Idol Worship

Sikhism, as is well known, does not believe in idol-worship. But may I respectfully ask if the rituals connected with the Guru Granth Sahib at the Golden Temple does not look similar to idol worship?
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I will give it this approach.

Two people are lighting a deeva each. One is a Hindu and one is a Sikh.
A Hindu while lighting his deeva and offering flowers to his ideal idol God does it with a personal wish to be fulfilled in his prayer called Aarti.
A Sikh who is taught by Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Eternal and Everlasting Guru, lights his deeva and remembers the meaning of the Aarti (Sikh Aarti) -

ਰਾਗੁ ਧਨਾਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥
रागु धनासरी महला १ ॥
Rāg ḏẖanāsrī mėhlā 1.
Raag Dhanaasree, First Mehl:

ਗਗਨ ਮੈ ਥਾਲੁ ਰਵਿ ਚੰਦੁ ਦੀਪਕ ਬਨੇ ਤਾਰਿਕਾ ਮੰਡਲ ਜਨਕ ਮੋਤੀ ॥
गगन मै थालु रवि चंदु दीपक बने तारिका मंडल जनक मोती ॥
Gagan mai thāl rav cẖanḏ ḏīpak bane ṯārikā mandal janak moṯī.
Upon that cosmic plate of the sky, the sun and the moon are the lamps. The stars and their orbs are the studded pearls.

ਧੂਪੁ ਮਲਆਨਲੋ ਪਵਣੁ ਚਵਰੋ ਕਰੇ ਸਗਲ ਬਨਰਾਇ ਫੂਲੰਤ ਜੋਤੀ ॥੧॥
धूपु मलआनलो पवणु चवरो करे सगल बनराइ फूलंत जोती ॥१॥
Ḏẖūp mal▫ānlo pavaṇ cẖavro kare sagal banrā▫e fūlanṯ joṯī. ||1||
The fragrance of sandalwood in the air is the temple incense, and the wind is the fan. All the plants of the world are the altar flowers in offering to You, O Luminous Lord. ||1||

ਕੈਸੀ ਆਰਤੀ ਹੋਇ ॥
कैसी आरती होइ ॥
Kaisī ārṯī ho▫e.
What a beautiful Aartee, lamp-lit worship service this is!

ਭਵ ਖੰਡਨਾ ਤੇਰੀ ਆਰਤੀ ॥
भव खंडना तेरी आरती ॥
Bẖav kẖandnā ṯerī ārṯī.
O Destroyer of Fear, this is Your Ceremony of Light.

ਅਨਹਤਾ ਸਬਦ ਵਾਜੰਤ ਭੇਰੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
अनहता सबद वाजंत भेरी ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Anhaṯā sabaḏ vājanṯ bẖerī. ||1|| rahā▫o.
The Unstruck Sound-current of the Shabad is the vibration of the temple drums. ||1||Pause||

ਸਹਸ ਤਵ ਨੈਨ ਨਨ ਨੈਨ ਹਹਿ ਤੋਹਿ ਕਉ ਸਹਸ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਨਨਾ ਏਕ ਤਹੀ ॥
सहस तव नैन नन नैन हहि तोहि कउ सहस मूरति नना एक तोही ॥
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-sikhi-sikhism/24325-idol-worship.html
Sahas ṯav nain nan nain hėh ṯohi ka▫o sahas mūraṯ nanā ek ṯohī.
You have thousands of eyes, and yet You have no eyes. You have thousands of forms, and yet You do not have even one.

ਸਹਸ ਪਦ ਬਿਮਲ ਨਨ ਏਕ ਪਦ ਗੰਧ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਹਸ ਤਵ ਗੰਧ ਇਵ ਚਲਤ ਮੋਹੀ ॥੨॥
सहस पद बिमल नन एक पद गंध बिनु सहस तव गंध इव चलत मोही ॥२॥
Sahas paḏ bimal nan ek paḏ ganḏẖ bin sahas ṯav ganḏẖ iv cẖalaṯ mohī. ||2||
You have thousands of Lotus Feet, and yet You do not have even one foot. You have no nose, but you have thousands of noses. This Play of Yours entrances me. ||2||

ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਹੈ ਸੋਇ ॥
सभ महि जोति जोति है सोइ ॥
Sabẖ mėh joṯ joṯ hai so▫e.
Amongst all is the Light-You are that Light.

