AMRITSAR: Singh Sahib Giani Gurbachan Singh, the current religious head of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, the supreme religious authority of the Sikhs, based in Amritsar, Punjab, India has given a special message to all Sikhs all over the world to plant a tree on March 14, 2011, in honor of Guru Har Rai, who became 7th Sikh Guru on March 14, 1644. In his directive, Giani Gurbachan Singh said, “The Gurmat (teachings of the Sikh Guru teachings) describes air as the Guru, water as the father and the earth as the mother and has told us to respect and take care of these three elements. I, hereby, from Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, while congratulating all the followers of Guru Nanak around the world on the occasion of Gur-Gaddi Diwas of Sri Guru Har Rai ji, appeal that every Sikh should plant at least one sapling on this auspicious occasion and attain blessings of Sri Guru Har Rai Ji by celebrating this day as ‘Sikh Environment Day’ and wish that the Khalsa Panth remain at spiritual heights.” He also said that the EcoSikh organization has taken up March 14th, 2011 Guru Gaddhi Diwas (day of enthronement) of Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji, to be celebrated as “Sikh Environment Day”. Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib is remembered in Sikh history for his deep sensitivity to nature and its preservation.
The efforts of EcoSikh to celebrate this day as ‘Sikh Environment Day’ are very appreciable. He reminded people of the message of the Sikh Gurus. “Confirming the presence of the Creator in His creation, Guru Nanak said: ‘Baleharee Kudrat Vasiya’, which means, I am a sacrifice to Your almighty creative power which is pervading everywhere. And the First Guru, Guru Nanak, said: ‘Pavan Guru, Pani Pita, Mata Dharat Mahat !!’,which means ‘Air is the Guru, Water is the Father, and Earth is the Great Mother of all’.” Giani Gurbachan Singh was appointed as Jathedar in 2008, after serving 37 years as a Sikh religious preacher. His last appointment was as Head Granthi of Sri Harmandir Sahib, the Golden Temple. Dr. Rajwant Singh, convener of EcoSikh from Washington, thanked Giani Gurbachan Singh and said that this is an important step forward for Sikhs to show the passion to save the environment. The message from Akal Takhat will inspire many Sikhs all over the world to become eco-warriors, he said. This will be an implementation of Guru Har Rai ji's teachings.
Guru Har Rai is known to have been a great humanitarian who had special sensitivity towards nature preservation and the well-being of animals. He maintained an extensive herbal garden for medicinal purposes for the benefit of the masses in Kiratpur Sahib, his birthplace and his spiritual centre near Anandpur Sahib.
Akal Takhat asks all Sikhs to plant a tree on Sikh Environment day.
http://yespunjab.wordpress.com/2011/02/08/akal-takhat-asks-all-sikhs-to-plant-a-tree-on-sikh-environment-day/
Akal Takht, the supreme temporal seat of Sikhs, has come out in support of ‘EcoSikhs” call to observe March, 14, the Gurgaddi Divas of 7th Sikh Master Guru Har Rai ji, as Sikh Environment Day.
Endorsing the Call given by EcoSikh Akal Takht has urged upon all the Sikhs to to plant a tree each while observing March 14 as Sikh Environment Day.
Singh Sahib Giani Gurbachan Singh the religious head of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, based in Amritsar, Punjab, India in a message issued yesterday said that this is an important step forward for Sikhs who are passionate about protecting the environment, and an exciting moment for EcoSikh. The message will be released on TV and in newspapers in India. The full message in Punjabi is below.
The English Translation of the Message is as follows:
Today, the whole world celebrates the World Environment Day. The ‘EcoSikh organisation’ has taken up March 14th, 2011 Guru Gaddhi Diwas (day of enthronement) of Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji, to be celebrated as “Sikh Environment Day”. Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib is remembered in Sikh history for his deep sensitivity to nature and its preservation. The efforts of EcoSikh organization, to celebrate this day as ‘Sikh Environment Day’ are very appreciable. The Creator God has created a vast variety of flora and fauna to maintain ecological balance on this earth. Whenever we try to modify the creation, it loses its balance and we face disastrous earthquakes, floods, draughts etc. It is only due to this disturbance in the ecology that the environment sensitive people in the world are specially celebrating Environment days throughout the world.
Confirming the presence of the Creator in His creation, the True Guru has said;
“Baleharee Kudrat Vasiya”,
which means,
I am a sacrifice to Your almighty creative power which is pervading everywhere.And has said,“Pavan Guru, Pani Pita, Mata Dharat Mahat !!”,
which means
Air is the Guru, Water is the Father, and Earth is the Great Mother of all.The Gurmat (Sikh Guru’s teachings) describes air as the Guru, water as the Father and the earth as the mother and has told us to respect and take care of these three elements. I, hereby, from Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, founded by the bearer of Miri Piri, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, while congratulating all the Nanak naam leva Sikhs (the followers of Guru Nanak) around the world on occasion of GurGaddi Diwas of Sri Guru Har Rai ji, appeal that every Sikh should plant at least one sapling on this auspicious occasion and attain blessings of Sri Guru Har Rai Ji by celebrating this day as ‘Sikh Environment Day’ and wish Khalsa Panth remain at spiritual heights.
Servant of Guru’s Kingdom,
(Gurbachan Singh)
Jathedar, Sri Akal Takhat Sahib
Sri Amritsar