Very simply, it is written that prior Khande Pahul, there only existed Charn Pahul, where Amrit was the water that the foot, or the toe of the Guru had been washed in.
I find this fails my own thoughts on how the Gurus conducted themselves, they were slaves to Creation, not ego ridden babas.
Would Guru Nanakji have been happy to see another being blessed with the water used to wash his feet?
Thoughts please...........
Harry ji,
Guru Fateh.
I am glad you raised this very vital point. Many Sikhs take this charade as a real event through second hand fairy tales while ignoring the teachings of SGGS, our only Guru. They blindly believe in something that makes no sense based on Gurmat values and without studying it by themselves, which is only upon them as Sikhs. They give a long list of 'believers' to those who question this questionable and eyebrow raising ritual as something etched in stone via hear says.
@Sahni Sahib. Thanks for explaining the Charan Pahul in a precise manner.
We should never forget that Bhai Gurdas’ Vaaran were not added to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, our only Guru, because it did not pass our Gurus’ high benchmark that had set forth for any poetry by anyone to become Gurbani.
The other thing one can gather from the oral history of Sikhi if one has studied it through different references is of utmost importance, that Bhai Gurdas was born 12 years after Guru Nanak took his last breath which could be debatable because our visionary Gurus never wrote any of their history, nor got their portraits painted, both of which were easily accessible through many people in the Mughal era.
My personal view is that as Sikhi is idea based not personality based as most of the major religions are, our visionary Gurus took the back seat and put their
Idea of Sikhi on the throne rather than themselves.
The fact is that they never called themselves Gurus like Bhai Gurdas does and they are also mentioned likewise in Bhatt Vani in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
Our Gurus gave themselves numbers, no titles, no name, which is an important factor to keep in mind.. This shows how important
the Idea of Sikhi was for them to put forward than anything about themselves.
Charan pahul was very common during Guru Nanak’s time among the Hindus Brahmins, Mahants, Udasis, Masands and others who wanted to have their disciples with stern obedience to follow them as a flock.
It is also said that Sri Chand the eldest son of Guru Nanak started charan pahul after he was rejected to be the second Guru by his dad and hence created his own udasi sect/flock.
One more important thing to notice. Yogi Bhajan, the founder of 3HO was one of those who kind of worshiped Sri Chand and as a result he erected his statues in most of his ashrams. His cult/flock follows the same too and many of his ex-disciples claim that Yogi Bhajan gave charan pahul to some of them for some reason. However, there is no confirmation about it.
Many other Sants and Babas are said to do the same till today.
The modus operandi was/is as follows:
They used to dip their big toe in some sweetened water and make people drink it in order to create their respective flocks. For me, this is nothing but a Me-ism ego trip where the person giving Charan Pahul is full of himself which was not the case of our Gurus as mentioned above.
Looking at our Gurus’ history and their approach as little as we know about them, one can categorically conclude that our Gurus could have never started this kind of charade. They were conversationalists, not preachers sitting on some pedestal. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is its proof and so are many Sakhis that complement our Gurmat ideals.
Sadly, many Sikhs and lots of other cults, which have great influence on many lazy Sikhs that love second hand information from Sants, Babas and other snake oil salesmen rather than studying Gurbani on their own to have a firsthand experience of this beautiful gurbani, believe in this charan pahul without giving it a second thought.
Let’s for the sake of argument say that the above claim were true. If it were, then only people who took charan pahul from Guru Nanak and from the following 8 Gurus would be called Sikhs, no one else. Otherwise, this charade defeats its own purpose.
One more important point to notice in this serious topic is that Khandei de Pahul was voluntary, and after Panj Pyaras, many others took it but many did not. One of them is the famous Bhai Nand Lal.
Secondly, if the above claim of charan pahul were true, then Guru Nanak must have done the same with Bhai Lehna before making him Guru Angad which was not the case. History says that he did Matha Tek to Guru Angad with a currency coin of some denomination and other Gurus followed in the same manner.
Lastly, if the above claim of charan pahul were true, then all the writers in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji would had to have taken the same, hence many poets whose Gurbani is included in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji would not have qualified because most of them were in this world before our Gurus’ time.
Following is the whole Vaar 23 which has so many anti Gurmat things in it that I do not happen to agree with. The literal translation in English has many flaws. But this is what it is.
Tejwant Singh
The main verse about charan pahul is in
bold/italics and under lined .
https://searchgurbani.com/bhai_gurdas_vaaran/vaar/1/pauri/23
੨੩ : ਗੁਰ ਅਵਤਾਰ
ਸੁਣੀ ਪੁਕਾਰਿ ਦਾਤਾਰ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਗ ਮਾਹਿ ਪਠਾਇਆ।
Sounee Poukaari Daataar Prabhu Guru Naanak Jag Maahi Patdaaiaa.
The benefactor Lord listened to the cries (of humanity) and sent Guru Nanak to this world.
ਚਰਨ ਧੋਇ ਰਹਰਾਸਿ ਕਰਿ ਚਰਣਾਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਸਿਖਾਂ ਪੀਲਾਇਆ।
Charan Dhoi Raharaasi Kari Charanaamritu Sikhaan Peelaaiaa.
He washed His feet, eulogised God and got his Disciples drink the ambrosia of his feet.
ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਪੂਰਨ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਕਲਿਜੁਗ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਇਕ ਦਿਖਾਇਆ।
Paarabrahamu Pooran Brahamu Kalijougi Andari Iku Dikhaaiaa.
He preached in this darkage (kaliyug) that, saragun (Brahm) and nirgun (Parbrahm) are the same and identical.
ਚਾਰੇ ਪੈਰ ਧਰਮ ਦੇ ਚਾਰਿ ਵਰਨ ਇਕ ਵਰਨੁ ਕਰਾਇਆ।
Chaaray Pair Dharam Day Chaari Varani Iku Varanu Karaaiaa.
Dharma was now established on its four feet and all the four castes (through fraternal feeling) were converted into one caste (of humanity).
ਰਾਣਾ ਰੰਕ ਬਰਾਬਰੀ ਪੈਰੀ ਪਵਣਾ ਜਗਿ ਵਰਤਾਇਆ।
Raanaa Ranku Baraabaree Pairee Paavanaa Jagi Varataaiaa.
Equating the poor with the prince, he spread the etiquette of humbly touching the feet.
ਉਲਟਾ ਖੇਲੁ ਪਿਰੰਮ ਦਾ ਪੈਰਾ ਉਪਰਿ ਸੀਸੁ ਨਿਵਾਇਆ।
Ulataa Khaylu Piranm Daa Pairaa Oupari Seesu Nivaaiaa.
Inverse is the game of the beloved; he got the egotist high heads bowed to feet.
ਕਲਿਜੁਗ ਬਾਬੇ ਤਾਰਿਆ ਸਤਿਨਾਮੁ ਪੜ੍ਹਿ ਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਸੁਣਾਇਆ।
Kalijougu Baabay Taariaa Satinaamu Parhhi Mantr Sounaaiaa.
Baba Nanak rescued this dark age (kaliyug) and recited ‘satinam’ mantr for one and all.
ਕਲਿ ਤਾਰਣ ਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਆਇਆ ॥੨੩॥
Kali Taarani Guru Naanaku Aaiaa ॥23॥
Guru Nanak came to redeem the kaliyug.