ਸਤਿਗੁਰਬਚਨਕਮਾਵਣੇਸਚਾਏਹੁਵੀਚਾਰੁ॥

Gurmat Bibek - Amritvela Ishnaan

Gurmat Ishnaan includes Kesh Ishnaan at Amritvela


Original Text: ਕਈ ਸੱਜਣ ਇਹ ਸਵਾਲ ਉਠਾਉਂਦੇ ਹਨ ਕਿ ਭਲਾ ਜੀ ਸਰੀਰ ਦਾ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ-ਨੇਮ ਤਾਂ ਹੋਇਆ ਕੀ ਸਕੇਸ਼ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਦੇ ਨਿਯਮ ਪੂਰਬਕ ਨਿਭਾਉਣ ਦਾ ਭੀ ਹੁਕਮ ਹੈ? ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਦਾ ਸਿਧਾ ਪਧਰਾ ਸਪੱਸ਼ਟ ਉਤਰ ਤਾਂ ਇਹ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਜਦ ਸਰੀਰਕ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਦਾ ਹੁਕਮ ਹੋਣਾ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਗਇਆ ਤਾਂ ਸਕੇਸ਼ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਤਾਂ ਆਪੇ ਸਿਧ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ, ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਸਰੀਰ ਦਾ ਸ਼ਿਰੋਮਣੀ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਤਾਂ ਸੀਸ ਹੀ ਹੈ। ਜਦ ਸੀਸ ਦਾ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਨਾ ਹੋਇਆ ਤਾਂ ਸਰੀਰਕ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਅਧੂਰਾ ਹੈ। ਪੂਰਾ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਸੀਸ ਦੇ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਸੰਜੁਕਤ ਹੈ। ਜਦ ਸੀਸ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਬਿਨਾਂ ਪੂਰਾ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਬਣਦਾ ਹੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਤਾਂ ਸੀਸ ਦਾ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਪਰਮ ਜ਼ਰੂਰੀ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਹੈ। ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਬਿਬੇਕ, ਪੰਨਾ 104-105

Humble Translation: Some friends raise the question that they agree with the the principle of Ishnaan (bathing) of the body but is there a Hukam to do regular body Ishnaan including the Kesh? The straightforward answer to the question of Ishnaan is that when the existence of bodily Ishnaan has been agreed, then full body Ishnaan including the Kesh (head) automatically is proven because the supreme part of the body is the head. If the Ishnaan of the head is not done, then the bodily Ishnaan is incomplete. Complete Ishnaan is including the head. Since, without the Ishnaan of the head, Ishnaan is not considered to be complete, therefore, the Ishnaan of the head is extremely important.

Vichaar: Bhai Sahib has strongly come out in support of full body Ishnaan, including the hair and head. The clear Gurmat Hukam is to do body Ishnaan at Amritvela and the head including the hair is the supreme part of the body. How can one leave out the head when doing Ishnaan and consider such Ishnaan complete? Today some leave out the head and do Ishnaan without it. Tomorrow someone may leave out the legs and consider such incomplete bathing as complete Ishnaan. Where will this weakness stop? The bottom-line is that full body Ishnaan while doing Simran or Gurbani Paath is Gurmat Ishnaan.

Some Sajjans raise the question that if they do Keshi Ishnaan, their hair remain wet. The answer to this question is that if we get up 3.75 hours before sunrise and engage in at least 2 to 3 hours of Abhyaas, we can easily dry our hair, if we leave them open while doing Abhyaas. Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh jee has written about this and this will be covered in the coming days. But if the Abhyaas is to be done in the Hazoori of Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee, then it’s not appropriate to leave the hair open. In such case, Bhai Sahib has written that if one lets air run through the hair for small amount of time and tie Khaddar Dumaala, then with the heat of wool and Abhyaas, the hair become dry. In any case, whatever the difficulty, we must do Keshi Ishnaan at Amritvela. The Gurmat Bibek of doing Keshi Ishnaan cannot be sacrificed for worldly difficulties.

Bhul chuk dee Maafi jee.

