Women Supremacy

Truth Is High, Higher Still is Truthful Living, p62, Sri Guru Granth Sahib

Women SupremacySikhism Perspective


Man needs woman even before he is born.

Women Supremacy

Basic Needs


Prof. Puran Singh writes:“Next to bread, the essential man is centered in his

divine love for woman. His sexless passion also has woman as its terra firma. All his glorious hopes and aspirations are bees humming round this flower– woman. The Home of Love revolves round her, as a dream beauty. In a great and cultured world, the honour for woman must needs be infinite.”

“Woman shall be the second best God or the God of the intellectuals on earth. She shall be absolutely free.”

Women Supremacy


Women Supremacy

Woman is the most beautiful creation of God.


Sikhism accords highest status to women. Guru Nanak Dev ji said:

so ikau mMdw AwKIAY ijqu jMmih rwjwn ]

So why call her bad? From her, kings are born.

Guru Amar Das ji condemned the cruel custom of sati, female infanticide and advocated widow remarriage.

In 1550’s , Guru Amar Das ji appointed 52 women missionaries out of a total of 146 missionaries.

By the time of Tenth Master, many women were serving in the Khalsa Army.

Guru Gobind Singh ji gave her a special identity i.e. the name Kaur, meaning Princess.

During late 1700s women were playing a key role in Misls and even heading the Misl.

Women Supremacy


Great Women from Sikh History


Sikhism

The Tree of Sikhi created by Waheguru himself and decorated by Guru Nanak Dev ji.


However this was not a normal tree.


It required 239 years of physical presence of Guru on this earth.


It was nurtured by the winds of ‘Gurbani’, ‘Sewa’ and ‘Simran’.


It required the blood of martyrs as water and their limbs as a

fertilizer.


The sweet fruit that this tree of Sikhi bears would never had been

possible without the contribution of the Great Sikh Women.


Sikh Women


Bebe Nanki JiDOB – (1464-1518 )

Family – elder sister of Guru Nanak and the daughter of Kalian Chand (Bab Kalu) and Mata Tripta.

Brief History –

•She was the First Sikh

•She was the First person to recognize the spiritual eminence of Guru Nanak.

•She loved to be in the Company of saints.

•She was kind hearted and gave money to poor and hungry.


DOB – (1506 - 1582)

Family –Daughter of Karan Devi and Bhai Devi Chand Khatri in a small town called Sanghar.Khivi was married to Lahina, the second Guru of the Sikhs.

Brief History –

•Responsible for establishment of present day LANGAR system.

•Sewa and Hospitality were her main virtues.

•A life devoted to Five Gurus.

Mata Khivi Ji


BIBI AMRO JI

DOB – She was born in 1532 at village Khadur near Amritsar

Family –. daughter of Guru Angad Dev, the second Master and Mata Khivi

Brief History –

•She was the noble woman who showed Guru Amar Das ji, the path of Sikhism.

•She was great preacher of Sihkism.

•Ideal daughter in-law who spent her time in meditation,household affairs and services of her in-laws.


DOB – 19 January 1535 (21 Magh 1591 Bk)

Family – was born to Mata Mansa Devi. at Basarke Gillan, a village near Amritsar

Brief History – • Daughter of a Guru (Guru Amardas), • Wife of a Guru (Guru RamDas), • Mother of a Guru (Guru Arjan Dev), • Grandmother of a Guru (Guru

Hargobind), • Great Grandmother of a Guru (Guru

Tegh Bahadar) • and Great, Great Grandmother of a

Guru (Guru Gobind Singh)

Bibi Bhani Ji


DOB – 1624 -1705

Family – was the wife of the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadar; the mother of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.

Brief History –

• As a Daughter

•As a Wife

•As a Leader

•As a Mother

•As a Grandmother

•As a Martyr

Mata Gujari Ji


DOB – 1681 - 1747

Family – Mata Jasdevi Ji and father’s name was Bhai Rama Ji

Brief History –

•Mother of Khalsa.

