Amritsar, Punjab (June 16, 2014): The jathedar of Akal Takhat has invited suggestions from gurdwara management committees and Sikh religious organisations and groups on sending saroops of the Guru Granth Sahib to Gurdwaras in various countries. The Jathedar decided to invite suggestions as criticism has come in from certain quarters, expressing reservations on packing the scripture in containers and then shipping it.
Meeting of Jathedars (June 15, 2014)
Some organizations had prayed at Shri Akal Takhat Sahib some days ago that almighty should expel Akal Takhat Jathedar from the Takhat as he was disrespecting Gurbani while sending aroops of Guru Granth Sahib by container to other countries.
“We will try to work out the best possible solution after taking into consideration the suggestions offered. We have to ensure due respect to the scripture, even while it is being carried from one place to another,” the jathedar said. The SGPC is the only one empowered by the Akal Takht to prepare and print the scripture.
A set of religious procedure has to be followed while transporting the scripture from one place to another. At times it becomes difficult to follow this procedure, particular when the scripture has to be taken by air or by sea. Another issue that the five Singh Sahibs discussed was related to ‘wrongful’ depiction of Sikh gurus in photographs and paintings. On this issue too they have invited suggestions.
Besides Giani Gurbachan Singh, the others who took part in the meeting included, Takht Keshgarh Sahib jathedar Giani Mal Singh; Takht Damdama Sahib jathedar Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh, Harmandir Sahib head ‘granthi’ Giani Jagtar Singh and Sukhjinder Singh, a ‘granthi’ of Harmandar Sahib.