ਤਿਸ ਦੈ ਚਾਨਣਿ ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਚਾਨਣੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
तिस दै चानणि सभ महि चानणु होइ ॥
Ŧis ḏai cẖānaṇ sabẖ mėh cẖānaṇ ho▫e.
By this Illumination, that Light is radiant within all.

ਗੁਰ ਸਾਖੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਪਰਗਟੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
गुर साखी जोति परगटु होइ ॥
Gur sākẖī joṯ pargat ho▫e.
Through the Guru's Teachings, the Light shines forth.

ਜੋ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਸੁ ਆਰਤੀ ਹੋਇ ॥੩॥
जो तिसु भावै सु आरती होइ ॥३॥
Jo ṯis bẖāvai so ārṯī ho▫e. ||3||
That which is pleasing to Him is the lamp-lit worship service. ||3||

ਹਰਿ ਚਰਣ ਕਵਲ ਮਕਰੰਦ ਲੋਭਿਤ ਮਨੋ ਅਨਦਿਨ ਮੋਹਿ ਆਹੀ ਪਿਆਸਾ ॥
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=24325
हरि चरण कवल मकरंद लोभित मनो अनदिनो मोहि आही पिआसा ॥
Har cẖaraṇ kaval makranḏ lobẖiṯ mano anḏino mohi āhī pi▫āsā.
My mind is enticed by the honey-sweet Lotus Feet of the Lord. Day and night, I thirst for them.

ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਜਲੁ ਦੇਹਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਾਰਿੰਗ ਕਉ ਹੋਇ ਜਾ ਤੇ ਤੇਰੈ ਨਾਇ ਵਾਸਾ ॥੪॥੩॥
क्रिपा जलु देहि नानक सारिंग कउ होइ जा ते तेरै नाइ वासा ॥४॥३॥
Kirpā jal ḏėh Nānak sāring ka▫o ho▫e jā ṯe ṯerai nā▫e vāsā. ||4||3||
Bestow the Water of Your Mercy upon Nanak, the thirsty song-bird, so that he may come to dwell in Your Name. ||4||3||

There is a very good reason why Sikhism is not in favor of Idol Worship. Read the shabad below:

ਆਸਾ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀਉ ਕੇ ਪੰਚਪਦੇ ੯ ਦੁਤੁਕੇ ੫
आसा स्री कबीर जीउ के पंचपदे ९ दुतुके ५
Āsā sarī Kabīr jī▫o ke pancẖpaḏe 9 ḏuṯuke 5
Aasaa, Kabeer Jee, 9 Panch-Padas, 5 Du-Tukas:

ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥
ੴ सतिगुर प्रसादि ॥
Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ.
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:

ਪਾਤੀ ਤੋਰੈ ਮਾਲਿਨੀ ਪਾਤੀ ਪਾਤੀ ਜੀਉ ॥
पाती तोरै मालिनी पाती पाती जीउ ॥
Pāṯī ṯorai mālini pāṯī pāṯī jī▫o.
You tear off the leaves, O gardener, but in each and every leaf, there is life.

ਜਿਸੁ ਪਾਹਨ ਕਉ ਪਾਤੀ ਤੋਰੈ ਸੋ ਪਾਹਨ ਨਿਰਜੀਉ ॥੧॥
जिसु पाहन कउ पाती तोरै सो पाहन निरजीउ ॥१॥
Jis pāhan ka▫o pāṯī ṯorai so pāhan nirjī▫o. ||1||
That stone idol, for which you tear off those leaves - that stone idol is lifeless. ||1||

ਭੂਲੀ ਮਾਲਨੀ ਹੈ ਏਉ ॥
भूली मालनी है एउ ॥
Bẖūlī mālnī hai e▫o.
In this, you are mistaken, O gardener.

ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਜਾਗਤਾ ਹੈ ਦੇਉ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=24325
सतिगुरु जागता है देउ ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Saṯgur jāgṯā hai ḏe▫o. ||1|| rahā▫o.
The True Guru is the Living Lord. ||1||Pause||

ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਪਾਤੀ ਬਿਸਨੁ ਡਾਰੀ ਫੂਲ ਸੰਕਰਦੇਉ ॥
ब्रहमु पाती बिसनु डारी फूल संकरदेउ ॥
Barahm pāṯī bisan dārī fūl sankarḏe▫o.
Brahma is in the leaves, Vishnu is in the branches, and Shiva is in the flowers.

ਤੀਨਿ ਦੇਵ ਪ੍ਰਤਖਿ ਤੋਰਹਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਕਿਸ ਕੀ ਸੇਉ ॥੨॥
तीनि देव प्रतखि तोरहि करहि किस की सेउ ॥२॥
Ŧīn ḏev parṯakẖ ṯorėh karahi kis kī se▫o. ||2||
When you break these three gods, whose service are you performing? ||2||

ਪਾਖਾਨ ਗਢਿ ਕੈ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਕੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੀ ਦੇ ਕੈ ਛਾਤੀ ਪਾਉ ॥
पाखान गढि कै मूरति कीन्ही दे कै छाती पाउ ॥
Pākẖān gadẖ kai mūraṯ kīnĥī ḏe kai cẖẖāṯī pā▫o.
The sculptor carves the stone and fashions it into an idol, placing his feet upon its chest.

ਜੇ ਏਹ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਸਾਚੀ ਹੈ ਤਉ ਗੜ੍ਹਣਹਾਰੇ ਖਾਉ ॥੩॥
जे एह मूरति साची है तउ गड़्हणहारे खाउ ॥३॥
Je eh mūraṯ sācẖī hai ṯa▫o gaṛĥaṇhāre kẖā▫o. ||3||
If this stone god was true, it would devour the sculptor for this! ||3||

ਭਾਤੁ ਪਹਿਤਿ ਅਰੁ ਲਾਪਸੀ ਕਰਕਰਾ ਕਾਸਾਰੁ ॥
भातु पहिति अरु लापसी करकरा कासारु ॥
Bẖāṯ pahiṯ ar lāpsī karkarā kāsār.
Rice and beans, candies, cakes and cookies -

ਭੋਗਨਹਾਰੇ ਭੋਗਿਆ ਇਸੁ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਕੇ ਮੁਖ ਛਾਰੁ ॥੪॥
भोगनहारे भोगिआ इसु मूरति के मुख छारु ॥४॥
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=24325
Bẖoganhāre bẖogi▫ā is mūraṯ ke mukẖ cẖẖār. ||4||
the priest enjoys these, while he puts ashes into the mouth of the idol. ||4||

ਮਾਲਿਨਿ ਭੂਲੀ ਜਗੁ ਭੁਲਾਨਾ ਹਮ ਭੁਲਾਨੇ ਨਾਹਿ ॥
मालिनि भूली जगु भुलाना हम भुलाने नाहि ॥
Mālin bẖūlī jag bẖulānā ham bẖulāne nāhi.
The gardener is mistaken, and the world is mistaken, but I am not mistaken.

ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਹਮ ਰਾਮ ਰਾਖੇ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਕਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਇ ॥੫॥੧॥੧੪॥
कहु कबीर हम राम राखे क्रिपा करि हरि राइ ॥५॥१॥१४॥
Kaho Kabīr ham rām rākẖe kirpā kar har rā▫e. ||5||1||14||
Says Kabeer, the Lord preserves me; the Lord, my King, has showered His Blessings upon me. ||5||1||14||

K.Venugopal ji

I think you want a direct answer to your question. The sangat is not bowing to an idol. The Granth Sahib (in its physical form) is a book. The Granth Sahib in its spritual form carries the naad and the jyote of the Satguru. Between Guru Nanak or Nanak I and Guru Gobind Singh or Nanak X, the light which dispells darkness (Guru) was passed one to the other. It was passed by Guru Gobind Singh to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Maharaj. We are bowing to the Guru or light that dispels darkness within the Granth Sahib. We are not bowing to the book.

It may look similar to idol worship if one does not understand that the Shabad is more than the words, ink and paper on which it is written, or the covering that keep is in one place.

