GURU NANAK’S SACRED THREAD FOR SIKHS/ਜਨੇਊ

ABSTRACT

Guru Nanak stressed on the ethical/moral side of life with the removal of inner filth and his sacred thread (ਜਨੇਊ/ sacred cotton thread of Hindus worn on reaching the age of puberty) for Sikhs consists of virtues of truth, contentment, compassion, faith in the existence of God, and fortitude with humility, which has to be developed and lived in; which is the only thing respected in the court of the God. Guru Nanak in his Japji stressed that even listening to Gurbani/Guru's Sabds one can progress in spirituality to find God;

ਸੁਣਿਐ ਸਤੁ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ॥

ਸੁਣਿਐ ਅਠਸਠਿ ਕਾ ਇਸਨਾਨੁ ॥

ਸੁਣਿਐ ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਮਾਨੁ ॥

ਸੁਣਿਐ ਲਾਗੈ ਸਹਜਿ ਧਿਆਨੁ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਭਗਤਾ ਸਦਾ ਵਿਗਾਸੁ ॥

ਸੁਣਿਐ ਦੂਖ ਪਾਪ ਕਾ ਨਾਸੁ ॥੧੦॥

Suṇi▫ai saṯ sanṯokẖ gi▫ān.Suṇi▫ai aṯẖsaṯẖ kā isnān.Suṇi▫ai paṛ paṛ pāvahi mān.Suṇi▫ai lāgai sahj ḏẖi▫ān.Nānak bẖagṯā saḏā vigās.Suṇi▫ai ḏūkẖ pāp kā nās. ||10||

Listening to the Sabd, one gets truth, contentment and spiritual wisdom. Listening-take your cleansing bath at the sixty-eight places of pilgrimage. Listening-reading and reciting, honor is obtained. Listening-intuitively grasps the essence of meditation. O Nanak, the devotees are forever in bliss. Listening-pain and sin are erased. -----Guru Nanak, Japji, AGGS, Page, 3

                      -----------------------------------------------------

Guru Nanak was asked by the local Pundit (Brahmin) to put on the religious Hindu cotton thread when he reached the age of puberty since his parents were Hindus. He replied to the Pundit that put that thread (in Asa Ji Di Vaar) on him which has the following qualities, which goes with him after death and is still present in the court of God.

ਦਇਆ ਕਪਾਹ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਸੂਤੁ ਜਤੁ ਗੰਢੀ ਸਤੁ ਵਟੁ ॥

ਏਹੁ ਜਨੇਊ ਜੀਅ ਕਾ ਹਈ ਤ ਪਾਡੇ ਘਤੁ ॥

ਨਾ ਏਹੁ ਤੁਟੈ ਨ ਮਲੁ ਲਗੈ ਨਾ ਏਹੁ ਜਲੈ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥

ਧੰਨੁ ਸੁ ਮਾਣਸ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਜੋ ਗਲਿ ਚਲੇ ਪਾਇ ॥

ਚਉਕੜਿ ਮੁਲਿ ਅਣਾਇਆ ਬਹਿ ਚਉਕੈ ਪਾਇਆ ॥

ਸਿਖਾ ਕੰਨਿ ਚੜਾਈਆ ਗੁਰੁ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣੁ ਥਿਆ ॥

ਓਹੁ ਮੁਆ ਓਹੁ ਝੜਿ ਪਇਆ ਵੇਤਗਾ ਗਇਆ ॥੧॥

ਲਖ ਚੋਰੀਆ ਲਖ ਜਾਰੀਆ ਲਖ ਕੂੜੀਆ ਲਖ ਗਾਲਿ ॥

ਲਖ ਠਗੀਆ ਪਹਿਨਾਮੀਆ ਰਾਤਿ ਦਿਨਸੁ ਜੀਅ ਨਾਲਿ ॥

ਤਗੁ ਕਪਾਹਹੁ ਕਤੀਐ ਬਾਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਣੁ ਵਟੇ ਆਇ ॥

ਕੁਹਿ ਬਕਰਾ ਰਿੰਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਿ ਖਾਇਆ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਆਖੈ ਪਾਇ ॥