•She participated in the sewa of Amrit Sanchar by adding Pataasey(Sugar Wafers) to the Amrit.

•Eternal Mother of Khalsa Panth.

•She was idol of hmility,love,sacrifice and humanity.

MOTHER OF KHALSA – MATA SAHIB KAUR JI


Family – Basant Kaur ji was wife Bhai Mani Singh ji. Mata jee belonged to one of the most loyal Sikh family. Mata jee’s and Bhai Sahib Mani Singh jee’s family had 63 shaheeds in total.

Brief History –

•She accompanied Guru Gobind Singh ji after he decieded to leave Anandpur Sahib.

•She was captured by Mughal soldier Samund Khan.

•She displayed courage and faith in Guru ji at that time.

•She was kind hearted and God fearing.

Bibi Basant Kaur Ji


Mai Bhago Ji

Family – Born at her ancestral village of Jhabal in presentday Amritsar district of the Punjab, she was married to Nidhan Singh Varaich of Patti.

Brief History –

• The Forty Liberated Ones.

• After war she accompanied Guru Gobind Singh ji.


Bibi Harsarn Kaur Ji

Brief History –

•Guru Gobind Singh Ji's two elder sons together with many other Sikhs,were martyred while fighting the foes at the battle of Chamkaur Sahib.

•She did the last ritual ceremony of the elder two sons of Guru Gobind Singh ji and other Sikhs.

•She herself was thrown into that pyre by the Mughal soldiers.


Maharani Jind Kaur Family – She was the younger daughter of

Sardar Manna Singh Aulakh of village Charh (District Sialkot). She became a widow (only two and a half years after marriage) at the young age of 22 (27th June 1839 AD) when her husband

Maharaja Ranjit Singh died.

Brief History –

•First female freedom fighter in the struggle to drive out the British from India.•She was known for her intelligence and intrepid spirit.•She hatched a plot to murder the British Resident


Sikh Women


Thank you


Status of Women

Sikhism Perspective


Caste systemEconomic oppressionDenial of right to property and inheritance

False sense of impurity attached to menstruation and child birth

Deprivation of education led to the deterioration of women's position in society.

In India


Women were referred to as a 'seducer', 'unclean', and a 'temptress‘ and were mainly considered distractions from man's spiritual path.

She was denied the right to preach or to participate in other religious rites

In India


Practice of SATI

Conservative treatment

Dowry

Widow remarriage restricted

Fasts for husband, children and brothers

Social Practices


Sati

"They cannot be called satis,

who burn themselves with

their dead husbands. They

can only be called satis, if

they bear the shock of

separation. They may also be

known as satis, who live with

character and contentment

and always show veneration

to their husbands by

remembering them."

(Guru Amar Das, Var Suhi, pg.

787)


Dowry

"Any other dowry, which

the perverse place for

show, that is false pride

and worthless gilding. O'

my Father! give me the

Name of Lord God as a gift

and dowry."

(Guru Ram Das, Sri Rag,

pg. 79)


Veil

Stay, stay, O daughter-in-law - do not cover

your face with a veil.

In the end, this shall not bring you even half a

shell. ||1||Pause||

The one before you used to veil her face; do

not follow in her footsteps. ||1||

The only merit in veiling your face is that for a

few days, people will say, ""What a noble

bride has come"". ||2||

Your veil shall be true only if you skip, dance

and sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord. ||3||

Says Kabeer, the soul-bride shall win, only if

she passes her life singing the Lord's Praises.

||4||1||34||


How Guru Gobind Singh transformed the feeble woman into Lion Princess

Transition


Sundri

Sundri


KAUR surname given to all sikh girls

Kaur means PRINCESS

Irrespective of her father’s or husband surname

Importance of Kaur


From the woman is our birth, in the woman's womb are we shaped;

To the woman we are engaged, to the woman we are wedded;

The woman is our friend and from woman is the family;

Through the woman are the bonds of the world;

Why call woman evil who gives birth to the kings?

From the woman is the woman, without woman there is none.

(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 473)

Status of woman acc to Sikhism


Married life is celebrated to restore to woman her due place and status as an equal partner in life.

