WSC-AR Appeals to Siri Akal Takhat Sahib to Affirm Sovereignty of Siri Guru Granth Sahib
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 8, 2006 Contact: Manmohan Singh, Secretary General, World Sikh Council - America Region, 972-684-4638, contact@worldsikhcouncil.org
In response to reports that efforts may be underway to possibly install Dasam Granth in Sikh Gurdwaras in Punjab (South Asia) and possibly equate the Dasam Granth with Siri Guru Granth Sahib, the World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR) has written a letter to Takhat Siri Akal Takhat Sahib (see attached letter dated October 31, 2006) appealing respectfully that: - The sovereignty of Siri Guru Granth Sahib be affirmed by not allowing or promoting the installation of Dasam Granth at any Sikh Gurdwara, and - The Takhat not participate in any kind of celebration of the Dasam Granth that will violate the Sikh Rehat Maryada.
As the largest elected Sikh national organization of the United States of America, WSC-AR stands by Siri Guru Granth Sahib as the only "Guru Granth" of the Sikh community. We recognize Siri Guru Granth Sahib as our only sovereign Granth.
The Sikh Rehat Maryada explicitly prohibits the installation of any book in a Gurdwara in any manner used for Siri Guru Granth Sahib. The authenticity of the Dasam Granth has been questioned by numerous Sikh scholars and researchers. Installing the Dasam Granth at Sikh Gurdwaras would violate the Sikh Rehat Maryada and fundamentally undermine the sovereignty of Siri Guru Granth Sahib.
WSC-AR appeals to Sikh organizations worldwide to write to Takhat Siri Akal Takhat Sahib requesting that the sovereignty of Siri Guru Granth Sahib be upheld and the Dasam Granth not be installed at Gurdwaras in violation of Sikh Rehat Maryada.
The World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR) is a representative and elected body of Sikh Gurdwaras and institutions in the United States. Its members include 44 Gurdwaras (Sikh places of worship) and other Sikh institutions across the nation. WSC-AR works to promote Sikh interests at the national and international level focusing on issues of advocacy, education, and the well-being of all humankind. For more information, please visit www.worldsikhcouncil.org.
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LETTER FROM WSC-AR TO SIRI AKAL TAKHAT SAHIB
October 31, 2006
Takhat Siri Akal Takhat Sahib Darbar Sahib Amritsar Punjab (India)
Respected Khalsa ji:
It has been brought to our attention that efforts may be underway to possibly install Dasam Granth in Sikh Gurdwaras.
As the largest elected Sikh national organization of the United States of America, we stand by Siri Guru Granth Sahib as the only "Guru Granth" of the Sikh community. We recognize Siri Guru Granth Sahib as our only sovereign Granth.
The Sikh Rehat Maryada explicitly prohibits the installation of any book in a Gurdwara in any manner used for Siri Guru Granth Sahib. The authenticity of the Dasam Granth has been questioned by numerous Sikh scholars and researchers. Installing the Dasam Granth at Sikh Gurdwaras would violate the Sikh Rehat Maryada and fundamentally undermine the sovereignty of Siri Guru Granth Sahib.
Through this letter, we are calling upon Takhat Siri Akal Takhat Sahib to a) affirm the sovereignty of Siri Guru Granth Sahib by not allowing or promoting the installation of Dasam Granth at any Sikh Gurdwara, and b) not participate in any kind of celebration of the Dasam Granth that will violate the Sikh Rehat Maryada.
Our prayers are always for the Chardhi Kala of the Guru Khalsa Panth!
Sincerely,
Dr. Manohar Singh
Chairperson, World Sikh Council - America Region
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Member Gurdwaras of WSC-AR:
1. Pacific Coast Khalsa Diwan Society, Stockton, CA 2. Gurdwara Sahib Fremont, Fremont, CA 3. Guru Nanak Sikh Mission, Livingston, CA 4. Sikh Gurdwara of LA, North Hollywood, CA 5. Sikh Gurdwara Riverside, Riverside, CA 6. Colorado Singh Sabha, Denver, CO 7.. Guru Singh Sabha of Augusta, Augusta, GA 8. Sikh Study Circle of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 9. Sikh Religious Society of Chicago, Palatine, IL 10. Sikh Society of South, New Orleans, LA 11. New England Sikh Study Circle, Boston, MA 12. Sikh Gurdwara of Michigan, Rochester Hills, MI 13. Sikh Society of Michigan, Madison Heights, MI 14. Guru Nanak Foundation of Jackson, MS 15. Sikh Gurdwara of North Carolina, Durham, NC 16. Sikh Sabha of Upper Valley, Hanover, NH 17. Garden State Sikh Association, Bridgewater, NJ 18. Guru Nanak Sikh Society of Delaware Valley, Sewell, NJ 19. Siri Guru Singh Sabha, Glenrock, NJ 20. Sikh Sabha of New Jersey, Lawrenceville, NJ 21. Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh, Las Vegas, NV 22. Sikh Cultural Society Inc., Richmond Hills, NY 23. Sikh Cultural & Edu. Society of Western NY, Buffalo, NY 24. Sikh Religious Society of Dayton, Dayton, OH 25. Guru Nanak Found. of Greater Cleveland, Richfield, OH 26. Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Society, Bedford, OH 27. Guru Nanak Religious Soc. of Central Ohio, Columbus, OH 28. Sikh Sadh Sangat, Easton, PA 29. Philadelphia Sikh Society, Millbourne, PA 30. Tristate Sikh Cultural Society, Monroeville, PA 31. Mid South Sikh Sabha, Memphis, TN 32. Sikh Center of Gulf Coast, Houston, TX 33. Siri Guru Singh Sabha, Richardson, TX 34. Sikh Gurdwara of North Texas, Garland, TX 35. Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Fairfax, VA 36. Sikh Association of Central Virginia, VA 37. Sikh Religious Society of Wisconsin, Brookfield, WI
Other Sikh Institution Members of WSC-AR: 1. Siri Guru Granth Sahib Found., Anaheim, CA 2. Sikhs Serving America, Topeka, KS 3. Sikh Youth Federation of North America, White Plains, NY 4. Sikh Heritage Foundation, Long Island, NY 5. Sikh Educational & Religious Foundation, Dublin, OH 6. Sikh Youth Federation of USA, Toledo, OH 7. Academy of Guru Granth Studies, Arlington, TX
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World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR) P.O. Box 3635, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA Phone: 972-684-4638, Fax: 972-684-3709 E-mail: contact@worldsikhcouncil.org Web: www.worldsikhcouncil.org
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