ਹੋਇ ਪੁਰਾਣਾ ਸੁਟੀਐ ਭੀ ਫਿਰਿ ਪਾਈਐ ਹੋਰੁ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਤਗੁ ਨ ਤੁਟਈ ਜੇ ਤਗਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਜੋਰੁ ॥

ਨਾਇ ਮੰਨਿਐ ਪਤਿ ਊਪਜੈ ਸਾਲਾਹੀ ਸਚੁ ਸੂਤੁ ॥

ਦਰਗਹ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਪਾਈਐ ਤਗੁ ਨ ਤੂਟਸਿ ਪੂਤ ॥

Ḏa­i­ā kapāh sanṯokẖ sūṯ jaṯ gandẖī saṯ vat. Ėhu janė­ū jī­a kā ha­ī ṯa pādė gẖaṯ. Nā ėhu ṯutai nā mal lagai nā ėhu jalai na jā&shy Ḏẖan so māṇas nānkā jo gal cẖale pā▫e. Cẖa▫ukaṛ mul aṇā▫i▫ā bahi cẖa▫ukai pā▫i▫ā. Sikẖā kann cẖaṛā▫ī▫ā gur barāhmaṇ thi▫ā Oh mu▫ā oh jẖaṛ pa▫i▫ā veṯgā ga▫i▫ā. ||1|| Lakẖ cẖorī▫ā lakẖ jārī▫ā lakẖ kūṛī▫ā lakẖ gāl. Lakẖ ṯẖagī▫ā pahināmī▫ā rāṯ ḏinas jī▫a nāl. Ŧag kapāhahu kaṯī▫ai bāmĥaṇ vate ā▫e. Kuhi bakrā rinniĥ kẖā▫i▫ā sabẖ ko ākẖai pā▫e. Ho▫e purāṇā sutī▫ai bẖī fir pā▫ī▫ai hor.;ė.Nānak ṯag na ṯut­ī jė ṯag hovai jor. Nā▫e mani▫ai paṯ ūpjai sālāhī sacẖ sūṯ. Ḏargeh anḏar pā­ī­ai ṯag na ṯūtas pūṯ.

Make compassion the cotton, contentment the thread, modesty the knot and truth the twist. This is the sacred thread of the soul; if you have it, then go ahead and put it on me. It does not break, it cannot be soiled by filth, and it cannot be burnt or lost. Blessed are those mortal beings, O Nanak, who wear such a thread around their necks. You buy the thread for a few shells and seated in your enclosure, you put it on. Whispering instructions into others' ears, the Brahmin becomes a guru. But he dies, and the sacred thread falls away, and the soul departs without it. He commits thousands of robberies, thousands of acts of adultery, thousands of falsehoods and thousands of abuses.  He practices thousands of deceptions and secret deeds, night and day, against his fellow beings.  The thread is spun from cotton, and the Brahmin comes and twists it. The goat is killed, cooked and eaten, and everyone then says, "Put on the sacred thread".  When it wears out, it is thrown away, and another one is put on.  O, Nanak, the thread would not break, if it had any real strength. Believing in the Name, honor is obtained. God's Praise is the truly sacred thread. Such a sacred thread is worn in the Court of the Immortal God; it shall never break.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 471