"They are not said to be husband and wife, who merely sit together. Rather they alone are called husband and wife, who have one soul in two

bodies".

(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 788).

Equality of women in married life


Equality of married Sikh couple


IMPURE ?????

Women

I M PURE


If pollution attaches to birth, then pollution is

everywhere (for birth is universal). Cow-dung

(used for purifying the kitchen floor ) and

firewood breed maggots; Not one grain of corn is

without life; Water itself is a living substance,

imparting life to all vegetation. How can we

then believe in pollution, when pollution inheres

within staples?

Says Nanak, pollution is not washed away by

purificatory rituals; Pollution is removed by true

knowledge alone.

(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 472).

Woman is symbol of Purity


Bibi Amro was made in charge of one of the 22 Manjis (teaching seat)

Mata Khivi helped in establishing Langar

Women from History


Ladies doing complete Sewa


Women help in preparing Amrit


Rani Sada Kaur

Sikh women in state affair


Sikh women part ofPanj Pyare

Sikh women in state affair


Epitome of Courage

Mughal imperial forces

had warned Sikhs against

going to Darbar Sahib,

Amritsar. One mother got

up at Amrit Vela and left

for the holy temple with

her child. On the way she

met a minister, who

warned her.Do you know what she

replied?


Gatka

Gatka


Women in Military


Women in Military

World War II

Participation of Kaurs


Guru says Sikh women have the independenceBut it doesn’t mean they should not know their

responsibilities

Independence


Waheguru ji ka KhalsaWaheguru ji ki Fateh ji

Thank You


Symbol of Perfection

MATA GUJRI


Who was Mata Gujri?

• Wife of Ninth Guru, Sri Guru Tegh

Bahadur ji

• Mother of Tenth Guru, Sri Guru

Gobind Singh Ji

• Grandmother of Four Sahibzadas (Ajit

Singh, Zorawar Singh, Jujhar Singh and

Fateh Singh)

• Real Name : Gujjar Kaur

• Year of Birth : 1624

• Place of Birth : Kartarpur, Punjab

• Father’s Name : Bhai Lal Chand

• Mother’s Name: Bibi Bishan Kaur


A Perfect woman, a “Puran Istree “

Fully supported and contributed in the mission of Guru Teg Bahadur

Raised the extraordinary child, Gobind Singh

Managed the affairs of the Sikh Panth while the Guru was still a child

Inspired and prepared her young grandsons for the ultimate Sacrifice

First Sikh Martyr Lady

“Wife of a Martyr, Mother of a Martyr, the Grandmother of Martyrs

and herself a Martyr”

The Real Introduction


Contributions with Life History

As a Daughter

Mata ji was brought up with the consciousness of

the Guru’s light; she fulfilled her parent’s aspiration

of serving the path of the Guru beyond their

expectations by growing into a perfect role model of

grace, strength, persistence and sacrifice.



As a Wife

Got Married to Guru Tegh Bahadur on 4th Feb 1633 in Kartarpur.

Supported Guru Tegh Bahadur when he was deep in meditation for years, again while he was on his missionary tour, and finally, when the Guru left for Delhi to make the supreme sacrifice.

Faced the hard time of Guru Tegh Bahadur’s shaheedi with fortitude.



As a Mother and a Leader

At Patna, Mata Gujari gave birth to a son on 22 December 1666.

The child was named Gobind Rai, the illustrious Guru Gobind Singh

of later day.

Endowed the best qualities of the Sikh faith In young Govind.

Moulded the father of the Khalsa, the great Guru Gobind Singh,

raising him as a single mother after the martyrdom of Guru Teg

Bahadur ji.

In July 1677, arranged the marriage of young Gobind to mata Jito Ji

Managed the responsibility of the panth with the brother Kripal Singh

Organized Langars and played an important role as an administrative

of the Army



As aGrandmother Brought up the Sahizades after Mata Sundri’s death in

1700.

