Gems of Gurbani
Guru Granth Sahib
Asa di waar 14
On page 473 of Guru Granth Sahib Guru Nanak has touched the subject of untouchability in short but very effectively. Long before Guru Nanak’s birth the Hindu society had started degenerating because of Brahmanism and caste system. The whole system created many social evils and one of them was untouchability. In the vertical division of the society Brahman’s position was on the highest pedestal then came kshatriyas, vaishyas and shudras. There was a vast majority of the society that was kept out of this caste system and they were called untouchables or achhut. These people were forced to live sub human life outside the villages and were allowed to come inside village only on particular timings for cleaning jobs and for collecting the human waste. They were not to wear footwear in the presence of high caste, not to look into the eyes of the high caste, they were never allowed to enter temple or even draw water from the wells of the villages. There is a long list of things with which total discrimination was practiced and a section of the humanity was out casted. The rituals for their birth, naming, weddings were performed by low ranking Brahmans (All those who committed some kind of sins) because the untouchable were not allowed to do any religious rites. Brahman was considered great even if he committed many social sins like extra marital relationships, rape or practicing the Dev- dasi system where virgin girls were asked as offerings to please Gods and then these girls were sexually exploited by the priests and their cronies.
Guru Nanak says in a stanza; the greatness of the Lord is by Praising Him and looking at all the greatnesses. When he wants to caste His grace then all the evil is extracted from human mind. In the verse he talks of Brahman who cleanses himself before coming to perform the rites and sits in an enclosure that has been purified. (He takes food in his client’s home with many conditions and one of them is that the cooked food should be fried in cow’s ghee and purified thus). Guru Nanak says; pure food that no one has touched is placed before him, he purifies himself by reading some verses before partaking it. The half eaten food is then thrown at a filthy place. Whose fault is that? The corn is good so are water and fire on which it is cooked and the salt that makes it tasty and for sanctifying it Ghee (clarified butter) is added then this food becomes pure. If the Brahman comes in contact with the impure or untouchable he says; ’thuu-thuu (spat) go away’. Guru Nanak says that mouth that eats all the delicacies but doesn't utter the Name of the Almighty is the one that has to be spatted.
Guru Granth Sahib
Asa di waar 14
On page 473 of Guru Granth Sahib Guru Nanak has touched the subject of untouchability in short but very effectively. Long before Guru Nanak’s birth the Hindu society had started degenerating because of Brahmanism and caste system. The whole system created many social evils and one of them was untouchability. In the vertical division of the society Brahman’s position was on the highest pedestal then came kshatriyas, vaishyas and shudras. There was a vast majority of the society that was kept out of this caste system and they were called untouchables or achhut. These people were forced to live sub human life outside the villages and were allowed to come inside village only on particular timings for cleaning jobs and for collecting the human waste. They were not to wear footwear in the presence of high caste, not to look into the eyes of the high caste, they were never allowed to enter temple or even draw water from the wells of the villages. There is a long list of things with which total discrimination was practiced and a section of the humanity was out casted. The rituals for their birth, naming, weddings were performed by low ranking Brahmans (All those who committed some kind of sins) because the untouchable were not allowed to do any religious rites. Brahman was considered great even if he committed many social sins like extra marital relationships, rape or practicing the Dev- dasi system where virgin girls were asked as offerings to please Gods and then these girls were sexually exploited by the priests and their cronies.
Guru Nanak says in a stanza; the greatness of the Lord is by Praising Him and looking at all the greatnesses. When he wants to caste His grace then all the evil is extracted from human mind. In the verse he talks of Brahman who cleanses himself before coming to perform the rites and sits in an enclosure that has been purified. (He takes food in his client’s home with many conditions and one of them is that the cooked food should be fried in cow’s ghee and purified thus). Guru Nanak says; pure food that no one has touched is placed before him, he purifies himself by reading some verses before partaking it. The half eaten food is then thrown at a filthy place. Whose fault is that? The corn is good so are water and fire on which it is cooked and the salt that makes it tasty and for sanctifying it Ghee (clarified butter) is added then this food becomes pure. If the Brahman comes in contact with the impure or untouchable he says; ’thuu-thuu (spat) go away’. Guru Nanak says that mouth that eats all the delicacies but doesn't utter the Name of the Almighty is the one that has to be spatted.
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