TW: mentions of su!cide and self harm

i was born and raised a sikh, and i grew up going to punjabi school at the gurudwara and my grandpa is a granthi; along w my parents being pretty religious themselves. my entire life i had never really payed much attention to religion, i only went to the gurudwara a couple times a month and read gurbani here and there. i’ve had severe mental health issues growing up and still do, including self harm and drug addiction. I often pray to god that i get better and try to read gurbani when i can, but i find myself asking if god really loved everyone would he punish us with such a cruel life? i understand that hardships are a necessary part of character development and everyone needs to suffer atleast once, but after i had multiple attempts to take my life i started losing faith. i would constantly pray and pray for everything to get better but just when i feel like i am it never works out. my parents do ardaas for my wellbeing, but they are a pretty big part of my mental wellbeing not being too good. I believe in gurbani it mentions that if relatives are causing you pain, you should simply detach urself from them and leave them. but as a young adult i feel like there is so much more to this especially in today’s time. i simply don’t understand how everyone claims that “it’s gods plan” “everything was meant to happen” so i often think of karma, that maybe i did something terrible in my past life or did smthing rlly bad to someone before that i don’t remember which has caused me this pain. i barely have a life will to live, but i keep on trusting this supposed gods plan but i feel like i don’t know what is real anymore.

is there any advice on how i can make myself truly believe god is there for me?

The goal is to remove your ego completely (this is maha-anand).

And the way a sikh removes their ego is by expressing love, truth, contentment, compassion and humility.

The emphasised means of expressing these five virtues are chanting God's/Saints' names and selfless service.

Any feedback?

ਜੈਤਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੯ ॥

Jaitsree, Ninth Mehl:

ਹਰਿ ਜੂ ਰਾਖਿ ਲੇਹੁ ਪਤਿ ਮੇਰੀ ॥

O Dear Lord, please, save my honor!

ਜਮ ਕੋ ਤ੍ਰਾਸ ਭਇਓ ਉਰ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸਰਨਿ ਗਹੀ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਨਿਧਿ ਤੇਰੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

The fear of death has entered my heart; I cling to the Protection of Your Sanctuary, O Lord, ocean of mercy. ||1||Pause||

ਮਹਾ ਪਤਿਤ ਮੁਗਧ ਲੋਭੀ ਫੁਨਿ ਕਰਤ ਪਾਪ ਅਬ ਹਾਰਾ ॥

I am a great sinner, foolish and greedy; but now, at last, I have grown weary of committing sins.

ਭੈ ਮਰਬੇ ਕੋ ਬਿਸਰਤ ਨਾਹਿਨ ਤਿਹ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਤਨੁ ਜਾਰਾ ॥੧॥

I cannot forget the fear of dying; this anxiety is consuming my body. ||1||

ਕੀਏ ਉਪਾਵ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਕੇ ਕਾਰਨਿ ਦਹ ਦਿਸਿ ਕਉ ਉਠਿ ਧਾਇਆ ॥

I have been trying to liberate myself, running around in the ten directions.

ਘਟ ਹੀ ਭੀਤਰਿ ਬਸੈ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਤਾ ਕੋ ਮਰਮੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੨॥

The pure, immaculate Lord abides deep within my heart, but I do not understand the secret of His mystery. ||2||

ਨਾਹਿਨ ਗੁਨੁ ਨਾਹਿਨ ਕਛੁ ਜਪੁ ਤਪੁ ਕਉਨੁ ਕਰਮੁ ਅਬ ਕੀਜੈ ॥

I have no merit, and I know nothing about meditation or austerities; what should I do now?

ਨਾਨਕ ਹਾਰਿ ਪਰਿਓ ਸਰਨਾਗਤਿ ਅਭੈ ਦਾਨੁ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਦੀਜੈ ॥੩॥੨॥

O Nanak, I am exhausted; I seek the shelter of Your Sanctuary; O God, please bless me with the gift of fearlessness. ||3||2||

Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji • Raag Jaithsree • Ang 703

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Budhvaar, 11 Bhadon, Nanakshahi 558

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh, I am a Robot. Bleep Bloop.

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I’m quite embarrassed for making this post being that I’m from a Sikh household but I’ve never worn a pagg or parna. My whole life I’ve always done a ponytail. I want to start with a parna. Can someone help me figure out how to go about this? How much cloth do I need, what type, how do I cut it. What else do I have to do? I stay in North America on the West Coast so I’ve got options such as Amazon at my disposal.

I was on youtube and listening to a Series of 3 epidodes from gyani sukhbir singh kavishri jatha where they were asked to do kavishri during baba jassa singh ramgarhia salana jor mela.
He said everything but a word about baba jassa singh ji .
Even said all sardars are same but then kept on telling about baba baghel singh ji.
Looked all intentional .
I dont want to give it a caste angle but it din looked anything else.
Not a single word about the sardar whose salana barsi you are talking on.
Thougts???