When Mataji and younger Sahabzades were arrested and

confined in Sirhind Fort, she guided children to remain

steadfast in their faith.

Constantly reminded Sahibzadas about their Grandfather

and Great- Grandfather’s sacrifice.

Filled in the courage to not to give up and budge from their

beliefs in little children.

It was due to her teachings that the seven and nine year old

children did not leave their faith and attained martyrdom.


Martyrdom

Imprisoned on top of the tower with no warm clothes in

month of December.

In such torturous state also, kept singing Guru ki Bani

On December 27, 1704, she breathed her last

meditating after hearing the news of the Martyrdom her

Grandsons. Thus, attaining martyrdom on the same day

as her grandsons.

Kept the tradition of sikhism and gave her body singing

Gurbani

These days, there stands a Gurudwara, Fatehgarh

Sahib.


MATA GUJRI

Symbol of Perfection


Women and Sikh Rehat Maryada


kIqw pswau eyko kvwau ]You created the vast expanse of the Universe with

One Word!

hukmu swij hukmY ivic rKY hukmY AMdir vyKY ]By the Hukam of His Command, He formed the Universe, and in His

Hukam, He keeps it. By His Hukam, He keeps it under His Gaze.


swcu Drmu nhI BwvY fITw ]He does not like to see Truth and righteousness.

JUT Doh isau ricE mITw ]He is attached to falsehood and deception; they seem sweet to him.

dwiq ipAwrI ivsirAw dwqwrw ]He loves gifts, but he forgets the Giver.

jwxY nwhI mrxu ivcwrw ]2]The wretched creature does not even think of death. ||2||


Code of conduct which defines the rules for leading life as per God’s consent.

Actions performed abiding by religious norms whose influence is always there on your mind.

What is Rehat Maryada?


Any human being who faithfully believes in:

One Immortal Being Ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak Dev

to Guru Gobind Singh The Guru Granth SahibThe utterances and teachings of

the ten Gurus The baptism bequeathed by the

tenth Guru, and who does not owe allegiance to any other religion, is a Sikh.

Definition of Sikh


Meditating on Naam

He/She should recite the following scriptural compositions every day:

The Japji, the Jaapu and the Ten Sawayyas (Quartets) – beginning “Sarawag sudh” - in the morning.

Sodar Rehras to be recited in the evening.

The Sohila - to be recited at night before going to bed


No person, no matter which country, religion or cast he/she belongs to, is debarred from entering the gurdwara for darshan (seeing the holy shrine).

No Sikh should sit bare-headed in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib or in the congregation. For Sikh women, joining the congregation uncomfortably draped and with veils drawn over their faces is contrary to gurmat (Guru’s way).

Joining the Congregation


rhu rhu rI bhurIAw GUMGtu ijin kwFY ]Stay, stay, O daughter-in-law - do not cover your face with a veil.

AMq kI bwr lhYgI n AwFY ]1] rhwau ]In the end, this shall not bring you even half a shell. ||1||Pause||

GUMGt kwFy kI iehY bfweI ]

The only merit in veiling your face is

idn ds pWc bhU Bly AweI ]2]that for a few days, people will say, ""What a noble bride has come"".

||2||

GUMGtu qyro qau pir swcY ]Your veil shall be true only if

hir gun gwie kUdih Aru nwcY ]3]you skip, dance and sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord. ||3||

True Veil: A must for everyone


Every Sikh man, woman, boy or girl, should learn Gurmukhi to be able to read the Guru Granth Sahib.

Reading of Sri Guru Granth Sahib


Making Offerings, Consecrationand Distribution

The person who doles out the Karhah Prashad among the congregation should do so without any discrimination on the basis of personal regard or spite. He should dole out the Karhah Prashad equally to the Sikhs, the non-Sikhs or a person of high or low caste. While doling out the Karhah Prashad, no discrimination should be made on considerations of caste or ancestry or being regarded, by some, as untouchable, of persons within the congregation.


A Sikh should not kill his daughter, nor should he maintain any relationship with a killer of daughter.

