Place of Idol Worship (pictures) in Sikhi

thesikhviewpoint · #1 (**permalink**) 12-Jul-2012, 19:14 PM

As sikhs are we supposed to keep/hang pictures depicting as gurus in our homes???Is it not better that we should instead keep/hang pictures having only lines of gurbani so that when ever we see them we read the guru's word which is real worship a Sikh is supposed to do........
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Gyani Jarnail Singh · #2 (**permalink**) 12-Jul-2012, 20:30 PM

GURBANI/SHABAD is GURU. PERIOD.

Ishna · #3 (**permalink**) 13-Jul-2012, 04:21 AM

It's not the pictures that are the problem, it's what you do with them. Having pictures is not a problem, Sikhs are not Muslims who aren't allowed any pictures of Muhammad at all. The problem is a lot of Sikhs get confused and worship pictures, bow to them, etc. If you can have a picture and see it as just a picture and not feel superstition towards it, no problem. But it is always good to have reminders of Gurbani around, too.

Gyani Jarnail Singh · #4 (**permalink**) 13-Jul-2012, 04:34 AM

Ishna Ji..would you be happy to hang a picture i send you that purports to be of YOUR DADDY/MOMMY JI ? Be reminded that the picture may not be remotely like your daddy and may even show him smoking/indulging in something he never did or discouraged actively ? And how would you feel IF all the guests to your house thought ..wow.your daddy looked like THAT ?? He really DID That too ??
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-sikhi-sikhism/38774-place-of-idol-worship-pictures-sikhi.html

Guru Nanak ji never had a companion called Bala..yet many pictures show this person
Guru nanak ji discourages use of Malas and rosaries as unnecessary props..yet his pictures show a MULTITUDE of maalas..on his turban, around his neck, in his hands etc

Just a few examples...

:grinningku di:

Ishna · #5 (**permalink**) 13-Jul-2012, 05:49 AM

Sorry, I'm missing your point. A picture is still just a picture.

I have two pictures of Guru Nanak - neither of them show him with malas. That's why I chose them.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=38774

Oh and I don't bow to them or perform arti to them or pray in front of them. They are just pretty pictures. This in my opinion is a healthy relationship with artwork.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=38774

Why do we have to make everything so over-complicated?

Luckysingh · #6 (**permalink**) 13-Jul-2012, 05:55 AM

Very clear point Gyanji.
I have wondered about the malas and beads on these pictures that don't make too much sense.

I understand the whole point of not worshipping or getting carried away with such pictures. But, I do like to have them in the house so that they are present and one can look at them whenever. I mean, we all know that having complete bare walls can be depressing and have no stimulus as such.
But a picture of anything that pleases one, be that your hero, a pop star, a painting, artistic design or picture of a Guru- it is there to fulfill a human need of comfort.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=38774

Now, that is what these pictures do for me, they give me comfort, they remind me of the values of the Gurus, they provide a connection between me and the creator.
This is why, I like to have some, infact even my screensaver on this is a picture of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Why do I have that ? one may ask- Well, to me what better picture of someone could I have had if I didn't want any family or friends on there.

Most of all, I think it helps with that little bit of a connection that one can lose subconsciously with the creator.- I don't ever regard it as a sacred symbol or anything, it's just there to give some comfort as a piece of art can for others.

However, one has to be careful not to get attached to any false symbols of the image such as gurus holding malas etc... as Gyanji pointed out above.

Luckysingh · #7 (**permalink**) 13-Jul-2012, 06:03 AM

NOTE- when I say that the picture can help give that llittle connection, that means it acts like a reminder as such. Just like when we may see a gurdwara whilst driving or on TV, a reminder that gives that sense of higher connection for a few seconds or minutes.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=38774
It's just like an alarm that says wake up and detach yourself for a few moments from whatever you may e doing and instead connect with the lord.

Gyani Jarnail Singh · #8 (**permalink**) 13-Jul-2012, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ishna

Sorry, I'm missing your point. A picture is still just a picture.

I have two pictures of Guru Nanak - neither of them show him with malas. That's why I chose them.

Oh and I don't bow to them or perform arti to them or pray in front of them. They are just pretty pictures. This in my opinion is a healthy relationship with artwork.

Why do we have to make everything so over-complicated?

ha Ha..over complicated indeed...I too used to have a picture of " baba nanak" hanging on my walls until just about every guest to my home used to look at it ans ask me....IS that your grand father..he looks so...holy...and when my Beard became WHITE..one guy asked me..wow that looks so much like you..where did you get it painted....

So like kamalas Jis cow being milked by her servant ( so she doesnt know anything about how dairy cows can be mistreated or that cows ONLY give milk when the Calf is NOT allowed to drink it..) your pictures may be minus maalas..but many thousands are with maalas..and ALL are TOTALLY IMAGINARY.
Bowing, feeling scared superstitious etc comes LATER as a BONUS to picture keeping...the POINT is Since our ONE and ONLY GURU is GURBANI..why over-complicate things by having IMAGINARY PAINTINGS..statues etc...

GURBANI is very Clear that the HUMAN DEH is TRANSITORY..attach NO IMPORTANCE to IT...only PERMANENT THING is The CREATOR..FOCUS on HIM....period...but we find it extremely difficult to do THAT..and easy to focus..on imaginary paintings..gurus supposed slippers, shoes, cholas, bags, etc as IF the Guru only wore one pair of slippers, one chola etc thats why so many Gurdawras having all these "holy" objects...

Kamala · #9 (**permalink**) 13-Jul-2012, 13:44 PM

Sometimes I see Gurdwaras with Garlands around the Guru ji's pictures.. here is a famous Gurdwara that does so;

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...anGurdwara.JPG
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=38774

Please click, since if I post the image it distorts the site.