IDOL WORSHIP OF AGGS
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/spiritual-articles/24439-idol-worship-of-aggs.html ABSTRACT
Idol worship – It is the worship of sacred objects personifing but not God with adoration, devotion, profound reverent love, and allegiance accorded to a deity/idol/sacred religious scripture or picture as opposed to the worship pf a monotheistic God. Worship combines the ideas of bowing before, paying homage to, and selfless service with devotional love. It involves recognition of worth in God, and the offering of honor, praise, and adoration to the One who is altogether worthy.
ਪੋਥੀ ਪਰਮੇਸਰ ਕਾ ਥਾਨੁ ॥ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਗਾਵਹਿ ਗੁਣ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਪੂਰਨ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਗਿਆਨੁ ॥
Pothī parmesar kā thān.Sāḏẖsang gāvahi guṇ gobinḏ pūran barahm gi▫ān.
The Scripture (Word) is the dwelling of the Transcendent Akal Purkh. Whoever sings the Glorious Praises of It in the Company of the Holy, acquires Divine enlightenment. -----Guru Arjan, Raag Sarag, AGGS, Page, 1226-3
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According to the Bible, idolatry originated in the age of Eber, though some interpret the text to mean in the time of Serug; traditional Jewish lore traces it back to Enos, the second generation after Adam. Image worship existed in the time of Jacob, from the account of Rachel taking images along with her on leaving her father's house, which is given in the book of Genesis. According to the Midrash Genesis Rabba, Abraham's father, Terah, was both an idol manufacturer and worshipper. It is recounted in both traditional Jewish texts and in the Quran that when Abraham discovered the true God, he destroyed his father's idols.The commandments in the Hebrew Bible against idolatry forbade the adoption of the beliefs and practices of the pagans who lived amongst the Israelites at the time, especially the religions of ancient Akkad, Mesopotamia, and Egypt. -----Wikipedia encyclopedia
IMHO since the mortal mind cannot comprehend the immanence and transcendence of the nameless, formless, infinite, unfathomable incomprehensible version of Akal Purkh, different idols like AGGS, Hindu deities and images or pictures of Sikh Gurus or even Saints (Sants) are seen filling the walls of religious places. These all are idols in one way or the other. They are not substitutes for God but in fact AGGS is considered as God by majority of spiritually ignorant Sikhs, due to inherited wrong information rammed in to their psyche by parents, traditions, and or by illetrate Granthies. All the empty purposeless rituals or religious dresses etc (ਭੇਖੀ) related to this ignorance or show of external piety are well known to all of us. Guru Gobind Singh writes in Akal Ustit about these rituals;
ਕੂਰ ਕਿ੍ਆ ਉਰਝਿਓ ਸਭ ਜਗ ਸੀ੍ ਭਗਵਾਨ ਕੋ ਭੇਦੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਓ ॥ ੧੦ ॥ ੩੦ ॥
Koor Kria Orjheo Sabh Jag Sri Bhagwan Ko Bhayd Na Paa-eo.
The entire world is engrossed in false rituals and none knows the mystery of the Divine.-----Guru Gobind Singh, Akal Ustit, D.G., Page, 15
Guru Gobind Singh in his message in the Bachitar Natak advised the Sikhs that Sikh Gurus cannot be equaled to God they are just human beings and servants of God and were born to deliver Its message to the humanity. It is the God who has to be worshiped and Gurus are teachers who should be respected. Guru Gobind Singh points to this in Bachitar Natak;
ਜੇ ਹਮ ਕੋ ਪਰਮੇਸ਼ਰ ਉਚਰ ਹੈ ॥ ਤੇ ਸਭ ਨਰਕ ਕੁੰਡ ਮਹਿ ਪਰਿ ਹੈ ॥ ਮੋ ਕੋ ਦਾਸ ਤਵਨ ਕਾ ਜਾਨੋ ॥ ਯਾ ਮੈ ਭੇਦੁ ਨ ਰੰਚ ਪਛਾਨੋ ॥ ੩੨ ॥
Je Ham Ko Parmeshar Ouchar Hai, Te Sabh Narak Kundh Meh Par Hai, Mo Ko Das Tavan Ka Jano, Ya Mai Bhayd Na Ranch Pachano.
