Taking Bath In Sarowar

[Guest confused]

wjkk wjkf...

In Darbar Sahib people take bath in Sarowar, especially at Dukh Bhanjani Beri. They think that the Beri (tree) would wash away their sins and they will go to heaven. Hindus take bath in Ganges (Ganga) thinking that this is the only way to achieve salvation. But they should look at the water of Ganges in Delhi. People wash their clothes and its all dirty there. In Sikhism the easiest way to achieve salvation is to do Naam Simran and to do Seva (community service) so that one learn humility. Taking bath in Sarowar thinking that this way you will go to heaven is completely ignorance. A GurSikh is to go beyond heaven and hell which is SachKhand. A tree cannot wash away your sins. Sikhs have nothing to do with that tree. Your mind won't be clean. This is Bipran Ki Reet because Hindus worship trees especially Tulsi thinking that it will get them to heaven. Hindus consider Tulsi to be holiest tree and thinking that Dukh Bhanjani Beri will get you to heaven and will take your sins is wrong. It will do nothing. Guru Ji rejected the idea of taking bath in rivers and Teerath Ishnaan. Guru Ji gave Sikhs the new way of doing Naam Simran and doing Seva. Water only washes your body not your mind and if mind is not clean you are not clean. Your mind has to be clean to become one with God and Naam Simran is the way to clean your mind. Dukh Bhanjani Beri will not do anything. It's idol worship and worshiping trees is against the principles of Sikhism. Reciting JapJi Sahib 84 times on the steps of Goindwal Sahib will not get anyone to heaven or salvation because then people might think that they can do anything they want because they have achieved salvation and they don't need to take Amrit. It is a Bipran Ki Reet.

i thort sikhs are allowed 2 have ishnaan in sarovars...and isnt ther that story of the leaper being cured there?

wjkk wjkf

[H4RPAL]

wjkk wjkf...

In Darbar Sahib people take bath in Sarowar, especially at Dukh Bhanjani Beri. They think that the Beri (tree) would wash away their sins and they will go to heaven. Hindus take bath in Ganges (Ganga) thinking that this is the only way to achieve salvation. But they should look at the water of Ganges in Delhi. People wash their clothes and its all dirty there. In Sikhism the easiest way to achieve salvation is to do Naam Simran and to do Seva (community service) so that one learn humility. Taking bath in Sarowar thinking that this way you will go to heaven is completely ignorance. A GurSikh is to go beyond heaven and hell which is SachKhand. A tree cannot wash away your sins. Sikhs have nothing to do with that tree. Your mind won't be clean. This is Bipran Ki Reet because Hindus worship trees especially Tulsi thinking that it will get them to heaven. Hindus consider Tulsi to be holiest tree and thinking that Dukh Bhanjani Beri will get you to heaven and will take your sins is wrong. It will do nothing. Guru Ji rejected the idea of taking bath in rivers and Teerath Ishnaan. Guru Ji gave Sikhs the new way of doing Naam Simran and doing Seva. Water only washes your body not your mind and if mind is not clean you are not clean. Your mind has to be clean to become one with God and Naam Simran is the way to clean your mind. Dukh Bhanjani Beri will not do anything. It's idol worship and worshiping trees is against the principles of Sikhism.  Reciting JapJi Sahib 84 times on the steps of Goindwal Sahib will not get anyone to heaven or salvation because then people might think that they can do anything they want because they have achieved salvation and they don't need to take Amrit. It is a Bipran Ki Reet.

i thort sikhs are allowed 2 have ishnaan in sarovars...and isnt ther that story of the leaper being cured there?

wjkk wjkf

127187[/snapback]

It would depend upon the frame of mind of the Sikh while bathing at the Sarovar I suppose. One cannot expect any benefits, if such an action is taken without any love for God or devotion. I guess it boils down to a matter of faith.

In one manner, you can see how this act of bathing at Sarovars etc can be seen as an act of submission to God, and of belief, while in another manner, as the above suggests, such action should not be seen as a total solution.

