Above: There is something deeply moving and beautiful about what we see. Below, the three images at the bottom: there is something disturbing and terribly wrong with these images! Are these Sikhs or they brahmins in Sikh guise?
Current Events
Piety by Proxy:
Who Are We Kidding?
by KHUSHWANT SINGH [New Delhi]
Many years ago, I happened to be in Nanded (Maharashtra) and went to Hazur Sahib gurdwara to pay homage to the Tenth Guru, Gobind Singh, who was assassinated there in 1708.
It is one of the most sacred of gurdwaras.
I came across something which baffled me.
There was a row of cabins separated by thin walls of plywood in which a dozen akhand paths (non-stop reading of the Guru Granth by a relay of paathees - readers) were being performed with no one listening to them.
I sought explanation from the head granthi (caretaker). He told me people from India and abroad sent money for akhand paths, to be followed by Guru-ka-langar, as thanksgiving or for wish fulfilment.
I could not comprehend how prayers recited by someone else could benefit a devotee who paid for them.
However, I found such practices more prevalent in other communities, as well.
Hindus have havans (fire ceremonies) performed at distant places.
Muslims pay expenses to people going for Haj, hoping that benefits will accrue to them.
Even Mirza Ghalib pleaded with Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar to take him along on Haj and he would give his tswaab (benefit) to his majesty. However, the British did not allow the Mughal king to leave Delhi.
What came as a big surprise to me was to find that Europeans, Canadians and Indian Christians are also into outsourcing prayers. Well-to-do English, Canadians and Americans, who can't be bothered to go to church, paid for holy masses in euros or dollars, outsourcing religious rituals to Kerala Christian priests.
I read about it in the latest Private Eye of May 15. To wit: "The outsourcing of American and European jobs to low-wage countries like India has been happening for years," Archbishop Jacob Thoomkuzhy told reporters in Kerala, "and religious outsourcing is no different. Because of shortage of priests in the industrialised world, prayers for the dead and holy masses are being paid for by the westerners, then offshored to India."
"It is a lucrative business for churches in Kerala. Mass intentions that are paid for in dollars or euros are carried out here by local priests. The prayers are recited, and the fees paid by westerners help cash-starved parishes here. So what's the problem? " asked the Archbishop.
For example, when British newspapers whipped up a storm about David Beckham's affairs, a Beckham fan from London paid 350 euros for a mass to save the soul of his hero.
The holy mass, however, was not held in a London parish.
It was outsourced by the church authorities to a Bishop in India, who passed it to a remote church at Anthikad in Thrissur diocese, where the mass took place.
"We do not want to look at this commercially, but it is a huge boost to the local religious economy here,'' said the Archbishop.
[Courtesy: The Tribune]
May 18, 2009
Conversation about this article
1: Gurdip Chana (London, England), May 18, 2009, 1:04 PM.
With all due respect, the continuous recitation of the Granth Sahib was a tradition, as I was told, during Guru Gobind Singh's period or thereabouts, as a easy means for soliders who were always on foot at the time to listen and recite the Guru's Word. As the soldiers were always on the move, it was easy and convenient for them to listen to Gurbani. However: Fast forward to 2009 - as seen from the pictures, Akhand Paths are just a means of generating funds, false hopes, false prayer and just filling one's ego with thoughts that one is doing a good deed. The Guru Granth - the very receptacle of Wisdom being abused here - teaches us that mere ritualistic recitation leads to nothing more than lip service. Without simran upon the Name of God (Waheguru) one finds no peace. Therefore, I have to ask, why do we all just sit back and consider such practices to be acceptable. I am in no way, shape or form anti-Hindu (or against any other faith) - so I do not want you to think my point of view is based upon any such feeling. But I ask, as a Sikh, to first consider what the Guru Granth says - then consider how Akhand Paths should be conducted within the guidance of Sikhi. Food for thought!
2: Parminderjit Singh (Murrieta, California, U.S.A.), May 18, 2009, 5:24 PM.
This is only evitable after an Akal Takht Jathedar is elected by the Sikh Sangat from all over the world, based on a spiritual and intellectual profile. And we empower him/her to enforce the same code all over the world.
3: Sadhu Singh (Silvassa, Gujrat, India), May 19, 2009, 1:29 AM.
What Gurdip ji has commented, that during Guru Gobind Singh ji's times the practice of akhand paath was prevalent, I submit that there is no evidence - such as contemporary writings - to corroborate this. I feel that the practice of conducting the ritual of Akhand Paaths should be abolished. We need to be educated about gurbani. Unless one recites and listens to it, it doesn't create any effect on any one (such as by proxy). Listening is a must, therefore, a campaign is required to be launched all over the world to stop this practice.
4: Bicky Singh (Ontario, Canada), May 19, 2009, 12:14 PM.
I totally agree with this article. The author has touched on a subject that needs more thought on the part of the masses. I personally hate going to akhand paaths at people's houses where the only one that is listening to the path are the walls. Everyone else is so busy with gup-shup or women comparing dresses with each other. And if you do want to sit and listen, there's always someone coming by and saying "Eat langar, please!" This is a total sham. We need to wake up and get beyond the idea that having a paath at our house, business, etc. will automatically invoke divine blessings or good luck.