Kulbir Singh



Bhai Jasjit Singh jee's Comments on Gurmat Ishnaan:

ਭਾਈ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੋਗਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਤਲਵਾੜਾ ਆਖਦੇ ਸਨ ਕਿ ਬਿਨਾਂ ਕੇਸਾਂ ਦੇ ਕੀਤਾ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਕੁੱਤਾ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਹੀ ਅਖਵਾਂਉਦਾ ਹੈ। ਜਦੋਂ ਪੁੱਛਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਜੀ ਉਹ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਤਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦਾ ਜਵਾਬ ਸੀ ਬਈ ਜਿਵੇ ਇਹ ਕੁੱਤੇ ਦੀ ਆਦਤ ਬਣੀ ਹੋਈ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਆਪਣਾ ਸਿਰ ਕਦੀ ਗਿੱਲਾ ਨਹੀ ਹੋਣ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਸਰੀਰ ਭਾਵੇ ਸਾਰਾ ਦਾ ਸਾਰਾ ਪਾਣੀ ਨਾਲ ਗੜੁੱਚ ਹੋ ਜਾਵੇ।

ਭਾਈ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ ਦੀ ਸਮਝਾਈ ਇਹ ਬੁਝਾਰਤ ਬੜੀ ਦੂਰ ਤਾਂਈ ਬਾਤ ਸਮਝਾਉਦੀ ਹੈ। ਬਸ ਓਵੇਂ ਦੀ ਹੀ ਸਾਡੇ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਵੀ ਕਈਆ ਦੀ ਬਿਰਤੀ ਬਣੀ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਸਵੇਰੇ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਕਰਨ ਸਮੇਂ ਕੇਸਾਂ ਤੇ ਜਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਪੈਣ ਦੇਣਾ ਭਾਂਵੇ ਪਸੀਨੇ ਨਾਲ ਬਦਬੂ ਹੀ ਮਾਰਦੇ ਹੋਵਣ। ਹੁਣ ਕੇਸਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬਦਬੂਦਾਰ ਰੱਖਣ ਨਾਲ ਸਿੱਖੀ ਦੀ ਕਿਹੜੀ ਰਹਿਤ ਪੂਰੀ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ ਇਹ ਤਾਂ ਉਹੀ ਸਿੱਖ ਦੱਸ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ ਜਿਹੜੇ ਇਸਦੇ ਹਾਮੀ ਹਨ ਪਰ ਇਕ ਗੱਲ ਜਰੂਰ ਦਰਸਾ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਆਪਣੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਕਿੰਨੀ ਕੂ ਸ਼ਰਧਾ ਰੱਖਦੇ ਹਨ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਦਸਮ ਪਾਤਸ਼ਾਹ ਦਾ ਤਾਂ ਹੁਕਮ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਕੇਸਾਂ ਦਾ ਗੁਰੂ ਸਮਾਨ ਸਤਿਕਾਰ ਕਰਨਾ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਅਸੀਂ ਹਾਂ ਕਿ ਆਪਣੀ ਢਿੱਲੜ ਬਿਰਤੀ ਕਾਰਨ ਗੁਰੂ ਦੇ ਹੁਕਮ ਕਮਾਉਣ ਹਾਰਿਆ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਬਖਸ਼ਦੇ।


Bhai Jaskirat Singh jee's comments on Gurmat Ishnaan

I would also like to make a few points:

1. The material that Bhai Sahib has mentioned for tying wet Kesh in, is Khaddar. This is a wonderful type of heavy weight thick hand made, hand spun cotton that is quite difficult to purchase even in India nowadays, and even then it comes only in natural white/beige colour so one must get it dyed after. It is best to contact a bajurg relative to see if anyone they knew still has a khaddi (loom which it is made on) so that one can purchase some. It is quite magical in that wet Kesh dry automatically in it and there is no sticky icky feeling that one might get with other machine made materials, your head will never feel cold or hot, just right. It also has the property of being very easy to wash, clean, and dry. Khaddar was strongly associated with the Akaali movement in the early days, and many Singhs would not wear any foreign made clothing materials.

