The article below has been taken from one of Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh jee's best book - Gurmat Bibek. Bhai Sahib has described how and why a Khalsa of Siri Guru Gobind Singh jee should respect Shasters. It's a must read. It is million times better to read the original text of Bhai Sahib but for those of us who are not well-versed in Punjabi, even a translation is worth reading.
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Next to the respect and honour for Gurdwara Sahibaan, respect and honour for Shasters is exactly in accordance to Gurmat Bibek.
ਜਿਤੇ ਸਸਤ੍ਰ ਨਾਮੰ॥ ਨਮਸਕਾਰ ਤਾਮੰ॥ ਜਿਤੇ ਅਸਤ੍ਰ ਭੇਯੰ॥ ਨਮਸਕਾਰ ਤੇਯੰ॥This Hukam of Siri Dasmesh jee tells us what kind of respect for Shasters is done in the House of the Guru. One who adorns Shasters but does not give respect to Shasters, what does he know about Shasters? In the battlefield of holy war, the warriors who respect Shasters always come out victorious. Shasters look good on only such warrior who knows how to honour and respect Shasters.
That Shaster to which worldly people refer to as “Talvaar” (sword), the famous name of that Shaster in the language of Guru Khalsa is “Sri Sahib”. If the name of this Shaster has been given so much respect, one can imagine how much respect and honour should be accorded to the Shaster itself, while wearing, using and placing it. Bibek-less people who have not realized the respect of Shasters, are often heard mocking and calling, the True Singh who respects and honours Shasters, as “Shaster-Poojak”. The Bibeki Singh warriors, obeying the Hukams of Siri Dasmesh jee, give utmost respect to the Shasters. Their respect and honour for Shasters is because of Hukams of Siri Guru Dasmesh jee. They don’t care about mocking of worldly people because for Bibeki Jan (individuals), the fear (Gurmat Fear) of obeying the Hukams of Siri Guru Dasmesh jee is many million times more than the fear of mocking of worldly people. The Singh warriors of Siri Guru Dasmesh jee adorn Shasters not to show-off to people or to please people but only because they are Hukam-Bande (servants) of Satguru jee. Being Hukami-Bande they adorn Shasters and being Hukami Bande they use Shasters in Dharam Yudh.
This Fearless, Timeless Akali Panth has been started by Siri Guru Dasmesh jee for the safeguarding of Dharma. When ever there is a need to protect the poor and the downridden from the Fear-giving non-Dharmi cruel people, or whenever there is Hukam (order) from Guru or Guru Panth, right then, becoming fearless from fear of death, Fearless Akali warriors using their Shasters, destroy the non-Dharmi people. When ever the safeguarding of the Dharma is not possible without raising the Shasters, then without hesitation and fear, Akali Singh warriors with their Shasters jump in the Dharam-Yudh (holy war). The real aim of Avtaar of Siri Guru Dasmesh jee and the aim behind founding the Shaster-adorning, Fearless, Nirankari, Khalsa, Akali Panth is very clearly written in the following Mukhvaak Bachan of Siri Guru Dasmesh jee – Yatha:
ਹਮ ਇਹ ਕਾਜ ਜਗਤ ਮੋ ਆਏ ॥
ਧਰਮ ਹੇਤ ਗੁਰਦੇਵ ਪਠਾਏ ॥
ਜਹਾਂ ਤਹਾਂ ਤੁਮ ਧਰਮ ਬਿਥਾਰੋ ॥
ਦੁਸਟ ਦੋਖੀਅਨਿ ਪਕਰਿ ਪਛਾਰੋ ॥ 42॥
ਯਾਹੀ ਕਾਜ ਧਰਾ ਹਮ ਜਨਮੰ ॥
ਸਮਝ ਲੇਹੁ ਸਾਧੂ ਸਭ ਮਨ ਮੰ ॥
ਪਰਮ ਚਲਾਵਨ ਸੰਤ ਉਬਾਰਨ ॥
ਦੁਸਟ ਸਭਨ ਕੋ ਮੂਲ ਉਪਾਰਨ ॥ 43॥Other than the above stated principles of Dharam Yudh, the Shaster-adorning Khalsa is not allowed to raise Shasters for anything else. For the safeguarding of Dharma, the principles of Dharam-Yudh have been set for eternity and Khalsa Akali Panth too has been setup till eternity to carry out the Dharam Yudh. Whoever tries to make any changes to the established principles Dharma or does any other kind of disturbance, such person would become Bemukh from Akali Hukams.
Just for stomach-feeding reasons, becoming Shasterdhaari Singhs e.g. Pakhandis like Bhatde, is against the Hukams of Sword-wearing Siri Dasmesh jee. Ones who themselves accept fear (of the world) and become servants of such cruel people who give fear to others, for the sake of occupation and under the spell of greed, bring stain to the lofty position of Shasterdhaari Khalsa. If Singh Shasterdhaaris, just for the sake of occupation, become servants of such cruel people, not only will it affect their Khalsa valour, but the true spirit of warrior-ness will not remain within them. Without the spirit of courage and valour, what good is a Singh?
So is Singh Soorma (warrior) who stays in the realms of Bir Rass, Fearlessness and Chardi Kala. And fearlessness and Chardi Kala is there where there is no greed, no worldly desire, no dependence on worldly people, and where there is no compromise and surrender other than Guru Akal Purakh and Guru Panth. Where there is such weakness, how can there be fearlessness? And to adorn Shaster such as Sri Sahib, without possessing such fearless position of Fearlessness, is doing Beadbi (dishonour, insult) of Sri Sahib.
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Reading Bhai Sahib's description of ideals behind wearing Shasters, gives a whole new meaning to wearing Shasters. It fills us with Chardi Kala and Khalsa Gaurav.
Bhul Chuk dee Maafi jee.
Daas,
Kulbir Singh
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਬਚਨਕਮਾਵਣੇਸਚਾਏਹੁਵੀਚਾਰੁ॥