ਤਗੁ ਨ ਇੰਦ੍ਰੀ ਤਗੁ ਨ ਨਾਰੀ ॥

ਭਲਕੇ ਥੁਕ ਪਵੈ ਨਿਤ ਦਾੜੀ ॥

ਤਗੁ ਨ ਪੈਰੀ ਤਗੁ ਨ ਹਥੀ ॥

ਤਗੁ ਨ ਜਿਹਵਾ ਤਗੁ ਨ ਅਖੀ ॥

ਵੇਤਗਾ ਆਪੇ ਵਤੈ ॥

ਵਟਿ ਧਾਗੇ ਅਵਰਾ ਘਤੈ ॥

ਲੈ ਭਾੜਿ ਕਰੇ ਵੀਆਹੁ ॥

ਕਢਿ ਕਾਗਲੁ ਦਸੇ ਰਾਹੁ ॥

ਸੁਣਿ ਵੇਖਹੁ ਲੋਕਾ ਏਹੁ ਵਿਡਾਣੁ ॥

ਮਨਿ ਅੰਧਾ ਨਾਉ ਸੁਜਾਣੁ ॥੪॥

Ŧag na inḏrī ṯag na nārī. Bẖalke thuk pavai niṯ ḏāṛī. Ŧag na pairī ṯag na hathī. Ŧag na jihvā ṯag na akẖī. veṯgā āpe vaṯai. vat ḏẖāge avrā gẖaṯai. Lai bẖāṛ kare vī▫āhu. Kadẖ kāgal ḏase rāhu. Suṇ vekẖhu lokā ehu vidāṇ. Man anḏẖā nā▫o sujāṇ. 

There is no sacred thread for the sexual organ and no thread for woman.  The man's beard is spat upon daily.  There is no sacred thread for the feet, and no thread for the hands; no thread for the tongue, and no thread for the eyes.  The Brahmin himself goes to the world hereafter without a sacred thread. Twisting the threads, he puts them on others.  He takes payment for performing marriages; reading their horoscopes, he shows them the way.  Hear, and see, O people, this wondrous thing.  He is mentally blind, and yet his name is wisdom.

ਪਉੜੀ

Pauree

ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਹੋਇ ਦਇਆਲੁ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰੇ ਤਾ ਸਾਈ ਕਾਰ ਕਰਾਇਸੀ ॥

ਸੋ ਸੇਵਕੁ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰੇ ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਮਨਾਇਸੀ ॥

ਹੁਕਮਿ ਮੰਨਿਐ ਹੋਵੈ ਪਰਵਾਣੁ ਤਾ ਖਸਮੈ ਕਾ ਮਹਲੁ ਪਾਇਸੀ ॥

ਖਸਮੈ ਭਾਵੈ ਸੋ ਕਰੇ ਮਨਹੁ ਚਿੰਦਿਆ ਸੋ ਫਲੁ ਪਾਇਸੀ ॥

ਤਾ ਦਰਗਹ ਪੈਧਾ ਜਾਇਸੀ ॥੧੫॥

Sāhib ho▫e ḏa▫i▫āl kirpā kare ṯā sā▫ī kār karā▫isī. So sevak sevā kare jis no hukam manā▫isī. Hukam mani▫ai hovai parvāṇ ṯā kẖasmai kā mahal pā▫isī. Kẖasmai bẖāvai so kare manhu cẖinḏi▫ā so fal pā▫isī. Ŧā ḏargėh paiḏẖā jā▫isī. 

One, upon whom the Merciful God bestows Its Grace, performs Its service.  That servant, whom the God causes to obey the Order of Its Will, serves God.  Obeying the Order of Its Will, he becomes acceptable, and then, he obtains the Mansion of God's Presence.  One who acts to please his God and Master obtains the fruits of his mind's desires.  Then, he goes to the Court of God, wearing robes of honor. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 471

Virtues:

1. Truth must be lived daily. Truth is a comprehensive term that in all its nuances implies accuracy and honesty. It is considered to be the supreme reality and to have the ultimate meaning and value of existence. The study of Truth is part of philosophical and epistemology. Falsehood is an offensive weapon and truth a defensive armor.

ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਚੁ ਧਿਆਈਐ ॥

ਸੁਚਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਤਾ ਸਚੁ ਪਾਈਐ ॥

Kaho Nānak sacẖ ḏẖi­ā­ī­ai, Sucẖ hovai ṯā sacẖ pā­ī­ai.

Says Nanak, meditate on the True God, and if you are pure (inner cleanliness), you will obtain the Truth (Immortal God).-----Guru Nanak Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 472-3 & 4

2. Contentment is never achieved according to worldly thought as we never have enough things, never satisfied. It is a state of mind in which one's desires are confined to his lot whatever it may be.

ਬਿਨਾ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਨਹੀ ਕੋਊ ਰਾਜੈ ॥

ਸਪੁਨ ਮਨੋਰਥ ਬਿ੍ਥੇ ਸਭ ਕਾਜੈ ॥

Binaa Santokh Nahee Ko-oo Raajai, Supan Manorath Birithay Sabh Kaajai.

