it all started, or rather re-surfaced with veer gurmukh's post on gender equality, all lip service and deedless talks. so people started talking about the issue, why women aren't taken as panj pyare in the Amrit Sanchar. now, Amrit Sanchar is a spiritual experience, where in general terms we might say it is like an initiation ceremony, or baptism, to prove your commitment and love. or for some, its just simply, following the Guru's path. and He Himself, 10th Paathshah, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, had said that there should not be any discrimination, that a woman can go to gurdwara like any man, and she too, can take Amrit. then why this argument on women not being allowd to give Amrit?
the arguments I have heard so far is :MARYADA.
according to the people, the same who are my brothers and sisters in religion, back in 1699, on that Fateful, Historical, Magical Vasakhi Day, when Dasam Paathsah Guru Gobind Singh had asked for 5 heads, when he wanted 5 people who could prove their devoted love to him, the Panj Pyare (5 Beloved) that emerged from all caste and creed, were MEN.
and imagine me, a 20 plus year old girl, hearing this news. they were MEN, therefore WOMEN cannot give Amrit today.
then what about their caste, their occupations?? shouldn't we then get 5 pyare who are respectively from so and so occupation and so and so caste?? since Guru jee had said to eliminate all that, we don't even consider that right? then did he say, ok my beloved Sikhs, my beloved Children, my beloved, i will be biased and only allow the men to give the amrit?
yes,I admit I am kachi, not even a little wise in knowledge of Gurbani compared to all these people. But please, I ask of you all, did GURU GOBIND SINGH JI ever say, write or give HUKAM that a woman cannot administer the holy, magical, awesome amrit?? please, show us women some proof, but how? how can the same jot, the continuation of the same GURU NANAK, who had earlier said,
So Kio manda akhiyeh, jit jamay rajaan
why call her dirty, she who gives birth to Kings;
say otherwise?
how can Guru Gobind Singh contradict what Guru Nanak had said??
another point would be, I feel, something someone else had pointed out too. looking at the social and demography point of view back in 1699, how many women do you think were there, in Anandpur Sahib? or how many would have been brave enough, seeing as to back in the days, women did not have as much freedom or the privileges we have today? if he were to ask us today, would there still be no women? the probability changes with sample size and population, or so we have learnt in statistics.
they forget, who was the person who put the patasay into the amrit? so that we may be as sweet as we are strong,as saintly as we are soldiers? why did Guru jee not stop the WOMAN who is our Dharam Mother, telling her she is a woman?
this is how i feel, being a daughter of this panth.
i remember the day, in Harmandir Sahib, heaven on Earth, when Mom, tears in her eyes, remorse in words, said to my brother, your sisters and I will not get an opportunity like you to do seva in the Darbar (as ladies are not allowed). Kirtan too there, ladies not allowed.
please, Guru jee, please. give me the strength, give me the peace.