. will do too..and apply the blood while saying a "special ardass"...or let me know and i will do one CYBERMATICALLY over the Net !!
As i said..ITS the PRACTISE of GURMATT to change ur LIFE..thats vital.period. all else is HOGWASH.

I think, however, using cow would be out, since that would anger the Sikhs' brahmin masters.

Thank you Gyani ji for the clarification on no uncertain terms.

Can I just note here that I'm not particularly interested in obtaining and blessed items myself, as per post #1 I had ever given it any thought until I stumbled over someone else's conversation on another forum and wondered about this practice I have been unaware of. And now I know why I've been unaware of it - it doesn't exist in the main stream! But I didn't know that until now.

Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36947
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36947
Thanks again.

Wouldn't it be puzzling Ishna ji and all if all the Kakkars were to be so blessed (as stated by a misleading person to Ishna ji)?

So everyone get your undergarments blessed too or you have to go without these. This is how Guru Nanak would possibly have challenged such thoughts.

Every religion has fair share of mediocrity driven zealots! So sad.

Sat Sri Akal.

Yes indeed, but it is even more sad when those people are telling newcomers to Sikhi this kind of information.