We know that Sikhi is a staunch proponent of gender equality.
Gurbani says
ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰਾ ਪਿਤਾ ਤੂੰਹੈ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਾਤਾ ॥
You are my Father, and You are my Mother. It calls upon Vaheguru as both Father and Mother.
I can understand why Vaheguru is referred to as Mother, because a mother cares for her child in all possible ways, a child depends on his/her mother for survival, sustenance and much more, not to forget love.
Gurbani says
ਇਸੁ ਜਗ ਮਹਿ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਏਕੁ ਹੈ ਹੋਰ ਸਗਲੀ ਨਾਰਿ ਸਬਾਈ ॥
In this world, there is one Husband Lord; all other beings are His brides.
Gurbani says
ਤੁਮਹਿ ਸੁ ਕੰਤ ਨਾਰਿ ਹਮ ਸੋਈ ॥੩॥
You are the Husband Lord, and I am the soul-bride. ||3||
Why isn't Vaheguru suggested as wife, why Husband?
Infact, why in all of Gurbani is Vaheguru called upon as "Husband Lord"? ਕੰਤ, ਪਿਰੁ, ਖਸਮ are all words that not just translate as huband but even imply the same.
Why is Vaheguru NEVER referred to as "wife", why always Husband and we souls are called soul brides. Feminine words such as Suchaji, Kuchaji, Gunvanti, Sobhavanti, etc are used for the soul, but masculine words as mentioned above, (including Karta Purakh and Akal Purakh, Purakh is translated by many as male) are used for Vaheguru.
Vaheguru is even called a brother.
ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰਾ ਬੰਧਪੁ ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰਾ ਭ੍ਰਾਤਾ ॥
You are my Relative, and You are my Brother.
Here ਭ੍ਰਾਤਾ means brother.
Again, why isn't Vaheguru referred to as "sister"?
Vaheguru is even called "male friend".
ਤੂ ਮੇਰੇ ਮੀਤ ਸਖਾ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਾਨ ॥
O Lord, You are my Best Friend, my Companion, my Breath of Life.
Why is Vaheguru called ਸਖਾ which translates as "male friend" in common Indian linguistic tradition and not ਸਖੀ which is feminine?
ਆਉ ਸਖੀ ਹਰਿ ਮੇਲੁ ਕਰੇਹਾ ॥
Come, friends, let us meet our Lord.
Here ਸਖੀ refers to fellow GurSikhs, fellow "soul brides", ਸਖੀ translates as "female friend" in common Indian linguistic tradition.
Vaheguru is without gender, so is the soul. So why are all masculine connotations used for Vaheguru and all feminine ones used for the soul? There is no gender for Vaheguru or the soul. Plus there is gender equality, so what harm would it be if the roles were interchanged? If Vaheguru can be Mother, why not sister, why not female friend, why not wife? Why is Vaheguru referred to as brother and male friend, why always referred to as Husband?
Piyareyo, these are not my questions. I am very much at peace with how Gurbani refers to Vaheguru and the soul. May Guru Sahib keep it that way.
These are questions that will be thrown at us at some point in future by those who claim to be Western and/or claim to be feminists.
Please advise how would you respond.
Bhull chukk maaf