He who regards another man’s daughter as his own daughter, regards another man’s wife as his mother, has coition with his own wife alone, he alone is a truly disciplined Sikh of the Guru.

pr bytI ko bytI jwnY[ pr iesqRI ko mwq bKwnY[ Consider other’s daughter as your own, consider other’s ife as your mother.

eykw nwrI jqI hoie pr nwrI DI BYx vKwxY]Having one women as wife he (the Sikh) is a celibate and considers any other's wife his

daughter or a sister.

Living in Consonance with Guru’s Tenets


The superstition as to the pollution of food and water in consequence of birth must not be subscribed

“The birth and death are by His ordinance; coming and going is by His will. All food and water are, in principle, clean, for these life-sustaining substances are provided by Him.”

jy kir sUqku mMnIAY sB qY sUqku hoie ]

If one accepts the concept of impurity, then there is impurity everywhere.

gohy AqY lkVI AMdir kIVw hoie ]

In cow-dung and wood there are worms.

Purity


Any man or woman of any country,

religion or cast who embraces Sikhism

and solemnly undertakes to abide by its

principles is entitled to Amrit sanchar

At the place where Amrit sanchar is to

be administered, the holy Guru Granth

Sahib should be installed and

ceremonially opened. Also present

should be six committed baptized Sikhs,

one of whom should sit in attendance of

the Guru Granth Sahib and the other

five should be there to administer the

ambrosial baptism. These six may even

include Sikh women.

Amrit Sanchar


A Sikh man and woman should enter wedlock without giving thought to the prospective spouse’s caste and descent.

The marriage party should be as small a number of people as the girl’s people desire.

Consulting horoscopes for determining which day or date is auspicious or otherwise for fixing the day of the marriage is a sacrilege. Any day that the parties find suitable by mutual consultation should be fixed.

Anand Karaj


No Sikh should accept a match for his/her son or daughter for monetary consideration.

The girl’s and boy’s people should keep accepting each other’s hospitality, because the Guru has joined them in relationship of equality.

Anand Karaj

If a woman’s husband has died, she may, if she so wishes, finding a match suitable for her, remarry. For a Sikh man whose wife has died, similar ordinance obtains.

Generally, no Sikh should marry a second wife if the first wife is alive.


Mata Bhag KaurPower of Inspiration


•Year 1705, Fort of Anandpur.

•Guru Gobind Singh jee and his sikhs are inside the fort

•Huge Armies of Aurangzeb and hill chiefs have surrounded the fort.

Anandpur 1705 AD


• Hill Chiefs make an offer to Guruji

• They promise to allow free passage to Guruji and his sikhs if they abandon the fort.


•Guruji knew that hill chiefs will go back on their word

•Unfortunately the sikh soldiers could not see through their intentions


Confronted by such adversities, Sikhs plead to Guruji to accept the enemy’s proposal and abandon the fort.

The Sikhs are subjected to multiple adversities:

1.Huge enemy forces to fight with.

2.Food and ammunition running out.

3.Sikhs dead tired from the protracted battle, longing to see their families.


• Guruji refused

• Even then Sikhs plead to Guruji everyday.

• Guruji told them to submit BEDAWA if they really desired to leave..


• Sikhs were dumbfounded.

• On the one hand were Guruji, on the other hand were their families.

• Eventually the desire to meet their families won over them and they became ready to write the BEDAWA.

• 40 sikhs under the leadership of Maha Singh wrote the

BEDAWA


• On meeting their families, Sikhs face severe criticism for abandoning Guruji.

• Mata Bhag Kaur also stays in the same village where these 40 sikhs stayed.

• Her grandfather Bhai Langaha, had served under Guru Arjan Dev and Guru Hargobind jee


• Since childhood Mai Bhago was deeply attached to Sikhi.

• Events/atrocities like martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, injustice done to the Sikhs and their harassment by the Mughal army, martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur had left a great impact on her.

• She wanted to commit herself to stop injustice and violence against the Sikhs.

• Bravery and courage ran in her blood. • She was well built and possessed soldier like features.

