Doesnt this remind you of the hindu http://www.mailerindia.com/slokas/mantras/index.php?ggayatri ?

Further read: “Counting beads” by gurbani.org

Published on: Aug 31, 2010 Bumped today

1. January 2012 13:14

We all know (well, except some Sikhs of punjabi descent), that Lohri is a hindu festival of Agni (fire god) worship. Infact, fire worship is part of pagan winter solstice that pre-date’s even Hinduism. Winter solstice, as we know, has also been incorporated into the Christian religion.

You can read more here “Lohri: The Bonfire Festival A Hindu Winter Celebration“. I have no problems with “camp fires”, get together’s and a few songs and dance. But the rest of the shenanigan associated with Lohri and Maghi, I have a problem with. “Sangrand”! what can we say about sangrand?

Quote from the link above: “The Bonfire Ritual
In the evening, with the setting of the sun, huge bonfires are lit in the harvested fields and in the front yards of houses and people gather around the rising flames, circle around (parikrama) the bonfire and throw puffed rice, popcorn and other munchies into the fire, shouting “Aadar aye dilather jaye” (May honor come and poverty vanish!), and sing popular folk songs. This is a sort of prayer to Agni, the fire god, to bless the land with abundance and prosperity. After the parikrama, people meet friends and relatives, exchange greetings and gifts, and distribute prasad (offerings made to god). The prasad comprises five main items: til, gajak, jaggery, peanuts, and popcorn. Winter savories are served around the bonfire with the traditional dinner of makki-di-roti (multi-millet hand-rolled bread) and sarson-da-saag (cooked mustard herbs).
Song & Dance
Bhangra dance by men begins after the offering to the bonfire. Dancing continues till late night with new groups joining in amid the beat of drums. Traditionally, women do not join Bhangra. They hold a separate bonfire in their courtyard orbiting it with the graceful gidda dance.
The ‘Maghi’ Day
The day following Lohri is called ‘Maghi’, signifying the beginning of the month of Magh. According to Hindu beliefs, this is an auspicious day to take a holy dip in the river and give away charity. Sweet dishes (usually kheer) are prepared with sugar cane juice to mark the day.”

Maghi and Chali Mukteh – hmmm. Doesnt this remind you of Bandi Shor diwas? I am of the view that ‘Bandi Shor diwas’ is simply an excuse to celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali. Well, the same goes celebrating “maghi” (or maghee) as a day to remember the chali mukta. This day of course falls on the so called “sangrand”.

Lets look at this quote from wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maghi:
“Celebration by Hindus
Hindus visit the Mandir and bathe in the Holy waters of the Ganges.
The month of “Magh” is considered to be one of the auspicious months. Rath Sapthami, Maha Shiva Rathri, Bhishma Ashtami and Ekadashi occur in this month.[1]
“Agh” means sin and “Magh” eradicates sin. Bathing in any river in the early hours on Maghi is important. Hindus light lamps with sesame oil as this is supposed to give prosperity and drive away all sins.[2]
Celebration by Sikhs
Sikhs visit the Gurdwara as the day of Maghi is observed to honour the heroic fight of the Chali Mukte, or the Forty Liberated Ones, who sacrificed their own lives defending an attack by the imperial army marching in pursuit of Guru Gobind Singh. The action took place near a pool of water, Khidrane di Dhab, on 29 December 1705. A large gathering takes place in Muktsar.”

“…..Bathing in any river in the early hours on Maghi is important”……”action took near a pool of water….”. COME ON now ..please give me a break. All we are, yet again, giving ourselves an excuse to celebrate Brahminical doctrine, basically becoming slaves of the Hindutva. This image is from http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/sikh-festivals/the-sikh-festivals-maghi.html excerpt of: the largest assembly, however, takes place at Muktsar (Punjab) where big fairs are organized and pilgrims take a holy dip in the sacred waters of sarovar and also visit several shrines.

What does SGGSJ say about this month. According to Karminder Singh Dhillon of Malaysia, Maghar as in ‘Manghar Prabh Aradhna Bahru Na Janmareah’ means ‘The cycle of reincarnation has been broken by my effervescent remembrance of God’ but this is translated by many as ‘In the month of Maghar those who remember God will have their reincarnation cut’. This particular sabad will be sung or recited by granthis today during ‘sangrand’ in most Gurdwara’s.!

