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ofGuru Granth Sahib should keep waving the whisk standing.<br />
d) The person who perfonns the Ardass should stand facing Guru<br />
Granth Sahib with hands folded. If Guru Granth Sahib is not there,<br />
perfonning the Ardass facing any direction is acceptable.<br />
e) When any special Ardass for and on behalf of one or more<br />
persons is offered, it is not necessary for persons in the congregation<br />
other than that person or those persons to stand up.<br />
(Note: The writers do not concur with the translated version<br />
ofsome parts ofArdass. Particularly the meaning of'Waheguru',<br />
'dekh ke andith Kita, Gurdwaras in Pakistan, 'Path athwa kirtan<br />
di Ardass'. Etc. However it is for the SGPC, to have a re-Iook on<br />
the entire issue.)<br />
***<br />
qJ Fasts & RitualS and<strong>Sikhism</strong> :<br />
This is an issue that I thought needed a special mention here. In<br />
<strong>Sikhism</strong> stress has been made right from Guru Nanak Sahib on wards<br />
that we believe in God Almighty, 'Akaal Purakh, the Karta', the<br />
Creator, as the ultimate deliverer and that he is reached to through the<br />
Guru and with his grace or 'parsad' only. We have been told that we<br />
don't believe in, any in between agents, known as different gods,<br />
goddesses, or idols. We have been ordained by Dasam Pita to take<br />
Guru Granth Sahib, The Shabad Guru', as the Eternal Guru. While<br />
leaving his mortal body at Nanded, he directed the Khalsa to do 'Puja<br />
Akal Ki, Parcha Shabad Ka, Deedar Khalse Ka.'<br />
While this was the last message from him, yet our revered Gurus<br />
through out the period of239 years, when they were physically present<br />
on this planet, preached against religious dogmas, rituals and practices<br />
those had no meaning in their eyes. Guru Nanak Sahib at a very tender<br />
age, straight away refused to wear the so-called sacred thread,<br />
'Janeau', that was mandatory for him as per the prevalent religious and<br />
social practices. Then he stood against 'sharadhs', those were there to<br />
send some food and other basic necessities to the forefathers, who were<br />
dead and had gone to the next world. The agents, the Pandits were<br />
there, who were working as conduit pipes and were sending the said<br />
articles with the help of some 'mantras' to them while enjoying the<br />
Fasts & Rituals and <strong>Sikhism</strong> /87
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