• After accepting Amrit, she came to be known as Bhag Kaur


• As a child, she longed to stay at Anandpur, learn the martial arts and become a soldier in Guruji’s sikh army, but her family did not approve of this.

• Back home, she started learning the art of warfare and horse riding from her father.

• Soon she became a staunch saint soldier.

• Meanwhile, she was married to Bhai Nidhan Singh of village Patti near Amritsar.


•She came to know that some Sikhs of her area had deserted Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur Sahib and renounced his Guruship in writing.

•She inspired many women to dress as soldiers and fight for Guruji.

•She exhorted the ladies not to entertain the 40 sikhs who deserted Guruji to the extent of not allowing them to enter their houses.

•She provoked and inspired the 40 sikhs to win over their cowardice, to be ready to die for Guruji.


• It was due to her encouragement that the 40 sikhs realized their guilt.

• They took oath to die fighting and not to retreat from the battlefield.

• The 40 Sikhs, accompanied by Mata Bhag Kaur, marched to help Guruji and seek his forgiveness.


• On their way, they came to know that the Guru was camping at the lake of Khidrana, near Mukatsar.

• Mughal forces were proceeding towards Guruji

• Mai Bhago and the party decided to intercept the Mughal army proceeding towards the Guru


• They knew that the Mughal army was huge and they were only forty.

• Still they fought, aware of the fact that they would never win but they had to prove a point.


Mai Bhag Kaur herself fought in the front lines.


• The mercenary soldiers could not face the devoted Sikhs.

• The Guru from the mound near the lake supported the Sikhs with showers of arrows.

• The Mughal army generals took to their heels and retreated to save their lives.


• Guru jee came down from the mound and found that every member of Bhag Kaur’s party was either dead or ounded.

• Mai Bhag Kaur was lying badly injured.

• She was treated and soon she recovered fully.


• Bhai Maha Singh was dying when Guru Ji reached him.

• Guru Ji put some water in Bhai Mahan Singh’s mouth and said to him, “I am proud of you all. What is your last wish?

• Mahan Singh requested the Guru to forgive all the deserters. Guru jee tore the Bedawa


• The 40 Muktas(Liberated ones) are remembered daily in the Sikh prayers

• A great fair is held every year in January in memory of the Guru’s arrival there and redemption of the disunited.


• The Guru acknowledged Mai Bhago for her bravery and courage.

• Mai Bhago wished to stay with Guruji and serve him.

• Her wish was granted and she stayed with the Guru as a member of his bodyguards.


• She accompanied the Guruji to Damdama Sahib, Agra, and Nanded.

• After Guruji left for heavenly abode , she left Nanded and settled in Bidar. She stayed their till she left this world.

• There is a Gurdwara built in her memory near the main Gurdwara Sachkhand at Nanded. Her spear is still preserved at the Gurdwara along with the arms of Guru Gobind Singh.

• The place where she used to meditate in Bidar is also built into a gurudwara.(about 10km from Nanak Jheera Saheb Gurudwara in Bidar).


Mai Bhago’s guns

• She was a symbol of:

• Inspiration

• Bravery and courage.

• Selfless devotion and sacrifice

to Guruji.

• Determination

• Her example inspired many brave Sikh ladies to face death with honor.


Thank you


Panel Discussion

Gender Equality or

Self Realization?


Gender Equality or Self Realization

What is the real issue?

Gender Equality or Self Realization


Thank you


Power of Faith

Meer Manu's Jail


Oxford DictionaryFaith = firm belief without logic

Faith = you do an activity expecting a result, but result not guaranteed.

“I’m gonna be a millionaire!”

“Im in Safe hands!”

“He will Save me! ”


Meer Manu's Jail

Power of Faith


THE MARTYRDOM OF BANDA BAHADUR


Bhai Taru Singh gave his scalp but not his FAITH


The heads of Sikhs brought before the Sultan for a payment of 5 rupees.


Sikhs being tortured before being beheaded


Sikhs, while undergoing all these cruelties kept their morale and spirits high.