The below shabad is the obvious one that comes to mind when discussing this issue. If we explore some of the later, lesser known lines, it is suggested that the opportunity to bathe at the described Sarovar is a "gift" from the Guru. The raeson why it is a gift is, in my opinion, revealed in the following line: "In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, filth is washed off. "

Perhaps in this sense it could be argued what makes these places so special is partly down to the fact that you will find Satsangat at them, and it is Satsangat and not the 'water' as described in the article that cleanses the mind.

<> siqgur pRswid ]

One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:

< siqgur pRswid ]

ik-oNkaar satgur parsaad.

rwmdws srovir nwqy ]

Bathing in the nectar tank of Ram Das,

rwmdws srovir nwqy ]

raamdaas sarovar naatay.

siB auqry pwp kmwqy ]

all sins are erased.

siB aqry pwp kmwqy ]

sabh utray paap kamaatay.

inrml hoey kir iesnwnw ]

One becomes immaculately pure, taking this cleansing bath.

inmél hoE kir esnwnw ]

nirmal ho-ay kar isnaanaa.

guir pUrY kIny dwnw ]1]

The Perfect Guru has bestowed this gift. ||1||

guir pUrY kIny dwnw ]1]

gur poorai keenay daanaa. ||1||

siB kusl Kym pRiB Dwry ]

God has blessed all with peace and pleasure.

siB kusl Kym pRiB Dwry ]

sabh kusal khaym parabh Dhaaray.

shI slwmiq siB Qok aubwry gur kw sbdu vIcwry ] rhwau ]

Everything is safe and sound, as we contemplate the Word of the Guru`s Shabad. ||Pause||

shI slwmiq siB Qok abwry gur kw sbdu vIcwry ] rhwa ]

sahee salaamat sabh thok ubaaray gur kaa sabad veechaaray. rahaa-o.

swDsMig mlu lwQI ]

In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, filth is washed off.

swDsNig mlu lwQI ]

saaDhsang mal laathee.

pwrbRhmu BieE swQI ]

The Supreme Lord God has become our friend and helper.

pwrbRHäu BeAo swQI ]

paarbarahm bha-i-o saathee.

nwnk nwmu iDAwieAw ]

Nanak meditates on the Naam, the Name of the Lord.

nwnk nwmu iDAweAw ]

naanak naam Dhi-aa-i-aa.

Awid purK pRBu pwieAw ]2]1]65]

He has found God, the Primal Being. ||2||1||65||

Awid purK pRBu pweAw ]2]1]65]

aad purakh parabh paa-i-aa. ||2||1||65||

[mann_kaum_layee_qurbaan]

i never got the whole sarowar thing either...the only sarowar which can wash away our sins is the sarowar of shabad guru and not the actual water sarowar, that's what i thought anyways..but then i see people take a little handful of water from the sarowar at darbat sahib and sprinkle it on themselves...maybe someone can explain this better...

[Guest *]

buttt wt abt the leaper tht was cured there?dusnt dat mean that u can become pure thru ishnaan ther or is it actuali bipran kee reet...?

[mkaur13]

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!

The whole having a bath in Sarovar is physical cleansing... even the leper that was cured at Dukh Bhanjnee Beri, i.e. Bibi Rajni Jee's husband, was cured physically, but only because, as H4RPAL stated, the state of mind was one of complete devotion and faith.

The true mental ishnaan is more important, and can be carried out in the Sarovar of Raam de Daas, as explained in the Shabad above.

Raam = God

Daas = Person

Thus whilst the Shabad may make us think literally of ishnaan in the physical sense, in Sarovar founded by Guroo Raam Daas Jee, it is more importantly, a reference to Sangat, cleansing oneself internally in the presence of God's people.

Hope I made sense. Bhull Chukh Maaf.

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!

[JSingh]

Creation of Sarovars in our Gurdwaras, including Harimandir Sahib had many reasons, two of them are:

1) To bathe the body, and

2) Represent Equality.

