Gender Bender: Women Panj Pyara At Sadar Gurdwara

Lucknow has set the example! Change DOES happen, it's already happening!

LUCKNOW: For the first time, women will form the most sacred group of Sikh community, the 'Panj Pyara' at Sadar Gurudwara. Panj Pyara are the five highest seers who conduct baptism rite to initiate people into Khalsahood and escort the famous Nagar Keertan Procession. Inspired by the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib and Shabad gurbani (religious literature), the move is to bring the teachings to practice and give woman an equal status to men.

Harpal Singh, the president of Sadar Gurudwara said, "Guru Granth Sahib begins with the message that women are equal to men and with motherhood, they rise a notch above. We have been reading this all our lives and now this step is towards giving them equal status."

The initiative is being welcomed by all gurudwaras of the city. "I think this practice will soon extend to other gurudwaras too," said Gyani Devendra Singh, head priest of Naka gurudwara.

Rajendra Singh Baggha, president of Lucknow Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee said, "Khalsa nullifies difference between man and woman, so having female Panj Pyara is a great initiative."

Ravinder Kaur, one among the five women chosen said the opportunity is a blessing. The 47-year-old took up Khalsa discipline after her husband died few years back. "I just overheard a conversation and volunteered and fortunately I was selected to be part of the Panj Pyara. I believe the Almighty chose me."

Gender bender: Women Panj Pyara at Sadar Gurdwara

I actually found his posted inconspicuously on another site and it never had much exposure or reaction prior. I actually saw it posted on a site I am *ahem* banned from ironically because of my views on equality of males and females in Sikhi. LOL

Harkiran Kaur said:

I actually found his posted inconspicuously on another site and it never had much exposure or reaction prior. I actually saw it posted on a site I am *ahem* banned from ironically because of my views on equality of males and females in Sikhi. LOL

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They should read the Guru Granth, the Guru Granth has a lot of quotes regarding Gender Equality. Our Gurus said Men and Women are equal. "They, too must be reckoned satis who live virtuously and contentedly in the service of the Lord, ever cherishing Him in their hearts... Some burn themselves along with their dead husbands: but they need not, for if they really loved them they would endure the pain alive."
“from the woman is our birth, and in the woman’s womb are we shaped. To the woman we are engaged and to the woman are we wedded. The woman is our friend and from woman is the family. Through the woman are the bonds of the world. Why then call her evil, who gives birth to the world’s leaders? From the woman is born woman, without the woman there is none” (Guru Granth Sahib, p.473).

“Women and men, all by God are created. All this is Gods play. Says Nanak, all thy creation is good, Holy” (Guru Granth Sahib, p.304).

There are so many quotes regarding gender equality, yet there is a large percent of Female Foeticides in the Punjab Region, which is truly shocking. Guru Gobind Singh Ji was against Female Foeticide and the capture of female captives during the battles. Its very sad to see our beautiful religion being polluted by our Indian Culture or Traditions. Such as Caste, Gender Discrimination, Superstition. The ironic thing is if these people like to discriminate genders then why are they Sikhs? There is a lot of hypocrisy in the Sikh Faith; however this news is truly great, and shows that Sikhism is not a lost cause.