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September 12, 2010

To: Our respected brothers and sisters of the sevadaar committee at MilfordGurdwara Sahib

Vaheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa Vaheguroo Jee Kee Fateh

We would request to draw your kind attention towards a number of things thatwe have been coming across at the Gurdwara Sahib for quite sometime. These allpertain (but are not limited) to the satkaar (respect) of the Paavan Pavittar Saroop of Sahib Siri Guru Granth Sahib Jee Maharaj, the satkaar of Karah Parshad,and the satkaar of Guru ka Langar. We sincerely request you to please take the time to read the following points which we wish to raise.

§ We request that whoever sits/stands in the Hazooree of Sahib Siri Guru Granth Sahib Jee Maharaj in order to do seva of Chaur Sahib be required to remove their socks and wash his/her hands before coming to the Taabiya of Sahib Siri Guru

Granth Sahib Jee Maharaj. Socks encompass every sort of filth and it would be highly disrespectful to be wearing them while sitting/standing in Taabiya. It would be even better if Sangat members remove their socks before entering the Divaan hall. We have heaters during winter so the excuse that it is too cold is justan excuse.

§ We request that anyone who comes to the taabiya of Sahib Siri Guru Granth Sahib Jee Maharaj, for whatever reason, and it involves touching the Saroop, he/she should be required to wash hands prior to coming, especially if they have just consumed Karah Parshad. This also applies to the individuals who wish to do the seva of changing/handling Rumala Sahibs or want to recite/explain Gurbani (inany language).

guroo kaa sikh paat(h) karan bait(h)ae gra(n)thh jee dhaa suchaeth hoe kae bhait(h)ae naak pi(n)ddaa khurak kae haathh dhhoe leae

The Sikh of the Guru should wash their body, face and hands before sitting at the Guru Granth Sahib to read Bani.

- Rehatnama Bhai Chaupaa Singh Jee

§ We request that anyone doing seva of Chaur Sahib be required to put the Hazooriya (long white cloth) around themselves as it is a symbol of respect and humility.

§ During the singing of Gurbani Keertan, and during Ardas or taking Hukamnama

, no one should engage in any kind of distracting conversation. We request thatthe Sangat be made of aware this as well. This also includes switching off cellphones while inside the Gurdwara as a ringing cell phone causes disturbance to others during Keertan, Ardas as well as taking Hukamnama.

sathasa(n)g jaae kar chth ddulaavai har yas sunathae baath chalaavai Those who attend the Holy congregation but adopt evil thoughts and those who

begin conversation instead of paying attention to the True Word are punishable.- Rehatnama Bhai Nand Laal Jee

§ During Ardas, Sangat members with little children are requested to make sure that the children who may be playful are not causing any disturbance to the Sa

ngat members standing during Ardas.

§ We request for a notice at the entrance of the Gurdwara Sahib that no one i

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s allowed to wear caps/hats while inside the Gurdwara premises.

hoe sikh sir ttopee dhharai saath janam kushattee hue marai He who as a Sikh places a hat on their head; will be reborn seven times as a

leper.- Thankhaanama Bhai Nand Laal Jee

§ The presence of chairs at a Gurughar totally negates the concept of equality as all should be sitting at a common level, and a level lower than Sahib SiriGuru Granth Sahib Jee Maharaj. However, it is absolutely fine if elderly Sangatmembers who may not be physically able-bodied to sit for long on the floor wantto sit on the chair. It has been seen frequently that this is not being observed, especially in the Langar hall where just about anyone takes the privilege of these chairs, rather than the aged and physically incapable Sangat members who are entitled to these. We request that it is clarified to everyone firmly that chairs are NOT for everyone.

Everyone may not be aware of the above mentioned points, therefore we reques

t that they be made aware of them before they come forward to do the seva.

Karah Parshad

§ Whoever prepares the Karah Parshad should be made aware of the fact that ithas to be done while reciting Gurbani, such as the Bani of Siri Japji Sahib, Siri Chaupai Sahib, or reciting Vaheguroo Gurmantar. Engaging in unwanted talk orgossip has to be avoided as it is disrespecting the Gurmat Maryada of preparingKarah Parshad. Please also note that Karah Parshad has to be prepared at the Gurdwara Sahib itself, rather than brought from home.

karraah karan kee bidhh sun leejai theen bhaag ko samasar keejai laepan a

agai bahukar dheejai maa(n)jan kar bhaa(n)jan dhhoveejai kar eisanaan pavithrhvai behai vaahiguroo bin avar n kehai kar thiaag chaakee par dhharai chaarour keerathan behi karai

Listen to the method of making Krah Parshaad. Take three equal quantities ofsugar, butter and flour. Clean the utensils and bowl. Take a cleansing bath, repeat 'Vaheguru' while preparing. Stay focused while making the Parshaad and singthe Guru's Hymns.

- Rehatnama Bhai Nand Laal Jee

§ After the Keertan programme has ended and parshad has been distributed to the Sangat, we request that someone (who has washed his/her hands) be assigned the seva of distributing Karah Parshad to those who come at a later time to the Gurdwara Sahib. This is to avoid random people from partaking Parshad with unwashed/unclean hands.

Langar

§ In the Langar kitchen, we request that all sevadaars be made aware that they will need to keep their heads covered at all times and while doing every seva.