To express there feelings, there is a folk saying of that period:

"We are like plants and Mannu a sickle, all know.The more he cuts us, the more we grow."


Sikh Women being made to grind tons of wheat in jails


Children massacred in front of them


Women made to wear the garlands made of their childrens' dismembered body parts


jy suKu dyih q quJih ArwDI duiK BI quJY iDAweI ]2]

If You will bless me with happiness, then I will worship and adore You. Even in pain, I will

meditate on You. ||2||

jy BuK dyih q ieq hI rwjw duK ivic sUK mnweI ]3]

Even if You give me hunger, I will still feel satisfied; I am joyful, even in the midst of

sorrow. ||3||

- Guru Ramdaas Ji


aulwhno mY kwhU n dIE ]I don't blame anyone else.

mn mIT quhwro kIE ]1] rhwau ]Whatever You do is sweet to my mind. ||1||Pause||

AwigAw mwin jwin suKu pwieAw suin suin nwmu quhwro jIE ]

Understanding and obeying Your Order, I have found peace; hearing, listening to Your Name, I live.

eIhW aUhw hir qum hI qum hI iehu gur qy mMqRü idRVIE ]1]

Here and hereafter, O Lord, You, only You. The Guru has implanted this Mantra within me. ||1||

- Guru Arjan Dev Ji


The martyrdom and unparalleled sacrifices of the great Sikh women and their children are remembered by Sikhs in their prayer :

"Let us remember the women who suffered in the jail of Mannu, remained hungry, worked heavy stone mills, watched their children being pierced by the spears and got their body pieces around their necks ... keeping their sacrifices in mind let all of us hail them and say Waheguru.“


Gurudwara Shaheed Ganj Singh Singhnian, Lahore


Thank you


Female Foeticide and Sikhism


Female Foeticide


Month 5


Cradled in your cozy womb,Step by step, my life blooms

Month 1


You nurture me and protect me tooTogether we shall explore the world new

Month 2


Month 3

I can feel your emotions and your touchI already care for you very much


Month 4Bound by a heartbeat, we are so closeI am now complete from head to toes

Month 4


Month 5You have learnt that I am a girl todayWhy has your mood turned gloomy and grey?

Month 5


Gurbani’s Perspective

We are born of woman, we are conceived in the womb of woman,

we are engaged and married to woman. We make friendship with

woman and the lineage continued because of woman. When one

woman dies, we take another one, we are bound with the world

through woman. Why should we talk ill of her, who gives birth to

kings? The woman is born from woman; there is none without her.

Only the One True Lord is without woman" (Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Var

Asa, Ang 473)

Women and men, all the men and women, all came from the One

Primal Lord God

In this world, there is one Husband Lord; all other beings are His

brides.

You Yourself are the male, and You Yourself are the female.


Sons only can carry the family name forward (?)

Why Female Foeticide ??

Second Issue


Men are more capable (?)

Beti


Sons – Old age insurance (?)


Thank you


The Role and Status of Women in Sikhism, Dr. M.K. Gill http://www.sikhwomen.com/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_Sikhism http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Sikh_Women http://www.projectnaad.com/ http://www.see-q.net/features/sikhwoman.html http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/great-sikh-women/great-sikh-women.html http://www.sikhs.org/women.htm http://www.sikhnarimanch.com/content.asp?id=98124555&cat=10&parentid=0 http://www.sikhspirit.com/khalsa/news51.htm http://www.searchsikhism.com/women.html http://www.realsikhism.com/faq/women.html http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/history-of-sikhism/2938-mai-bhago-noble-brave-sikh-

women.html http://www.advancedcentrepunjabi.org/eos/WOMEN%20IN%20SIKHISM.html http://www.mrsikhnet.com/index.php/2006/11/27/women-in-sikhism-gender-inequality/ http://wapedia.mobi/en/Women_in_Sikhism http://www.worldsikhcouncil.org/press/2003/ConfrenceWomenRights.html http://www.sikhs.org/women_h.htm

References

Women Supremacy

Spiritual

Transcript of Women Supremacy