http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/300_Saal_Guru_de_Naal
India is celebrating today 300 years of the inception (consecration) of the Holy Book ‘Sri Guru Granth Sahib’ as the spiritual Guru of the Sikhs. It’s a state holiday in Delhi. The celebrations have really started around a year back, on 15th of September 2007. Today the epicenter is Nanded Sahib, where this historic event actually took place years ago.
While we are organising Jagriti Yatra (awareness rally) and Nagar Kirtan (city wide hymn singing), we should also take up the occasion to look within. How many people can place their hands on their hearts and proclaim to being a true Gursikh (disciple to the true Guru)?
A friend asked me a few days back ‘How many points would you give yourself as a good Gursikh?’. I said I would fail at the very first test. He was surprised, and asked me ‘in spite of reciting the Nitnem (daily prayers) everyday as you do?’. I said yes – and I quoted from Sri Guru Granth Sahib – ‘Gur Satgur ka jo Sikh akhai so bhalke uth har Naam dhiawai’. Translated it means ‘One who calls himself the Guru’s disciple, wakes up before dawn and recites the Lords name’. I told him I have never woken up before dawn, let alone reciting the Lord’s name at that hour.
However, the most important task for us at the moment is to root out the evil of shearing of hair. This is unacceptable within the Panth, and we need to ask ourselves why do we trim hair – just to look good (in my opinion, ending up looking like clowns)? Is that reason enough to break away from the Guru’s advice? Lets remember these words:
Hoye Sikh sir topi dhare,
saat janam kushti hoye mare.
Cursed is the Sikh who wears a cap – he will die as a leper for seven births.