Those who would call me God they will fall in to the deep pit of hell. Know me as his servant and nothing is other than truth in it. -----Guru Gobind Singh, Bachitar Natak, DG, Page, 57-32
The fundamental point about idol worship is the most important lesson that one should learn from Hinduism. Sikh Gurus have commented on this aspect of idol/stone worship many times in Sabd Guru;
ਪੜਿ ਪੁਸਤਕ ਸੰਧਿਆ ਬਾਦੰ ॥ਸਿਲ ਪੂਜਸਿ ਬਗੁਲ ਸਮਾਧੰ ॥ ਮੁਖਿ ਝੂਠ ਬਿਭੂਖਣ ਸਾਰੰ ॥ਤ੍ਰੈਪਾਲ ਤਿਹਾਲ ਬਿਚਾਰੰ ॥ਗਲਿ ਮਾਲਾ ਤਿਲਕੁ ਲਿਲਾਟੰ ॥ਦੁਇ ਧੋਤੀ ਬਸਤ੍ਰ ਕਪਾਟੰ ॥ਜੇ ਜਾਣਸਿ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੰ ਕਰਮੰ ॥ਸਭਿ ਫੋਕਟ ਨਿਸਚਉ ਕਰਮੰ ॥ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਿਹਚਉ ਧਿਆਵੈ ॥ਵਿਣੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਵਾਟ ਨ ਪਾਵੈ ॥
Paṛ pusṯak sanḏẖi¬ā bāḏaʼn.Sil pūjas bagul samāḏẖaʼn.Mukẖ jẖūṯẖ bibẖūkẖaṇ sāraʼn.Ŧaraipāl ṯihāl bicẖāraʼn.Gal mālā ṯilak lilātaʼn.Ḏu¬ė ḏẖoṯī basṯar kapātaʼn.Jė jāṇas barahmaʼn karmaʼn.Sabẖ fokat niscẖa¬o karmaʼn.Kaho Nānak nihcẖa¬o ḏẖi¬āvai.viṇ saṯgur vāt na pāvai.
You read your books and say your prayers, and then engage in debate; you worship stones and sit like a stork, pretending to be in Samaadhi. With your mouth you utter falsehood, and you adorn yourself with precious decorations; you recite the three lines of the Gayatri three times a day. Around your neck is a rosary, and on your forehead is a sacred mark; upon your head is a turban and you wear two loin cloths. If you knew the nature of God, you would know that all of these beliefs and rituals are in vain. Says Nanak, meditate with deep faith; without the True Guru, no one finds the Way. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Asa AGGS, Page, 470
ਦੇਵੀ ਦੇਵਾ ਪੂਜੀਐ ਭਾਈ ਕਿਆ ਮਾਗਉ ਕਿਆ ਦੇਹਿ ॥ਪਾਹਣੁ ਨੀਰਿ ਪਖਾਲੀਐ ਭਾਈ ਜਲ ਮਹਿ ਬੂਡਹਿ ਤੇਹਿ ॥
Ḏėvī ḏėvā pūjī¬ai bẖā¬ī ki¬ā māga¬o ki¬ā ḏeh.Pāhaṇ nīr pakẖālī¬ai bẖā¬ī jal meh būḏẖeh ṯėhi.
Why worship gods and goddesses, O Siblings of Destiny? What can we ask of them? What can they give us? The stone gods are washed with water, O Siblings of Destiny, but they just sink in the water. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Sorath, AGGS, Page, 637-6
ਪਾਥਰੁ ਲੇ ਪੂਜਹਿ ਮੁਗਧ ਗਵਾਰ ॥ਓਹਿ ਜਾ ਆਪਿ ਡੁਬੇ ਤੁਮ ਕਹਾ ਤਰਣਹਾਰੁ ॥
Pāthar lė pūjeh mugaḏẖ gavār. Ohi jā āp dubė ṯum kahā ṯaraṇhār.
The ignorant fools pick up stones and worship them. But when those stones themselves sink, who will carry you across? -----Guru Nanak, Raag Bihagraha, AGGS, Page, 556-10
Guru Nanak if alive would have given the same advice to the Sikhs of today.
ਭਰਮਿ ਭੂਲੇ ਅਗਿਆਨੀ ਅੰਧੁਲੇ ਭ੍ਰਮਿ ਭ੍ਰਮਿ ਫੂਲ ਤੋਰਾਵੈ ॥ਨਿਰਜੀਉ ਪੂਜਹਿ ਮੜਾ ਸਰੇਵਹਿ ਸਭ ਬਿਰਥੀ ਘਾਲ ਗਵਾਵੈ ॥
Bẖaram bẖūlė agi¬ānī anḏẖulė bẖaram bẖaram fūl ṯorāvai. Nirjī¬o pūjeh maṛā sarėveh sabẖ birthī gẖāl gavāvai.
