Genie Singh

I don't think certain internet websites do enough justice to maharaja ranjit singh and give oversimplified views of his whole life. Rather it is books which seem to detail his life better. Here are a collection of ebooks which explore maharaja ranjit singh with those answers Ranjit Singh - Griffin, Lepel Henry, Sir, 1840-1908 https://archive.org/details/ranjitsingh00grif Maharaja Ranjit Singh - His Image and Influence At Home And Abroad Prof. (Dr.) Harnam Singh Shan Tract No. 513 - Prof. (Dr.) Harnam Singh Shan https://archive.org/details/MaharajaRanjitSingh-HisImageAndInfluenceAtHomeAndAbroad Soldier and traveller: memoirs of Alexander Gardner, colonel of artillery in the service of Maharaja Ranjit Singh - Gardner, Alexander [Haughton Campbell], 1785-1877. [from old catalog] https://archive.org/details/soldierandtrave00peargoog Origin of the Sikh power in the Punjab and political life of Maharaja Ranjit Singh ; with an account of the religion, laws, and customs of Sikhs (1834) https://archive.org/details/originofsikhpowe00prinuoft Ranjit Síngh and the Sikh barrier between our growing empire and Central Asia; - Griffin, Lepel Henry, Sir, 1840-1908 https://archive.org/details/ranjitsinghsikh00grif The Sikhs and Afghans, in connexion with the India and Persia, immediately before and after the death of Ranjeet Singh: from the journal of an expedition to Kabul through the Panjab and the Khaibar Pass - Shahamat Ali https://archive.org/details/sikhsafghansinco00shahrich The court and camp of Runjeet Sing - Osborne, William Godolphin, Lord, 1804-1888 https://archive.org/details/courtcampofrunje00osboiala A history of the reigning family of Lahore, with some account of the Jummoo rajahs, the Seik soldiers and their sirdars; with notes on Malcolm, Prinsep, Lawrence, Steinbach, McGregor, and the Calcutta Review - Smyth, George Carmichael https://archive.org/details/historyofreignin00smyt Origin [!] of the Sikh Power in the Punjab, and Political Life of Muha-raja Runjeet Singh: With ... - Henry Thoby Prinsep https://archive.org/details/originsikhpower00pringoog The history of the Sikhs; containing the lives of the Gooroos; the history of the independent Sirdars, or Missuls, and the life of the great founder of the Sikh monarchy, Maharajah Runjeet Singh; (Volume 1) - M'Gregor, William Lewis https://archive.org/details/historysikhscon00gregoog The court and camp of Runjeet Sing - Osborne, William Godolphin, Lord, 1804-1888 https://archive.org/details/courtandcamprun00osbogoog Here is one in french with some old sketches you might be able to use an online translator on the text version to get it into english Origine et progrès de la puissance des Sikhs dans le Penjab, et histoire du ... - Henry Thoby Prinsep , Xavier Raymond , William Murray 1836 https://archive.org/details/origineetprogrs00murrgoog

The original reason for my post is to do with Sher. On another platform I discussed the idea that Sikhs are distinct from Hindus. He disagreed and I asked him why he doesn't then read japji daily. His reason was there is no need, nor is it stated to at all.

Well some propogate the idea that Punjabi is polluted by persian and arabic, punjabi was used as a means to defend the pure hindus and their devangari from muhammdens. Now that the muhammaden empire was removed, defeated and minimialised and shiv senna have stood to defend the hindu faith Sikhs should renounce their ways since Hinduism has been saved. Sikhs should then pick up the language of their ancestors of devangari and celebrate unity of India and integrate into the majority. I wonder why o' why don't blasphemy laws get applied to people like Ram Swarup for hurting the sentiments of every other religion besides Hinduism in his legacy of books. Can someone get a hold of an ebook of this so that we can bisect all of it's ideas http://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Hindu_Sikh_Relationship.html?id=D785GwAACAAJ&redir_esc=y I found someone quote the book on this post here which seems to use some of it's ideas such as arguing the sikh identity as being absurd https://groups.google.com/forum/#!search/Veer$20Sinh$20HINDU$20SIKH$20RELATIONSHIP$20by$20Ram$20Swarup$20/soc.culture.indian/7qJ9smYJPJw/6bkXXe4qMggJ Found further mention of that book here http://koenraadelst.bharatvani.org/books/wiah/ch8.htm An extract from that Ram person http://siddha.loka.tripod.com/sikh.htm Sita Ram Goel (Sītā Rām Goyal) (1921–2003) Ram Swarup (1920 – 26 December 1998), born Ram Swarup Agarwal Koenraaf Elst (born 7 August 1959) is a Belgian writer and orientalist (without institutional affiliation). He was an editor of the New Right Flemish nationalist journal Teksten, Kommentaren en Studies from 1992 to 1995, focusing on criticism of Islam