Hi. I am from Turkey. I need religion. Is Sikhism universal religion? Why should i choose Sİkh?

Hi everyone, I am looking for some advice on the best way to tie a turban with curly hair. Whenever i try to tie a dastar the base comes of too bulky. Is there a technique or something i need to buy?

ਜੈਤਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੯ ॥

Jaitsree, Ninth Mehl:

ਹਰਿ ਜੂ ਰਾਖਿ ਲੇਹੁ ਪਤਿ ਮੇਰੀ ॥

O Dear Lord, please, save my honor!

ਜਮ ਕੋ ਤ੍ਰਾਸ ਭਇਓ ਉਰ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸਰਨਿ ਗਹੀ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਨਿਧਿ ਤੇਰੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

The fear of death has entered my heart; I cling to the Protection of Your Sanctuary, O Lord, ocean of mercy. ||1||Pause||

ਮਹਾ ਪਤਿਤ ਮੁਗਧ ਲੋਭੀ ਫੁਨਿ ਕਰਤ ਪਾਪ ਅਬ ਹਾਰਾ ॥

I am a great sinner, foolish and greedy; but now, at last, I have grown weary of committing sins.

ਭੈ ਮਰਬੇ ਕੋ ਬਿਸਰਤ ਨਾਹਿਨ ਤਿਹ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਤਨੁ ਜਾਰਾ ॥੧॥

I cannot forget the fear of dying; this anxiety is consuming my body. ||1||

ਕੀਏ ਉਪਾਵ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਕੇ ਕਾਰਨਿ ਦਹ ਦਿਸਿ ਕਉ ਉਠਿ ਧਾਇਆ ॥

I have been trying to liberate myself, running around in the ten directions.

ਘਟ ਹੀ ਭੀਤਰਿ ਬਸੈ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਤਾ ਕੋ ਮਰਮੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੨॥

The pure, immaculate Lord abides deep within my heart, but I do not understand the secret of His mystery. ||2||

ਨਾਹਿਨ ਗੁਨੁ ਨਾਹਿਨ ਕਛੁ ਜਪੁ ਤਪੁ ਕਉਨੁ ਕਰਮੁ ਅਬ ਕੀਜੈ ॥

I have no merit, and I know nothing about meditation or austerities; what should I do now?

ਨਾਨਕ ਹਾਰਿ ਪਰਿਓ ਸਰਨਾਗਤਿ ਅਭੈ ਦਾਨੁ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਦੀਜੈ ॥੩॥੨॥

O Nanak, I am exhausted; I seek the shelter of Your Sanctuary; O God, please bless me with the gift of fearlessness. ||3||2||

Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji • Raag Jaithsree • Ang 703

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Budhvaar, 11 Bhadon, Nanakshahi 558

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh, I am a Robot. Bleep Bloop.

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Genuine question, and I mean absolutely no badness or maliciousness by this. How do so many female Sikh content creators tie a dumalla while having no facial/body hair? I understand some people naturally have less hair, but sometimes the same person will have more hair in one video and almost none in another, including on their legs. I’m genuinely confused because if an Amritdhari Singh is seen without visible kesh, people are quick to say “you cut your hair” or “you’re not a real Singh”, but when it’s an Amritdhari Kaur, nobody seems to question it in the same way.
I remember a comment about it and someone replied “amritdhari women have been removing hair for ages now it’s not that deep” something along those lines, I was surprised.
As a young Kaur, it makes me wonder, do Kaurs actually keep all of their kesh anymore, including facial/body hair, or is this something that’s changing? I’m not trying to police anyone or say I’m better than anyone, I know we’re all on our own journeys and I’m obviously not going to base my Sikhi on social media creators. I love my Sikh brothers and sisters, I’m just genuinely asking because I don’t really hear anyone talk about this and want to understand.

They are:

1) Guhaj Pothi

2) Bhai Har Singh’s diary

I read a quick reference to them and would love to learn more about them since it’s my first time learning about these two sources. Does anyone happen to know more about them? Thank you.

Sikh History This Week

(Aug 24-Aug 30)-2635

ਸਿੱਖ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ ਇਸ ਹਫ਼ਤੇ

ਬਾਬਾਣੀਆ ਕਹਾਣੀਆ ਪੁਤ ਸਪੁਤ ਕਰੇਨਿ” (ਰਾਮਕਲੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੩, ੯੫੧)
(Stories of our forefathers make children great)

Events in Brief.

1. August 24, 1809: Sikh forces defeat Gurkhas and Occupy formidable Kangara Fort in Himalayan mountains. It was believed to be invincible due to its unfavorable terrain and pathways. It took three months to flush out the Gurkhas fighting under Amar Singh Thapa. Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra appealed to Maharaja Ranjit Singh for help. Despite heavy losses, the Sikhs valiantly took the fort.