The ignorant and the blind wander deluded by doubt; deluded and confused, they pick flowers to offer to their idols. They worship lifeless stones and serve the tombs of the dead; all their efforts are useless. -----Guru Ramdas, Raag Malar, AGGS, Page, 1264-3
ਘਰ ਮਹਿ ਠਾਕੁਰੁ ਨਦਰਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ॥ਗਲ ਮਹਿ ਪਾਹਣੁ ਲੈ ਲਟਕਾਵੈ ॥ਭਰਮੇ ਭੂਲਾ ਸਾਕਤੁ ਫਿਰਤਾ ॥ਨੀਰੁ ਬਿਰੋਲੈ ਖਪਿ ਖਪਿ ਮਰਤਾ ॥ ਜਿਸੁ ਪਾਹਣ ਕਉ ਠਾਕੁਰੁ ਕਹਤਾ ॥ ਓਹੁ ਪਾਹਣੁ ਲੈ ਉਸ ਕਉ ਡੁਬਤਾ ॥
Gẖar meh ṯẖākur naḏar na āvai. Gal meh pāhaṇ lai latkāvai. Bẖarmė bẖūlā sākaṯ firṯā.Nīr birolai kẖap kẖap marṯā. Jis pāhaṇ ka¬o ṯẖākur kahṯā. Oh pāhaṇ lai us ka¬o dubṯā.
That stone, which he calls his god, that stone pulls him down and drowns him. Within the home of his own self, he does not even come to see his God and Master. And yet, around his neck, he hangs a stone god. The faithless cynic wanders around, deluded by doubt, churns water, and after wasting his life away, he dies. -----Guru Arjan, Raag Suhi, AGGS, Page, 739
ਜੋ ਪਾਥਰ ਕਉ ਕਹਤੇ ਦੇਵ ॥ਤਾ ਕੀ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਹੋਵੈ ਸੇਵ ॥ਜੋ ਪਾਥਰ ਕੀ ਪਾਂਈ ਪਾਇ ॥ਤਿਸ ਕੀ ਘਾਲ ਅਜਾਂਈ ਜਾਇ ॥ਠਾਕੁਰੁ ਹਮਰਾ ਸਦ ਬੋਲੰਤਾ ॥ਸਰਬ ਜੀਆ ਕਉ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਦਾਨੁ ਦੇਤਾ ॥
Jo pāthar ka¬o kahṯė ḏėv.Ŧā kī birthā hovai sėv. Jo pāthar kī pāʼn¬ī pā¬ė.Ŧis kī gẖāl ajāʼn¬ī jā¬ė. Ŧẖākur hamrā saḏ bolanṯā. Sarab jī¬ā ka¬o parabẖ ḏān ḏėṯā.
Those who call a stone their god-their service is useless. Those who fall at the feet of a stone god-their work is wasted in vain. My Akal Purkh and Master speak forever, and give Its gifts to all living beings. -----Guru Arjan, Raag Bhairo, AGGS, Page, 1160
ਪਾਤੀ ਤੋਰੈ ਮਾਲਿਨੀ ਪਾਤੀ ਪਾਤੀ ਜੀਉ ॥ਜਿਸੁ ਪਾਹਨ ਕਉ ਪਾਤੀ ਤੋਰੈ ਸੋ ਪਾਹਨ ਨਿਰਜੀਉ ॥ਭੂਲੀ ਮਾਲਨੀ ਹੈ ਏਉ ॥ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਜਾਗਤਾ ਹੈ ਦੇਉ ॥ਤੀਨਿ ਦੇਵ ਪ੍ਰਤਖਿ ਤੋਰਹਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਕਿਸ ਕੀ ਸੇਉ ॥ਪਾਖਾਨ ਗਢਿ ਕੈ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਕੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੀ ਦੇ ਕੈ ਛਾਤੀ ਪਾਉ ॥ਜੇ ਏਹ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਸਾਚੀ ਹੈ ਤਉ ਗੜ੍ਹਣਹਾਰੇ ਖਾਉ ॥
Pāṯī ṯorai mālini pāṯī pāṯī jī¬o.Jis pāhan ka¬o pāṯī ṯorai so pāhan nirjī¬o. Bẖūlī mālnī hai ė¬o.Saṯgur jāgṯā hai ḏė¬o. Barahm pāṯī bisan dārī fūl sankarḏė¬o.Ŧīn ḏėv parṯakẖ ṯoreh karahi kis kī sė¬o.Pākẖān gadẖ kai mūraṯ kīnĥī ḏė kai cẖẖāṯī pā¬o.Jė ėh mūraṯ sācẖī hai ṯa¬o gaṛĥaṇhārė kẖā¬o.
