Gurbani on Fire Sacrifice Rituals
My beloved Hindu brother! In your traditions, Yagya/Jag and Homa (Fire Sacrifices) are highly praised and its said that all aims will be achieved if a Yagya is done before hand, as per:
‘Yag will give all of the results desired. The Devte live because of the Yag. The animal which is sacrificed in a Yag, it will go to heaven along with the person who sacrificed it’
(Vishnu Simrithee, 51st Adhiyaye)
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‘Brahma Ji created animals in order to be sacrificed in a Yag. By killing animals in a Yag, it leads to the welfare of the world and one doesn’t get the sin of violence/murder because of it. Those grains, barley, trees, animals, birds, turtles, etc. who die in Yag - attain the highest lifeforms in their next lives. Those who don’t eat the meat which was offered in Yag or Shraadhh (Ancestor worship), they will die and will be pigs for 21 births'.
(Manu Smrithee, Adhiyaye 5, Verse 35, 39, 40)
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In Hindu traditions, the Yag was not held for benevolent/kind reasons but often for selfish desires, as per:
'If a Brahmin receives little donation for a Yag, they should not carry it out'.(Manu Smrithee, Adhiyaye 11, Verse 39)
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'If someone gives less in donations to Brahmins for a Yag then the senses, fame, heaven, age, fame in this world after you die, good children, and livestock will all become destroyed. That is why a Brahmin should not carry out a Yag if there is little donation given to the Brahmin'.
(Manu Smrithee, Adhiyaye 11, Verse 40)
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Now, listen to the praise of the Hom:
'The ingredients offered in the fire, they reach the sun. And the taste of those offerings drip in the form of rain, which leads to food being produced and the population increases'.
(Manu Smrithee, Adhiyaye 3, Verse 76)
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Guru Sahib have commanded and taught us the following about Yag and Hom:
ਹੋਮ ਜਗ ਤੀਰਥ ਕੀਏ ਬਿਚਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਬਧੇ ਬਿਕਾਰ ॥
Hom Jag Theerathh Kee-ae Bich[i] Ho[u]mai Badhhae Bikaar
Fire Sacrifice Rituals and places of pilgrimage but Your ego and vices only increase...
ਨਰਕੁ ਸੁਰਗੁ ਦੁਇ ਭੁੰਚਨਾ ਹੋਇ ਬਹੁਰਿ ਬਹੁਰਿ ਅਵਤਾਰ ।....
narak Surag[u] Dhu-i Bhu[n]chanaa Ho-i Bahur[i] Bahur[i] Avthaar
You are subject to both heaven and hell then take on a physical body over and over again...
ਜੈਸੇ ਗੁਰਿ ਉਪਦੇਸਿਆ ਮੈ ਤੈਸੋ ਕਹਿਆ ਪੁਕਾਰਿ ॥
Jaiso Gur[i] Updhaesiaa Mai Thaiso Kahiaa Pukaar[i]
Just as Guru Sahib teaches, so do I speak...
ਨਾਨਕੁ ਕਹੈ ਸੁਨਿ ਰੇ ਮਨਾ ਕਰਿ ਕੀਰਤਨੁ ਹੋਇ ਉਧਾਰੁ ॥
naanak[u] Kahai Sun[i] Rae Manaa Kar[i] Keerthan[u] Ho-i Udhhaar[u]
Guru Sahib: Listen oh mind, sing Kirtan/Praises of Vaheguru Ji and you will be saved...
(Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Arjan Dev Sahib Ji in Raag Gourree, Ang 214)
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ਹੋਮ ਜਗ ਜਪ ਤਪ ਸਭਿ ਸੰਜਮ, ਤਟਿ ਤੀਰਥਿ ਨਹੀ ਪਾਇਆ ॥
Hom Jag Jap Thap Sabh[i] Sa[n]jam, That[i] Theerathh[i] nahee Paa-iaa
Through Fire sacrifice, chanting, spiritual hardship, all spiritual disciplines and going to the banks of rivers for pilgrimage - they do not attain Vaheguru Ji
ਮਿਟਿਆ ਆਪੁ ਪਏ ਸਰਣਾਈ, ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਗਤੁ ਤਰਾਇਆ॥
Mitiaa Aap[u] Pa-ae SarNaaee, Gurmukh[i] naanak Jagath[u] Tharaa-iaa
Let go of their ego and enter the Sanctuary [of Guru Sahib],Guru Sahib: the Gurmukh floats across the world... [ie does not sink]
(Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Arjan Dev Sahib Ji in Raag Bhair-o[u], Ang 1139)
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ਹੋਮ ਜਗ ਸਭਿ ਤੀਰਥਾ ਪੜਿ੍ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਥਕੇ ਪੁਰਾਣ ॥
Hom Jag Sabh[i] Theerathhaa Parrh[i] Pa[n]dith Thhakae PuraaN
The Pandits are tired of reading the Puraan’s, carrying out fire sacrifice rituals, and going to Tirath/places of pilgrimage...
