interesting discussion...
here's a thought... while many are averse to touching the feet of a non-gursikh (myself included, though that's probably from my western upbringing), everyone would agree that doing joorian di seva is a great blessing. is touching where the feet have been the same as touching the feet? we can't be sure who the shoes in joor garh belong to, can we?
also, i don't know any gurmukhs who would allow someone to touch their feet... some say it steals kamai. i have seen elderly gurmukhs literally fall to their knees rather than allow a singh to touch their feet.
back to the original question of bowing the head, surely this shabad is familiar
ਮਿਠਤੁ ਨੀਵੀ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਗੁਣ ਚੰਗਿਆਈਆ ਤਤੁ ॥
Sweetness and humility, O Nanak, are the essence of virtue and goodness.
ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਨਿਵੈ ਆਪ ਕਉ ਪਰ ਕਉ ਨਿਵੈ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥
Everyone bows down to himself; no one bows down to another.
ਧਰਿ ਤਾਰਾਜੂ ਤੋਲੀਐ ਨਿਵੈ ਸੁ ਗਉਰਾ ਹੋਇ ॥
When something is placed on the balancing scale and weighed, the side which descends is heavier.
ਅਪਰਾਧੀ ਦੂਣਾ ਨਿਵੈ ਜੋ ਹੰਤਾ ਮਿਰਗਾਹਿ ॥
The sinner, like the deer hunter, bows down twice as much.
ਸੀਸਿ ਨਿਵਾਇਐ ਕਿਆ ਥੀਐ ਜਾ ਰਿਦੈ ਕੁਸੁਧੇ ਜਾਹਿ ॥੧॥
But what can be achieved by bowing the head, when the heart is impure? ||1||
my interpretation: bowing from humility (good intention) = good. bowing with bad intention = not good. even bowing to a gursikh without humility in the heart seems pointless. we have to mean it from inside, otherwise what's the point?
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਬਚਨਕਮਾਵਣੇਸਚਾਏਹੁਵੀਚਾਰੁ॥
