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- sggs, 148

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Gurbani Disapproves Telling Beads

by T Singh

The edict of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) is that telling beads or counting beads is worthless — “Phokat”, of
no value, etc.

Accordingly, counting beads is disapproved (ਿਨਖੇਧੀ) or rejected in the Gurmat (Wisdom, Upadesh or Way of the
SGGS).

Telling beads or Counting beads ==> ਮਾਲਾ ਫੇਰਨਾ-Maalaa Pheranaa, recitation with rosary, to take on rosary or Mala
(pronounced as Maalaa), etc.

When Baabaa Kabeer realized he wasted his life in Kashi (“ਸਗਲ ਜਨਮੁ ਿਸਵ ਪੁਰੀ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥”, sggs 326). ) by seeing
others and following rituals (Karamkaand) prescribed by the Brahmin / Pundit (such as telling beads…), he moved
out from there. Furthermore, after realizing the uselessness of counting beads, he threw away the rosary and
declared:

ਭੂਖੇ ਭਗਿਤ ਨ ਕੀਜੈ ॥ ਯਹ ਮਾਲਾ ਅਪਨੀ ਲੀਜੈ ॥: Bhagti cannot be performed with hunger (for Maya…). (So) Here is Your
Maalaa (rosary), take it back (sggs 656).

Hence — according to the Gurbani — the mind of a person who tells beads (ਮਾਲਾ ਫੇਰਨੀ) is full of hunger for Maya.

Mind that takes on rosary (Maalaa) is called “Nipootae-ਿਨਪੂਤੇ” in the Gurbani (literally “Nipootae” means worthless
son. But, since the Gurbani addresses our minds, here it means the mind — ਔਤਰਾ ਂ ਮਨ).

ਜਬ ਕੀ ਮਾਲਾ ਲਈ ਿਨਪੂਤੇ ਤਬ ਤੇ ਸੁਖੁ ਨ ਭਇਓ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: Ever since this worthless son (i.e., mind, ਔਤਰਾਂ ਮਨ) has taken
the Maalaa (rosary), since than there has been no Sukha (Joy, ਪਾਪਤੀ, Gain, etc.)! ||1||Pause|| (sggs 856).

Thus, the Gurbani repudiates (Khandan) Pakhand-Baazee (deception, hypocrisy, humbug, pretense, etc.) of
counting beads. Such nonsense was introduced by the Pujaaree group (Bhais, Granthees, Raagees, Jathedaars,
Paathees, Deraavaad Baabaas, Kathaakaars, Giaanees, Parchaaraks, and so on) who purposely intended to
corrupt the Gurmat.

ਪਾਖੰਿਡ ਭਗਿਤ ਿਨਰਿਤ ਦੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ॥੩॥: Love of the Pakhnad Bhagati (Bhagati of show-ਿਵਖਾਵੇ ਦੀ ਭਗਤੀ) brings only pain.
||3|| (sggs 364).

Instead of correcting this mistake, unfortunately, this anti-Gurmat Karamkaand (ritual) is further propagated by the
crafty Pujaaree system. It’s all “Golak Daa Chakkar” (business in the name of Gurbani or Dharma)!

ਗਿਲ ਮਾਲਾ ਿਤਲਕੁ ਿਲਲਾਟੰ ॥ ਦੁਇ ਧੋਤੀ ਬਸਤ ਕਪਾਟੰ ॥ ਜੇ ਜਾਣਿਸ ਬਹਮੰ ਕਰਮੰ ॥ ਸਿਭ ਫੋਕਟ ਿਨਸਚਉ ਕਰਮੰ ॥: Around (your) neck is
a rosary, and on forehead is a sacred mark. (You) cover head with a cloth, and keep two loin cloths. If (you)
know the Way of the Brahm, (then you would) definitely know that all rituals are of no value. (sggs 470).

The Gurbani wants us to make the One Divine Naam (Wisdom, Truth, Shabad, Hukam…) the rosary enshrined in the
Heart within.

ਜਪਹੁ ਤ ਏਕੋ ਨਾਮਾ ॥ ਅਵਿਰ ਿਨਰਾਫਲ ਕਾਮਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: Understand the One Divine Naam (Wisdom, Truth, Shabad,
Hukam…). All other actions (that fail to bring understanding of the One Naam) are useless. ||1||Pause|| (sggs
728).
In nutshell, the SGGS (Sri Guru Grant Sahib) urges us to make the virtuous conduct (ਨੇਕ ਆਚਰਨ) our Maalaa
(rosary).