2. The correct method to do Ishnaan in a Sarovar, is not with dastaar tied but with nanga sir (bareheaded, Kesh opened not in jooRa). This is so that the Amrit water of the Sarovar can get all over the head and in the Kesh. To do this one can hold Kakkars in one hand extended above the head and fully submerse body and head in the Sarovar. Bhai Sahib has also written that everyone agrees that having a Keshi Ishnaan is a prerequisite for Amrit Sanchaar, so how can it not be the requirement to do it daily? If it wasn't important, than why should it be done before Amrit Sanchaar?

3. When the Kesh are open, one should not lie down or prepare/eat any food. I think there is rehatnamas that support this as well. Also one should not do any bachans (speak) except Naam Abhiyaas and Paath (from memory only, if using Gutka Sahib, Dastaar should be tied) or wear any joRe (footwear). These points I have heard from the Singhs.

4. We show and have the same level of respect for Kesh, Gurbani, and Shastars.

5. If there is some one who wishes to start taking daily keshi ishnaan but maybe not sure how, here is the way that most Singhs I know conduct it in:

i) Take body ishnaan (balti or shower method) with Kirpan tied to Keski on head
ii) Change into fresh Kacherra (one leg out, one leg in method) and dry off
iii) Put on some fresh clothes and place Kirpan into correct position
iv) Take separate dedicated cloth that will serve as Keski and tie around waist in method of a KammarKassa (waistband)
v) Untie Keski from head, put in separate place, and then put Kanga into KammarKassa
vi) Lean over bathtub/shower and wash Kesh thoroughly.

Also a point to make, is that normally the Gursikhs keep all the clothes (including Dastaar) that are worn for using lavatory facilities and doing ishnaan separate and these will not be worn after ishnaan has been fully completed but rather fresh clean clothes will be worn.

Maybe there is something else I forgot as well, will also post if remembered.

I do beg forgiveness for all mistakes

Additional Comments can be found at:

http://gurmatbibek.com/forum/read.php?3,8683,8877#msg-8877

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Gurmat Ishnaan includes Kesh Ishnaan at Amritvela


Original Text: ਕਈ ਸੱਜਣ ਇਹ ਸਵਾਲ ਉਠਾਉਂਦੇ ਹਨ ਕਿ ਭਲਾ ਜੀ ਸਰੀਰ ਦਾ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ-ਨੇਮ ਤਾਂ ਹੋਇਆ ਕੀ ਸਕੇਸ਼ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਦੇ ਨਿਯਮ ਪੂਰਬਕ ਨਿਭਾਉਣ ਦਾ ਭੀ ਹੁਕਮ ਹੈ? ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਦਾ ਸਿਧਾ ਪਧਰਾ ਸਪੱਸ਼ਟ ਉਤਰ ਤਾਂ ਇਹ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਜਦ ਸਰੀਰਕ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਦਾ ਹੁਕਮ ਹੋਣਾ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਗਇਆ ਤਾਂ ਸਕੇਸ਼ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਤਾਂ ਆਪੇ ਸਿਧ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ, ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਸਰੀਰ ਦਾ ਸ਼ਿਰੋਮਣੀ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਤਾਂ ਸੀਸ ਹੀ ਹੈ। ਜਦ ਸੀਸ ਦਾ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਨਾ ਹੋਇਆ ਤਾਂ ਸਰੀਰਕ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਅਧੂਰਾ ਹੈ। ਪੂਰਾ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਸੀਸ ਦੇ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਸੰਜੁਕਤ ਹੈ। ਜਦ ਸੀਸ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਬਿਨਾਂ ਪੂਰਾ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਬਣਦਾ ਹੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਤਾਂ ਸੀਸ ਦਾ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਪਰਮ ਜ਼ਰੂਰੀ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਹੈ। ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਬਿਬੇਕ, ਪੰਨਾ 104-105

Humble Translation: Some friends raise the question that they agree with the the principle of Ishnaan (bathing) of the body but is there a Hukam to do regular body Ishnaan including the Kesh? The straightforward answer to the question of Ishnaan is that when the existence of bodily Ishnaan has been agreed, then full body Ishnaan including the Kesh (head) automatically is proven because the supreme part of the body is the head. If the Ishnaan of the head is not done, then the bodily Ishnaan is incomplete. Complete Ishnaan is including the head. Since, without the Ishnaan of the head, Ishnaan is not considered to be complete, therefore, the Ishnaan of the head is extremely important.