The philosophy can be taught through katha but let's say we do read it once and we get it why then carry on re-reading it with lip service? The 10th gurus command is recorded in rehatnamas which do have other matters which are contradictory with other rehatnama maybe it's noit the gurus who were wrong but the writers of the rehatnama. We can't verify the authenticity of the acclaimed writers of them. If we read bhai nand lal's rehatnama we can't certainly say it was bhai nand lal who wrote them.

As Sikhs why do we have to or why should we Listen, recite, read, hear gurbani at all? Isn't Sikhi more to do with the philosophical and metaphysical values expressed in the gurbani (it's arth) and sakhis of gurus and gursikhs more important so that we can learn good philosophies that we can apply into our own life so that we can redeem and reform our character. It seems Sikhi goes very parallel to human rights and shouldn't we then take those values to our heart instead of reciting and singing words which don't mean much to us on a daily basis? Why should we like muslims recite our scripture in a way where we allow it's poetical meters to effect us? Isn't that lipservice? Isn't the lessons of Guru Nanak of good will to other more important then giving lipservice to japji everyday? Some of the sakhis we see present aren't all authentic is the sakhi of the pot glazed with butter truly a direct reflection on how Guru Nanak can condemn muhammdens paying lipservice in muhammdenism to the book of muhammad. Yet our majestic, holy true revelation of god is exempt from lipservice? If the philosophy of Sikhi is similar to many grand teachings such as the buddha's why do we need to sing shabad? Why can't peace come from the message rather then it being sung out? Are the meters of the poetry in gurbani really that important to us on a quantum physics level? Shouldn't the sentiment of the redemption of human character be valued much more? Have we by doing so put guru granth sahib on such a high level that it becomes unreachable- some view reading gurbani online as a form of blasphemy since the satkar is gone.

I would like for him to have some continuous so that he can carry on reading the board and we can explore some of his ideas (god knows what our indian sikh brothers with low internet presence think). This idea of Sikhs being Hindus came from the Hindutva, Aryan Samaj right wing groups. Who feel that once Sikhs denounce their uniqueness, it's only a matter of time until they denounce their different outer appearance and embrace mainstream Hinduism. Had Sikhi truly been felt to be identical then we would have gurdwaras filled with many Hindus listening to gurbani and enjoying it's bliss. This idea seems to have been borrowed from Muhammdens who like to use Sikhi's similarities as a conveyor belt to convert and in both instances this has worked.

Bhindranwale could have been charged with treason, high treason (Sedition). Or under Blasphemy Laws of India.

There are muhammdens in south india, nihal is an arabic word and wikipedia says he is a buddhist http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9262953/BBC-expresses-regret-over-suggestion-Sikhism-is-made-up-of-other-religions.html

BBC Nihal (a muhammden) doesn't believe everyone lived in peace under maharaja ranjit singh perhaps the evident wars and seditious acts which followed show that. Plus I doubt Muhammdens would want the supremacy of nonbelievers above them.

I really like the way administration is done on the forum compared to other Sikh boards who hate freedom of speech and would rather block people who have come to have dialogue (a page out of the ye' olde shariah book). Had the gurus never spoke to psychopath hindus then people like kodhi raksh (cannibal) would have never become sikhs to spread dharama.

I don't think things between both groups can ever be perfect due to the right wing hindu groups who want to eliminate sikhi and any other non hindu group from Punjab and establish punjab back into madradesh the land of shiv, ram, krishna as it's history talks about it before they feel it was contaminated by abrahamic thought. Then we have Sikhs who want a pure Sikh home land, khalsa raj and khalistan. But luckily for both groups we aren't all 100% right wing we do have moderate, tolerant elements who can build bridges and work on a better future collectively. GS Sidhu some what summs up what a Hindu punjab would have been like in the past in this nice book http://www.globalsikhstudies.net/pdf/gss_panjabpanjabi.pdf

What's the name of the book? Do you have a pdf of it?