From 2 posts above:


ਗੁਰ ਸਾਖੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਪਰਗਟੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
गुर साखी जोति परगटु होइ ॥
Gur sākẖī joṯ pargat ho▫e.
Through the Guru's Teachings, the Light shines forth.

We bow before the Knoweldge Content of the Sri Guru Granth Sahibji Maharaj . The 'VIDIYA' is worshipped. However we need to understand that the Guru Granth ji teaches us to worship the Divine Parmatma Akaal Purakh.

The rituals slowly got created which have now made the Guru Granthji Mahraj equivalent to the Idol. We only worship the Holy Book. We have not been trying to understand what the Book says.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=24325

The more some Sikhs criticized Idol worship the more rituals crept in. I have failed to understand why should people do neenda(crticism) of someone's ways of worship. The worst thing is the hindu was the soft target of such criticism only because reactions did not come out . They accepted such criticism lightly. The same could not be expected from a muslim.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=24325

How a person finds his way to God is his/her personal view and interest. Whether he/she finds it through paper, stone, metal, fire etc. is all a matter of personal conviction.

rajkhalsa ji

The way people choose to worship is indeed as you imply their private concern. The question put forth in the thread has to do with whether Sikhs worship Sri Guru Granth Sahib Maharaj. In this instance, the answer could be per Gurmat Vichaar or it could be an answer that is not as per Gurmat. Sikhs are not worshiping the Granth Sahib and so we need to feel free to say so without any hesitation, apologies oar hemming and hawing.

.I think when we bow to Guru granth sahib we bow to all the Guru's because Gurgaddi was given To Guru granth sahib

Dear K. Venugopal Ji,

I concur with your observation that lot of Hindu rituals have crept in Sikh Gurudwaras and all Sikhs know it and are in Denial. It is time for them to wake up. Spinnig the rituals to bowing and diverting attention from the real rituals is not right. Paying respect to AGGS by bowing with a clean heart is not a ritual IMHO.

Cordially,

Virinder S. Grewal
Williamston, MI

Dear All,

Even though its relatively easy to "rationalise" any behaviour..soem of the actions that we see daily on Live TV happening in Harmandir Sahib Amrtisar on Sattelite..are bordering on the ritualistic behaviour we see happening in Hindu Mandirs also broadcast simultaneously on other live channels. To a complete "neutral/stranger" to BOTH Sikhismand hinduism...it woudl be hard pressed to distinguish between the two except for the clearly visible differences..like the Hindu mandir Idols are made of stuff that can be "washed" in milk/yoghurt etc..while the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji doesnt get this treatment.
The way the Palki Sahib is mobbed and carried..is similar to the Raths in which Hindu Idols ride/ or are transported..the "palkis/raths are also look alikes in every way...The Idols are bathed..the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Rumallas are endlessly wiped/rubbed/cleaned agian and again...layer after layer..layer after layer...OUT of the 30 minutes we in malaysia get of this Daily Broadcast...hardly a MINUTE is for the actual reading of the HUKM..nothing about explaining the Hukm..etc. ( This si related only to the Live TV broadcast). At night the harmandir is bathed in milk..( sewa exclusively to MALES ONLY)....similar to mandirs...
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=24325

It is the Sad TRUTH that we pay LESS attention to the GYAAN in the GURU..and MORE attention to his rumallas/palkis/floors of the Gurdwaras...etc etc..thats why we give so much towards building marble gurdwaras, golden domes, golden palkis, marble palkis..and SO LITTLE to MISSIONARY efforts/Printing of Tracts/Pamphlets/Literature on Gurbani/Punjabi Schools/Gurbani Parchaar..etc etc etc. A "sant" collecting donations for a brand new Gurdwara..will get tons of money in no time...but an appeal for a Khalsa School..will get trickles of few dollars. This is the reason why our Gurdawars OVERFLOW (literally) with OLD RUMALLAHS ( Brand New ones actually and used just ONCE ). ..with no space to store them.and then wehn SPACE runs OUT....these rumallahs are...AGAN BHET (BURNT) with Fanfare/langgar/ardass/and "religious fervour......BUT our Gurdwara LIBRARIES..are THREAD BARE...no books..no media..no computers..NOTHING !!
ALL these "rituals" cannot be dismissed or disguished...thats what they are and thats what we got to say they are..whether we like it or not