ਬਿਖੁ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹੁ ਨ ਮਿਟਈ ਵਿਚਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਆਵਣੁ ਜਾਣੁ ॥
Bikh[u] Maa-iaa Moh[u] na Mit-aee, Vich[i] Houmai AavaN[u] JaaN[u]
The attachment to the poison of maya does not go away,They come and go in ego...
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਮਿਲਿਐ ਮਲੂ ਉਤਰੀ ਹਰਿ ਜਪਿਆ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਸੁਜਾਣੁ ॥
Sathigur Mili-ai Mal[u] Uthree, Har[i] Japiaa Purakh[u] SujaaN[u]
Meeting Guru Sahib, the dirt has been removed, By remembering/reciting Vaheguru Ji’s Name, one becomes really wise...
ਜਿਨਾ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸੇਵਿਆ ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਸਦ ਕੁਰਬਾਣੁ ॥੩੭॥
Jinaa Har[i] Har[i] Prabh Saeviaa, Jan naanak[u] Sadh KurBaaN[u]
Whoever serves Vaheguru Ji, This slave is a sacrifice to them...
(Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Amar-daas Sahib Ji in Salok Vaaraa[n] Thae Vadhheek, Ang 1417)
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ਜਗ ਭੋਗ ਨਈ ਵੇਦ ਲਖ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਮੁਖਿ ਇਕੁ ਦਾਣਾ ਪਾਇਆ।.....॥੧੩॥
Jag Bhog na-aee Vaedh Lakh Gurmukh[i] Mukh[i] Ik[u] DhaaNaa Paa-iaa
Having 100,000s of fire sacrifices or feasts according to the Veda’s are equal to putting one grain/kernel of food in the Gurmukh’s Mouth...(Bhai Gurdaas Ji’s 7th Vaar)
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ਲਖ ਜਪ ਤਪ ਲਖ ਸੰਜਮਾ ਹੋਮ ਜੱਗ ਲਖ ਵਰਤ ਕਰੰਦੇ ।...
Lakh Jap Thap Lakh Sa[n]jamaa Hom Jag Lakh Varath Kara[n]dhae...
They do 100,000s of chanting, spiritual hardship, spiritual disciplines, fire sacrifice rituals, fasting etc.
...ਗੁਰਸਿੱਖੀ ਸੁਖੁ ਤਿਲੁ ਨ ਲਹੰਦੇ ॥੧੮॥
Gur-Sikhee Sukh[u] Thil[u] na Laha[n]dhae
All of this mentioned [above] does not equal to a sesame seed’s worth ofthe Peace of GurSikhi...
(Bhai Gurdaas Ji’s 28th Vaar)
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ਹੋਮ ਜਗ ਤਪ ਘਣੇ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਮ ਧਰਮ ਦੁਖ ਰੋਈ ।
Hom Jag Thap GhaNae Kar[i] Kar[i] Karam Dhharam Dhukh Ro-aee
They do many types of ritual fire sacrifice, chanting, spiritual hardship
ਵਸਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਧਾਂਵਦਾ ਅਨ ਖੰਡ ਪਾਖੰਡ ਵਿਗੋਈ ॥੧੭॥
Vas[i] na Aavai Dhhaa[n]vdhaa An Kha[n]d Paakha[n]d Vigoee
The mind does not come into control and wanders, And only ends up in hypocritical ruins while in other realms...
(Bhai Gurdaas Ji’s 29th Vaar)
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In Kalyug, [to get the results of] Yag/Hom, one should serve Amrith Prasaadh to Gur-Bhai Sikhs and to refer to oneself as lowly (remaining humble)(Bhai Mani Singh Ji in Gyaan Rathnaavalee)
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Look at this historic account about this topic:
Pairraa (Chandaal) and Jaettaa (Sethi) went to Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s Sanctuary:
‘Based on Your Bachans, we earn an honest living and serve Sikhs but the Brahmins tell us that when we use a mill (to turn the grain into flour), filtering the grain, sweep the room, and cook food over a fire then we are committing violence/murder. The Brahmins put food into fire and offer ingredients to the Devte/deities first then they eat their food. [The Sikhs] don’t do this and the Brahmins ask us how can the Sikhs' food be pure?’-Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Arjan Dev Sahib Ji then gave bachans, ‘If you first feed the poor & other Sikhs, and do an Ardaas & say the Name of Vaheguru - then Vaheguru Ji will be pleased with you and all obstacles are destroyed’.
(Bhai Mani Singh Ji’s Bhagat Rathnaavalee/Sikhaan Dhee Bhagat Maalaa)
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