According to her Machali from that quote isn't fish but the name of a drug

What if we were wrong and there is no reincarnation, no afterlife- just entertain that thought and then ask yourself would the life you lived be one worth it all; that is if you had some sort of temporary transient experience to contemplate without any eternal aspect. Was the life you lived worth it all?

Well coming to terms to mortality shouldn't leave you upset. I personally wouldn't want to be immortal forever transient forever having to live with great regret built over time from continuous mistakes and bad memories.

As for passing on your knowledge and wisdom you should contemplate on how your elders past knowledge onto you and incorporate those ideas into your upbringing of your children. As for seeing your great grand-kids, I don't know if you know this but due to the success of science, invention of antibiotics and ease of spread, humans are actually living longer. We have developed techniques to tackle nearly every illness. People used to die of heart attacks now we can diagnose it, give medication, to by-pass surgery, fit pass makers, and the whole heart transplant thing is getting better. People are working on stem cell research in a limited way to figure out ways to grow a new organ to replace a failing one and it's possible near the end of our lifetimes these solutions will be possible. People are seeing their great grandchildren some even further to another generation something which was impossible in the past. The whole long life thing is going so well that certain bodies are afraid of human over population of the planet and lack of resources then for those younger children. I advise you watch he movie Robin William's Bicentennial Man There are a few things to understand that as you get older life does start to get bitter, you outgrow your loved ones they die, you have achieved most of your dreams and losing meaning for life, you lose the meaning to wake up everyday for something to achieve. You see things fade away, you contemplate the past and the good old days. You don't fit into the times and lose your circle. As you get older as sheikh farid says he became an old man and his body started to tremble. Your health departs, your sense of well-being becomes thin. Your hair is white and you lost your youth, the elixir of life loses it's zest, your libido dies your taste for the ras of foods and life goes away. Your meaning of existence goes. So death isn't that bad, it's okay to depart since your body the vessel and you have had your time. That's one way to die with old age another is through an accident or murder or simply in young age where you haven't achieved your ambitions but what you got to do with that idea of how temporary life is, to try and make the most of the time you have, live every moment, live everyday as it is the last and die in each moment so that you can be reborn in the next. Death is taboo to speak about, some people get angry contemplating it and lash out on people who try to come to terms with mortality that we have to pass on and it's the only exact truth of life. Guru gave the meaning of bhagti as the ultimate meaning of life but a huge part of our bhagti is our grist, our families, our work, our careers and the people around us who are our sangat. Once you die you will know the truth even if it is exactly nothing and if it is nothing there is no risk factor of punishment. All of us might not grow to become old but to die in our youth in happiness isn't all bad sometimes the accidental deaths can be quick and more humane deaths then slowly passing away as your organs slowly shut down and you die slowly and painfully. As for the positive side of thing such as our descendants we got to realise we should be good examples for them and should constantly refine, redeem and reform our behaviour patterns to be excellent human beings.

I came across this facebook post and wondered what everyone thought. It was in response to a post about guru gobind singh asking pandits to summon the devi, they couldn't and he took his sword and said it was the devi. Kesar Singh Chibbar's Bansavalinama gives a very different story. And if I'm correct, he was Chaupa Singh's grandson. ... Bhagauti is directly related to Durga. The word Bhagavat means 'Lord'. It's masc form in the nominative is Bhagavan and the feminine is Bhagavati. In the Persian script, va is also read as o and au (و). Hence بهـگوتى can be read as Bhagavati or Bhagauti. She is the divine as Shakti. The sagun form is Durga as well as weapons. Shakti is the archetype. ... In short, Pandit Devi Datt, 10th guru's vidya guru, told him how Bhima performed a yag by which durga appeared and gave him the Shakti to defeat the enemy. The Guru wanted to manifest Devi this way to fight the Turks. Devi Datt said he wasn't capable and he should access more competent Brahmins. The Guru called loads of them to test them for their purity by offering meat to eat along with money. When there were only three left, he honoured them and asked them to do the yag. They said they couldn't do this but recommended Pandit Kalak Das from Gujarat who had made Devi manifest before. So the Guru met him and Kalak Das asked the reason. The Guru said to kill the Turks. Kalak Das replied that the Guru is an advaitin seeing all as One, so why the need to kill them? The Guru said that for the purpose of protecting dharma, The Lord has commanded him. Panditji then suggested that he create a panth to do this for him. The Guru agreed. So the Guru replaced his janeu and sat for the yag with Kalak das for forty days undisturbed by all. Devi then appeared, gave the sword and said 'go, may your panth be victorious'. (Worth noting btw here, that the idea of having the Khalsa was from a Gujarati Brahmin. I bet neo-Sikhs won't like this).

