Inconceivable Practice of Siropa in Diwans

Sikhi of Baabaa Nanak is supposed to be governed by their present Guruship (i.e. Guru Shabad) and in no way any individual – no matter how wealthy, elite, powerful or of high status he/she may be in the society – can be accorded more importance or respect in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS). Sikhs (lifelong learners of SGGS) always to remember that the purpose of organizing a Diwan in the presence of SGGS is for advancement of Understanding of the enlightening Message contained within the Guru Shabad and not of any individual. However, unfortunately, a trend is widely growing among the Prabandhak (managing individuals) of Gurdwaras for falsely praising and conferring a Siropa to individuals in power in the Diwan leaving the Guru Shabad and teachings aside for establishing personal contacts and favors. Undoubtedly, this insult and desecration of the Guru Shabad has much degraded the institution of Guruship. This anti-Gurmat practice suggests we Sikhs have become the hero worshippers instead of living a life focused on the Message of the SGGS.

Having said that, presently we Sikhs have gone down to such a low level that we falsely praise individuals in the Diwans leaving the SGGS and the enlightening Upadesh/Counsel of the Guru Shabad aside.  Also, many times in these Diwans a huge stage is erected for the V. I. Ps. to sit above the Sangat and SGGS. What more could be the insult and desecration of Guru?

What is Siropa?

Generally of orange or saffron color, a Siropa (pronounced Siropaa – ਸਿਰੋਪਾ ) is a garment, scarf or a length of cloth.

You might have often seen Siropa giving/taking ceremonies in Gurdwaras worldwide, including the so called Takhats!

Those who give away Siropa are, generally, the members of the Gurdwara committees, self-serving and self-styled Sant or Baabaa, religious leaders, clergy, Bhais, Ragis, Jathedaar, Prachaarak, Kathaakaar, and so on.

On the other side, people who take or receive Siropa generally include, but not limited to:

• The same people who give them away!
• Spiritually blind and deaf mammon worshipers (Mayadhaaree).
• Politicians, rulers, ministers, leaders, kings, their deputies, etc.
• Famous or rich people from other countries who have no clue or understanding of the Gurbani (SGGS).
• Immoral movie actors, actresses, singers etc. (ਸ੍ਵਾਂਗੀ ਸਿਉ ਜੋ ਮਨੁ ਰੀਝਾਵੈ ॥ ਸ੍ਵਾਗਿ ਉਤਾਰਿਐ ਫਿਰਿ ਪਛੁਤਾਵੈ ॥).
• Gurdwara committee members, self-styled religious leaders and their lackey supporters (ਅੰਧਾ ਆਗੂ ਜੇ ਥੀਐ ਕਿਉ ਪਾਧਰੁ ਜਾਣੈ ॥ ਆਪਿ ਮੁਸੈ ਮਤਿ ਹੋਛੀਐ ਕਿਉ ਰਾਹੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ॥).

As we will see in the pages to follow, the Gurmat (Wisdom, Upadesh or Way of the SGGS) disapproves such inconceivable practice. The irony is it’s performed by those who think themselves better Sikhs than others!

Now, let’s briefly review the background of the Siropa tradition.

A brief background of Siropa practice

This tradition was introduced by Muslim invaders in India.

Siropa is a Persian (Farsi) term literally meaning head to foot dress bestowed on someone by a religious or social figure or institution as a mark of honor or recognition — Sar-o-pa (head and foot) or Sarapa (head to foot).

In those days, this practice was mainly carried out in courts (Darbaar) of then kings (dictators). As the Gurbani reminds us, these kings were corrupt, oppressive, tyrannical, cruel, indifferent to the sufferings of the subjects, immoral, intoxicated with power, and so on.

Not only kings were corrupt, their officials or deputies were also equally corrupt and would tyrannize people on behalf of kings. The Gurbani calls them ‘dogs’.

• ਰਾਜੇ ਸੀਹ ਮੁਕਦਮ ਕੁਤੇ ॥ ਜਾਇ ਜਗਾਇਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਿ ਬੈਠੇ ਸੁਤੇ ॥: The kings are like tigers, and their officials are dogs; they go out and harass innocent people (sggs 1288).
• ਲਬੁ ਪਾਪੁ ਦੁਇ ਰਾਜਾ ਮਹਤਾ ਕੂੜੁ ਹੋਆ ਸਿਕਦਾਰੁ ॥: Greed and sin both have become the king and minister, and falsehood has become the tax collector (sggs 469).
• ਸਰਮੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਦੁਇ ਛਪਿ ਖਲੋਏ ਕੂੜੁ ਫਿਰੈ ਪਰਧਾਨੁ ਵੇ ਲਾਲੋ ॥ ਕਾਜੀਆ ਬਾਮਣਾ ਕੀ ਗਲ ਥਕੀ ਅਗਦੁ ਪੜੈ ਸੈਤਾਨੁ ਵੇ ਲਾਲੋ ॥: Modesty (ਹਯਾ, shame, etc.) and Dharma both have vanished, and falsehood moves about as the chief (Pardhaanu-ਚੌਧਰੀ). The Qazis and the Brahmins have lost their roles, and (it’s like) Satan now conducts the marriage rites, O Lalo (sggs 722).