Vichaar: Bhai Sahib has strongly come out in support of full body Ishnaan, including the hair and head. The clear Gurmat Hukam is to do body Ishnaan at Amritvela and the head including the hair is the supreme part of the body. How can one leave out the head when doing Ishnaan and consider such Ishnaan complete? Today some leave out the head and do Ishnaan without it. Tomorrow someone may leave out the legs and consider such incomplete bathing as complete Ishnaan. Where will this weakness stop? The bottom-line is that full body Ishnaan while doing Simran or Gurbani Paath is Gurmat Ishnaan.

Some Sajjans raise the question that if they do Keshi Ishnaan, their hair remain wet. The answer to this question is that if we get up 3.75 hours before sunrise and engage in at least 2 to 3 hours of Abhyaas, we can easily dry our hair, if we leave them open while doing Abhyaas. Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh jee has written about this and this will be covered in the coming days. But if the Abhyaas is to be done in the Hazoori of Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee, then it’s not appropriate to leave the hair open. In such case, Bhai Sahib has written that if one lets air run through the hair for small amount of time and tie Khaddar Dumaala, then with the heat of wool and Abhyaas, the hair become dry. In any case, whatever the difficulty, we must do Keshi Ishnaan at Amritvela. The Gurmat Bibek of doing Keshi Ishnaan cannot be sacrificed for worldly difficulties.

Bhul chuk dee Maafi jee.

Kulbir Singh



Bhai Jasjit Singh jee's Comments on Gurmat Ishnaan:

ਭਾਈ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੋਗਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਤਲਵਾੜਾ ਆਖਦੇ ਸਨ ਕਿ ਬਿਨਾਂ ਕੇਸਾਂ ਦੇ ਕੀਤਾ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਕੁੱਤਾ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਹੀ ਅਖਵਾਂਉਦਾ ਹੈ। ਜਦੋਂ ਪੁੱਛਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਜੀ ਉਹ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਤਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦਾ ਜਵਾਬ ਸੀ ਬਈ ਜਿਵੇ ਇਹ ਕੁੱਤੇ ਦੀ ਆਦਤ ਬਣੀ ਹੋਈ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਆਪਣਾ ਸਿਰ ਕਦੀ ਗਿੱਲਾ ਨਹੀ ਹੋਣ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਸਰੀਰ ਭਾਵੇ ਸਾਰਾ ਦਾ ਸਾਰਾ ਪਾਣੀ ਨਾਲ ਗੜੁੱਚ ਹੋ ਜਾਵੇ।

