Question about Idols

Its said in sikhism that we dont worship Idols. Does that mean that pictures of guru jis and even having Khanda in your home is bad? Or only bad if you pray to them?
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Those "pictures" are all IMAGINARY..would you pay any attention if i sent you a "picture" of your dad/mum which i painted (imaginary) especially when i have absolutley no idea about how they look like..would you HANG that picture in your home or carry it around in your wallet ??..and tell everyone..THAT is my Dad/Mum ??

Why would i depend on Sobha Singh ( or any other painter/artist) to tell me HOW my dad Guru Gobind Singh ji looks like ?? Did Sobha singh see him..does sobha singh know Guru ji perosnally ?/ How accurate is he...NO WAY..to me GURU JI is PERSONAL..any which way I LIKE toi IMAGINE HIM..is my own...

Gyani jarnail Singh

WGJKK WGJKF

Gyani ji

I totally agree with yourself in your posting.

'why worship the human vessel of a Guru, when the living Guru is amongst us' (refering to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji), Is there any sikh Guru'dawar that there is not a picture of some sort, of a Guru of past, other than the Har Mandier Sahib?

However the khanda, although its origins are somewhat debateable, what is not, is the fact that it sybolises a higher truth, a truthfull living, striaght from the youngest to the most senior of mindframes. Although not strictly part of the identity of a sikh, it certainly today, denotes membership.

Jas

Gurfateh

All faiths have some symbols like Christians have Cross,Islam may have Cresent and Old Sanatan Dharm may have Om.

But often Shias use Allah as thier symbol,Some protestants may use verse from holy Bible hung.Hindus of Bajrang Dal use Trident(or Trishul).

We can have picture of Darbar Sahib,Verse of Gurbani in our house,Nishan Sahib or what is Called Khanda may have strong spritual or socail message in it.So it is Ok and OK is Ek Oankar also.Scocaily it may mean,Miri and Piri (Two Swrods)ie Spritual aspect is only usefull when it comes in practialc use via political force,But under one God(Khanda or sabre) and Circle represent it as eterneranl unededing and universal truth.

Anyway Picture depctiong old Sikhs or Gurus doing some work from which we can dervie inspiration are OK but at present often they are worshipped.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-youth/8882-question-about-idols.html


In the house of Das ,das had some pictures of Gurus but often Hindus and Turbaned Hindus insulted Gurmat by paying respect to them.So das tron them of or Burnt them.In one Gutka of Nanaksar Das had picture of Tenth Nanak,das tore it off.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=8882

So no need ot picture in present Kaliyuga as under mammon we our our coming genration may start to worship that.Give more emphsisi on Bani.

The point that was probably trying to be made about non worship of idols is when you bow and pray towards an image/idol we bow/pray to only the book. We do not potray an image of God as it is not human.

The pictures of Gurus: well if you read old text and see old paintings there is a resemblance to what people like Sohba singh paints (I am sure he has researched this himself before he did the common image of all our gurus). But I do agree they are just representations and its not important. Same has Hindu Gods are representations of God in its many form. One of the differences being we do not bow down to picture of Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=8882
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=8882

Maybe in a way its probably a subconcious social thing to just re-enforce you are in a sikh household as I have never seen any one actually pray towards the oictures of Guru's.

Guru Sahib says:
dooja kahe simriye jo jamme te mar jaye
eko simro nanakaa jo jal thal rahya samaye

Gurfateh
It is wrong that Sikhs bow to book.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=8882
We are told to only to Bow to Akal.And that can be anywhere and read mathatekna thread for that.

And it is not menadtory anyway to bow to scripture in Gurudwara.

vijay deep singh ji

do you bow to your elders?

i do

even touch feet of respected elders.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=8882
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=8882

it is part of culture.

matha tekna as a physical act means respect and as a spiritual level means subjugation of our ego to our master.

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is my Master. I bow and respect my master and thank it for the immense spiritual knowledge and correct way to meet my Lord.

i donot believe in carrying Khanda or any other symbol.

physical show offs of spirituality are incorrect as per my understanding..

Gurfateh

Well in elders also say Guru Panth when das touches the feet,das think them as manifestation of Akal.We have Three forms of Akal,Akal in universe,In Form of Sabad or verse and in form of Creed.