I remember coming across the word Nazirite and was taught earlier on it meant someone from Nazareth that mainly being Jesus which was to fufil the prophecy of Jesus. However coming across a video which covered this point illustrated that the prophecy was talking of Samson being a Nazritie. It's not a person of a particular geographical location. But vows of the book of Numbers from the Old Testament which includes not cutting hair and not drinking alcohol. n the Hebrew Bible, a Nazirite or Nazarite, (in Hebrew: נזיר, nazir), refers to one who voluntarily took a vow described in Numbers 6:1–21. The proper noun "Nazarite" comes from the Hebrew word nazir meaning "consecrated" or "separated".[1]This vow required the man or woman to: Abstain from wine, wine vinegar, grapes, raisins, intoxicating liquors,[2] vinegar distilled from such substances,[3] and eating or drinking any substance that contains any trace of grapes.[4]Refrain from cutting the hair on one's head; but to allow the locks of the head's hair to grow.[5] Not to become impure by corpses or graves, even those of family members.[6] After following these requirements for a designated period of time (which would be specified in the individual's vow), the person would immerse in a mikveh and make three offerings: a lamb as a burnt offering (olah), a ewe as a sin-offering (hatat), and a ram as a peace offering (shelamim), in addition to a basket of unleavened bread, grain offerings and drink offerings, which accompanied the peace offering. They would also shave their head in the outer courtyard of the Temple (the Jerusalem Templefor Judaism) and then place the hair on the same fire as the peace offering. (Numbers 6:18) The Nazirite is described as being "holy unto YHWH" (Numbers 6:8), yet at the same time must bring a sin offering. This has led to divergent approaches to the Nazirite in the Talmud, and later authorities, with some viewing the Nazirite as an ideal, and others viewing him as a sinner. In Modern Hebrew the word "nazir" is commonly used for monks, both Christian and Buddhist - this meaning having largely displaced the original Biblical meaning. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazirite It seems many of us conclude the vedas are older then the bible (the old mainly), and greek philosophers take the origin of the Jews being from India. Is it possible the original rehat of akal purkh given prior the vedas of kesh was taken this way. Is YHWH = VHGR Vaheguru ? Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard." - Leviticus 19:27 BIBLE The bible also does say a man who doesn't cut his hair is an abomination 1 Corinthians 11:14 - Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

Please also see this for more accounts on Banda Bahadur- about 14 page extract http://www.scribd.com/doc/113672187/Sikh-History-from-Persian-Sources-Habib-Grewal

I doubt he would have treated hindus much different. In the below historical extract Banda is said belonging to a new religion- now this means he can't be a traditional hindu and in calling him an infidel it is ruled out he was a muslim. With the awareness of Christianity by the mughals they haven't identified him as that. So two possibilities remain either he is a Sikh or formed his own new religion making himself the head of that religion.

How about currency from Banda Singh Bahadur's rule of Sahrind/Sirhind. It is said he established the nanakshahi coin when his rule started he ruled as a king but gave glory to akali baba satguru nanak dev ji. https://www.panjabmall.com/storeproduct386.aspx

muhammad is no one. He didn't have any revelation of the great Guru Nanak dev ji. The false prophet named Muhammad had other last words which was inclusive of zeal of the cult he had formed in his lifetime. Muhammad died a slow and painful death followed by poisoning, who poisoned him is argued between either his child bride aisha or his jewish concubine whose husband muhammad had killed before taking her to his bed on the same day.