For further information on this subject, please refer to article titled “Sangrand and Sikhi” published by Sikhbulletin.

Does SGGSJ instruct us to offer food to Agni (fire god) blessing the land with abundance and prosperity or to celebrate fertility i.e. birth of baby boys or to drive away sins by bathing in the river Ganges or take a dip in ‘holy’ sarovar’s or visiting shrines and tombs? NOPE.

We should be thanking God for a good harvest, infact, for anything and everything any time of the year.

http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=590&g=1&h=0&r=1&t=1&p=0&k=0
ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥
Mėhlā 1.
First Mehl:

ਜਾਲਉ ਐਸੀ ਰੀਤਿ ਜਿਤੁ ਮੈ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਵੀਸਰੈ ॥
Jāla▫o aisī rīṯ jiṯ mai pi▫ārā vīsrai.
Burn away those rituals which lead you to forget the Beloved Lord.

ਨਾਨਕ ਸਾਈ ਭਲੀ ਪਰੀਤਿ ਜਿਤੁ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਸੇਤੀ ਪਤਿ ਰਹੈ ॥੨॥
Nānak sā▫ī bẖalī parīṯ jiṯ sāhib seṯī paṯ rahai. ||2||
O Nanak, sublime is that love, which preserves my honor with my Lord Master. ||2||
ਪਉੜੀ ॥
Pa▫oṛī.
Pauree:

ਹਰਿ ਇਕੋ ਦਾਤਾ ਸੇਵੀਐ ਹਰਿ ਇਕੁ ਧਿਆਈਐ ॥
Har iko ḏāṯā sevī▫ai har ik ḏẖi▫ā▫ī▫ai.
Serve the One Lord, the Great Giver; meditate on the One Lord.

ਹਰਿ ਇਕੋ ਦਾਤਾ ਮੰਗੀਐ ਮਨ ਚਿੰਦਿਆ ਪਾਈਐ ॥
Har iko ḏāṯā mangī▫ai man cẖinḏi▫ā pā▫ī▫ai.
Beg from the One Lord, the Great Giver, and you shall obtain your heart’s desires.

ਜੇ ਦੂਜੇ ਪਾਸਹੁ ਮੰਗੀਐ ਤਾ ਲਾਜ ਮਰਾਈਐ ॥
Je ḏūje pāshu mangī▫ai ṯā lāj marā▫ī▫ai.
But if you beg from another, then you shall be shamed and destroyed.

ਜਿਨਿ ਸੇਵਿਆ ਤਿਨਿ ਫਲੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਤਿਸੁ ਜਨ ਕੀ ਸਭ ਭੁਖ ਗਵਾਈਐ ॥
Jin sevi▫ā ṯin fal pā▫i▫ā ṯis jan kī sabẖ bẖukẖ gavā▫ī▫ai.
One who serves the Lord obtains the fruits of his rewards; all of his hunger is satisfied.

ਨਾਨਕੁ ਤਿਨ ਵਿਟਹੁ ਵਾਰਿਆ ਜਿਨ ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਈਐ ॥੧੦॥
Nānak ṯin vitahu vāri▫ā jin an▫ḏin hirḏai har nām ḏẖi▫ā▫ī▫ai. ||10||
Nanak is a sacrifice to those, who night and day, meditate within their hearts on the Name of the Lord. ||10||

[published on: Jan 13, 2011 ]

CONTINUED HERE :  http://kaurkhalsaraj.wordpress.com/2011/01/15/magi-day-after-lohri-part-ii/

Lohri is an indian festival of fire worship and it is also celebrated after the birth of baby boys.

Lohri is celebrated joyously by most punjabis when a boy is born into their family.  HEARTY Congratulations are poured into that family.

When a baby girl is born into a punjabi family there are no celebrations and no congratulations.  The atmosphere of gloom and doom cascades the family.

The divine Guru mat is all but forgotten.

Oh you Punjabis, please do not give me your brain fart of an excuse that it is “tradition”.

