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Concept Of Langar In Sikhi
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<blockquote data-quote="Balbir27" data-source="post: 214241" data-attributes="member: 21905"><p><strong>Ek Oankar (never forget this)</strong></p><p></p><p>Harkiran Kaur has presented her topic well but the <em>type of food</em> question has inevitably crept into the discussions. Perhaps I may add a view of the same subject from another angle. Apologies for repeating some things.</p><p></p><p><strong>Meaning of langar</strong></p><p></p><p>Langar, commonly, refers to food which is served by a Sikh Gurudawara at its location or, exceptionally, elsewhere (e.g. disasters).</p><p></p><p>The <strong>contents</strong> of a langar can vary from a simple meal (roti and dal), to Khichdhi (typically served where facilities are limited e.g. Hemkund Sahib) and to more elaborate offerings. Water, tea, curds and sweet dishes are also provided. Some places in the US even provide Pizzas.</p><p></p><p>Small portions of the prepared food are placed in dishes and an ardas is done followed by pulling a steel kirpan through each dish to complete the blessing. The food then may be mixed back with it’s origins.</p><p></p><p>The langar food should not be wasted and one should only take what one needs, and no more.</p><p></p><p><strong>Historical facts</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>Guru Nanak</strong>’s “<strong>Sacha Sauda</strong>” story is well known. In essence when his father gave him some money to go to town and buy goods for the purpose of setting up a profitable business, Guru Nanak spent all the money to feed and clothe a group of hungry and naked holy men that he came across in a forest. Although his father was pretty cross when he learnt how Guru Nanak had spent all the money, Guru Nanak himself felt that he had conducted “true” business, i.e. “Sacha Sauda”.</p><p></p><p>The 2nd Guru’s wife, <strong>Mata Khivi</strong>, carried on with this concept. She organised and provided food for the many people who gathered at the Guru’s court, many of whom would have had to travel long distances.</p><p></p><p><strong>Gur Amar Das </strong>(the 3rd Guru)<strong>,</strong> was the 62 year old man who served <strong>Guru Angad</strong> by daily fetching water for bathing from the Beas River, 5 Km away, just after midnight, whatever the weather. As the 3rd Guru, he formalised the tradition whereby all comers to the Guru’s Dera would be provided free food. However high or low one may be in society, all were welcome and all had to sit together to receive the food. Thus the Guru’s Kitchen was established. Guru Amar Das also established the “<strong>Pehle Langar phir Sangat</strong>” rule (first have Langar then have an audience). Even Emperor Akbar, who came to visit him, was first required to have Langar (seated on the floor with common men) before he could have an audience with the Guru.</p><p></p><p><strong>What is served in Langar?</strong></p><p></p><p>Guru Amar Das himself had co{censored} lentils with boiled rice whilst the Sangat was provided with a much better choice, variety and flavour. The Guru also introduced “Karah Parshad” in the Langar.</p><p></p><p>The Langar food is not made to cater for the likes or dislikes of certain sects. No one is forced to partake of langar if they personally object to potatoes, spices, garlic etc. Everyone is welcome and one eats what is provided, for it is blessed in the Guru’s House. The eating or not eating of certain foods does not make one better spiritually (refer to Guru Nanak's Bani). It is simply nourishment. Of course some have intolerances to wheat or have other medical conditions whereby certain foods are contraindicated. It is for that person to make a personal choice. There is no Gurudawara that I know of that will provide, say a gluten free langar or make a langar to order. Some Gurudawaras are providing tea without sugar but with the option of adding sugar to one's liking in recognition of the increasing incidence of Diabetes among Asian people.</p><p></p><p>Whilst traditionally, Langar food has been <strong>vegetarian</strong>, there are some Gurudawaras or sects today who serve meat at certain festivals. Whilst this practice remains a point of controversy, it is nevertheless existent. It is recorded that the Nihangs and Hazuri Sikhs follow the tradition of slaughtering a goat (traditionally) by the “Jhatka” method (One blow by a sword to severe the head to cause the least distress and pain to the animal). Although not directly related to the menu for a Langar, it would be incomplete not to include what the SGPC of Amritsar sets out in its Rehat Maryada -that a Sikh may not eat meat prepared in the Muslim “Kutha” manner (i.e. a small cut to a vein in the neck and then leaving the animal to slowly bleed to death in pain and distress). So “Jhatka” meat is acceptable in general but controversial for the purpose of Langar.