ਭਾਈ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ ਦੀ ਸਮਝਾਈ ਇਹ ਬੁਝਾਰਤ ਬੜੀ ਦੂਰ ਤਾਂਈ ਬਾਤ ਸਮਝਾਉਦੀ ਹੈ। ਬਸ ਓਵੇਂ ਦੀ ਹੀ ਸਾਡੇ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਵੀ ਕਈਆ ਦੀ ਬਿਰਤੀ ਬਣੀ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਸਵੇਰੇ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਕਰਨ ਸਮੇਂ ਕੇਸਾਂ ਤੇ ਜਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਪੈਣ ਦੇਣਾ ਭਾਂਵੇ ਪਸੀਨੇ ਨਾਲ ਬਦਬੂ ਹੀ ਮਾਰਦੇ ਹੋਵਣ। ਹੁਣ ਕੇਸਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬਦਬੂਦਾਰ ਰੱਖਣ ਨਾਲ ਸਿੱਖੀ ਦੀ ਕਿਹੜੀ ਰਹਿਤ ਪੂਰੀ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ ਇਹ ਤਾਂ ਉਹੀ ਸਿੱਖ ਦੱਸ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ ਜਿਹੜੇ ਇਸਦੇ ਹਾਮੀ ਹਨ ਪਰ ਇਕ ਗੱਲ ਜਰੂਰ ਦਰਸਾ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਆਪਣੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਕਿੰਨੀ ਕੂ ਸ਼ਰਧਾ ਰੱਖਦੇ ਹਨ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਦਸਮ ਪਾਤਸ਼ਾਹ ਦਾ ਤਾਂ ਹੁਕਮ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਕੇਸਾਂ ਦਾ ਗੁਰੂ ਸਮਾਨ ਸਤਿਕਾਰ ਕਰਨਾ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਅਸੀਂ ਹਾਂ ਕਿ ਆਪਣੀ ਢਿੱਲੜ ਬਿਰਤੀ ਕਾਰਨ ਗੁਰੂ ਦੇ ਹੁਕਮ ਕਮਾਉਣ ਹਾਰਿਆ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਬਖਸ਼ਦੇ।


Bhai Jaskirat Singh jee's comments on Gurmat Ishnaan

I would also like to make a few points:

1. The material that Bhai Sahib has mentioned for tying wet Kesh in, is Khaddar. This is a wonderful type of heavy weight thick hand made, hand spun cotton that is quite difficult to purchase even in India nowadays, and even then it comes only in natural white/beige colour so one must get it dyed after. It is best to contact a bajurg relative to see if anyone they knew still has a khaddi (loom which it is made on) so that one can purchase some. It is quite magical in that wet Kesh dry automatically in it and there is no sticky icky feeling that one might get with other machine made materials, your head will never feel cold or hot, just right. It also has the property of being very easy to wash, clean, and dry. Khaddar was strongly associated with the Akaali movement in the early days, and many Singhs would not wear any foreign made clothing materials.

2. The correct method to do Ishnaan in a Sarovar, is not with dastaar tied but with nanga sir (bareheaded, Kesh opened not in jooRa). This is so that the Amrit water of the Sarovar can get all over the head and in the Kesh. To do this one can hold Kakkars in one hand extended above the head and fully submerse body and head in the Sarovar. Bhai Sahib has also written that everyone agrees that having a Keshi Ishnaan is a prerequisite for Amrit Sanchaar, so how can it not be the requirement to do it daily? If it wasn't important, than why should it be done before Amrit Sanchaar?

3. When the Kesh are open, one should not lie down or prepare/eat any food. I think there is rehatnamas that support this as well. Also one should not do any bachans (speak) except Naam Abhiyaas and Paath (from memory only, if using Gutka Sahib, Dastaar should be tied) or wear any joRe (footwear). These points I have heard from the Singhs.

4. We show and have the same level of respect for Kesh, Gurbani, and Shastars.

5. If there is some one who wishes to start taking daily keshi ishnaan but maybe not sure how, here is the way that most Singhs I know conduct it in:

i) Take body ishnaan (balti or shower method) with Kirpan tied to Keski on head
ii) Change into fresh Kacherra (one leg out, one leg in method) and dry off
iii) Put on some fresh clothes and place Kirpan into correct position
iv) Take separate dedicated cloth that will serve as Keski and tie around waist in method of a KammarKassa (waistband)
v) Untie Keski from head, put in separate place, and then put Kanga into KammarKassa
vi) Lean over bathtub/shower and wash Kesh thoroughly.

Also a point to make, is that normally the Gursikhs keep all the clothes (including Dastaar) that are worn for using lavatory facilities and doing ishnaan separate and these will not be worn after ishnaan has been fully completed but rather fresh clean clothes will be worn.

Maybe there is something else I forgot as well, will also post if remembered.

I do beg forgiveness for all mistakes

Additional Comments can be found at:

http://gurmatbibek.com/forum/read.php?3,8683,8877#msg-8877
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