ਸਾਲ ਗਾਮ ਿਬਪ ਪੂਿਜ ਮਨਾਵਹੁ ਸੁਿਕਤੁ ਤੁ ਲਸੀ ਮਾਲਾ ॥: O Brahmin! Instead of worshipping the stone-god (idol worship),
worship (or understand Raam or Mool within) and try pleasing Him. Practice Virtuous conduct, this is your
rosary (sggs 1170).
ਕਰਣੀ ਕਾਬਾ ਸਚੁ ਪੀਰੁ ਕਲਮਾ ਕਰਮ ਿਨਵਾਜ ॥ ਤਸਬੀ ਸਾ ਿਤਸੁ ਭਾਵਸੀ ਨਾਨਕ ਰਖੈ ਲਾਜ ॥੧॥: Let good conduct be your Kaabaa,
Truth your spiritual guide, and pious deeds your Kalmaa and Namaaz. Let your rosary be that which is pleasing
to the Divine Will. O Nanak! (The Divine) preserves the honor (of such Muslim). ||1|| (sggs 140).
ਕਬੀਰ ਮੇਰੀ ਿਸਮਰਨੀ ਰਸਨਾ ਊਪਿਰ ਰਾਮੁ ॥: Kabeer meree simrani rasanaa upari Raamu (sggs 1364).

Hence Baabaa Kabeer questions: If you do not understand Raam (Mool, Hari, Gobind, Prabh, Allah…) within, then
what use is this external rosary to you that you wear and show it to other people?

ਕਬੀਰ ਜਪਨੀ ਕਾਠ ਕੀ ਿਕਆ ਿਦਖਲਾਵਿਹ ਲੋ ਇ ॥ ਿਹਰਦੈ ਰਾਮੁ ਨ ਚੇਤਹੀ ਇਹ ਜਪਨੀ ਿਕਆ ਹੋਇ ॥੭੫॥: O Kabeer! Why do you show
other people your wooden rosary beads? You do not remember Raam (Mool…) in your Heart, so what use is this
rosary to you? ||75|| (sggs 1368).
ਕਬੀਰ ਬੈਸਨੋ ਹੂਆ ਤ ਿਕਆ ਭਇਆ ਮਾਲਾ ਮੇਲੀ ਂ ਚਾਿਰ ॥ ਬਾਹਿਰ ਕੰਚਨੁ ਬਾਰਹਾ ਭੀਤਿਰ ਭਰੀ ਭੰਗਾਰ ॥: Kabeer, what good is it to
become a God’s devotee, and wear four Maalaas? On the outside, you (pretend to) look like pure gold; but on
the inside, you are stuffed with filth or Bhangaar (sggs 1372).
ਿਰਦੈ ਕੂੜੁ ਕੰਿਠ ਰੁਦਾਖੰ ॥: (O lewd man!) You wear the Rudraksha Rosary around your neck, but your Heart is filled
with falsehood (sggs 1351).
ਗਲੀ ਿਜਨਾ ਜਪਮਾਲੀਆ ਲੋ ਟੇ ਹਿਥ ਿਨਬਗ ॥ ਓਇ ਹਿਰ ਕੇ ਸੰਤ ਨ ਆਖੀਅਿਹ ਬਾਨਾਰਿਸ ਕੇ ਠਗ ॥੧॥: Who have rosaries around their
necks, and glittering jugs in their hands, (just because of such religious paraphernalia) they should not be
called the Divine’s Sant — they are thugs of Banaras (sggs 476).

But still, as seen everyday, the emphasis of most of the crafty Pujaaree group is only to promote religious
paraphernalia and rituals (Karamkaand), which are strongly repudiated by the Gurbani. They are totally in
contradiction with the Divine Wisdom (Aatam-Giaan…) and purpose of the SGGS. Why does Gurbani rejects this
nonsense? Because all calculations or calculated Bhagti is in false ego-sense (Haumai). Consider these verses:

ਗਣਤੈ ਪਭੂ ਨ ਪਾਈਐ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਰਮੀਤਾ ॥: The Divine cannot be obtained by counting; the mortal wanders in doubt —
Maya, duality etc. (sggs 510).

This Giaan (Wisdom) of the Gurbani is also meant for those who identify themselves as Sikhs!

ਖੇਚਰ ਭੂਚਰ ਤੁ ਲਸੀ ਮਾਲਾ ਗੁ ਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਪਾਇਆ ॥: Control of the breath (Praanaayaam) and wearing Maalaa of Tulsi
beads, are found contained in the Grace of the spiritual Knowledge (Gur-Giaan). (sggs 973).
ਸਚੁ ਵਰਤੁ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਤੀਰਥੁ ਿਗਆਨੁ ਿਧਆਨੁ ਇਸਨਾਨੁ ॥ ਦਇਆ ਦੇਵਤਾ ਿਖਮਾ ਜਪਮਾਲੀ ਤੇ ਮਾਣਸ ਪਰਧਾਨ ॥: Those persons are the most
sublime who have truth as their fast, contentment as their shrine of pilgrimage, spiritual wisdom and
meditation as their cleansing bath, kindness as their deity, and forgiveness as their rosary (Maalaa). (sggs
1245).