</p><p></p><p>Note: <strong>Guru Nanak</strong> himself has referred to the subject of meat in numerous places in the SGGS, but let us leave that area for another time and place, for the discussion issue here is confined only to Langar.</p><p></p><p><strong>Sat Sri Akal</strong></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Balbir27, post: 214241, member: 21905"] [B]Ek Oankar (never forget this)[/B] Harkiran Kaur has presented her topic well but the [I]type of food[/I] question has inevitably crept into the discussions. Perhaps I may add a view of the same subject from another angle. Apologies for repeating some things. [B]Meaning of langar[/B] Langar, commonly, refers to food which is served by a Sikh Gurudawara at its location or, exceptionally, elsewhere (e.g. disasters). The [B]contents[/B] of a langar can vary from a simple meal (roti and dal), to Khichdhi (typically served where facilities are limited e.g. Hemkund Sahib) and to more elaborate offerings. Water, tea, curds and sweet dishes are also provided. Some places in the US even provide Pizzas. Small portions of the prepared food are placed in dishes and an ardas is done followed by pulling a steel kirpan through each dish to complete the blessing. The food then may be mixed back with it’s origins. The langar food should not be wasted and one should only take what one needs, and no more. [B]Historical facts[/B] [B]Guru Nanak[/B]’s “[B]Sacha Sauda[/B]” story is well known. In essence when his father gave him some money to go to town and buy goods for the purpose of setting up a profitable business, Guru Nanak spent all the money to feed and clothe a group of hungry and naked holy men that he came across in a forest. Although his father was pretty cross when he learnt how Guru Nanak had spent all the money, Guru Nanak himself felt that he had conducted “true” business, i.e. “Sacha Sauda”. The 2nd Guru’s wife, [B]Mata Khivi[/B], carried on with this concept. She organised and provided food for the many people who gathered at the Guru’s court, many of whom would have had to travel long distances. [B]Gur Amar Das [/B](the 3rd Guru)[B],[/B] was the 62 year old man who served [B]Guru Angad[/B] by daily fetching water for bathing from the Beas River, 5 Km away, just after midnight, whatever the weather. As the 3rd Guru, he formalised the tradition whereby all comers to the Guru’s Dera would be provided free food. However high or low one may be in society, all were welcome and all had to sit together to receive the food. Thus the Guru’s Kitchen was established. Guru Amar Das also established the “[B]Pehle Langar phir Sangat[/B]” rule (first have Langar then have an audience). Even Emperor Akbar, who came to visit him, was first required to have Langar (seated on the floor with common men) before he could have an audience with the Guru. [B]What is served in Langar?[/B] Guru Amar Das himself had co{censored} lentils with boiled rice whilst the Sangat was provided with a much better choice, variety and flavour. The Guru also introduced “Karah Parshad” in the Langar. The Langar food is not made to cater for the likes or dislikes of certain sects. No one is forced to partake of langar if they personally object to potatoes, spices, garlic etc. Everyone is welcome and one eats what is provided, for it is blessed in the Guru’s House. The eating or not eating of certain foods does not make one better spiritually (refer to Guru Nanak's Bani). It is simply nourishment. Of course some have intolerances to wheat or have other medical conditions whereby certain foods are contraindicated. It is for that person to make a personal choice. There is no Gurudawara that I know of that will provide, say a gluten free langar or make a langar to order. Some Gurudawaras are providing tea without sugar but with the option of adding sugar to one's liking in recognition of the increasing incidence of Diabetes among Asian people. Whilst traditionally, Langar food has been [B]vegetarian[/B], there are some Gurudawaras or sects today who serve meat at certain festivals. Whilst this practice remains a point of controversy, it is nevertheless existent. It is recorded that the Nihangs and Hazuri Sikhs follow the tradition of slaughtering a goat (traditionally) by the “Jhatka” method (One blow by a sword to severe the head to cause the least distress and pain to the animal). Although not directly related to the menu for a Langar, it would be incomplete not to include what the SGPC of Amritsar sets out in its Rehat Maryada -that a Sikh may not eat meat prepared in the Muslim “Kutha” manner (i.e. a small cut to a vein in the neck and then leaving the animal to slowly bleed to death in pain and distress). So “Jhatka” meat is acceptable in general but controversial for the purpose of Langar. Note: [B]Guru Nanak[/B] himself has referred to the subject of meat in numerous places in the SGGS, but let us leave that area for another time and place, for the discussion issue here is confined only to Langar. [B]Sat Sri Akal[/B] [/QUOTE]
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