Gurmat  or tradition? Pick your choice.

image source: sikhtoons http://www.sikhtoons.com/images/lohri.gif

Another one for the  SLY CATS ? :
http://kaurkhalsaraj.wordpress.com/sly-cats/

p/s: Googling resulted in this interesting blog post: http://sikhsinkuwait.wordpress.com/2008/01/13/what-is-lohri/

[Blog page Originally posted : 20 oct 2009]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CONTINUED HERE :  http://kaurkhalsaraj.wordpress.com/2012/01/13/maghi-day-after-lohri/
AND http://kaurkhalsaraj.wordpress.com/2011/01/15/magi-day-after-lohri-part-ii/

page 40

DID GURU GOBIND SINGH WORSHIP CHANDI DEVI BHAGVATI ?

 (Note: This is to clarify some points, on above subject, in the article written by Dr. Debabrata Das of Kolkata printed in Sikh Review of January, 2008)

 Dr. D. Das has very nicely interpreted the quotations from Guru Granth Sahib on pages 227, 456, 1138 and 1162 on the principle of worshipping one and only from Guru Granth Sahib on pages 227, 456, 1138 and 1162 on the principle of worshipping one and only transcendental Brahm (Nirguna Brahm). He has very correctly summed up that

(1) Sikhs reject all the gods and the goddesses,
(2) these deities, being under the influence of Maya, are unable to know the secrets of the Lord,
(3) these deities cannot help their devotees in the attainment of emancipation,
(4) these deities are prone to death like other beings.

So far all O.K.

Dr. D. Das has not gone deep into the question “Who is the Author of the Bachitra Natak Granth or the socalled Dasam Granth?” Critical study of this Granth reveals the names of the poet Shyaam (Kabi Shyaam) , poet Raam (Kabi Raam) and poet Kaal (Kabi Kaal). These poets were worshippers of Mahakal-Kalka ordestructive-Ardh-narishwar form of Shiv/Durga; the fact amply proved by following statement in the Bachitra Natak Granth or the so called Dasam Granth:-

Sarabkaal hai Pitaa apaaraa .
Debi Kaalka Maat hamaaraa ( page 73)

Reference to Mahakal (destructive form of Shiv) is taken from Shiv Purana (story of Dvadash-lingama) and reference to Kalka (destructive form of goddess Parbati / Durga) is taken from Markanday Purana. In Debi-Ustat (page 809 in Bachitra Natak Granth) many names have been assigned to this goddess (derived from Markanday Purana’s Durga Sapt-shatee, 700 shlokas or verses), such as Durga, Bhavani, Shakti, Bhagvati, Shiva, Kaali, Mahakaali, Kaal, Kaalka, Chhimaa, Manglaa, totalaa and so on.

Even the composition wrongly-called Akaal Ustat has 20 stanzas (211 to 230) praising Goddess Durga, the killer of demon Mahikhasur; last line of each stanza is Jai jai Hosee Mahikhasur mardan…which shows that Akaal Ustat is actually Kaal – Ustat or Devi-Durga-Ustat.

Poets Shyaam & Raam further emphasise that they are worshippers of Mahakal / Kalka:-

Maen Na Ganeshaeh Pritham Manaun.
Kishan Bishan Kabhun Na Dheayaun
Kaan sunay Pehchaan na tinn sion.
Liv laagee Moree pug ein sion
MAHAAKAAL Rakhvaaar Hamaaro.
Mahaaloh Hum Kinkar Thaaro.
(Page 309 of B.N. Grnth)

These lines very clearly show that writers know no other deity than Mahakaal, also called Mahaaloh. A disciple (Sikh) of Mahakaal is beptised by forcing him to drink wine & narcotics :-

Eh Chhal so Misrah Chhalaa Paahan Dae Bahaae.] Mahakaal ko Sikh Kar Madiraa Bhaang ivaae.]
(page 1210 of Bachittar Natak Granth)

In Mahakal / Kalka temples OR Shiv / Parvati temples madira (alcohol/wine) & Bhang (intoxicant) are distributed as PRASAD , whereas Guru Granth Sahib very strongly forbids the consumption of alcohol, wine, drugs, narcotics etc. in any form as an intoxicant:

Amrit Ka Vapaaree hovae Kyaa Mad Chhuchhae Bhao
Dhrae. (page 360;Guru Granth Sahib)

Thus, we can easily conclude that Bachittar Natak Granth or the so-called Dasam Granth was not written by Guru Gobind Singh, because in this Granth:

(i) one & only transcendental Brahm (ੴ) is not worshipped;
(ii) consumption of wine/alcohol/ intoxicants is permitted;
(iii) adultery / homosexuality is also allowed;
(iv) women are defamed ; said to be treacherous;
(v) writer-poets commit mistakes / wrong history etc. &
permit the reader to mistakes

All these are opposed to basic principles laid down in the holy Guru Granth Sahib.

