Dancing to Kirtan?

Kamala · #1 (**permalink**) 24-Jul-2012, 13:09 PM

Hi, I recently started thinking about how most sanatan religions let people dance to bhajans etc.. but do you think it'd be banned in Sikhism?

Not any slutty dancing, but dancing for pure love and happiness.
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Luckysingh · #2 (**permalink**) 24-Jul-2012, 13:19 PM

I just can't put the two things together to even imagine!!!
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/questions-and-answers/38828-dancing-to-kirtan.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=38828
I'm not sure what benefits this could give to a person as I don't think that dancing can help you get more anand of the kirtan.
Certain types of music are certainly experienced better with certain dancing, but I cannot see how kirtan along with dancing can help you feel the vibe better.

itsmaneet · #3 (**permalink**) 24-Jul-2012, 14:11 PM

Yes, dancing is prohibited in Sikhism & even more during Kirtan. There are many other religions that dance while singing their devotional songs but in Sikhism it's very strictly prohibited.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=38828

I heard somewhere from a prominent Sant that devils dance & not the God lovers. He also said that neither be very happy nor be very sad on any news. For examples, still in India when a boy is born family dances & sings etc...but when a girl is born they sort of mourn which is again prohibited in Sikhism coz a true Sikh will live in the "Bhana" of Waheguru & will accept whats been served to him.

harry haller · #4 (**permalink**) 24-Jul-2012, 14:21 PM

Quote:

dancing is prohibited in Sikhism

We are Sikhs, not Taliban, at least last time I looked

Dancing to Kirtan seems a bit strange to me, but I know the 3HO folks like a good booty shake when praying.

itsmaneet · #5 (**permalink**) 24-Jul-2012, 14:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harry haller

We are Sikhs, not Taliban, at least last time I looked

Dancing to Kirtan seems a bit strange to me, but I know the 3HO folks like a good booty shake when praying.

Harry Ji

Where from Taliban came here ???
Don't know what 3HO is doing & if there are dancing it's not the right way !!

harry haller · #6 (**permalink**) 24-Jul-2012, 15:17 PM

Quote:

Where from Taliban came here ???

Dancing is banned in Sikhism? since when? It may have little spiritual value, but banned? I think not, this is how lies and misinformation are spread, this is what shows the world we are a bunch of extremists that ban dancing, instead of the compassionate, tolerant, love filled people we should be portraying ourselves as

P124 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਗਾਵੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਾਚੈ ਹਰਿ ਸੇਤੀ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ गुरमुखि गावै गुरमुखि नाचै हरि सेती चितु लावणिआ ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥ Gurmukẖ gāvai gurmukẖ nācẖai har seṯī cẖiṯ lāvaṇi▫ā. ||1|| rahā▫o. The Gurmukhs sing, the Gurmukhs dance, and focus their consciousness on the Lord. ||1||Pause||

P159 clearly warns against using dance as a medium of worship

ਭਗਤਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਮੂਰਖ ਆਪੁ ਜਣਾਵਹਿ ॥ भगति करहि मूरख आपु जणावहि ॥ Bẖagaṯ karahi mūrakẖ āp jaṇāvėh. The fools perform devotional worship by showing off;
ਨਚਿ ਨਚਿ ਟਪਹਿ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਦੁਖੁ ਪਾਵਹਿ ॥ नचि नचि टपहि बहुतु दुखु पावहि ॥ Nacẖ nacẖ tapėh bahuṯ ḏukẖ pāvahi. they dance and dance and jump all around, but they only suffer in terrible pain.
ਨਚਿਐ ਟਪਿਐ ਭਗਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥ नचिऐ टपिऐ भगति न होइ ॥ Nacẖi▫ai tapi▫ai bẖagaṯ na ho▫e. By dancing and jumping, devotional worship is not performed.
ਸਬਦਿ ਮਰੈ ਭਗਤਿ ਪਾਏ ਜਨੁ ਸੋਇ ॥੩॥ सबदि मरै भगति पाए जनु सोइ ॥३॥ Sabaḏ marai bẖagaṯ pā▫e jan so▫e. ||3|| But one who dies in the Word of the Shabad, obtains devotional worship. ||3||

Much like meditation, it is definitely not banned, but has little spiritual value

3HO do like to jump and dance about a bit, but good luck to them, maybe its an expression of bliss

Ishna · #7 (**permalink**) 24-Jul-2012, 16:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itsmaneet

Yes, dancing is prohibited in Sikhism & even more during Kirtan. There are many other religions that dance while singing their devotional songs but in Sikhism it's very strictly prohibited.

