world sikh news 12 Jan 21-27, 2009 U N T A N G L I N G A M Y T H Sacrifice at Hazur Sahib Myth & Truth A veteran Deccani Sikh himself, the author presents the facts of the honour of weapons at Hazur Sahib and calls for caution in its condemnation. He clears the air over the vegetarian-non-vegetarian debate amongst Sikhs and seeks effective steps to rid Sikh society of unethical and unSikh practices wherever they are practiced. World Sikh News presents these facts, not to foment the debate, but to help build a hypothesis for solution to this never-ending debate for the benefit of a wider cross-section of the Sikh people.

he Internet has provid- Nanak Singh Nishter Guru Gobind Singh Ji in the year in fire for performing Havan, ed a forum for free 1708. Around 1830, the Sikh Army Yagyan, Lohri and other such fes- speech which is being understanding the details of the of Maharaja Ranjit Singh came to tivities. abused by all and phenomenon. help the Nizam, who was the ruler On page number 1275 of Guru sundry to project their Beyond all reasonable doubt let of Hyderabad. This army was Granth Sahib, Guru Nanak Sahib views with the finality me authoritatively say and explain retained here as a Sikh Peace keep- has further explained the law of Tof an intellectual whose research how this myth is a half-truth and ing Force, which had 14 Risalas nature that, "Ek ji, kai jiyaan cannot be wrong. All writers, more injurious than the lie. (units) at all district headquarters khahi ", "eyk jIA , kY jIAw KwhI" means young and old, write in the As a student of Gurmat, I am with its Unit Gurdwaras. They "One life eats several lives". superlative degree, presenting fully aware of the facts and prac- held the then prevailing practices On page number 955, Guru their views as "the only correct tices of the Sikhs particularly of and rituals of the Sikhs of that Angad Sahib Ji further clarifies view", "the best book", "the worst this region, who are called period as a disciplined Armed saying that, "Jiya ka ahar ji, khana case" and the like. Human fallibili- "Deccani Sikhs". Since the last Force. yeho karey ", "jIAw kw Ahwr jIA Kwxw ty has become non-existent. four generations, I have lived in It is not fair to presume that eyhu kryie]", meaning "God has made After the Tercentenary celebra- this region and therefore I am also Jhatka of goat is a sacrificial act at the creatures' food for other crea- tions at Hazur Sahib, on the inter- one of them. Hazur Sahib and other Unit tures." net and in print magazines, it has What is the act of sacrifice? It is Gurdwaras of the Deccani Sikhs. There is enough historical evi- become fashionable for Sikh intel- a religious ritual of killing (an ani- Since thousands of years, it is a dence that in the in the langar of ligentsia to indulge in a superla- mal or person) in order to propiti- custom of warriors of India to put Guru Nanak Sahib and Guru tive discussion about, "Goat ate a deity. This is strictly forbid- the Tilak of blood to their weapon- Gobind Singh, meat was cooked Sacrifice at Hazur Sahib." den in Sikhism. The lives of the ry on the occasion of Dashara and and served. As the sentiments of I have been following this debate Ten Gurus and the teachings of Holi. In these Gurdwaras, the tilak non-meat eaters were hurt, it was for a long time and I have Guru Granth Sahib have several of blood is put to the weapons, not subsequently stopped. Thus, Guru observed that most of the crystal clear explanations. to Guru Granth Sahib or any other Ka Langar has gone purely vege- debate is frivolous The shabads of Guru Granth idol or photograph. Though it is tarian and should be accepted and and those who do Sahib are misquoted, misused and not in consonance with Sikh phi- venerated by one and all. spend time on misinterpreted to propagate vege- losophy, like many other practices Since thousands of years, this subject tarianism among the Sikhs by that have crept into the Sikh way of Jhatka is an Indian tradition of do so some intellectuals and by vested life, this too requires sane inter- killing any animal with one stroke. without interests, particular those running vention so that it can be stopped. In Assam, Rajasthan and some deras. Mere condemnation ad nauseam other north Indian regions, it is Even innocent Sikh preachers will not help stopping it. still prevailing. Halal meat is actu- toe the line, as either they are igno- It is important that we see things ally Zubah meat (half cut throat) rant or they too want to appease objectively and rationally. From which is halal (permitted) for the the vested interests or they think the point of view of Sikh image Muslims. This tradition is bor- vegetarianism will make them and Sikh practice, this has to be rowed by them from Jewish reli- popular. stopped, but this should be brack- gion's "Kosher meat". This sort of Sikhs living in and eted with many other practices meat is specifically declared har- around Hazur Sahib of and rituals which require serious ram (forbidden-sinful) for the the erstwhile steps. But there are so many ritu- Sikhs in Sikh Rehat Maryada. The Hyderabad State als and festivals of other religions diktat to eat Jhatka meat was a are the dece- which are Celebration of the New revolt against the established cus- dents who Year of the Christian Era, Sammat tom of the time and also a step of took Amrit new month -Sangrand and Full rebellion against Muslim tyranny. in pres- moon day -Pooranmashi. Are Those who advocate vegetarian- ence of these all not anti-Sikh practices? ism among Sikhs is deliberately Guru Nanak Sahib in shabad overlooking the provisions of Sikh number25 on pages 1289-90 has Rehat Maryada, which clearly pro- explained how the fools quarrel hibits consuming Kuththa (halal over vegetarianism and meat-eat- meat) and does not in any manner ing. In 35 thirty five verses prevent Sikhs from being non-vege- starting with "Pehla masaho tarians. It is the discretion and lib- nimiya maasai ander vas". erty of Amritdharis to consume "pihlW mwshu inMimAw mwsY meat, if they choose to do so. Also, AMdir vwsu", saying that, any Sikh, who chooses to be vege- "First, the mortal is tarian, is welcome to remain so, but conceived in the flesh, it is foolhardy, naïve and wrong to and then he dwells in attempt to amend the Sikh religious the flesh". Gurbani ethos according to this choice. repeatedly reiterates Nanak Singh "Nishter" is a that God is equally Hyderabad-based orator, writer abiding in His and Urdu poet. He is a regular Creation including columnist of World Sikh News. He food grains, water, is an activist-academician making vegetation, animal and immense contribution to the social human bodies. and cultural welfare of Sikh socie- Gurbani strictly con- ty. He is director of International demns sacrifices of ani- Sikh Centre for Interfaith mals for pleasing deities Relations. He may be contacted at and offerings of eatables [email protected]