Regarding sikh women

[Guest Manprit Khaira]

A friend said to me that if a girl/women is menstruating she is forbidden to go to the Gurdwara and take part in seva (preparing langar) or go near the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. This has got me scared and now every time I menstruate I dont tend to go to the Gurdwara and then produce a guilty conscience for not going.

I need to clear this minsunderstanding regarding sikh girls/women. I've heard so many times that if a Sikh girl/women is menstruating they're not allowed near the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, or in the Gurdwara or even allowed to serve or make the Langar. Is this true or is this just a myth/tabboo?

[Akali]

I've never come across this in the Granth or have not heard anyone back up their claim with a quote from the Guru Granth. So in light of this, I don't see a problem because menstruation is a natural process, which was the creation of Waheguru. It is with this process that a child is born so I do not understand why its classed as wrong.

However, if I am wrong, I am sorry. Could someone back up their claim with a quote?

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

[Balait_da_Sher]

This topic has been discussed on the forum previously and if i remember correctly there were a number of Quotes from Guru Granth SAhib jee explaining that all these type of beliefs regarding being unclean etc are a load of crap. So i agree with Akali, and i will try to find you the previous topic.

[mann_kaum_layee_qurbaan]

There is no hypocrisy in sikhi, Sikhi says do Naam simran 24/7, it doesn't say do naam simran only when your not mensturating...Sikhi says do darshan of sadh sangat not only when your not on your period..i..

It's all superstition that has been engrained into Indian culture and shoved down the throats of Sikhs as well...

[japmans]

that would be funny, considering that, considering that equality is a strong tenet of sikhi, you would hafta say that whenever a man is producing sperm, technically, he shouldn't be going to gurdwara or doing seva either... that would pretty much mean men should and would never be doin simran... clearly that's false, so i would hafta say that this anti-menstruation stance is some crazy ritualistic thing

[Guest Guest]

actually ive heard this and have been told this myself.....

what is sad is that most of the time it is women who say this... many times i have tried to refute what they are saying... but they say that they themselves feel dirty so they tend to stay away..

however, this is not something that is mandatory and i do not believe in it myself.... dont feel bad bhainji, this is a god given gift!! there are many other things that one could consider as more "dirty" example going #2 but that is allowed... why cus one does not have that much control over it....

stay in chardi kala bhain ji dont worry too much

oh and just so u know... i know a girl who took amrit while she was on her period... some people tried to stop her, but then someone explained that u r being given an oppurtunity to give ur head... and u wont cus of a little blood? which is a gift from God?

sorry if i said something wong

bhul chuk maaf

Fateh :doh:

[Guest Guest]

When your on your period, can you still help out in Seva, making/preparing the Langar or serving the langar? Especialy making & serving the langar, because I'll be honest when I'm on my period I have served before and I have helped in making the langar. Is that right?

[japmans]

it's not wrong, doing seva is always right, assuming it's done with sharda and not for any other reasons

[Gupt daasan daas]

A floor covering of animal dung, clay and hay (as is common in India) is never to be used where Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji is to reside. Nor should it be placed in a room where the floor coverings have been made of these sorts of materials. Amritdharee women are not to go to ‘Theean’ – a ladies festival which is held on each Sunday of the Bikrami month of Savan and they are not to clap/dance, do Gidda etc (performing seva on a monthly basis is merely superstition and not due to respect of the Guru). Women should not sit in the Guru’s Hazoori or do Chaur Sahib when they are menstruating.

www.damdamitaksal.com

this is for cleansiness, jsut in case something happens, it shdunt happen on thabia, if u get wat im sayin

i dont know about langar

i think langars ok

and id be carfu,l beforre i called it crap, sants who have done 100 million times more bhagthee than us are telling us

and maryada from guru ejs times

no ones callinng womn uncleam or anyhtin

just for practical reason while sitting on thabia

sant gurbachan singh je, baba nand singh je, they all can back this up

its no unfainess

herees the whole article from the reight maryada

bwxI gurU gurU hY bwxNI ivic bwxNI AMimRqu swry ]

guru bwxNI khY syvku jnu mwnY prqiK gurU insqwry]

"The Word, the Bani is Guru, and Guru is the Bani. Within the Bani all the Ambrosial Nectar is contained. If His humble servant believes, and acts according to the Words of the Guru's Bani, then the Guru, in person, emancipates him."

(SGGSJ Ang 982)

ijn BY Adb n bwnI Dwrw [ jwnhu so isK nhIN hmwrw ]20]

"That person who does not respect and fear Gurbani cannot be my Sikh."

