Baarah Maah (The Twelve Months), in Raag
Tukhari and Majh both, describe the state of separation from the Lord, acute
longings for re-uniting with Him and the state of happiness and peace that
occurs after this union. Not a word has been mentioned about the piety of
sangrand (the first day of each month). But there is a major confusion
amongst the Sikh sangat that the day of sangrand is a pious and holy, a
Hindu practice that has crept into our community in the last several
decades, but having no significance in Sikhism. It is under these sentiments
that special divans are held in gurdwaras and people throng to hear the
month that has commenced. It is their belief that having an auspicious
beginning of the month will help them pass the entire month without any
trouble. Such beliefs have spread due to ignorance about gurbani and gurmat.
Nowhere in our history or in gurbani is it mentioned that these days have
some importance in the life of a Sikh.
To celebrate these days in gurdawaras is to
do something against the teachings of our Gurus. It is like breaking away
from the directions of the Guru and entering into the same dark alleys from
where our Gurus had rescued us out.
Guru Amardas on SGGS page 843 said,
ਥਿਤੀ ਵਾਰ ਸੇਵਹਿ ਮੁਗਧ ਗਵਾਰ॥,
“Thitee vaar sayveh mugaDh gavaar”. (Only idiots and fools worry about these
omens and days). Therefore we Sikhs have no concern or relationship with
changing Moon phases or transitions of Sun moving from one zodiac to
another. Why do we observe it to be a sacred day? If Sikhs are not the
worshippers of the Sun and the Moon, how the concept of piety of Sangrand
has entered in our life? Thitee vaar (iQqI vwr) means day and date and guru
says a Sikh has no concern with these sacred days of the Sun and Moon
worshipers like sangrand, Puranima, Amavas, or any other such as teej,
chauth, panchmi or ekadasi etc. We Sikh should not give any special
preference for any thing on these days. The subject hukam on 843 advise
Sikhs to refrain from any kind of festival or event that normally falls on
these days. As Rakhri on purnima, Diwali on amavas, karva chauth etc. as
rejected by Gurmat, then why celebrate? Let us learn to respect Guru,
Gurbani and God. Let us consider the Sangrand or any other such days as a
normal day. Gurbani guide us to uproot and throw away all doubts and
suspicious related to these days.
Prof Darshan Singh Khalsa has clearly said
in his vyakhya (discourse) on the Baarah Maah that sangrand is not a Sikh
festival or observance. Prof Gurbachan Singh Thailand (Principal, Sikh
Missionary College), has also spoken about this in his gurbani discourse and
reiterated that it is purely against gurmat.