All counting is for the conditioned or material mindset (Manmukh, Mayadhaaree, Saakat …). Because, consumed
by the fire of Maya, the lifestyle of such mindset is in the realm of calculations, in the realm of outer domination.

ਿਹਰਦੈ ਫੇਿਰ ਚਲੈ ਤੁ ਧੁ ਨਾਲੀ ॥੧॥: Tell beads (of Naam) within your Heart, and it will go along with you. ||1|| (sggs
1134).
ਤਸਬੀ ਯਾਿਦ ਕਰਹੁ ਦਸ ਮਰਦਨੁ ਸੁੰਨਿਤ ਸੀਲੁ ਬੰਧਾਿਨ ਬਰਾ ॥੭॥: Let your meditation beads be the subjugation of the ten
senses. Let good conduct and self-restraint (from Bikaar) be your circumcision. ||7|| (sggs 1084).

There is no counting or calculations for the one who has become the Gurmukh; because he knows he is not
separate from the Divine. He thus relieves himself of all egoistic or mental calculations through the constant
abidance in his Jot Saroop.

ਗੁ ਰਮੁਿਖ ਸਗਲੀ ਗਣਤ ਿਮਟਾਵੈ ॥: The Gurmukh erases all calculations (sggs 942).

The Gurbani indicates crowds are attracted to the path of Pakhandvaad (ਪਖੰਡਵਾਦ) in the world. Therefore, the
Gurbani urges us to become the Gurmukh and stop Pakhand or Parpanch (hypocrisy, deception, worldly
entanglements, etc.).

According to the Sidhaant of the SGGS, since the Sikh is Surat (ਸੁਰਤ – Consciousness, Awareness…), common
sense suggests it’s the Surat that needs to count beads (ਮਾਲਾ ਫੇਰਨੀ), NOT the physiological hands or fingers.
 ਸਬਦੁ ਗੁ ਰੂ ਸੁਰਿਤ ਧੁਿਨ ਚੇਲਾ ॥: The Shabad is (my) Guroo. Abidance (“ਸੁਰਿਤ ਧੁਿਨ” – focus, perseverance, etc, of my)
Consciousness is the disciple (of This Guroo) (sggs 943).

Therefore, instead of nonsense rituals like counting beads, Baabaa Nanak placed tremendous emphasis on
virtuous conduct, behavior and Soch (thinking or thoughts) of individuals. After all, human actions are the louder
expressions of his thoughts (Soch). According to the Baabaa Nanak, truth or truthfulness is the foundation of all
Virtues of humanity.

Of all the human faculties, the most important is the mind we humans have to work with in our daily life. Hence,
the Gurmat tells us:

ਿਹਰਦੈ ਸਚੁ ਏਹ ਕਰਣੀ ਸਾਰੁ ॥ ਹੋਰੁ ਸਭੁ ਪਾਖੰਡੁ ਪੂਜ ਖੁਆਰੁ ॥੬॥: Enshrine Truth (Naam, Shabad, Divine Knowledge, Gurmat…)
in your Heart; this is the most excellent action. All other hypocritical actions and worship bring only ruin. ||6||
(sggs 1343).

Hence, those who (1) tell beads, (2) preach others to tell beads and (3) describe the Gurus and Bhagat telling
beads (ਮਾਲਾ ਫੇਰਦੇ) or (4) portray them wearing rosary (Maalaa) are either anti-Gurmat or clueless about the
Gurmat (Wisdom, Giaan, Upadesh or Way of the SGGS…) or both.

ਆਸਕੁ ਏਹੁ ਨ ਆਖੀਐ ਿਜ ਲੇ ਖੈ ਵਰਤੈ ਸੋਇ ॥੧॥: (A person) cannot be called lover if he behaves only in calculated
love. ||1|| (sggs 474).

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Filed Under: fraud, deception, cheating, Gurbani, Gurmat, Pujaaree System, ਪੁਜਾਰੀ ਲਾਣਾ, Rituals, Karamkaand, Rosary, Sikhi, Sikh,
Learner

Tagged With: counting beads, Maalaa, Mala, Rosary, telling beads, ਮਾਲਾ ਫੇਰਨੀ

6 Comments LEAVE A COMMENT

G Poonam Kaur Sahni

Brilliant article. Thank you so much for sharing this wisdom for our better understanding. Also really appreciate
the quotes from SGGS explained in detail.

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G T Singh Post author

Thank you sister Poonam Kaur Sahni Ji for your kind words and taking the time to share your thoughts.

➥ Reply

G J
As always very nice T Singh Ji !

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G T Singh Post author

Thank you J Ji for taking the time to share your thoughts, and kind words.

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G Rajinder Singh Walia

Wonderful information.
Thank you

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G T Singh Post author

Thank you Rajinder Singh Walia Ji for taking the time to share your thoughts, and kind words. Welcome to
the Gurbani Blog!

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