In addition, corrupt kings would give Siropa to their tyrannical officials, flatterers (ਚਾਪਲੂਸਾਂ ਦੀ ਚਾਪਲੂਸੀ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ), traitors who sold their country to these kings, and so on. The clergy was also corrupt (and still is!), mixed up with the corrupt and tyrannical kings and their deputies or chiefs.

Obeying and supporting the corrupt and tyrant rulers, the clergy and religious scholars and leaders of the masses became greedy, hypocrites, selfish, immoral, unethical, shameless, cruel, fraud, and unconcerned for Truth. falsehood, false ego-sense (Haumai), cruelty, and Bikaar (lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride…) perverted their sense of virtue and Dharma, As a result, indulgence in empty rituals (Karamkaand) was dominant in the society.

The real Siropa of Gurmat

The real Siropa of the Gurmat is given/taken at the level of the mind (Conscience-Surt), for it’s the Conscience-Surt that needs to become a Sikh.

• ਸਬਦੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਧੁਨਿ ਚੇਲਾ ॥: The SHABAD is my GURU (i.e. the Source of my Enlightenment), and my conscience (Surat, mind) is the disciple (of this SHABAD GURU (i.e. I adherer to the Instructions contained within the Shabad). (sggs 943).

Our Gurus and Bhagats were very frank and upright on the conduct (actions, thinking, etc.) of people, not to condemn them, but to expose ills of the society of their times. Although they uttered these Words of Truth many centuries ago, however, they are as relevant today as they were then.

They saw the folly, shallowness, and filthiness of worldly traditions such as giving/taking Siropa — a phony game played by the corrupt power hungry people and the corrupt minds.

The SGGS teaches us that such worldly honor (praise, recognition, glory, grandeur, ‘ਵਡਿਆਈਆ’…) to be false and temporary, which inflates one’s false ego-sense (Haumai) and separates one from his/her own Mool (Origin, root, Jot,), as well as rest of the people, thus putting one on a wrong Way of life or Path (i.e. Panth).

• ਦੁਨੀਆ ਕੀਆ ਵਡਿਆਈਆ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਭਿ ਕੁਮਿਤ ॥੨॥: O Nanak! (If the Divine is forgotten) All worldly praises are like bad friends. ||2|| (ssggs 319).
• ਕੁਲਹਾਂ ਦੇਂਦੇ ਬਾਵਲੇ ਲੈਂਦੇ ਵਡੇ ਨਿਲਜ ॥ ਚੂਹਾ ਖਡ ਨ ਮਾਵਈ ਤਿਕਲਿ ਬੰਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੈ ਛਜ ॥ ਦੇਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਿ ਦੁਆਈ ਸੇ ਮਰਹਿ ਜਿਨ ਕਉ ਦੇਨਿ ਸਿ ਜਾਹਿ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਨ ਜਾਪਈ ਕਿਥੈ ਜਾਇ ਸਮਾਹਿ ॥: Crazy are those people (so called Pir-ਪੀਰ, Sant, Saadh, Deraa-Vaad etc.) who give out ceremonial hats/Kulah to their followers (these crazy people understand that by giving heir hat, he fills the follower with his blessing), and absolutely shameless are those who accept them. (Their condition is like) a mouse who cannot pass through a hole and on top of that it has tied a threshing basket to its tail! All such people who bless others die along with those whom they give these blessings. Nanak, these people do not live in the way of the Hukam (Universal Rule-System-Law of Nature…) and they remain without realizing God Within. (sggs 1286).

As evident from the Gurbani, the Gurus and Bhagats tried to transform worldly Siropa into Divine Siropa or Spiritual Siropa. They counseled people to imbibe in Virtues (ਗੁਣ) like Satt (Truth), Santokh (contentment), Giyan-Wisdom, Daya (compassion), Dharma, Dheeraj (patience) etc.

• ਭਗਤਿ ਸਿਰਪਾਉ ਦੀਓ ਜਨ ਅਪੁਨੇ ਪ੍ਰਤਾਪੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਜਾਤਾ ॥੨॥੩੦॥੯੪॥: O Nanak! With the (Spiritual) Siropa of ‘Bhagti‘, ‘Jan’ (Gurmukhs, Daas, Bhagat…) are recognized (and through Bhagti they come to) know the Glory of ‘Prabh’ (Source, Mool, Jot…). ||2||30||94|| (sggs 631).

