Id like to explore them idea behind the outright ban.

We all know that Tobacco is bajjar kurhet.

But what exactly is it?

1) the association with muslims ?

2) the plant itself?

3) the nicotine aspect ( which alo exists in trace amounts in tea)

4) if its the intoxicanting aspect, why is there a lax approach to coffee, tea and alcohol.

I am asking this because many studies indicate nicotine does provide benefits, with mental alertness and focus. Tobacco is something different altogether.

ਸੋਰਠਿ ਮਹਲਾ ੯ ॥

Sorat'h, Ninth Mehl:

ਮਨ ਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੀ ਸਰਨਿ ਬਿਚਾਰੋ ॥

O mind, contemplate the Sanctuary of God.

ਜਿਹ ਸਿਮਰਤ ਗਨਕਾ ਸੀ ਉਧਰੀ ਤਾ ਕੋ ਜਸੁ ਉਰ ਧਾਰੋ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Meditating on Him in remembrance, Ganika the prostitute was saved; enshrine His Praises within your heart. ||1||Pause||

ਅਟਲ ਭਇਓ ਧ੍ਰੂਅ ਜਾ ਕੈ ਸਿਮਰਨਿ ਅਰੁ ਨਿਰਭੈ ਪਦੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥

Meditating on Him in remembrance, Dhroo became immortal, and obtained the state of fearlessness.

ਦੁਖ ਹਰਤਾ ਇਹ ਬਿਧਿ ਕੋ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਤੈ ਕਾਹੇ ਬਿਸਰਾਇਆ ॥੧॥

The Lord and Master removes suffering in this way - why have you forgotten Him? ||1||

ਜਬ ਹੀ ਸਰਨਿ ਗਹੀ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਨਿਧਿ ਗਜ ਗਰਾਹ ਤੇ ਛੂਟਾ ॥

As soon as the elephant took to the protective Sanctuary of the Lord, the ocean of mercy, he escaped from the crocodile.

ਮਹਮਾ ਨਾਮ ਕਹਾ ਲਉ ਬਰਨਉ ਰਾਮ ਕਹਤ ਬੰਧਨ ਤਿਹ ਤੂਟਾ ॥੨॥

How much can I describe the Glorious Praises of the Naam? Whoever chants the Lord's Name, his bonds are broken. ||2||

ਅਜਾਮਲੁ ਪਾਪੀ ਜਗੁ ਜਾਨੇ ਨਿਮਖ ਮਾਹਿ ਨਿਸਤਾਰਾ ॥

Ajaamal, known throughout the world as a sinner, was redeemed in an instant.

ਨਾਨਕ ਕਹਤ ਚੇਤ ਚਿੰਤਾਮਨਿ ਤੈ ਭੀ ਉਤਰਹਿ ਪਾਰਾ ॥੩॥੪॥

Says Nanak, remember the Chintaamani, the jewel which fulfills all desires, and you too shall be carried across and saved. ||3||4||

Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji • Raag Sorath • Ang 632

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Budhvaar, 14 Katak, Nanakshahi 558

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh, I am a Robot. Bleep Bloop.

Powered By GurbaniNow.

Beautiful kirtan by Dr. Jatinder Singh Ji and Jatha at Sachkhand Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar Sahib.
Video footage obtained by @angadd.oberoi

I've read that Maharaja Ranjit Singh wanted to donate kohinoor diamond to Jahhnath puri temple I've researchrd about it,the story is substantially true Maharaja Ranjit Singh reportedly wanted the Koh-i-Noor diamond to be offered to Lord Jagannath at Puri in 1839. This is not merely a modern religious legend historical accounts and a contemporary British official communication support the claim.He also donated same qty of gold as darbar sahib to kashi vishwanath. How true are this?

As per the Maasir-i-Alamgiri, a man from Bengal once traveled to the Deccan to become Aurangzeb’s murid (disciple). In response, Aurangzeb quoted the following verse by Guru Nanak Dev in Panjabi, warning against assuming spiritual authority without the capacity to guide others:

“They, who give their disciples hats, are fools and they who receive them are, very shameless.

