Panj Pyaras of US gurdwara summoned to Akal Takht

Tribune News Service

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Amritsar, May 16

The five Sikh high priests have summoned the Panj Pyaras — who had violated tradition while conducting ‘Amrit Sanchar’ (baptism) at a gurdwara at Virginia in the US last month — to the Akal Takht on June 4.

This and some other matters concerning the Sikh community were taken up during the meeting of the five Sikh high priests held at the Akal Takht secretariat today.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, addressing mediapersons after the meeting, said directions would immediately be issued to the Panj Pyaras of the gurdwara in Virginia to be present here in person next month.

He warned that failure to comply with the direction would force the clergy to take strict action against them.

He said Satpal Singh, who is working as Sikh ambassador in the US, ratified in his report that the violation had actually taken place. The Akal Takht had entrusted the task of conducting inquiry to Satpal Singh.

He said the violation had occurred on April 15 and the Panj Pyaras were identified as Kuldeep Singh, Gurdeep Singh, Surinder Singh, Rajinder Singh and Narula.

He added that as per the age-old tradition established by the 10th Sikh master Guru Gobind Singh, ‘Amrit Sanchar’ is performed after the recitation of Panj Banis. These are Japu Ji Sahib, Jaap Sahib, Choppai Sahib, Savayye and Anand Sahib.

However, he said, the Virginia-based Panj Pyaras recited only 13 Ang (pages) from Guru Granth Sahib. The omission of the established tradition evoked sharp response from the Sikh community and gurdwaras in the US. Some of them even complained to the Akal Takht to take note of it.

“Their abstaining from appearing before the Akal Takht will force me to take action after consulting different Sikh organisations,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Sikh high priests directed the SGPC to constitute a committee within 15 days to submit a report on the Gurmat syllabus (Sikh religious studies) being taught at all Sikh educational institutes. Subsequently, a uniform Gurmat syllabus would be drafted and implemented in all Gurmat and Sikh missionary colleges.

On another matter, the Sikh high clergy told Baba Kashmira Singh Bhuri Wale to give in writing the reason of the delay in installation of renovated heritage value doors of Darshani Deorhi in the Golden Temple. They said they were dismayed at the delay in the completion of renovation and gave him an ultimatum of three more months to complete the work.