Dehdhari Guru cont'd

Sanatan Sikhs consider the spiritual status of individual and treat Dehdhari Gurus/ Gurdev Singhs/Jathedars as not ‘Isht Dev’, but as ‘Mahapursh’ (great holy personage). Furthermore, Sanatan Sikhs have no problem in paying due homage and respect to Hindu, 'Archarya' (Sanskrit term for ‘teacher’), Guru, 'Pirs' (Muslim holy men) etc.

Sriman 108 Baba Sundar Singh Ji
Founder of 'Samparda Bhindra', considered to be a great 'Mahapursh' within Sanatan Sikhi

The fact remains that every time a Sikh bows before Adi Guru Durbar, they are bowing to Hindu and Muslim holy men such as Bhagat Jaidev, Bhagat Namdev, Baba Sheikh Farid etc along with the Sikh Gurus. It has to be noted that all of these individuals throughout Pakistan and India are still revered as Gurus/Archaryas/Pirs/Murshid by their respective followers.

Note – Despite mainstream Sikhs being very hostile to Dehdhari Gurus, many amongst them still indulge in ‘Viaktigat Pooja’ (worship of an individual). This form of worship entails elevating certain individuals within particular institutions to such a spiritual status that their every word is accepted without question and is considered gospel. No human can ever be perfect and is always prone to making errors. Indeed, it is this quality that makes us human.

One particular incident that illustrates this fact involves Nihang Niddar Singh presenting formidable evidence on www.shastarvidiya.org that proved Bhai Randhir Singh was incorrect with regards to his views on 'Chatka'.

Bhai Randhir Singh Narangwal
Founder of the 'Bhai Randhir Singh da Jatha' and one of the key figures who propagated anti-Chatka views within mainstream Sikhism

Fanatic followers of Bhai Randhir Singh (presently known as the Akhand Kirtani Jatha (A.K.J) or the 'Bhai Randhir Singh da Jatha') began to spread word that Nihang Niddar Singh and Nihang Teja SIngh had in fact ‘insulted’ the revered Bhai Randhir Singh by disagreeing with his views. Numerous insults, threats and slander followed both on discussion forums, egroups, emails, and newspapers trying to portray Nihang Niddar Singh and Nihang Teja Singh as being 'anti-Sikh', 'anti-Panthic', and 'agents of the R.S.S.' (a political party in India accredited with being extremist in their pro-Hindu lobby).

However, that was never the case. Logic, and the freedom to express one’s views dictates that any individual may disagree on certain subjects with another as in this case. This does not mean one has ‘insulted’ another by adhering to an opposing viewpoint. It can be seen that some modern Sikhs do not need to have Dehdhari Gurus to indulge in 'Viaktigat Pooja'.

Bhai Randhir Singh da Jatha
Members of the 'Bhai Randhir Singh da Jatha' (aka Akhand Kirtani Jatha) engaged in singing scripture a Gurdwara, 2002

Apart from ‘Shabad’ (scriptural) and Dehdhari (living) forms, there is another form of Guru that transcends both of the aforementioned as Guru. This manifestation of Guru is the truest of the three.

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