A mouse can be contained not in its hole, if he ties a winnowing basket to his waist”.

This is a verse composed by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and is found in Var Malhar ki, Ang 1286 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

This occurrence is fascinating for a myriad of reasons that I will briefly dwell upon. For starters, it points to the knowledge of Sikh gurbani in the highest echelon of the Mughal court, the emperor himself. This is not too surprising, considering that Baba Ram Rai, son of Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib, had been close to the Mughal authority, having been bestowed land for a dera in the Doon Valley, which Dehradun marks today. Baba Ram Rai was available to the emperor to (mis)interpret gurbani. It also depicts knowledge and acknowledgment of the Panjabi-language in the Mughal court.

Furthermore, it really reflects the multifaceted character of Aurangzeb. There is often a tendency to paint historical figures in a black-and-white fashion, “bad” or “good”. However, we have to remember that they were human beings like us today, they were just as complex and variable as we are. This is by no means an attempt to absolve Aurangzeb of the evils he committed against the peoples of India (especially the transgressions against Hindus and Sikhs, most notably the execution of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji), but rather a call to take into account their whole personality and behaviour to come to a better understanding of their lives and why they acted in the manner in which they did, for a clearer picture. This is a man who ordered the destruction of temples while paying for the maintenance of others, who employed Hindu solders and civil servants, had Bhai Nand Lal as the tutor to his heir-apparent, and who also persecuted Sufi Muslims.

References:

1) The Panjab Past and Present issued in honour of Ganda Singh: Suniti Kumar Chatterji, “A Verse by Guru Nanak in the Adi Granth Quoted by Emperor Aurangzib,” The Panjab Past and Present 6, no. 1 (April 1972)

2) ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਵਾਰੇ (Panjābī vārē) by Dr. Harkirat Singh / Punjabi Diyan Bhashai Veshehtavan by Harkirat Singh

Thank you to kharagket , ehmerapunjab and X/Twitter users ibeenyoung_ , singhafied, and HasnainWizard.

I am an amritdhari sikh. Withe waheguru's grace took amrit at age of 9. But missed amritvela all the time. Never practiced gurmantar or mulmantra although with guru sahibs kirpa didn't miss my nitnem very often.

At age of 15 I got in touch with a kirtan teacher from Akhand kirtani jatha. Really helped uplifting me. And during the same age, met a singh from damdami taksal who trained under sant mohan singh bhinderanwale and spent 15 years with them. My whole family started taking santhya from him. But didn't complete it and didn't even practice it properly. I only know basics.

But from the Taksali singh, got to know the nitnem of mahapurkh sant mohan singh. Sant mohan singh bhinderanwale used to stay awake all night walking and doing abhyas from 8 pm to 5 am in morning. Sant ji used to go to bed at 5 am and wake up at 9 am. So much abhiyas.

BTW, sant mohan singh used to live at bhinder kalan itself. Not at mehta chowk. And my santhya teachers stayed with sant ji at bhinder kalan

When I turned 17, saw a hindu mahapurakh premanand maharaj. Now don't think i got influenced by sanatan dharma or Hinduism, but premanand maharaj ji made me realize importance of gurmantar. And I started trying to get up early in the morning.

Now in 2026 I am 18 years old. I really want to attain moksh. I dont want to waste away my life. I listen to various mahapurakhs, bhramgyanis. Sant gurbachan singh bhinderanwale, sant kartar singh bhinderanwale sant mohan singh bhinderanwale. All of whom have left for sachkhand. I feel really helpless, according to guru granth sahib, you need sant-sang. I feel helpless that all the big sant mahapurakhs have left for sachkhand. Sant mohan singh bhinderanwale lived for 101 years, passed away in 2020. I really wish I was born in atleast 1998 instead of 2008.

Please forgive me for my English. I live in india so it is bent to be rusty.

Just for context, I am a Hindu punjabi guy. My grandma and other elders used to follow sikhism as well as teachings of Guru Nanak dev ji a lot along with hindu prayers but that influence gradually eroded with time.

