Gurmat Articles

True Dharma Requires Compassion: Why Sikhs Should Not Eat Meat

Without compassion (ਦਇਆ), there can be no true dharam (righteousness). The foundation of dharam, including the principle of not eating meat, comes from compassion. Guru Ji has described dharam in Gurbani as the “son of compassion”: ਧੌਲੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਦਇਆ ਕਾ ਪੂਤੁ ॥ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਥਾਪਿ ਰਖਿਆ ਜਿਨਿ

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Gurmat Vichaar on the Shabad ਮਾਸੁ ਮਾਸੁ ਕਰਿ ਮੂਰਖੁ ਝਗੜੇ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਨਹੀ ਜਾਣੈ ॥

Some people who support eating meat often point to the Kurukshetra incident, claiming that during the solar eclipse fair, Guru Nanak Dev Ji had a deer cooked by a prince, and use this as a justification for meat consumption. However, this interpretation is a misunderstanding of

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How to Become a Sikh?

If you want to become a Sikh but don’t know how or where to start, this article is for you. Here are the essential things you should know and the steps to take towards becoming a devoted Sikh. Sikhi isn’t a race or a cultural identity,

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Why do Sikhs celebrate Diwali?

Diwali is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India, but for Sikhs, it holds a very special meaning. Sikhs do not celebrate it as a Hindu festival of lights, but as Bandi Chhor Divas, the day when Guru Hargobind Patshah Ji freed fifty-two kings

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Why can’t non-Amritdharis do kirtan in the Gurdwara?

Non-Amritdharis are more than welcome to attend kirtan programmes and sit among the sangat. They can listen and join in the recitation from their place with full respect and devotion. There is no restriction on their presence or participation as members of the sangat. If a

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Can sikhs get tattoos?

This question comes up often, especially in today’s world, where tattoos are very common and socially accepted. From the perspective of Sikhi, tattoos are a product of manmat, self-willed thinking. So, tattoos are not encouraged or allowed. Sikhi teaches walking the Guru’s path, not following worldly

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Why Guru Gobind Singh Ji saved Bhai Joga Singh but not everyone from Bajjar Kurehit

A Sikh asked the question as to why did Siri Guru Gobind Singh jee Maharaj saved Bhai Joga Singh jee from committing a Bajjar Kurehit and how come so many other Amritdhari Gursikhs have not been protected by Guru Sahib from committing Bajjar Kurehits. The above

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What is the root cause of all diseases according to Gurbani?

Gurbani makes it clear that all diseases are a result of forgetting Parmeshar Vaheguru: ਪਰਮੇਸਰ ਤੇ ਭੁਲਿਆਂ ਵਿਆਪਨਿ ਸਭੇ ਰੋਗ ॥ (All diseases befall (on the jeev) when Vaheguru is forgotten). Since the cause of all diseases is forgetting Vaheguru, therefore the cure would be to

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What is the Gurmat way of performing Aarti?

The ritual of aarti in Hindu tradition Aarti is a Hindu ritual of worship. In aarti, a lit lamp (diya) is waved in front of a deity while prayers or hymns are sung. Aarti usually takes place in temples or homes, often at the end of

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Is married life or unmarried life preferred in Gurmat?

Guru Sahib has given the Aagiya to his Gursikhs to adopt Gristh Jeevan. All our Guru Sahibaan with the exception of Siri Guru Harkishan Sahib jee were Grihsthi i.e. they were householders. They were married and had children. Siri Guru Harkishan Sahib was not married because

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