You tear off the leaves, O gardener, but in each and every leaf, there is life. That stone idol, for which you tear off those leaves - that stone idol is lifeless. In this, you are mistaken, O gardener. The True Guru is the Living God (ਸਰਗੁਣ). When you break these three gods, whose service are you performing? The sculptor carves the stone and fashions it into an idol, placing his feet upon its chest. If this stone god was true, it would devour the sculptor for this!----- Kabir, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 479
So long as you think AGGS the idol as God you have not got it. It describes the right path to reach that metaphysical super immanent and transcendent Higher Power. Those who use the teachings willingly, honestly, truthfully to evolve a good moral character and who follow the instructions at each step with deliberation and reflection on daily basis do find God. People who believe in formless God do find fault that God should not be worshipped through idols. Idol worship introduces a duality between the worshipper and the worshipped and so is a come down from the unique mental cognition of the Divinity inherent in oneself. One who kills duality and doubt lives a pure lifestyle, is spiritually wise, and meditates intuitively. Living in doubt and duality, one is not acceptable, even though one may perform millions of rituals, chants, wears religious clothes or symbols and austerities.
ਤੀਰਥ ਵਰਤ ਸੁਚਿ ਸੰਜਮੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਰਮੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਨਹੀ ਪੂਜਾ ॥ਨਾਨਕ ਭਾਇ ਭਗਤਿ ਨਿਸਤਾਰਾ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਵਿਆਪੈ ਦੂਜਾ ॥
Ŧirath varaṯ sucẖ sanjam nāhī karam ḏẖaram nahī pūjā, Nānak bẖā¬ė bẖagaṯ nisṯārā ḏubiḏẖā vi¬āpai ḏūjā.
Pilgrimages, fasts, purification and self-discipline are of no use, nor are rituals, religious ceremonies or empty worship. O Nanak, emancipation comes only by loving devotional worship; through duality, people are engrossed in duality. -----Guru Nanak, Siri Raag, AGGS, Page, 75- 17 & 18
But still duality and idolatry continues.
Guru Gobind Singh describes the way to reach God in Akal Ustit;
ਸਾਚੁ ਕਹੌ ਸੁਨ ਲੇਹੁ ਸਭੈ ਜਿਨ ਪੇ੍ਮ ਕੀਉ ਤਿਨ ਹੀ ਪ੍ਭੁ ਪਾਇਓ ॥ ੯ ॥ ੨੯ ॥
Saach Kahou Sun Leho Sabhai Jin Prem Kio Tin He Prabh Paa-eo.
Let all listen to the truth I proclaim-only he who loves attains the Akal Purkh.-----Guru Gobind Singh, Akal Ustit, D.G., Page, 14
He further points out on DG page 24 that artificial rituals like Hom Jag are useless and are not equal to devotion and Naam;
ਬਿਨ ਭਗਤ ਸਕਤ ਨਹੀ ਪਰਤ ਪਾਨ ॥ ਬਹੁ ਕਰਤ ਹੋਮ ਅਰ ਜੱਗ ਦਾਨ ॥ ਬਿਨ ਏਕ ਨਾਮ ਇਕ ਚਿੱਤ ਲੀਨ ॥ ਫੋਕਟੋ ਸਰਬ ਧਰਮਾ ਬਿਹੀਨ ॥ ੨੦ ॥ ੧੪੦ ॥
Bin Bhagat Sakat Nhai Parat Paan, Boh Karat Hom Ur Jag Daan, Bin Ek Naam Ik Chit Leen, Fokto Sarb Dharma Baheen.