1) In order to read Gurbani and do Naam Simran, body needs to be active and feel fresh. Therefore, Gurdwaras have Sarovars. Take bath in the Sarovar outside, get fresh, get rid of laziness and then enter the Gurudwara hall and bathe your mind and soul in the Shabad.

2) Everybody, low or hight cast, poor or rich, king or pauper, despite these and many other differences, can take bath in the same Sarovar, just like langar. In Gurus' period, low cast people were not allowed to take bath in holly rivers, like Gangas and stuff, they were not even allowed to take water from those places where rich and high cast brahmins were used to take from. Therefore, Guru Sahib created saroves where everybody can bathe in the same place despite these differences and gave people equality and taught those brahmins that everybody is God's creation and nobody is low or high.

The shabad mentioned by H4RPAL Ji is misinterprited almost everytime we listen to it and read it, as it is done in the translation here too. Its actual meaning could be understood from Prof. Sahib Singh's Teeka of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Sri Guru Granth Darpan).

soriT mhlw 5 Gru 3 dupdy

sorat(h) mehalaa 5 ghar 3 dhupadhae

Sorat'h, Fifth Mehl, Third House, Du-Padas:

<> siqgur pRswid ]

ik oa(n)kaar sathigur prasaadh ||

One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:

rwmdws srovir nwqy ]

raamadhaas sarovar naathae ||

Bathing of the soul and mind in the Sadhsangat (Sarovar of Sadhsangat) of Ram's (Waheguru's) daas (devotees), ('Ramdas' here does not mean Guru Ram Daas)

(Punjabi Transliteration): Ram (Akaal Purukh) de daasan de sadhsangat roopi sarovar vich ishnaan karan naal,

siB auqry pwp kmwqy ]

sabh outharae paap kamaathae ||

all past sins are erased.

(Punjabi Transliteration): Saarey kamaaye (earned) hoye paapan da naas ho janda hai.

inrml hoey kir iesnwnw ]

niramal hoeae kar eisanaanaa ||

One becomes immaculately pure, taking this cleansing bath of the soul (in this sarovar of Sadhsangat of Ram's (Waheguru's) daas)

(Punjabi Transliteration): Prabhu de Naam-Jal naal isnaan kar ke oh pavitr jeevan wale ban jande han.

guir pUrY kIny dwnw ]1]

gur poorai keenae dhaanaa ||1||

The Perfect Guru has bestowed this gift. ||1||

(Punjabi Transliteration): Par eh bakhshash poorey Guru ne hi keeti hundi hai.

siB kusl Kym pRiB Dwry ]

sabh kusal khaem prabh dhhaarae ||

God has blessed all with peace and pleasure.

shI slwmiq siB Qok aubwry gur kw sbdu vIcwry ] rhwau ]

sehee salaamath sabh thhok oubaarae gur kaa sabadh veechaarae || rehaao ||

Everything is safe and sound, as we contemplate the Word of the Guru's Shabad. ||Pause||

swDsMig mlu lwQI ]

saadhhasa(n)g mal laathhee ||

In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, filth is washed off.

pwrbRhmu BieE swQI ]

paarabreham bhaeiou saathhee ||

The Supreme Lord God has become our friend and helper.

nwnk nwmu iDAwieAw ]

naanak naam dhhiaaeiaa ||

Nanak meditates on the Naam, the Name of the Lord.

Awid purK pRBu pwieAw ]2]1]65]

aadh purakh prabh paaeiaa ||2||1||65||

He has found God, the Primal Being. ||2||1||65||

(SGGS 625)

When we translate this Shabad incorrectly, as it is done on some websites, several questions arise, such as:

# 1) In first pauri, if Guru Sahib is saying that by taking merely a bath in Sarover made by Guru Ram Das Ji (at Harimander Sahib, Amritsar), all sins are washed away, then those Sikhs who won't get the chance to visit Harimander Sahib in the entire life, for several reasons, will remain sinners and their sins will never be washed even if they do extensive Naam Simiran and Seva.