Aptly, there is a tremendous emphasis on persistent Bhagti in the Gurbani, for it triumphs over foolishness such as the egoistic practice of giving/taking of Siropa.

The Gurmat’s Siropa is Spiritual in nature

The Gurmat’s Spiritual Siropa is of the mind (Conscience-ਸੁਰਤ),

The SSGGS wants us to cover ourselves from head to feet with this Spiritual Siropa (ਸਿਰੋਪਾਉ) of the Gurmat.

• ਜਬ ਨਖ ਸਿਖ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਚੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ॥ ਤਬ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਮਜਨੁ ਕੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ॥੧॥: When I came to understand this mind from the nails of toes to the top of head (i.e., when I understood my mind completely…), then I bathe within my self (i.e., I bathe in my Mool within…). ||1|| (sggs 972).

The Gurbani asserts the one who wears this Real Siropa (at the level of the mind) ever remains Blissful.

• ਸਦਾ ਅਨੰਦੁ ਕਰੇ ਆਨੰਦੀ ਜਿਸੁ ਸਿਰਪਾਉ ਪਇਆ ਗਲਿ ਖਾਸਾ ਹੇ ॥੧੩॥: He, the Blissful one (the Gurmukh…) dressed in special (subtle, Spiritual) Siropa, is forever in Bliss. ||13|| (sggs 1073).

Therefore, the Bhagat (Gurmukh, Daas, Jan…) care less for this worldly piece of cloth called Siropa:

• ਪਹਿਰਿ ਸਿਰਪਾਉ ਸੇਵਕ ਜਨ ਮੇਲੇ ਨਾਨਕ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਪਹਾਰੇ ॥੨॥੨੯॥੯੩॥: O Nanak! Dressed in (Spiritual) Siropa, (His Bhagat, Daas, Jan..) Sewak get blended (in Him), and revealed (their) glory throughout the world. ||2||29||93|| (sggs 631).

Clearly, in a nutshell, this ongoing arrangement of giving/taking worldly Siropa is perpetuated by the mammon worshipers (Mayadhaaree, Manmukh, Saakat) and the corrupt minds is nothing but ‘Rol Ghacholaa‘. This practice is totally contrary to the Teaching of the SGGS.

• ਭਗਤ ਜਨਾ ਕਾ ਲੂਗਰਾ ਓਢਿ ਨਗਨ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥ ਸਾਕਤ ਸਿਰਪਾਉ ਰੇਸਮੀ ਪਹਿਰਤ ਪਤਿ ਖੋਈ ॥੩॥: (O Brother! Even if you) get an old ragged blanket form a Bhagat (Gurmukh, Daas, Jan…), wearing that you don’t have to worry about getting naked. (However, Even if you) get silky Siropa from a Saakat (one separated from his Mool, Manmukh, Mayadhaaree…), by wearing that honor is lost. ||3|| (sggs811).

Hence, with demoniac inclinations, those who practice this giving/taking of worldly Siropa mislead Sikh Sangat just as Pandits misled their people for generations. How so? With similar demoniac inclinations, Pandits totally diluted or corrupted the real Teachings, meanings, or Truth of the Vedas, misleading people in the process – they ill directed people away (‘ਪੰਡਿਤ ਪਾੜੀ ਬਾਟ’) from the Path of the Truth and put them on the path of Maya, falsehood, Karamkaand, empty rituals, myths (ਮੰਨ ਘੜੰਤ ਸਾਖੀਆ, weird stories…), etc. The Gurbani confirms this in the following verse:

• ਕਬੀਰ ਕਾਗਦ ਕੀ ਓਬਰੀ ਮਸੁ ਕੇ ਕਰਮ ਕਪਾਟ ॥ ਪਾਹਨ ਬੋਰੀ ਪਿਰਥਮੀ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਪਾੜੀ ਬਾਟ ॥੧੩੭॥: Kabeer, the religious books (of Pandits/ Pujaaree) are like a prison made of paper, and the rituals (Karamkaand) written in ink are like the doors of that prison. The stone idols have spiritually drowned the people of this world (in the ocean of worldliness), and Pandits (i.e. the clergy/Pujaaree) are plundering people (i.e. robbing people by engaging them in useless rituals and idolatry Poojaa and though donation-Daan etc.). ||137|| (sggs 1371).

Are we (i.e. Sikhs – lifelong learners of the SGGS) doing any better than the corrupt Pandits?

Beware of honors, praise, recognition…

The Gurmat Teaches us to beware of any worldly honor, recognition, praise, and so on.

Obviously, the people who play this corrupt game of giving/taking worldly Siropa in Gurdwaras or so called Takhats have no clue of the Gurmat. If they did then why they would be practicing such inconceivable practice? Because, falsehood cannot propagate Truth!

