KARAM KAAND (RITUALS & RITUALISM)
Ritual means the regular observance or practice of prescribed order of rites and ceremonies, which are performed for socio-religious activities of a particular religion. Ritualism is emphasis, especially exaggerated emphasis, on the importance of rites and ceremonies.
Rituals are believed to be an aid/strength/power to faith.
Rituals have no place in Sikhism. Sikhism rejects all kinds of rituals and considers it as hypocrisy. According to Sikhism, contemplations, austerities, fasts, yajnas (havans etc) are all hypocrisy. Except the mediation upon the Name of God all other activities are useless (Guru Granth Sahib, p 216).
Lately, some rituals have begun to be practiced by some ignorant Sikhs. It includes Akhand Paatths, sessions for recitation of Sukhmani or any other specific hymn, reading (and/or singing) of Aarti (shabads) in Sikh-ized form, to have a look at Guru Granth Sahib by lifting the Rumaala (cloth to cover Guru Granth Sahib) with no intention to read it; lighting of Jot (flame) in a gurdwara (except for illumination purposes); placing a coconut or Kumbh (water, to make it sacred) near Guru Granth Sahib; bowing before the picture of a Guru; massaging Guru Granth Sahib or the pedestal on which it has been seated, celebration of Sangraand, Massiya, Pooranmaashi, performing Sharaadhs (annual feast for the dead), taking out processions; holding ‘keertan darbars’.
The Guru had rejected all this because such practices (rituals) are hypocrisy and make us forget God. In Sikhism, Naam Simran, purgation of ego and truthful life are the real and genuine practices:
We can not meet Him, either by words or by spirit,
For this ego from within has to go.
Without realizing, conducting rituals, means to lose the value of life.
(Guru Granth Sahib, p.33)
Som one may recite the knowledge of six systems,
Also may have done worship, mark on forehead, bath in sacred waters,
He may have practised the process of inner cleanliness, eighty-four poises,
O! dear, None of these provides rest to mind.
(Guru Granth Sahib, p.98)
They read a book; perform (ritual of) Sandhya and utter hymns.
They worship stones (idols) and pose like heron.
They tell a lie (and try) to prove that.
Three times a day they reflect upon the book of three lines (Gayatri)
They wear rosary around their neck and sacred mark on their forehead.
They wear lion cloth and headgear.
If they know the secret of divine deed;
Then they must also know the futility of these rituals.
(Guru Granth sahib, p.470)
At the hands of the priestly class, Sikhism is becoming a religion of ritualism, because it has become a source of earnings for them.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)