I am going through some very hard times in my personal life with huge magnitude of failure on all fronts and I came across youtube on following Amrit vela routine for good mental and physical health benefits along with many examples of people making lots of materialistic gains (which may sound shallow but I need them for my family).

So atleast for next 6 months I am going to follow Amrit vela routine. I don’t read or speak punjabi. Can someone guide me from basics as how and what to do during this time?

WJKKWJKF 🙏

I am interested in the concept of God, and what you all have to say about it.

I'm fairly newer on the path of Sikhi and from what I understand, Waheguru is not a man with a white beard sitting in the sky.

I would venture to say God (even saying that word feels like conjuring up an image of an entity) is within us while also everywhere else around us in everything, all the time.

Growing up, Waheguru was talked about as some entity to whom you could pray, and whom would answer your prayers and asks.

As I grow older, I have this feeling that is not necessarily true in the traditional sense. It implies an entity that exists outside of ourselves whom we talk to, ask things, and seek responses and fulfillment of asks/requests.

At least that is not my experience, but I could be wrong.

I used to pray by reaching out to something other than myself. It never felt I connected with anything. More recently, I've given up on my own concepts and just pray/sing, possibly listening to myself and give up on my own thoughts about it. Perhaps the truth of it will reveal itself once I give up my own egoic concepts of how it works. And whether that gets revealed is also beyond me (I.e. grace, kirpa etc).

I'm curious to know how you all think, feel, and experience "God".

These are just my current humble thoughts and self reflections. Sorry for any misstatements, errors etc. 🙏

Okay, so this might be a bit of a rant, but I genuinely want to hear your thoughts because I don’t know if I’m overthinking or if my fears are understandable.

I’m a Punjabi girl, born and raised in the Philippines, and now living in Canada. I have a normal tattoo that I got when I was 17. It’s nothing vulgar or related to Sikhi, and honestly, I want to get more tattoos! I personally believe being a Sikh isn’t just about our appearance but also about who we are as human beings and how we treat others.

But my parents don’t know about my tattoo, and sometimes I worry about how my future husband or his family might react. Would they judge me for it? Would it become a whole issue? I know it sounds like a soap opera, but these are the things I think about lol.
And it’s not just the tattoo. Every time I say I want to do something, my parents tell me to do it after I get married. Like WHAT? Why do I have to wait until I have a husband to enjoy my life?

I’m turning 21, and they’ve already said that once I’m out of college, they’ll marry me off. I’ve told them I might want to get married at 28 or 29, when I’ve saved some money and feel ready to enter a relationship. Their response? “You’ll be old by then.” Like, seriously? Why is there so much pressure?

I think some of my fear comes from what I’ve seen in my own family. My father is normally a good dad, but when he’s stressed, he drinks and gets angry over little things. Back when I lived with my parents, he and my mom would sometimes fight almost every day or every other day, and me and my brother would get dragged into it or blamed for things. Obviously, we’ve made mistakes too, but sometimes it felt like everything was our fault.

I was so stressed and mentally tired back then. Sometimes, I just wanted some peace.

There have also been times when my father has hit me, my brother, and my mom. What makes it harder is that our relatives see him as a good, jolly man, but they don’t see everything that happens at home. He wears a pagg (just been a year) and I’ve struggled with seeing the difference between how people view him as a Sikh and how things are sometimes at home.

Me and my brother are both huge people pleasers because we were raised to respect our elders and never say anything bad about family. So speaking up for ourselves has always been difficult.

I think all of this has made me scared of marriage. What if I end up with someone who controls what I wear, who I see, whether I can travel, or what I do with my own life? What if I’m unhappy, but my family tells me that every marriage has problems and I should just adjust?
I don’t want to end up in an unhappy marriage like my mom’s. I want a peaceful home, a partner who respects me, and the freedom to still be my own person.

I know not every person is the same, and maybe I’m projecting some of my family experiences onto my future. But this has been a real fear of mine since I was a teenager, and it’s still here now.