(Gurpartap Suraj Granth)

At Sri Anandpur Sahib, a Singh was reading Gurbani slightly wrong and Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji said, "O Singh! You are breaking my limbs." This is why Guru Sahib Ji taught and explained all the meanings and correct discourses of Gurbani to a number of Singhs. The chosen Singh’s would then pass on this

knowledge, understanding and correct pronunciation of Gurbani to all.

is`Khu sunhu sIK iehu myrI [ bwnI pFhu Su`D gur kyrI [

pFY mhwqm lhY ibswl [ hliq pliq miNNh hoie inhwl ]28]

"Oh Sikhs, listen to this teaching - recite Gurbani correctly (i.e. pronounce it correctly). Read it and obtain many pleasures, herein and thereafter."

Satguru ji gave the utmost respect to Gurbani in all his ten forms. In same way, we should also show the same respect. In order to do this, the following should be adhered to:

- No one should seat themselves behind Guru ji’s throne without having bathed or washing their feet (if they have worn shoes). Nor should they do so whilst wearing socks or gloves.

- A person who has had sex or a nightly emission should have a full Ishnaan (from head to toe, including washing his hair), wash his clothes, then recite Japji Sahib and then do an Ardas. Then he is ready to go sit behind the Guru ji’s throne.

- Some ignorant people, under the influence of the bad company they keep, masturbate. This leads to problems with ejaculation and is a sin, therefore masturbation should never be performed.

- If your hands have touched your, or someone else’s, feet, face, Kashera or if they are wet or dirty, then they must not to be placed on Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji, Pothis (volumes of Granths) or Gutka sahibs (collections of bani’s).

- Whilst in Guru ji’s Hazoori nothing is to be eaten or placed in the mouth, i.e. sweets or cardamom.

- A Singh sitting in Guru ji’s Hazoori is not to sit on any form of cushion. He is not to put his feet under the Manji Sahib (Guru’s Sahib’s platform/throne) or lean against it in any way. He is to sit cross-legged without leaning on anything.

- You must never put your feet in the direction of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji.

Maharaj ji is never to be placed in a closet or cupboard. On the contrary, Guru Sahib must be placed on a nicely decorated throne in a well-ventilated room. Clothing appropriate to the season is to be placed upon the throne of Guru ji. In the summer, thin clothing and in winter, warm clothing i.e. a thick blanket/duvet must be used. If Maharaj is kept in a palki then a small canopy is to be hung inside the palki and a larger one over the top of the palki. The canopy is placed as a mark of respect for Satguru ji who is the Master of all beings. The spread that is placed under the palki and Manji Sahib is to be of better quality, and separate, to that of the Granthi Singh. The Manji Sahib is to be well built and attractive in appearance. In the summer or in warm weather, thin Rumala’s should be placed over Guru Sahib and in the winter/cold weather, warm Rumala’s or a thick blanket.

Whenever Satguru ji is brought somewhere, the Sangat are to remove their shoes and perform Kirtan. When Satguru ji passes you are to rise and clasp you hands together as a mark of respect and are to humbly bow. For as long as you can see Satguru ji, you are to remain standing with both hands clasped.

Whilst Satguru ji is on the move, five Singhs are to accompany him at all times and they are to remain bare-footed. One Singh is to do Chaur Sahib Seva whilst one is to go ahead of Satguru ji and sprinkle water. In order to make the Sangat aware that Satguru ji is coming in their direction, gongs or other appropriate instruments are to be played.

When doing Paath from a Pothi or Gutka you should sit on a clean cloth placed on the floor. If there is a settee/bed or other furniture on a higher platform that you can sit on, then you should sit upon this furniture to recite Paath. Whilst sitting on the bed of another, Gurbani is not to be recited sitting directly behind them (i.e. with their back to you). You are not to recite Gurbani sitting on the floor when someone is sitting on a higher platform than yourself (at home) or facing the side of the bed where your feet are placed at night. When reciting Gurbani, you are to face your pillow or the place where your head rests for sleep.

A person who gives Santhia (teaches how to correctly pronounce Gurbani) should not sit on a pillow or on a higher platform than those being taught. Pothia of Gurbani, Gutka Sahibs, Sri Dasam Granth Gurbani, Bhai Gurdas ji’s writings are all to be given the utmost respect and care, this includes any other writings about Gurmat or those which contain Gurbani. Normal books are not to be stored along with scriptures of Gurbani. A Gutka is not to be used whilst having your head uncovered and/or with your shoes on. A bookmark or any form of sign is not to be kept in Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji. Gutkas and Pothis of Gurbani are to be stored in a nice place, high up, towards which your feet will not be facing and where your back will not be turned against. Rumala’s with images/pictures on them are not to be placed upon Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji. Expensive, beautiful and clean Rumalas are to be offered to Guru Sahib. In the presence of Guru Sahib a candle of paraffin/white spirit is not to be lit.