We have to interpret the verses from the so-called Dasam granth with reference to context, especially Bhagvati in Chandi Chritras. In Var Sri Bhagauti ji ki or Durga ki Var (see ending remarks in earlier copies of Bachitra Natak Granth ) where First stanza begins with ‘Pritham Bhgauti Simar Ke…’ and the last 55^th stanza is “ Durga Paath Banaeya Sabhaey Pauriaan…”that entire composition is Durga-Paath only (translated form of 700 shlokas) & this proves beyond any doubt that Bhagvati is Durga, the killer of demons named Mahikhasur, Dhumar-lochan, Shumbh, Nishumbh etc. as described in Markanday Puraan and translated by Poets Shyaam, Raam & Kaal (apparent reason for three-Durga-chritras in Dasam granth).

In the following line of Guru Granth Sahib, Sukhmani Mahla 5, Bhagauti Bhagwant Bhagat Ka Rang, Bhagauti is in entirely different context; here Bhagauti is a ‘person’ who is devotee of  ੴ, the formless God.

The title Patshaahee 10 written on some pages of the so-called Dasam Granth is also a big fraud. This fraud is revealed on page 155 of this so-called Dasam Granth when we go through the lines:

Patshaahee10. Ath Chaubees Avtar. …Barnat ‘Shyaam’ Jathaa Mat Bhaaee. Name of the writer / Poet Shyaam is very clearly written and this leaves no doubt that Patshahee 10 is written by some mischievous person to defame Guru Gobind Singh and to misguide the Sikhs ; this fraud / trick is played in similar way on page 669 of the so-called Dasam Granth also. In Guru Granth Sahib, Mahla 1, Mahla 2, Mahla 9 are written for Gurus upto 9th but for tenth Guru why is Patshaahee 10 instead of Mahla 10 ? Sikhs, having utmost regard for the Guru, used to address the Guru very humbly with the word Patshaah and thus, Patshaahee 10 is not written by the Guru but by some-one else with malafide intentions. All research scholars should read original texts and should not just copy other writers; secondary evidence is usually not reliable.

While quoting Sikh history, we have to be careful to analyse it in the light of Guru Granth Sahib Vaani and philosophy. Any story that goes against Gurbanee and /or Sikh traditions is not Sikh History which could be distorted by some anti-Guru writers; the fact rightly understood by Dr. D. Das. All the Sikh Gurus were the same Jyot (ੴ) & preached same way / principles of life (jugat) as clarified in Guru Granth Sahib:-

Jot ohaa Jugat Saai
Saih Kaaeyaa Pher palateeae.
(Page 966 , Guru Grnth Sahib)

Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib, after the martyrdom of his father Guru, Guru Arjan Sahib, kept two swords and this tradition of martial spirit was kept alive by the successors. Ninth Guru, Guru Teg Bahadar Sahib earned this name when he showed prowess in fighting with a sword (Teg) when he was 14 years of age, in a battle against Muslim forces. These Gurus never called sword or Khanda as any Goddess as Creator and nowhere they said anything which could be similar to saying “Jai Tegum…” Why should Guru Gobind Singh be defamed as worshipper of Khanda / Teg / Devi CHANDI /SHIVA etc.etc.? It is an historical fact that Bhai Lehna (who later on became 2nd Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Angad) was worshipper of Devi Durga, but after serving Guru Nanak for many years, he clearly understood the real path to God, the GURMAT, and the reality that Devi Durga cannot help him in attainment emancipation. This is very clearly written in the Holy Guru Granth Sahib :

Tu Kaheeat hi Adi-Bhavani.
Mukat ki bareeaa kahaan chhapaanee. ( page 874)

It is further clarified in Gurbani, Gaurhi Sukhmani

Mahla 5:
Jab Nirgun Prabh Sahaj Subhai.
Tab Shiv Shakti kahau kit thaien.

which means that, when God did not create the visible world/universe, where were Shiva and his wife Parvati (Shakti)? i. e. these so-called Gods & Godesses did not exist.