Banda Singh, then, sought Guru’s permission to allot him some task, And begged for any kind of service that he could render unto the Guru. (6) Satguru remarked that if Banda Singh was really worthy of a great task, He must set out and destroy the murderers of Guru’s Sahibzadas. The Guru directed him to destroy the Hill principalities after destroying Sirhind, As that was the task assigned by the Guru to him. (7) While protecting the Guru’s Sikhs, he must destroy the enemies of the Sikhs, And must protect those as well who accept his sovereignty. He must create anarchic conditions from Delhi onwards, After that he must raze the whole of Punjab and Hill states to the ground. (8) Dohra : There is a parasitical creeper that ruins a tree from the top, This creeper is known by the name of “Bando” in the world. Band Singh should become a similar poisonous creeper of the Guru, And squeeze, sap and destroy the oppressive Mughal empire. (9) Dohra : Whatever express wish the Guru conveyed to Banda Singh, Banda Singh accepted to execute the Guru’s order in word and deed. Soon this news spread out far and wide in the whole world, That Guru had invested and annointed Banda Singh with his spiritual powers. (10) The Guru then handed over his double-edged dagger to the Banda Singh, Which he accepted and wore around his person as an armour. Feeling enraged at the loss of their legitimate right of being Guru’s heirs, The Khalsa Singhs stripped Banda Singh of Guru’s armour. (11) Chaupai : As stripped Banda Singh complained to the Guru (about the Singh’s act), The Guru went into peels of laughter with immense joy. The Guru remarked that with Singh’s forcible possession of their legitimate right, His mission of empowering the Khalsa Panth has been fulfilled. (12) Thereafter, the Guru blessed Banda Singh with five of his arrows, Remarking that these five arrows were invested with miraculous powers. Whenever he felt it extremely necessary to shoot these arrows, He should shoot only one of these arrows in extreme situations. (13) These arrows had powers of activating dust-laden storms, And impair the visibility and eyesight of the enemy force. This raging blinding storm would force the enemy to turn their backs, And help the user in destroying the enemy and winning the victory over them. (14) page 240 document page 195 SRI GUR PANTH PRAKASH (RATTAN SINGH BHANGOO) VOLUME I 2006 (Episodes 1 to 81) http://sikhinstitute.org/gpp_v1.pdf

Sri Gur Panth Prakash 193 Dohra : The Guru admonished him for making fun of the saints, As it always recoiled on those who indulged in such a mischief. The petty pranksters, mendicants and low-caste nit-wit Dooms4 alone, Indulged in such mean tricks to earn their livelihood. (15) Chaupai : Then Banda declared himself to be the humble servant of the Guru, And declared the Guru to be his spiritual guide and master. He begged forgiveness of the Guru for his past misdeeds, And promised never to indulge in any of his past activities. (16) He proclaimed himself to be the humble servant of the Guru, And promised to carryout any command of the Guru. He beseeched the Guru to take him into his fold, And consider him as the most intimate disciple of the Guru. (17) Guru’s Blessings on Banda (Bahadur) And Guru’s directions to Banda to proceed to Punjab Dohra : As Banda beseeched the Guru to accept him as his disciple, He bent on his knees with folded hands before the Guru. The Guru felt pleased (at his change of heart and transformation), And accepted Banda to be his disciple for his obedience. (1) Chaupai : The Guru warned Banda of the rigours of becoming a Guru’s disciple, As it involved an unconditional surrender of one’s complete self before the Guru, Since accepting His way of life meant total surrender of one’s pride, It was an extremely difficult and rigorous way of life. (2) Since becoming a Guru’s Sikh meant complete dissolution of one’s ego, It involved renouncing one’s family ties and accepting Guru’s ideological order. It resembled the renunciation of an insect, which severed its links with its own species, And forged an allegiance with another order of species of humming bees. (3) Dohra : The tradition of Sikhism’s ideological code was as difficult to follow, As a walk on the razor’s edge more sharp than a strand of hair. A devotee must serve the guru with complete commitment and devotion, And yet remain humble during his service to the Guru. (4) Whatever conditions the Guru laid down before the supplicating Banda, The Banda accepted all those stipulations in complete humility. The Guru, then, named him as Banda Singh from his earlier name, Which the Guru’s new disciple accepted in all humility and reverence. (5) Chaupai : When Banda Singh beseeched the Guru repeatedly for mercy, The Guru blessed him out of his benevolence and grace. page 238 document page 193 SRI GUR PANTH PRAKASH (RATTAN SINGH BHANGOO) VOLUME I 2006 (Episodes 1 to 81) http://sikhinstitute.org/gpp_v1.pdf