#2) The second pauri is conveying the totally diffeent message that by Naam Simran, union with Waheguru is achieved, which is totally contradictory to the first pauri.

Sri Guru Granth Darpan: http://www.gurugranthdarpan.com/

Go to Page # 625 and read the translation of this Shabad. (You may need to install the fonts.)

bhul chuk di maafi

[UntitledSingh]

Very ture, the sarowar will not bring you salvation, only God will, I think the sawowar was put there so people can take baths early in the morning before they start remembering God, and it also looks nice.

[Guest Guest]

# 1) In first pauri, if Guru Sahib is saying that by taking merely a bath in Sarover made by Guru Ram Das Ji (at Harimander Sahib, Amritsar), all sins are washed away, then those Sikhs who won't get the chance to visit Harimander Sahib in the entire life, for several reasons, will remain sinners and their sins will never be washed even if they do extensive Naam Simiran and Seva.

No, it does not say that ONLY those who bathe there will have sins cleansed and those who do not WONT. Of course you can wipe your sins etc by doing seva simran etc which is all vitally important, but what you said is wrong.

The sarovar is called amrit sarovar as well, and if drinking amrit can cleanse your sins what is the argument if it is bathed in? The jal (water) there is pavitae as gurbani is read there non stop 24/7. There is something which happens to food/drink when we read gurbani, as you will see most langar hall kitchens ban talking and say only simran or path is allowed as it affects the langar. Similarly gursikhs will do simran especially whilst cooking.

The sakhi with bibi rajni is true, her lepor husband entered with the disease and when he came out he was cured. this is the blessings of guru sahib ji. It is a question of faith and of doubt (shanka/dubda - duality/uncertaninty). This ishnaan and other things will only work if omebody has 100% faith in guru ji. There are countless sakhia of where guru ji gave seemingly weird orders to the sikhs that if you want to be saved do this. Those that followed the hukum were saved, those that questioned it had to carry on until another day and another chance arose.

If you take ishnaan and fully belive in Guru jis hukum then fine your sins will be washed as you have that faith. And no as someone above put this does not mean you can then do whatever you like, because think about it, what kind of person does it take to have THAT much faith in guru ji? would such a person then go out and do bad stuff? Answer is no, those with full faith are not likely to commit sins as you said!

Whether you agree with the ishaan or not is upto you, but dont knock the people who do. Fact is dukh bhanjani bheri is there, it is not just some old tree, it has a history attached. And yes people want to take ishaan from there, just the same as people want to visit other historical sites, it is peoples faith and love, you can call it ritual but you have to try and see whats inside them as well.

As far as simran is concerned, you cannot think of the ishnaan and simran as two seperate things. An average joe blogs will not take the ishaan with the full faith which is required of a gursikh. Only one who has propbably done that simran and seva will have built all that faith! so please dont jus think that this is something casual easy to do thing. How many of us can genuinly say that when we took amrit and our sins were forgiven we never even for a split second regretted something we did in the past? Are we not doubting the fact that we have ben forgiven? Where is our faith?

And as for goindwal, again if it is guru ji's hukum then so be it. For the people who laugh or mock, how many of you have ever tried doing 84 japji sahibs in one go? And again the people who do it, dont do it and then walk around care free, they do it out of love for guru ji hukum. i know people who do it everytime they go to punjab. Worst comes to worst they spend 12 hours of doing just japji sahibs. BIG SIN!!!!!! hawww

[DivineJourney]

what i think is that the sarrovar has the holy touch of guru...its got all the vibrations of the guru..and if u are prepared and ready to take those vibration...if ur receptive than those vibrations can do wonder. its juss a matter of ur 'tayaari' ur readiness....

[Guest Guest 512]

It's all about naam Simran and nitnem.... And the countless seva , faith and devotion towards Sikhism that can wash away the sins.... Rest are all useless rituals that we adapt to these days thinking that it will yield us some great success in life.... I have seen that its absolutely useless to argue with ignorant people as they all are driven by the five vices of Kaam krodh lobh moh and hankaar.