Neemai108
SPNer
Hii Hannah!
Yes Sikh weddings are wonderful! I love them! Its very beautiful. I like it especially because its much shorter than a hindu weddings (which I find utmost boring
and nonsensical at some points). My cousin had both weddings. I dont know, it was a a long while ago, so I dont really remember, I was still a kid at the time. But in any case it was my first real sikh experience.
Im glad the link came in handy, im sure there are other websites that have varied translations of the Adi Granth. But if you were to go for a hardcover, try and find one at a good price, I had to pay handsomely for mine. But in anycase, I feel its worth it because the words of the Guru are priceless.
Regarding how I pray and worship. I usually try and find transliterations (not translations) of the script from Gurmukhi to Roman so I can read it aloud. I cannot read Gurmukhi script (heck I cant even read devanagari [hindi]). I found a transliterated form of the Jaapji which I try and read. Regarding Shabads and such, I know some of them by heart and I sing them, but at this point I mostly listen to them. My favorite is found in Raag Malhaar, fifth mahalla, by Guru Arjan Dev, it goes as such "Hey Gobind, Hey Gopal". It is my favorite, and I know the whole thing by heart, and I sing that always. For the most part I do naam simran (remembering the name) with my mala(108 beads or rosary) or just in my mind either Eg Onkar Satnaam Sri Waheguru, or the holy name of Rama.
Honestly I still have some hindu influence in my since I was raised as one. For hindus, the worship of God comes in stages. Im sure its quite similar in the Sikh faith as well. It goes: Shravanam, Kirtanam, Smaranam, Vandanam, and Pad Sevanam. Shravanam to hear about God or his names, Kirtanam means to chant or sing his names or glories, Smaranam means to remember his names or glories, Vandanam means to worship him, and Pad Sevanam means to serve his lotus feet. For hindus the last one is usually physically actually worshipping the feet of the idol, which i dont find necessary, afterall there is nothing better than worshipping his name, for me atleast. So at this point, im at the Shravanam stage of simply listening, mainly because im not fluent in pronouncing punjabi, though i can understand it pretty well since its quite similar to hindi. But I think when i can freely pronounce the words, ill be able to sing more often. So I either sing Hey Gobind Hey Gopal or I do Naam Simran or something of that sort. Atleast for now. I hope i progress slowly.
I read the Hukumnamas time to time, especially when I feel in doubt, or somethings bothering me, or I have a question for God, I turn to Guruji. Like I think I had mentioned before, once I was very troubled and full of doubt, but when I went to the Gurudwara, my answer was answered in the Hukumnama. I truely believe the Hukumnama is the word of the Guru live and it is there to clear out thoughts, doubts, and give us instruction. Hence I truely believe in it. I think its amazing that the Gurus Speak through the Granthji. Even at times when I dont know what to do, i randomly turn to a page in the Granthji and look up a verse to find peace. Im going to Sri Darbaar Sahib (Harmandir Golden Temple) this November for the first time, and I cant wait. Im so excited. I think it will be an amazing experience, I simply cannot wait. I hope that I can wake up before sunrise and see the procession of the Granth Ji from the Akal Thakt to Harmandir Sahib in the morning. I really hope to witness that, Ive read much about it and hear its amazing. Ill be sure to take plenty of pictures, maybe ill share them with you when I come back. Im visiting other historical gurudwaras as well, like Anandpur Sahib, birthplace of the Khalsa.
Do you have a kara (steel bangle)? If you cant find one where you are, maybe I can bring you back one from Amritsar or somewhere in India. Id be more than happy to. I hope it would add motivation and faith in God. My kara reminds me of him constantly, and I never remove it.
I wish you well on your spiritual quest.
suren
Yes Sikh weddings are wonderful! I love them! Its very beautiful. I like it especially because its much shorter than a hindu weddings (which I find utmost boring
and nonsensical at some points). My cousin had both weddings. I dont know, it was a a long while ago, so I dont really remember, I was still a kid at the time. But in any case it was my first real sikh experience. Im glad the link came in handy, im sure there are other websites that have varied translations of the Adi Granth. But if you were to go for a hardcover, try and find one at a good price, I had to pay handsomely for mine. But in anycase, I feel its worth it because the words of the Guru are priceless.
Regarding how I pray and worship. I usually try and find transliterations (not translations) of the script from Gurmukhi to Roman so I can read it aloud. I cannot read Gurmukhi script (heck I cant even read devanagari [hindi]). I found a transliterated form of the Jaapji which I try and read. Regarding Shabads and such, I know some of them by heart and I sing them, but at this point I mostly listen to them. My favorite is found in Raag Malhaar, fifth mahalla, by Guru Arjan Dev, it goes as such "Hey Gobind, Hey Gopal". It is my favorite, and I know the whole thing by heart, and I sing that always. For the most part I do naam simran (remembering the name) with my mala(108 beads or rosary) or just in my mind either Eg Onkar Satnaam Sri Waheguru, or the holy name of Rama.
Honestly I still have some hindu influence in my since I was raised as one. For hindus, the worship of God comes in stages. Im sure its quite similar in the Sikh faith as well. It goes: Shravanam, Kirtanam, Smaranam, Vandanam, and Pad Sevanam. Shravanam to hear about God or his names, Kirtanam means to chant or sing his names or glories, Smaranam means to remember his names or glories, Vandanam means to worship him, and Pad Sevanam means to serve his lotus feet. For hindus the last one is usually physically actually worshipping the feet of the idol, which i dont find necessary, afterall there is nothing better than worshipping his name, for me atleast. So at this point, im at the Shravanam stage of simply listening, mainly because im not fluent in pronouncing punjabi, though i can understand it pretty well since its quite similar to hindi. But I think when i can freely pronounce the words, ill be able to sing more often. So I either sing Hey Gobind Hey Gopal or I do Naam Simran or something of that sort. Atleast for now. I hope i progress slowly
. I read the Hukumnamas time to time, especially when I feel in doubt, or somethings bothering me, or I have a question for God, I turn to Guruji. Like I think I had mentioned before, once I was very troubled and full of doubt, but when I went to the Gurudwara, my answer was answered in the Hukumnama. I truely believe the Hukumnama is the word of the Guru live and it is there to clear out thoughts, doubts, and give us instruction. Hence I truely believe in it. I think its amazing that the Gurus Speak through the Granthji. Even at times when I dont know what to do, i randomly turn to a page in the Granthji and look up a verse to find peace. Im going to Sri Darbaar Sahib (Harmandir Golden Temple) this November for the first time, and I cant wait. Im so excited. I think it will be an amazing experience, I simply cannot wait. I hope that I can wake up before sunrise and see the procession of the Granth Ji from the Akal Thakt to Harmandir Sahib in the morning. I really hope to witness that, Ive read much about it and hear its amazing. Ill be sure to take plenty of pictures, maybe ill share them with you when I come back. Im visiting other historical gurudwaras as well, like Anandpur Sahib, birthplace of the Khalsa.
Do you have a kara (steel bangle)? If you cant find one where you are, maybe I can bring you back one from Amritsar or somewhere in India. Id be more than happy to. I hope it would add motivation and faith in God. My kara reminds me of him constantly, and I never remove it.
I wish you well on your spiritual quest.
suren
