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Summary of Question:	Women R They Really Treated Equally?
Category:	Sikh Practices
Date Posted:	Friday, 11/01/2002 2:16 PM MDT

ssa

Two yrs ago i heard that women wer not allowed to be part of the Panj Piyare (five beloved ones) in the amrit ceremony. i heard this was cos during the gurus time only five men came to give their heads but that i think is v. wrong. in sikhism men and women r meant to be equal so why aren't women allowed to be apart of the panj pyaree? many pplp seem to agree with me but, no one is doing anything about it and on Vaisakhi day i still see that there is not a women being apart of the panj pyare. someone also said to me that the word panj pyare implies that it is only 4 men as it has a masculine ending rather than being piyareeya.

i find this very wrong and i am being to lose faith in my religion. i also heard that at the golden temple which is run i think by the akaal thakt doesn't allow women to du kirtan in the Darbar Sahib(prayer hall). i know that Sikhi says that we r equal but around me i find the elder generation do not practice this. Recently i havev become really annoyed with old folks, particularly the lack of their knowledge or their ignorance. i think something should be done to educate these ppl.

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REPLY
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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh! Dear one, these things you mention are the current reality in most of Sikhi. I will tell you that in the USA, the non-Punjabi-born Sikh community has thrown out the idea that only men can be in the Panj Piaray and will have 2-3 women in the Panj whenever there is Jaloose or Amrit ceremony. We sing kirtan and wash our marble floors as well, and often we RUN the gurdwaras (as sevadars).

As for the Golden Temple, women are NOT allowed to sing kirtan OR to sit with the ragis at Darbar Sahib or to assist in washing the Temple floors. This is, truly, appalling. It is not what Guru Nanak or ANY of the Gurus after him taught. Not at all.

There is a great deal of work that Sikh women must do to overcome the idea that women are equal ONLY in the eyes of God, but not in the eyes of humanity or Sikh men. There is an old saying in the USA where I live: "don't mourn, organize!". (The one who said it was a labor movement leader who was put to death while his followers watched.) Instead of losing faith, be a warrior princess of the Guru and say NO to these practices. Women are the GRACE OF GOD and we shall not be oppressed in this way. DON'T be fanatic for that will only create greater resistance and backlash, but DO be steady and certain and start by educating the (young) men and women in your local gurdwara community about women's place in Sikhi. Organize female ragi jethas and make sure you make the rounds of all the local gurdwaras in your area. Research Sikh women at www.sikhseek.com and be educated about what the Gurus each did to honor women. See http://www.sikh-heroes.com and then teach other girls/women in your community about this.

Women will not get anywhere in Sikhi if they continue to put up with such practices SILENTLY. Our OWN SILENCE is keeping us down. Don't expect that the male 'leaders' of gurdwaras ANYwhere are necessarily going to agree with us and restore our place in Sikhi without putting up some kind of resistance. What Sikh women need to do to have equal place in Gurdwara leadership, from Darbar Sahib and SGPC all the way down to the humblest small gurdwara, is demand respect and command the facts about what Gurus taught. And the most important place to begin doing this is with our daughters, our young princesses; AND we must teach respect for women to our young sons! Meanwhile hold the vision of seeing panj piarays everywhere (I don't care if it's masculine or not) include women, and envision women washing the floors of Harimander Sahib and singing God's praises there as ragis. Hold that vision! And to keep your own grace and steadyness, chant the Naam daily and for a while; do it with other women and create a concious link of Sikh women CONNECTED. There is much to do: quit complaining and get moving, my dear! with much love to you and all Sikh princesses everywhere,
-DKK