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Summary of Question:	Doin Matha Tek To Gurus Photo...Isnt That Idol Worship???
Category:	Sikh Practices
Date Posted:	Monday, 6/23/2003 2:41 AM MDT

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa

Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

I have one question.
A few days before, I saw my mum doing mutha tek to Guru Nanak Dev Jis photo before she sat down to do path. After that I told my mum that theres no need to do mutha tek to a photo as that is just a photo not Guru Ji in real. All I meant was that sikhi doesn’t practice idol worship and that Gurus sikh should only do mutha tek in front of Guru Granth Sahib Ji not to a picture, person or any sort of idol.

After my mum told my sister about what I said, my sis came to me and said that you don’t ever say anything like that to anybody. Try to be broad minded. So she meant that I was being narrow minded when I said that theres no need to do mutha tek to Guru Jis photo.

I don’t know, I feel pretty stink after being told off like that. Was that so wrong of me to say, that don’t do mutha tek in front of a photo. I didn’t mean to be hurtful or anything but just meant that what is the point of doing a mutha tek to a photo??? I think its fine if you just look at the photo and think of Guru Ji in your heart and then hold your hands together, not to a photo but to Guru Ji in your heart. But if you a mutha tek to a photo I think that’s not right. After I said that to my mum she said no this is Guru Ji.

I don’t know maybe Im just dumb. Please tell me if what I said was wrong or right cuz im feeln real stink now. Maybe my sis thinks that Im tryn to show off by sayn something like that but all I meant was don’t do idol worship.

Please kindly give me your advice & shed some light
Thank you,
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

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REPLY
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Sat SIri Akaal. The picture of Guru Nanak Ji is only that, a picture. Guru did not want us to worship them as people. Guru Nanak himself said that his Guru is Shabd Guru, and when 10th Master Guru Gobind Singh gave us Siri Guru Granth Sahib, he was CONFIRMING to all Sikhs that the Guru of Sikhs is Shabd Guru. So, you are actually correct, but old habits die hard. I can understand why you feel in a stink about it. It is nice to have pictures of Gurus for inspiration, but they should not be worshiped. This does become a kind of idol worship. It is important to remember that Gurbani is full of references to the 'nirankar' and 'ajoonee' aspects of Waheguru. Nirankar means formless, and ajoonee means unborn (through physical womb). How anyone understands and bows to Guruji in his/her heart is of course, personal and between the person and Guru directly.

Don't try to convert your mother to your point of view. You said your piece, but her entire life she has come to see Waheguru in the picture of Guru Nanak. This is her spirituality. It is not encouraged in Sikhee, but it indeed still happens. PS: If you search this topic on the Forum using ' Guru's photos' or idol worship as keywords, you'll see other posts on this topic.
Guru ang sang,
-DKK