Paath And Chaur Sahib Seva During Menstruation

[Guest G.Kaur]

Impurity and Women

Sunday 23rd October, 2005

Singhnee's Corner Staff Writer

(KP) -

One day I was sitting with my aunty ji whom I respected very much and thought she knew more than me about Sikh way of life. Well what happened was, she randomly started talking about women and their menses. She said it was a curse for women. She told my sister and me a story about how we women were cursed. I laughed because few weeks ago another panji/sister had just told me during Asa di // meaning of the Gurbani which is discussed in one of the next sections. I didn’t say anything at that time, because I my self was new to the path, and felt uncomfortable arguing with an older person. The story she told us was passed down by my aunt’s mother and what made it more interesting was that my aunt’s mother was amritdhari. Then it made sense why my aunt took the story so seriously, without ever considering other sources to find out the truth.

We tend to believe whatever an older person, especially amritdhari (Guru-roop) says. They, because of the respect and trust we have in Khalsa, to us seem like the best resource. It should be that way, but what we forget to do is, has the person explained to us in terms of what Gurbani says on the topic/issue.

There are a lot of women out there who do not feel comfortable doing Seva especially during their menses. A main example is sitting on the ‘tabiyaa’ (Guru Ji’s hazoori) during this time. This topic is not frequently talked about as women themselves think they are “dirty”. Why do they think they are “dirty”? The above mentioned incident should explain the reason.

There is no rule in Sikhi where it mentions not being able to pray unlike in Islam where women cannot fast or pray during this time. Why can a woman not undertake the duty of Paath because of a specific time of a month? It is not restricted to a specific number of weeks a month. It is sad to say, but most of us who call ourselves Sikhs don’t know the teaching of our own Guru Sahib Jis. Also there are not as many Granthee women as there are men, which lead us to think that “may be” men are the only ones who should do this seva.

By some unaware/unconscious people, woman is still labeled “impure”. Well lets talk about what impurity really is? The answers are all in Gurbaani and it is clearly stated that “Sootak”, impurity or pollution is in those who do not have the Lord’s name dwelling in their mind.

ਸੂਤਕਿ ਕਰਮ ਨ ਪੂਜਾ ਹੋਇ ॥

The actions of those who do not worship the Lord are polluted.

The womb of woman that sheds the egg periodically is responsible for new life on earth and in this womb the Lord places the soul:

ਮਾਤ ਗਰਭ ਮਹਿ ਜਿਨਿ ਪ੍ਰਤਿਪਾਰਿਆ ॥

He cherished and preserved you in your mother's womb;

ਜੀਉ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਦੇ ਸਾਜਿ ਸਵਾਰਿਆ ॥

He blessed you with body and soul, and embellished you.

A woman is responsible for giving birth to all human life and nurturing it:

ਉਦਰ ਸੰਜੋਗੀ ਧਰਤੀ ਮਾਤਾ ॥

The womb of the great mother earth gives birth to all

Furthermore, some individuals forbid taking Amrit during menses. Giving this a thought, if the Lord created Raakt, and it is considered impurity, what about the rest of the creation? We all are born from it, (so in a sense we all are impure, and no one can ever be pure enough to take amrit or do seva. That is what Christians believe, isn’t it that you are born as a “sinner”? Are we implying the same thing? This way we all are impure, and we all should totally stop doing seva. Is this what Sikhi/Guru sahib ji is saying to us? We would if Guru Sahib Jis didn’t have anything to say about this, but He has. Every human life is made out of her Rakt Bundh and this does not make them impure. Women should accept the fact that it does not make a difference in the Love and devotion of serving the Lord. For she is pure if her mind is filled with True Love (for the Lord Vaheguru). It’s the state of mind. This is not only true for women, but for men as well. Seva is essential part of a Sikh’s spiritual life and if we deny that one of the most important aspect of Sikhi to a particular “gender” we will be doing injustice to the human kind as a whole, in addition we will be going against our own Gurus who are our only support in life. Thus, the Guru’s teachings that we so dearly were trying to keep intact, we our selves would be destroying it by not letting Kaur do seva at anytime. We will be taking away one of the right, which only our Guru Ji gave to the humankind. It’s our choice, either we keep the distorted belief we have and not let our daughters/sisters/wives do seva, or do as per Guru sahib ji’s hukum and let Kaurs follow Guru Sahib Ji’s hukum and make the janam safla (fulfill the life’s purpose). The importance of women is stated inRaag Aasaa on Angg 473 by Guru Nanak Dev Ji:

ਸੋ ਕਿਉ ਮੰਦਾ ਆਖੀਐ ਜਿਤੁ ਜੰਮਹਿ ਰਾਜਾਨ ॥

So why call her bad? From her, kings are born.

ਭੰਡਹੁ ਹੀ ਭੰਡੁ ਊਪਜੈ ਭੰਡੈ ਬਾਝੁ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥

From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all.

Panthic Weekly Editors can be reached at editors@panthic.org

http://www.panthic.org/news/133/ARTICLE/1907/2005-10-23.html

[Jai Tegang!]

Strictly speaking, bibian are prohibited in sampardai maryada from certain seva during their periods for sucham reasons.

Same would be true if a Singh was bleeding profusely, or was very ill (coughing, sneezing), he too should not be doing seva in hazoori for reasons of sucham.

And physical sucham is very important and integral part of our daily life and especially seva of Maharaj.

So please don't misinterpret Guruji's shabad about the real sucham. We still have to take ishnaans daily,hahaha.

But the trend these days, especially in the west, is to hold feminist ideals higher than our puratan maryada.

So, it's your choice, like anything else in life.