• ਦੁਨੀਆ ਕੀਆ ਵਡਿਆਈਆ ਕਵਨੈ ਆਵਹਿ ਕਾਮਿ ॥: Worldly praises are of no use (sggs 45).

Hence, a spiritually elevated person (Gurmukh, Daas, Bhagat, Jan) is sensitive to being unduly praised. He feels uncomfortable. Although people who praise him may be well-meaning, but he nevertheless feels uncomfortable. He feels uncomfortable because, for one thing, such praise only reminds him of his limitations, his shortcomings, his weaknesses, his decadence, his faults, and so on.

He knows that the Way to Perfection (Jeevan Padavee) is through self-criticism and not through self-adulation. He knows that the success (Mool-abidance) is not the same thing as worldly recognition/praise/honors…

Clearly, there is no place for Mayaic Karamkaand (rituals) in the Divine Teaching of the SGGS. In fact, in the Divine eyes of the SGGS, all are equal irrespective of one’s caste, social status, title, power, name, fame, rich or poor, well known or unknown, honor or dishonor, etc.

• ਭਰਮ ਮੋਹੰ ਮਾਨ ਅਪਮਾਨੰ ਮਦੰ ਮਾਯਾ ਬਿਆਪਿਤੰ ॥: Maya keeps (mortals) under its spell via doubt, attachment, honor, dishonor, and pride (sggs 1357).

Self-serving Pujaaree has diluted Guru Nanak’s Sikhi

Understandably, the SGGS teaches to break or discard the Pujaaree system. However, what has taken place in reality is totally to the contrary — the self-serving Pujaaree and Deraa-Vaad in Sikhi has broken the Gurmat!

With manufactured stories and misinterpretation of the Gurbani to fit their notions, they have turned it into a mundane business (ਧੰਧਾ) to suit their lifestyle of free-loaders!

The money spent on Siropas, expensive Rumaalaas, Chandoaas, Palkis, Langars (food) etc. may be better used on clothes for a poor child walking naked in winter, or feed a hungry child, etc. Instead, all Gurdwaras are busy giving Siropas to those who already have enough clothes on their body, and feeding those who already have their bellies filled to the brim!

Have we forgotten these words of the SGGS which Counsel us to use our brain in giving (Daan), reading the Gurbani etc.

• ਧ੍ਰਿਗੁ ਤਿਨਾ ਕਾ ਜੀਵਿਆ ਜਿ ਲਿਖਿ ਲਿਖਿ ਵੇਚਹਿ ਨਾਉ ॥ ਖੇਤੀ ਜਿਨ ਕੀ ਉਜੜੈ ਖਲਵਾੜੇ ਕਿਆ ਥਾਉ ॥ ਸਚੈ ਸਰਮੈ ਬਾਹਰੇ ਅਗੈ ਲਹਹਿ ਨ ਦਾਦਿ ॥ ਅਕਲਿ ਏਹ ਨ ਆਖੀਐ ਅਕਲਿ ਗਵਾਈਐ ਬਾਦਿ ॥ ਅਕਲੀ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਸੇਵੀਐ ਅਕਲੀ ਪਾਈਐ ਮਾਨੁ ॥ ਅਕਲੀ ਪੜ੍ਹ੍ਹਿ ਕੈ ਬੁਝੀਐ ਅਕਲੀ ਕੀਚੈ ਦਾਨੁ ॥ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਆਖੈ ਰਾਹੁ ਏਹੁ ਹੋਰਿ ਗਲਾਂ ਸੈਤਾਨੁ ॥੧॥: Accursed is the life who (on account of their selfishness and greed) read and reflect on Naam to sell it in the form of Mantras or magic. They are like those whose crop is continuously destroyed, (as a result) they have nothing to thrash! Without proper self-effort (to know ownself etc.) their future life is wasted. Intellect is not which is wasted in futile arguments. Use intellect in the service of God; the right use of intellect brings respect. Learn by intelligent reading and use intelligence in practice of charity (to help the needy). Says Nanak, this is the right way of life while other things (failure to apply discerning intellect) lead to wickedness. ||1|| (sggs 1245).

Ending

These days many commercial preachers, Ragis, Dhadis, Dera Baabaas, self-serving Pujaaree and self styled religious leaders are plundering the innocent masses and pushing theme away from the core Gurmat of Guru Nanak. The tragedy is that knowledgeable people have become silent spectators of this degradation.

Some Related Posts:

• Gurbani on Learned Fools
• Crowds follow the path of Falsehood, Pakhand…
• Imitation: People See, People do
• Realize Enlightening Message Embedded within Shabad
• Gurbani Requires Mind to Focus on the Message
• Gurbani Defines Pardhaan, Leader…
• Gurmat and Social Change
• Falsehood cannot Propagate Truth
• False Ego-Sense Kills our Original Nature
• Leave Ego Personality and Shoes Outside!
• Bad Behavior Inside Gurdwara is also Bad Outside!