Am I overthinking all of this? Do I have valid reasons to be worried, or am I letting my experiences with my family scare me too much? I genuinely want to hear your thoughts because I’ve been carrying these fears for a long time, and apart from my brother, I haven’t really had anyone to talk to about them.

Sorry for the long rant. I started thinking about tattoos and somehow ended up ranting about my entire life lol.

For those of you who are feeling down, alone or thinking that you aren’t good enough because of unfortunate circumstances occurring in your life.

Whatever the reason is, don’t let the doubt, anxiety and fear cripple you. Always remember that Waheguru is with you and working for your benefit. Waheguru will fix your situation and perfectly arrange your affairs, He is all - powerful, so why worry?

Everything is in His control, including the situation you’re in right now, you truly have nothing to worry about! So, keep going, have faith and act in discipline and remain in Chardi Kala.

Apologies for anything in advance, just trying to understand things.

Q: Is Amrit or following the Rehat Maryada actually required for liberation, according to the Guru Granth Sahib Ji?

It seems that from what I can find, Guru Granth Sahib Ji describes liberation through remembering God, humility, honest living, etc., with no mention of Amrit or a formal set of rules as a requirement to achieve this.

Hence it begs the question of can someone disagree with the Rehat Maryada / not follow it and still achieve liberation?

If the answer is yes to the above, then what exactly is the purpose of Rehitnamas and Rehat Maryada?

As a concrete example, if keeping Kesh is soo pivotal to the religion then why isn't it Guru Granth Sahib Ji explicit about it? What authority does the Rehat Maryada have over a Sikh who disagrees with it, if Gurbani doesn’t require it/isn't explicit about it?

Again, apologies if I've said anything wrong/incorrect, purely just trying to gain more information.

ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨ ਸਭੈ ਮਤ ਸੁਨਿ ਕੈ ਕਰੀ ਕਰਮ ਕੀ ਆਸਾ ॥

Listening to all the teachings of the Vedas and the Puraanas, I wanted to perform the religious rituals.

ਕਾਲ ਗ੍ਰਸਤ ਸਭ ਲੋਗ ਸਿਆਨੇ ਉਠਿ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਪੈ ਚਲੇ ਨਿਰਾਸਾ ॥੧॥

But seeing all the wise men caught by Death, I arose and left the Pandits; now I am free of this desire. ||1||

ਮਨ ਰੇ ਸਰਿਓ ਨ ਏਕੈ ਕਾਜਾ ॥

O mind, you have not completed the only task you were given;

ਭਜਿਓ ਨ ਰਘੁਪਤਿ ਰਾਜਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

you have not meditated on the Lord, your King. ||1||Pause||

ਬਨ ਖੰਡ ਜਾਇ ਜੋਗੁ ਤਪੁ ਕੀਨੋ ਕੰਦ ਮੂਲੁ ਚੁਨਿ ਖਾਇਆ ॥

Going to the forests, they practice Yoga and deep, austere meditation; they live on roots and the fruits they gather.

ਨਾਦੀ ਬੇਦੀ ਸਬਦੀ ਮੋਨੀ ਜਮ ਕੇ ਪਟੈ ਲਿਖਾਇਆ ॥੨॥

The musicians, the Vedic scholars, the chanters of one word and the men of silence, all are listed on the Register of Death. ||2||

ਭਗਤਿ ਨਾਰਦੀ ਰਿਦੈ ਨ ਆਈ ਕਾਛਿ ਕੂਛਿ ਤਨੁ ਦੀਨਾ ॥

Loving devotional worship does not enter into your heart; pampering and adorning your body, you must still give it up.

ਰਾਗ ਰਾਗਨੀ ਡਿੰਭ ਹੋਇ ਬੈਠਾ ਉਨਿ ਹਰਿ ਪਹਿ ਕਿਆ ਲੀਨਾ ॥੩॥

You sit and play music, but you are still a hypocrite; what do you expect to receive from the Lord? ||3||

ਪਰਿਓ ਕਾਲੁ ਸਭੈ ਜਗ ਊਪਰ ਮਾਹਿ ਲਿਖੇ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਗਿਆਨੀ ॥

Death has fallen on the whole world; the doubting religious scholars are also listed on the Register of Death.

ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਜਨ ਭਏ ਖਾਲਸੇ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਭਗਤਿ ਜਿਹ ਜਾਨੀ ॥੪॥੩॥

Says Kabeer, those humble people become pure - they become Khalsa - who know the Lord's loving devotional worship. ||4||3||

Bhagat Kabir Ji • Raag Sorath • Ang 654

Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Mangalvaar, 13 Katak, Nanakshahi 558

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh, I am a Robot. Bleep Bloop.

Powered By GurbaniNow.

Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar in LaSalle.

I’ve visited many times now, and each visit still gives me something different. Sometimes I understand more. Sometimes I leave with more questions. But I always leave feeling that I’ve learned something.

As someone who didn’t grow up Sikh or Punjabi, places like this have helped make Sikhi feel less like something I’m studying from the outside and more like something I’m slowly beginning to experience for myself.

Still learning. Still asking questions. Still grateful for the welcome.

Sat Sri Akaal 🙏

I have got the recordings of it. But the quality is pathetic. How do I clean the audio. Please help 🙏

I went to the gurudwara sahib today. And I observed the whole Sukhasan.

Even after maharaj ji departed, sangat fir v takht nu matha tek rahi c. I wanted to know if there is anything in maryada regarding this

I Have grown in an army cantt and studied in army schools which are hindi and english medium... All my friends in my life spoke hindi, my parents used to speak Hindi with me as we lived in cantt every parent used to do the same, I am 20yrs old and still speak in Hindi with them....

But whenever I face new strangers,new friends I am comfortable in speaking Punjabi.

But I can't do that with my cousins , parants and friends with whom I only spoke in Hindi since I was child.....

So my uncle confronted me that I talk in Hindi, so I got in an argument with him.

Are sikhs only allowed to speak in Punjabi???

ਸੋਢੀ ਸੁਲਤਾਨ, ਚੌਥੇ ਪਾਤਸ਼ਾਹ
ਧੰਨ ਧੰਨ ਗੁਰੂ ਰਾਮਦਾਸ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ਪੁਰਬ ਦੀਆਂ ਲੱਖ ਲੱਖ ਮੁਬਾਰਕਾਂ ਹੋਣ ਜੀ🙏🙏🙏
Sodhi sultan, fourth patshah
Dhan Dhan Guru Ramdas Ji’s prakash purab is today. Millions of congratulations to beloved Sangat❤️🙏

Katha- Baba Banta Singh Ji Munda Pind Wale

18M, I've been riding bikes since I was 15. I recently bought a triumph Speed 400. A distant relative of mine was in a crash and ofc ondi pag onanu bacho nhi pai, te onandi on spot death hogayi si.

I've been looking for different hairstyles, different ways to set my hair on my head so that I can comfortably wear a helmet. But I have hair that is too long, too thick, and too volumous.

Since I've been riding for 3years without a helmet. Ik the problems I'm facing without a helmet:

Safety, wind blast, rain drops, cold wind, random fking insects hitting my face, dust n debris, etc. Sure there are balaclavas and other things to help from this... But layering them, then putting glasses on, and yet have no safety at all... Meh.

I really need to somehow manage my hair. Should I shorten it? I mean keep it long but reduce the volume and slightly shorten it? My hair literally reaches my waist.

As much as i respect my own religion n culture. I firmly believe that keeping hair this long in the 21st century..... It's extremely impractical in every single way.

Appreciate all the advice i can get! ✌️

I have been struggling with this for a while. I wear powered glasses over my turban and most of the days my ears hurt real bad because of that.
The temple tips sit on my ear and they put pressure and top-back of my ear hurts after a few hours
And then nose pads leave a deep mark on my nose since the turban is tight

I have tried different turban variations and different glasses - if anyone has faced a similar issue and was able to solve for it. Please suggest.