Dear Khalsa Ji,
As I understand, Idol is somethink physical, that is worshiped by some as the 'Absolute' or as the representative of the 'Absolute'. This physical entity has a shape and weight and is visible to the humans.
Now I come to Siri Guru Granth Sahib. The Granth is revered by Sikhs and many others. This Granth Has form and weight , when I bow to Siri Guru Granth Sahib, the person who watched me and not knowing the thought that is in my mind, wrongly conclude that I am a worshiper of the form 'Akaar' and asked me that he understands that Sikhs worship the formless. This doubt in his percetion needed explaination. I told this person that I am not bowing to the Physical form of Siri Guru Granth Sahib but to the spiritual knowledge that is contained in it. We all know that knowledge is formless, intangile, i.e. Nirakaar'.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=24439
The person was not yet satisfied, he fired the next question. Why you keep pillows below the granth? I told him that the Siri Guru Granth Sahib contains the Knowledge that we are seeking and we want to keep the Granth in good physical state so that we can read it again and again, if you see me reading any book I donot open it more that say 120 deg. This to not to stress the binding. This is achived by keeping Siri Guru Granth Sahib on on a small bed like structure with piloows on either side.
The person was still not satisfied another question he fires. What do you clothe it by a cover? I told him that Siri Guru Granth Sahib is normally kept in open space like a room or a hall, where it can be affected by the blowing wind. When some one is reading, she or he can take care of the the pages from flying over, but when it is not being read and thus not attended, the wind, depending on its strength can tear the pages, which we donot want. To protect Siri Guru Granth Sahib from such damge, it is important for us to cover it with heavy cloth, what we call as Rumalai.
The way we keep Siri Guru Granth Sahib all is designed to prolong the life of the each copy of Siri Guru Granth Sahib; we open it also from the middle of the set of pages. In scholl we were advised to open all the books it a similar way where one does not want the stress the binding.
i further added that my bowing to Siri Guru Granth Sahib conveys to the children that Siri Guru Granth Sahib is an object of reverenve for the family. They follow and bow to Siri Guru Granth Sahib, as the grow we tell them all that I have elaborated above. After all their mental ability cannot grasp the concept of formless. we have to introduce them to the form and them bring them over to formless. Our Guru Sahibs were great, they knew all, and they passed it on to their Sikhs.
The person was convined or not I do not know, but no further question come from him.
Just to add humour, I told this person, we do not give bath to Siri Guru Granth Sahib, the idol worshiper do that.
We both laugh and the discussion is over.
I concluded by saying that we Sikhs are worsipers of 'Nirakaar', the 'Formless', the 'Essence' i.e. 'The Sat'.
To my fellow Sikhs, I want to say that if weow to the spiritual knowledge contained in Siri Guru Granth Sahib, then only we worship 'The Nirakaar'.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=24439
With love and respect for all.
Amarpal Singh
Our Donation Goal
: Why Donate? : Donate Today! : Donate Anonymously (ਗੁਪਤ) : Our Family of Supporters 
.jpg)
Linear Mode