 This year, the Sikhs are celebrating 300th anniversary of Guruship of Guru Granth Sahib. Guruship was endowed by Guru Gobind Singh 300 years ago on this very Granth only which was got written by Guru Gobind Singh at Sabo Ki Talvandi (Punjab) after including Gurbani of Ninth Guru in the Adi Granth. At that time Dasam Granth did not even exist (refer to introduction by Dr. Ratan Singh Jaggi in the first volume translating the so-called Dasam Granth in five volumes); this is an historical fact every historian ought to know.

In nutshell, we conclude that the so-called Dasam Granth, which was originally named as Bachitra Natak Granth, is based on Markanday Puraan, Shiv Puraan, Srimad Bhaagvat Puran (stories of Ramayan, Krisnavtaar, 24 avtaars of Vishnu) and translated by the poets Shyaam, Raam etc in a language, style and principles entirely different from those of the Nine Sikh Guru Nanak(s) & Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Gobind Singh during Guruship period (1675 to1708) never visited Hemkunt & never written or followed or preached anything against the holy Guru Granth Sahib. He was  undoubtedly worshipper of only & only ੴ.

GURU GOBIND SINGH NEVER WORSHIPPED DURGA / CHANDI / SHIVA / KALKA. Every Gur- Sikh should follow Guru Granth Sahib only as ordained by Guru Gobind Singh in 1708. All other Granths are just literature (Kachchee Bani) and not Gurbani.

 (Dalbir Singh, M.Sc.,31-D, Madan Park, East Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi- 110026, Ph.91-9899058458)

The Sabd Keertan at the end of this video is from http://www.sikhitothemax.com/page.asp?ShabadID=77
Dr Dilgeer on Sikh issues part 1 A: missionaries, leaders and deras

Amitabh Bachchan writes letter to Sri Akal Takht Sahib

Amitabh Bachchan pleads innocence in 1984 Sikh Genocide

After being barred by Sri Akal Takht Sahib from participating in a religious function, Bollywood mega star Amitabh Bachchan has written a letter to the highest Sikh body, mentioning that he had not said anything against the community during the 1984 Genocide.69-year-old Bachchan was asked by the Akal Takht Sahib not to attend the Virasat-e-Khalsa ceremony on November 25 at Anandpur Sahib over his alleged utterances during the riots in Delhi despite receiving an official invite from the Punjab government. Bachchan, in his letter, said he never uttered any wrong words against the community during the riots and was not involved in any anti-Sikh activity.

The actor said that his mother Teji Bachchan was from a Sikh family and so he and his family were fully aware of the Sikh tenets and customs.Confirming the receipt of the letter, Akal Takht Jathedar Gyani Gurbachan Singh said that it will be discussed during next meet of five Sikh head priests and the next course of action will be decided later.

Sri Akal Takht Sahib had issued directions to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar that Bachchan shouldn’t be the part of the inaugural function.
Following complaints from various Sikh organisations and intellectuals over the participation, Sri Akal Takht Sahib put the restriction on Bachchan.

Earlier, radical Sikh organisation Dal Khalsa had also taken a tough stand against the Punjab government for inviting filmstars for the inauguration of the complex.

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has pleaded his innocence in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in various parts of the country in which thousands of Sikhs were massacred, a top Sikh religious leader said. The letter was delivered to the Akal Takht head by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member from Mumbai, Gurinder Singh Bawa. Talking to reporters here on Thursday, the Akal Takht jathedar said that he had received the letter from Amitabh, who said that he had not instigated anyone to indulge in riots against Sikhs. Nearly 7,000 Sikhs were killed in the 1984 in Sikh Genocide in various parts of the country following the assassination of the then prime minister India Gandhi by her two Sikh bodyguards in New Delhi Oct 31, 1984. Amitabh was considered very close to the Gandhi family and particularly to Indira Gandhi’s son, Rajiv Gandhi.

SGGSJ : http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=1426&g=1&h=0&r=1&t=1&p=0&k=1

Guru Tegh Bahadur Jee:http://www.thesikhencyclopedia.com/sikh-gurus/tegh-bahadur-guru.html