Thou can not realize the Akal Purkh with out power of devotion; many perform yajnas (Akhand Path) and give charities though; Except for placing the Name of Real One in heart, all other deeds are futile. -----Guru Gobind Singh, Akal Ustit, D.G, Page, 24
ਮੋਨ ਭਜੇ ਨਹੀ ਮਾਨ ਤਜੇ ਨਹੀ ਭੇਖ ਸਜੇ ਨਹੀ ਮੂੰਡ ਮੁੰਡਾਏ ॥ ਕੰਠਿ ਨ ਕੰਠੀ ਕਠੋਰ ਧਰੈ ਨਹੀ ਸੀਸ ਜਟਾਨ ਕੇ ਜੂਟ ਸਹਾਏ ॥ ਸਾਚੁ ਕਹੋ ਸੁਨਿ ਲੈ ਚਿਤੁਦੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਦੀਨ ਦਿਆਲ ਕੀ ਸਾਮ ਸਿਧਾਏ ॥ ਪੀ੍ਤ ਕਰੇ ਪ੍ਭ ਪਾਯਤ ਹੈ ਕਿਰਪਾਲ ਨ ਭੀਜਤ ਲਾਂਡ ਕਟਾਏ ॥ ੧੦੦ ॥
Mon Bhajay Nahi Maan Tajay Nahi Bhaykh Sajay Nahi Moond Munda-ay, Kanth Na Knthi Kathir Dharai Nahi Sis Jataan Ke Joot Sahaa-ay, Saach Kaho Sun Lai Chitdai Bin Din Dayal Ki Saam Sidha-ay, Preet Karay Prabh Paaeyt Hai Kirpal Na Bheejat Laand Kataa-ay. Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=24439
Akal Purkh cannot be attained by silent recitations, repudiation of pride, different guises and shaving of the head. One cannot get It by wearing rosary and keeping the matted hair on the head. I tell you the truth that with out going in the refuge of compassionate Akal Purkh nothing will be accomplished. It can be realized only through love and mere circumcision cannot melt Its heart. -----Guru Gobind Singh, Bachitar Natak, DG, Page, 46-100
Conclusion:
Sikh Gurus during their life never let them be considered as God, and then how come AGGS at present is being considered so, being fed, clothed, and kept comfortable temperature wise by spiritually ignorant care taker Sikhs. It is a path towards God. Those believing it to be God are living in the 15th century. Inherent to creation is the existence of opposites to a spiritually ignorant mind. Everything exists in contrast: there can be no good without evil (though evil is not the opposite of Primary good/God), no right without wrong, no pleasure without pain, no security without insecurity, no happiness without unhappiness, no teacher without a student, no parent without a child, no enlightenment without delusion, and so forth. Life moves in cycles going from one extreme to the other in duality. Non-dualism assumes that these dichotomies are illusionary at worst or inaccurate conveniences at best.The only thing for liberation and to meet the Akal Purkh is through love of devotion and Its Fear/Will, whereby one becomes a candidate for Its Grace with complete removal of duality from the mind. It is the Grace of the Akal Purkh necessary to cross this worldly ocean (ਭਵਜਲ) by following the teachings as incorporated in the present Guru (Sabd Guru).
ਦੂਜੈ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਲਗਿ ਵਿਗੁਤਾ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਬੂਝ ਨ ਪਾਈ ॥ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵੇ ਸੋ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਏ ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰੇ ਰਜਾਈ ॥
Doojai Sabh Ko Laeg Vigutaa Bin Satgur Boojh Na Payee. Saṯgur seve so sukẖ pā▫e jis no kirpā kare rajā▫ī.
Attached to duality, all are ruined; without the True Guru, there is no understanding. Those who serve the True Guru find peace; they are blessed with Grace by the Will of the Akal Purkh.
ਭੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਭਰਮੁ ਨ ਕਟੀਐ ਨਾਮਿ ਨ ਲਗੈ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਭਉ ਊਪਜੈ ਪਾਈਐ ਮੋਖ ਦੁਆਰ ॥ਭੈ ਤੇ ਸਹਜੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਮਿਲਿ ਜੋਤੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਅਪਾਰ ॥
Bhai Bin Bharam Na KaTaeaa Naam Na Lagai Piaar. Saṯgur ṯe bẖa▫o ūpjai pā▫ī▫ai mokẖ ḏu▫ār.Bẖai ṯe sahj pā▫ī▫ai mil joṯī joṯ apār.
Without the Fear of God, doubt is not dispelled, and love for the Name is not embraced. Through the True Guru, the Fear of God wells up, and the Door of Salvation is found. Through the Fear of God, intuitive ease is obtained, and one's light merges into the Light of the Infinite. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Parbhati, AGGS, Page, 1287 & 88
Virinder S. Grewal
Williamston, MI
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