Please do provide some references to support your assertion, I am curious to know. I am yet to come across any references prohibiting dancing, myself.

Gyani Jarnail Singh · #8 (**permalink**) 24-Jul-2012, 19:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ishna

Please do provide some references to support your assertion, I am curious to know. I am yet to come across any references prohibiting dancing, myself.

harry Ji provided the ref..did you miss it ??

P159 clearly warns against using dance as a medium of worship

ਭਗਤਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਮੂਰਖ ਆਪੁ ਜਣਾਵਹਿ ॥ भगति करहि मूरख आपु जणावहि ॥ Bẖagaṯ karahi mūrakẖ āp jaṇāvėh. The fools perform devotional worship by showing off;
ਨਚਿ ਨਚਿ ਟਪਹਿ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਦੁਖੁ ਪਾਵਹਿ ॥ नचि नचि टपहि बहुतु दुखु पावहि ॥ Nacẖ nacẖ tapėh bahuṯ ḏukẖ pāvahi. they dance and dance and jump all around, but they only suffer in terrible pain.
ਨਚਿਐ ਟਪਿਐ ਭਗਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥ नचिऐ टपिऐ भगति न होइ ॥ Nacẖi▫ai tapi▫ai bẖagaṯ na ho▫e. By dancing and jumping, devotional worship is not performed.
ਸਬਦਿ ਮਰੈ ਭਗਤਿ ਪਾਏ ਜਨੁ ਸੋਇ ॥੩॥ सबदि मरै भगति पाए जनु सोइ ॥३॥ Sabaḏ marai bẖagaṯ pā▫e jan so▫e. ||3|| But one who dies in the Word of the Shabad, obtains devotional worship. ||3||

Much like meditation, it is definitely not banned, but has little spiritual value

2. Kirtan/Gurbani is SPIRITUAL FOOD...and Guru Ka Langgar is Body Food...Sikhs remain seated while enjoying BOTH. No body dances while eating food..and since Gurbani is spiritual food..dancing is out of place as a matter of course...
Guru Ji makes it pretty clear...whats more to check ??icecreamkaur

Ishna · #9 (**permalink**) 24-Jul-2012, 19:50 PM

Harry ji provided the reference with regard to devotional dancing. Itsmaneet ji said dancing is prohibited in Sikhi. One is saying dancing is not useful worship, the other is saying dancing is prohibited in Sikhi, i.e. Sikhs are not allowed to dance in any circumstances.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=38828

Gyaniji strikes moi as being the kind of gentleman who might do a little jig if the mood so took him without fear of divine retribution, if I'm not mistaken. cheerleader

cheerleader

Really, applying the same logic as applied to Harry ji's tuk to this one I'm about to post, Sikhs shouldn't be playing tabla and harmonium either!!

ਬਹੁ ਤਾਲ ਪੂਰੇ ਵਾਜੇ ਵਜਾਏ ॥
Baho ṯāl pūre vāje vajā▫e.
One may beat upon and play all sorts of instruments,
ਨਾ ਕੋ ਸੁਣੇ ਨ ਮੰਨਿ ਵਸਾਏ ॥
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=38828
Nā ko suṇe na man vasā▫e.
but no one will listen, and no one will enshrine it in the mind.
ਮਾਇਆ ਕਾਰਣਿ ਪਿੜ ਬੰਧਿ ਨਾਚੈ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਦੁਖੁ ਪਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੬॥
Mā▫i▫ā kāraṇ piṛ banḏẖ nācẖai ḏūjai bẖā▫e ḏukẖ pāvṇi▫ā. ||6||
For the sake of Maya, they set the stage and dance, but they are in love with duality, and they obtain only sorrow. ||6||

Ang 121

It's not about the singing or the instruments or the dancing or any of this outward human STUFF that we do. It's about living a Gursikh lifestyle and focusing on Naam. Dancing can be a wholesome expression, fun, exercise, whatever. (Personally I never dance, because I have the coordination of a fish in a rowboat.. a la Elaine from Seinfeld...)

I look forward to Itsmaneet ji's clarification.