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FINAL RIFT: Ravidassia shrines
shift out Guru Granth Sahib saroops
WSN Bureau
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Saroops of Sri
Guru Granth Sahib
being shifted in Vienna |
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For
centuries, Bhagat Ravidass’ bani was preserved and celebrated
because the Sikh Gurus included it in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. For
centuries, Sikhs everywhere in the world have been bowing their
heads before the scriptures that contain this bani of Bhagat
Ravidass. For any Sikh, the Gurbani has the status of the Guru, and
Sikhs seek guidance from this Living Guru.
Now, followers
of Bhagat Ravidass, who call themselves Ravidassias, are shifting
out the Guru Granth Sahib from their shrines, thus making a
permanent departure from the world’s fifth largest and youngest
religion. In shrine after shrine, the Ravidassia sect authorities
are either shifting the scriptures out or are telling the local
Sikhs to take away the holy volume.
In a most
peculiar reaction, and one that may possibly not go down too well
with the proud Sikh community, the SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar
is flitting from one leader to another to convince them that they
should not shift out the Sikh scriptures.
In the absence
of any debate within the Sikh community (Most Sikhs, in fact, are
shocked at the reaction of the Ravidassia sect), and with Makkar’s
efforts largely propelled by an intention to save his boss Prakash
Singh Badal from any unsavoury controversy, he does not seem to be
succeeding.
But
even as such behind the scenes bids to patch the rift for some time
continue, Birs of Sri Guru Granth Sahib were shifted out from six
Ravidass temples in Italy.
In Vienna too,
the Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib have been shifted out by the
Ravidassia sect from Sri Guru ravidass Sabha,
Vienna
shrine. Bhai Narinder Singh of the
Vienna gurdwara
received the Saroops and despite the provocative step, he said in
his Ardaas that those believing in the teachings of the Sikh Gurus
and of the Bhagats must not let negativity rule their thoughts and
lives. He even thanked those who had come to the gurdwara to hand
over the birs. Hundreds of Sikhs were present when the Saroops were
handed over.
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Prakash Singh
Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal paying obeisance before the
portrait of the slain leader of the Ravidasias. |
The trigger for
the rift was the shooting incident in Vienna where a group of Sikhs
attacked the leaders of the Sachkhand Ballan Ravidassia sect who
encouraged followers to touch their feet in the presence of Guru
Granth Sahib, a practice considered anathema by the Sikhs. The
incident was followed by widespread violence in Punjab.
Interestingly,
and ironically, the SGPC president despite his best efforts failed
to even set up a meeting with Dera Sachkhand Ballan and Sri Guru
Ravidass Sadhu Sampardai President Nirmal Dass. Makkar visited the
dera in Ballan and also Nirmal Dass’ dera in village Rasoolpur last
Thursday and efforts have been made ever since to speak to the dera
head. But so far only dera incharge Surinder Dass Bawa talked to him
on the issue.
Significantly,
Dera Ballan had made a clear departure from the tradition during the
Antim Ardaas of Sant Ramanand, deputy head of the dera who was
killed in a Vienna temple on May 24, by not organizing any Akhand
Path and not having Prakash of Guru Granth Sahib in the religious
function held on June 13.
Sikhs consider
it surprising that even within the Ravidassia sect, little debate
has taken place about their relations with the Sikh community and
one wonders if the leaders have thought the implications of
distancing themselves from a heritage earned over centuries, that
too belonging to a community that accords great respect to Bhagat
Ravidass ji.
The latest move
seems to be a peculiar way of identity assertion by the Adharmi
community.
15
July 2009
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