5: Waryam Singh (Stratford-on-Avon, U.K.), May 19, 2009, 3:59 PM.
Paaths - akhand or sehaj or otherwise - can of course be good and spiritually uplifting, if they are done by oneself, with family, friends and other loved ones participating in it ... with humility and real interest. Getting others to do it for you by proxy or merely paying for the exercise, is a total waste of time and money - except for one thing: it does create some employment!
6: Gurdip Chana (London, England), May 19, 2009, 7:18 PM.
Thank you for pointing that out, Sadhu Singh ji. Personally, I am very sceptical about akhand paaths - I personally believe they lead to nothing more (other than the reasons I highlighted earlier). What I do not understand is why such practices still occur in modern days - particularly the ritualistic aarti performances at Hazoor Sahib (please correct me if I am wrong on that). From my reading and understanding of gurmat - such activities are in fact considered rituals and therefore anti-gurmat! Guru Granth is clear on this isn't it?
7: Preet Kaur (Washington DC, U.S.A.), May 20, 2009, 2:19 AM.
A more personal alternative to akhand paaths that my family has adopted is sehaj paaths. Members of the family will take part in the reading of Guru Granth Sahib without a time constraint and at their leisure, whether it be a page a day or 50 pages a day. We have also encouraged our children to take part in sehaj paaths so that they can develop their own personal relationship with the Guru and not be so intimidated of reading gurbani. This slower pace aids in the reflection of what is being read. We have found this to be a much more beneficial and participatory way to celebrate anniversaries, weddings, etc. than akhand paaths.
8: Dr. Daya Singh Sandhu (Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.A.), May 20, 2009, 7:31 AM.
I am reminded here of Thomas Carlyle's line: "A man lives by believing something, but not by arguing and debating about many things." I am not a scholar of Sikhism. However, our history is replete with many instances, pointing out that it is one's belief that matters. How Bibi Rajni's husband got cured at the Dukh Bhanjni Beri. How Baba Dhanna ji found the God Supreme in the stones, so called Thakurs. It is one's bhavna behind it, the sharda and true prayer from the heart that is important. We may also call it a self-fulfilling prophecy, in modern psychology. Religion starts where science stops. You have to experience a lot of things before you can believe it. There are multiple realities. There is not just one reality. P.S: I do not wish to impose my ideas on others. Please believe, do, and serve as you wish. He manifests Himself in manifold forms. My apology if I have hurt anyone's sentiments.
9: Gurjender Singh (Maryland, U.S.A.), May 20, 2009, 1:51 PM.
One of the reasons for all these rituals is obvious and we are responsible for this: we do not pay enouugh salary to our granthis or sevadars. Akand paaths provide them an additional income to survive in this world. Therefore, they are silent and do not protest against these malpractices.
10: Gursimran Kaur (Ringoes, U.S.A.), May 20, 2009, 3:41 PM.
One has to think what the real purpose of doing akhand paath is. Are we doing it to read the bani and learn from it or are we doing it to just appease an obligation? I believe the correct reason for doing paath is to learn from the bani. Paying someone else to the paath is of no use. I just do not believe in it. I also find it very strange that people have akhand paath conducted at home, but nobody even sits there to listen to the paath. The granthis just come and take their turn doing paath, eat langar and leave. Does that make any sense? What is the benefit of having an akhand paath then? Are these people just thinking that they or their family will benefit from this just because they are getting the paath done? Yes, it is then just a ritual with no meaning - nothing that Sikhi is based on. Nothing that our Gurus taught us. In our family, that is one reason we do 'khula paath', every member of the family has to do paath. It does not matter how much the kids read as long as they do some paath before the paath is over. Paying money and getting the paath done is like having someone else study for you and then you get credit for the grades. Will that person benefit from someone else studying for them?
11: Gyani Jarnail Singh Arshi (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), May 20, 2009, 9:10 PM.
Total sham and anti-gurmat practice. Gurbani is meant to be read, vicharred, and then followed in daily practice to enhance our life. So that we live according to His Hukam as explained in gurbani. Empty rituals such as these are the bane of Sikhism today. More and more Sikhs are getting into the habit of "instant gratification", pay-per-view types; they want spiritual benefits by paying others to do paaths/ ardaas/ kirtan, etc. It just doesn't work that way ... it's so sad.
12: Gurpreet Singh (Florida, U.S.A.), May 22, 2009, 11:01 AM.
It's sad that such things are happening in Sikhism. These practices put a question mark on the concept of the akhand paath when it is performed by "third-party paathis". What use are prayers which you don't perform yourself? It does not jive with Sikhi.
13: Jaswinder Singh (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), May 25, 2009, 4:52 PM.
Although I agree that some of these practices are drifting towards brahmanwaad, I must say that merely doing multiple akhand paaths at the same time is not necessarily brahmanwaad. E.g., say there are 100 people who want to read Guru Granth Sahib and they do so at the same time. This doesn't necessitate that there should be someone to listen to them doing paath. Am I right?
14: Harvinder Singh (Manila, Philippines), June 13, 2009, 7:56 PM.
"There is something deeply moving and beautiful about what we see." What is it that you find moving and beautiful in the photo? [Editor: A man in rapture, while imbibing gurbani, is what we see!]