§ The Sangat eating Langar should be made aware that they would need to keeptheir heads covered at all times.

nagan hoe baahar firehi nagan sees jo khaae nagan prasaadh jo baa(n)ttee thanakhaahee baddo kehaae 24

Those who walk outside, eat or distribute food without their head covered wi

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ll be punished severely.- Thankhaanama Bhai Nand Laal Jee

§ The Sangat needs to be made aware of the fact that everyone has to wash their hands before partaking Guru ka Langar

jo prasaadh shhakanae lagae haathh suchaeth karaee When you are going to eat, first wash your hands.

- Rehatnama Bhai Desa Singh

§ At no point of time should anyone be ever wearing any kind of footwear either in the Langar kitchen or in the Langar hall. It is here that we prepare Guruka Langar and then serve it. Please let us treat these places with the same respect as we treat Guru Sahibs paavan pavittar divaan.

§ As long as Langar is not completely served to the Sangat sitting in the Langar hall, we request that they be encouraged to recite Satnaam Vaheguroo. Once served, the jakaara of Bole So Nihaal Sat Siri Akaal is to be raised and only then can the consumption of Langar be started.

§ Sevadaars should be the ones serving Langar to the Sangat, rather than Sangat members themselves taking the initiative to partake it. Sangat is to be seated and recite Satnaam Vaheguroo while sevadaars serve.

§ Anyone having Langar should not be allowed to get up and partake any of thefood items with their unclean hands, rather have a sevadaar bring whatever theymay want.

§ Sevadaars who have clean hands should be the ones distributing with their own hands rather than anyone sitting in Pangat picking up any of the Langar fooditems with their hands.

§ The individuals and/or families who are organizing the Langar need to be at

the forefront during the seva of both preparing as well as serving Langar

§ The steel buckets in which the various Langar dishes poured in should neverbe placed on the floor. Langar is Parshad as well, and placing those buckets onthe floor is disrespectful.

§ The Langar dishes need to be served with respect as well. Care should be taken that no utensil that is used to serve Langar touches the used or unused utensil of any Sangat member as then it becomes joothhaa

Everyone may not be aware of the above mentioned points, therefore we reques

t that they be made aware of them before they come forward to do the seva.

Guru Pyaareo, we dont want to sound as rigid fanatics who want to enforce ourown strict rules. We have provided evidences from various Rehitnaamey which youcan read for yourself at SikhiToTheMax.com website. Moreover, we are not tryingto make people follow what we believe in, rather what Guru Sahib wants us to believe.

Guru Sahib Himself states in the Bani of Siri Asa di VaarSahib Siri Guru Nanak Dev Jee Maharaj in Raag Aasaa on Ang 464salok ma 1 bhai vich pavan vehai sadhavaao bhai vich chalehi lakh dhareeaao bhai

vich agan kadtai vaegaar bhai vich dhharathee dhabee bhaar bhai vich ei(n)

dh firai sir bhaar bhai vich raajaa dhharam dhuaar bhai vich sooraj bhai vich cha(n)dh koh karorree chalath n a(n)th bhai vich sidhh budhh sur naathh bhai vich aaddaanae aakaas bhai vich jodhh mehaabal soor bhai vich aa

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vehi jaavehi poor sagaliaa bho likhiaa sir laekh naanak nirabho nira(n)kaar sach eaek 1

Translation is as followsSalok, First Mehla:In the Fear of God, the wind and breezes ever blow. In the Fear of God, thou

sands of rivers flow. In the Fear of God, fire is forced to labor. In the Fear of God, the earth is crushed under its burden. In the Fear of God, the clouds mov

e across the sky. In the Fear of God, the Righteous Judge of Dharma stands at His Door. In the Fear of God, the sun shines, and in the Fear of God, the moon reflects. They travel millions of miles, endlessly. In the Fear of God, the Siddhasexist, as do the Buddhas, the demi-gods and Yogis. In the Fear of God, the Akaashic ethers are stretched across the sky. In the Fear of God, the warriors and the most powerful heroes exist. In the Fear of God, multitudes come and go. God has inscribed the Inscription of His Fear upon the heads of all. O Nanak, the Fearless Lord, the Formless Lord, the True Lord, is One. 1

The entire creation is bound by a particular discipline set forth by Vaheguroo Jee, a Maryada, that keeps things in order. We, as Sikhs of the Guru, have aresponsibility on ourselves to follow Gurmat Maryada and inspire each other to f

ollow it as well. We are by no means protesting or complaining about anything. In fact, even though we have used the term request throughout this letter, it is not even a request. We are all children of the same Guru Sahib, we are all one bigfamily. Requests are for outsiders. We are brothers and sisters, therefore we are only encouraging our brothers and sisters of the sevadaar committee at Milford Gurdwara Sahib. Please make a note of the various points we have highlighted and fulfill duties as Sikhs of the Guru. This can be done by taking appropriate steps to have the Gurmat Maryada implemented. You are fortunate to have been blessed by Guru Sahib with this seva as members of the committee. Therefore we encourage you to please ensure that all of us can abide by the Gurmat Maryada at ourGurdwara Sahib and earn the happiness of our True Father, SatGuru Sahib Siri Guru Granth Sahib Jee Maharaj.

Please do let us know how we can be of assistance in raising awareness amongthe Sangat and ensure that the above mentioned points can be practically implemented. Whether it involves sending an email highlighting all these points to theGurdwara mailing list, or a Dos and Donts poster at the Gurdwara main entrance, both are agreeable. We will be more than happy if anyone from the committee wantsto meet us personally and we as a group are willing to discuss anything that hasbeen mentioned in this letter.

Vaheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa Vaheguroo Jee Kee Fateh

- Humble servants of Guru Granth Sahib ji.

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