MATHTHA TEKANA
Literally: „Maththa‟ (forehead) „Tekana‟ (lay down) i.e. to touch the floor with one‟s forehead.
„Maththa Tekana‟ is the act of making obeisance (showing reverence).
The Sikhs bow only before Guru Granth Sahib.
In Sikhism, one tradition is to touch the ground with forehead and both the palms of the hands are placed on the floor for convenience. Another tradition is to bow before Guru Granth Sahib in „Bir Aasan‟ (the posture of a soldier), with one knee touching the ground and the other knee in erect position.
In Sikhism „Maththa Tekana‟ is not simply an act of bowing down in formality; it means “my forhead (brain) shall follow your (Guru Granth Sahib‟s) instructions.”
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)