Guru Granth Sahib and the Gender Equation

Dr. Gurnam Kaur

  1. Introduction:

There is turmoil, anarchy, violence and unrest all over the world today and the reason behind it is the deteriorating state of ethical and spiritual values. The World-Society is changing very fast which is also affecting the family relations especially man-woman relations. To keep the balance it is very necessary that the man – woman relationship should be kept in tune for saving the family unit. For that matter to accept and maintain the gender equality is the need of the hour. Guru Granth Sahib, being the Shabad Guru can guide us on this issue and needs a thorough analysis on the subject. Being the primary scripture of Sikhism it is the source of all spiritual, religious, social and economic values. It is always the scripture, which determines the role and status of man and woman in every society and culture. So in this paper we are to see the gender equation in Sikhism as depicted in Sikhism.

  1. Historical and Cultural Background:

Historically speaking when Guru Nanak founded Sikh religion after the event of rivulet vein, the dominant religions in India were Hinduism, Islam and many of their off shoots like yoga order, and sanyasis etc. There was gender discrimination theoretically as well as practically in these religions. For example both Hindu and Muslim women were being kept in veil. The Hindu woman was forced to burn herself on the funeral pyre of her husband. Gurus not only raised his voice against this gender discrimination but he gave the equal status, rather more respectable place to woman in Bani compositions. The Western scholars have not opined much on this aspect though Niki Gurinder Singh who is settled overseas has written a book on feminist aspect in Guru Granth Sahib. Her work will be taken into account also in this paper along with other writers in this area.

  1. Analysis of the Topic:

In Sri Guru Granth Sahib the gender relation is based on the equality of human being. The postulate given in the Bani for the equality of human beings is the birth. As opined in Sri Guru Granth Sahib God placed his light in the human frame then did he or she arrived in this world. Everybody is illumined by the same light of God. "J/ ;ohok w/fonk jfo s[w wfj i'fs oyh sk s{z ir wfj nkfJnk]" (P 921). So human birth being the basis of equality no one should be discriminated against gender, colour, cast, creed or religion. All are equal in the eyes of God. Same light resides in all. This thesis is further supported by the concept that God alone is the male or man and all human beings are his brides or women. So everywhere in the Bani the Gurus have addressed themselves as female. Sometimes this addressing to the self is taken wrongly by the interpreters as if it is addressed to the female only to teach her. This is placed before all humans in order to realize the joti residing in the self.

  1. In christianity the woman is considered low to man and she is blamed to be responsible for the ouster of man from heaven because she insisted Adm to eat the prohibited fruit of knowledge. She did not has the equal rights. In Islam thought she has more rights than her counterpart in Christianity but she is considered one step low to man and is directed to cover herself under veil. In Hinduism Manu-Simriti is cousidered the law book of the Hindus. There also the woman is discriminated against man and is considered as low as a shadra. It had been a common practice in Hindu society to compel the widow to burn hereself on the funeral pyre of her husband.
  2. Conclusion : We can say that the gender equation provided in Sri Guru Granth Sahib is not available in the scriptures of other religious. The Sikh woman being the equal member of the Khalsa is capable of performing all the duties of the Khalsa, She has equal right to spiritual experience and spiritual heritage.