When listening to Gurbani from a radio, cassette player (or CD/video etc) the audio-visual aid is to be placed on a higher platform than the person listening to it, as a mark of respect to the Gurbani being listened to. Newspapers, magazines, books etc in which Gurbani may be written should not be carried in carrier bags etc and are not to be thrown away or allowed to fly around on the ground – after use, they should be burnt.

When going to sit in the Hazoori of Guru Sahib, clothing that was worn when going to the toilet is not to be worn (until washed again). After going to the toilet, the hands are to be washed 5 times with soap, soil, sand, ashes etc. Dishes are to be cleaned with sand, soil and are not to only be cleaned with washing up powder (as used in India). Brushing your teeth daily is essential. After passing water, it is essential to wash your hands.

Weapons are to be shown utmost respect. They are not to be kept in a place towards which your feet will face.

jwgq joq jpY insbwsur eyk ibnw mn nYk n AwnY ]

pUrn pRym pRqIq sjY bRq gor mVI mt BUl n mwnY ]

qIrQ dwn dieAw qp sMjm eyk ibnw nh eyk pCwnY ]

pUrn joq jgY Gt mY qb Kwls qwih nKwls jwnY ]

"Praying to God - day and night, not thinking of any other, enshrining pure love and faith. Fasting and praying to tombstones/graves are not to be adhered to even by mistake. Being charitable at places of pilgrimage, being compassionate, entering rituals of throwing things into a fire and being very superstitious about what one eats, are all of no avail if one is not recognising the One Lord. A Khalsa is one whom has the love and light in one’s heart, others are impure."

(Dasam Ang 212)

Parshad from a tomb of a saint, grave or serpent god/demi-gods is not to be eaten.

jhW qhW kw Kwie pRswid so isK nwhI Awid jugwid ]

"He/She that eats Parshad from such a place is not a Sikh."

In the same way no one is to be bowed to or believed in other than Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji. No faith/belief is to be placed in your ancestors. In your homes, dirty photos/posters are not to be put up, rather photos of warriors, saints and the Satgurus are to be put up but your feet are not to be put in there direction. In Gurdwara’s or at home, no photo is to be placed in front of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji. For an Amritdharee Singh it is essential that he addresses another Amritdharee Singh/Singhni using their full name. A person who calls another by half their name or a nickname is punishable (full names should be printed on wedding cards):

AwgY Awvq isMG jo pwvY ] vwihgurU kI &qih bulwvY ]

"When a Sikh meets another Sikh, they are to welcome one another by saying,

Vaheguru ji ka Khalsa, Vaheguru ji ki Fateh!"

A floor covering of animal dung, clay and hay (as is common in India) is never to be used where Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji is to reside. Nor should it be placed in a room where the floor coverings have been made of these sorts of materials. Amritdharee women are not to go to ‘Theean’ – a ladies festival which is held on each Sunday of the Bikrami month of Savan and they are not to clap/dance, do Gidda etc (performing seva on a monthly basis is merely superstition and not due to respect of the Guru). Women should not sit in the Guru’s Hazoori or do Chaur Sahib when they are menstruating.

The Khalsa should keep away from people who sit on cushions or high platforms, or get people to bow to them in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji, or exorcise ghosts.

Khalsa ji! Out of ones honest earned livings, giving one tenth in charity is

essential, as is giving a tenth of our time to the service of Guru Sahib. Out of every twenty four hours, two and a half hours should be spent on meditation, performing and/or listening to Gurbani. The names of the ten Guru Sahibs, Panj Pyare, four Sahibzade (princes of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji) and five Takhats are to be memorised.

bhula chuka maf

[cantlogin]

A friend said to me that if a girl/women is menstruating she is forbidden to go to the Gurdwara and take part in seva (preparing langar) or go near the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. This has got me scared and now every time I menstruate I dont tend to go to the Gurdwara and then produce a guilty conscience for not going.

I need to clear this minsunderstanding regarding sikh girls/women. I've heard so many times that if a Sikh girl/women is menstruating they're not allowed near the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, or in the Gurdwara or even allowed to serve or make the Langar. Is this true or is this just a myth/tabboo?

109224[/snapback]

Your friend is mistaken, she may have been referring about women going to the mandir. Women are forbidden going to the mandir during their periods.