Without contentment, no one is satisfied. Like the objects in a dream, all his efforts are in vain.-----Guru Arjan, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 279-2

3. Compassion is a sense of shared suffering, most often combined with a desire to alleviate or reduce such suffering; to show special kindness to those who suffer. It is empathy, not sympathy – identification with and understanding of another’s situation, feelings, and motives. Compassion is the highest vibration of the elastic relative Law of Tolerance, under the Principle of Equilibrium.

ਸਬਦੰ ਰਤੰ ਹਿਤੰ ਮਇਆ ਕੀਰਤੰ ਕਲੀ ਕਰਮ ਕ੍ਰਿਤੁਆ ॥

ਮਿਟੰਤਿ ਤਤ੍ਰਾਗਤ ਭਰਮ ਮੋਹੰ ॥

Sabdann Ratann Hitann Miaya Keertann Kalee Karam Kritu-aa, mitant tatraagat bharam mohaN.

To be imbued and attuned to the Word of the Sabd; to be kind and compassionate; to sing the Praises of Immortal God - these are the most worthwhile actions in this Dark Age of Kali Yuga. In this way, one's inner doubts and emotional attachments are dispelled.-----Guru Arjan, Sloke Sahskirti, AGGS, Page, 1354-11

4. Faith-There is only one faith or religion or righteousness on this earth and i.e. honestly and truthfully obeying the Eternal Laws of Mother Nature. Dharma/Righteousness broadly refers to a universal value system. It represents the individual's internal "law," to which obedience must be given if that individual life is to live in accordance with a Divine Will called righteousness.

ਅਮੁਲੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਅਮੁਲੁ ਦੀਬਾਣੁ ॥

ਅਮੁਲੁ ਤੁਲੁ ਅਮੁਲੁ ਪਰਵਾਣੁ ॥

Amul Dharam Amul Deebaan Amul ṯul amul parvāṇ..

Priceless is the Divine Law of Righteousness, Priceless is the Divine Court of Justice. Priceless are the scales, priceless are the weights.-----Guru Nanak, Japji, AGGS, Page, 5-17

5. Fortitude is defined as a moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life. It is stubbornness in the face of overwhelming odds. The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death, and to face trials and persecutions. It disposes of one even to renounce and sacrifice his life in defense of a just cause. Fortitude is the guard and support of the other virtues.

ਰੋਗੁ ਵਡੋ ਕਿਉ ਬਾਂਧਉ ਉਧੀਰਾ ॥

ਰੋਗੁ ਬੁਝੈ ਸੋ ਕਾਟੈ ਪੀਰਾ ॥

Roug Vadou Keo Bandhou Dheera, Roug Bujhai So Katai Peera.

The disease is so deadly; how can I find the courage? God knows my disease, and only It can take away the pain.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Basant, AGGS, Page, 1189-6

Conclusion:

All the above virtues should be threaded on the thread of humility to make it a sacred thread for Sikhs, which is one of the main deficiencies in the Sikhs of today. The word humility signifies lowliness or submissiveness and it is derived from the Latin humilitas or, from humus, i.e. the earth that is beneath us and lies under our feet. Water is further humble, which rests below the earth and low lands but rises under pressure in the fountains. Humility is the only true wisdom by which we prepare our minds for all possible changes in life. Pride is concerned with who is right; humility is concerned with what is right. Humility leads to strength and not to weakness. It is the highest form of self-respect to admit mistakes and to make amends for them. It is vain to gather virtues without humility, for the spirit of God delighteth to dwell in the hearts of humble. No one will learn anything at all unless one first learns humility. Humility is the most difficult of all virtues to achieve; nothing dies harder than the desire think well of self. Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. So they who preserve a humble mind mount to God's highest pinnacle.

ਆਪਸ ਕਉ ਜੋ ਜਾਣੈ ਨੀਚਾ ॥

ਸੋਊ ਗਨੀਐ ਸਭ ਤੇ ਊਚਾ ॥

Aapas Ka-o Jo Jaanai Neechaa, So-oo Ganee-ai Sabh Tay Oochaa.

One who sees himself as lowly shall be accounted as the highest of all.-----Guru Arjun, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 266-7