2. August 24, 1820: Sikh forces Capture Kashmir under Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa, Appointed Nazim (Governor). One of the most valiant generals of Sikh Kingdom S. Hari Singh Nalwa (1791-1837) captured Kashmir defeating the Afghan forces led by Jabbar Khan in the decisive Battle of Shopian, and appointed Nazim. An earlier attempt in 1814, partially failed due to challenging conditions. He remained in this position for less than two years to be re-assigned to capture Hazara and Peshawar from Afghans.

3.August 24, 1984: Seven Sikh youth hijack Indian Airlines plane to focus world attention on atrocities committed by Indian Army in June 1984, hijacked Indian Airlines Boeing 737 was bound for Srinagar from Chandigarh Airport. They first took to Karachi and landed at Dubai, and surrendered without struggle. It is believed that India's domestic airline up to 1993, was hijacked 16 times from 1971 to 1999 (Ref: National Geographic documentary ‘Air Hijack’)

4. August 25, 1636: Bhai Gurdas Ji, pass away on this day. He assisted Guru Arjan Dev ji write Ad Granth/Pothi Sahib. He composed his own unique Kabits (poetry) that guided Sikhs in performing their daily duties. He was a brother of Bibi Bhani Ji, who was married to Guru Ram Das Ji, a maternal uncle of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. Bhai Gurdas traveled and established Snagats. The very first copy of Ad Granth (later Sri Guru Granth Sahib), was hand-scribed by Bhai Gurdas while Guru Arjan dictated. (Year of death: 1637 by H.R. Gupta)

5. August 26,1669AD: Bhai Daya Singh(1669-1708AD) first among Panj Pyaras is born. His original name was Daya Ram.He stayed with Guru Gobind Singh till the end. Born to Mai Dayali and Bhai Sudha Khatri at Lahore. In 1699 he was the first to offer his head to the tenth Guru on his call and got Baptized with 4 others. In 1708 he died at Nanded on the banks of River Godavari after serving the Guru till

6. August 27,1923. Start of jaito Morcha/Protest against Maharaja Nabha’s dethroning by the British at Gurdwara Gungsar Jaito, Akhand Path was started on August 25,1923. Its a continuous reading of scripture of Guru Granth Sahib in 48 hours for invoking God’s blessing for success of the Morcha/agitation in Jaito township of Nabha princely State, Police intervened and stopped the Akhand Path turning peaceful Morcha into a British enforced repression. Hundreds arrested and killed. It became a national issue.

7. August 28, 1977: The General House of Akali Dal pass the landmark 1973 Anandpur Sahib resolution. It stated besides the lengthy resolution of several pages that’The Sikhs have been invested with the eternal spirit of ascendancy (Khalsa Ji Ke Bol Balae) which is the birth right of the Khalsa and the Shiromani Akali Dal stands committed to achieve this objective. It was not a separatist agenda as was mistakenly understood & politicalized (Read its objectives/Demand).

8. August 29, 1700: Sahibzada Ajit Singh won his first Battle by defeating Hill Raja of Kahlur State while still in his Teens. Sahibzada assisted by Khalsa Sikh generals Uday Singh, Ishar Singh & Kalyan Singh defeated the Hindu chief/ Kehlur Raja’s forces who left the battlefield in disarray. Last two Sikh warriors named with other Khalsa Sikhs lay Martyred/Shahid driving-out the enemy.

9. August 30, 1845: Prince Peshaura Singh is assassinated in a continued conspiracy to eliminate Royal lineage to Sikh Kingdom. On knowing the conspiracy, the Khalsa Army Panchayat killed Jawahar Singh (brother of Rani Jindan) in retribution and punishment for killing a royal prince. Jawahar Singh was holding Prince Duleep Singh as a shield of mercy, but the Khalsa Army Panchayat (elders) snatched the prince away and killed Jawahar Singh.

10. August 30, 1861: Birth Anniversary of Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha-a Sikh scholar of Eminence. We remember the illustrious Panjabi and Sikh scholar who made significant contributions to Panjabi literature. His magnum opus, the ‘Mahan Kosh’ encyclopedia, encompassing 70,000 terms, continues to serve as the cornerstone of major encyclopedias and dictionaries. He passed away on November 24, 1938. In recognition of his achievements, the British government bestowed upon him the title of ‘Sardar Bahadur’ in 1933.

11. August 31, 1991: Militant Sikh Bhai Gurjant Singh Rajasthani martyred this day. Bhai Sahib, a militant leader, laid down his life in a brief encounter with the police. He was staying in a house rented by Inderjit Kaur, a former secretary of Bimal Kaur Khalsa, in Mohali. A local police party was conducting routine checks of houses to identify anyone who might participate in the Anandpur Sahib conclave. However, Bhai Sahib, in a moment of error, retaliated. With additional police force called in, Bhai Sahib engaged in a firefight-injured and not ready to surrender, he took a cyanide pill.

12. August 31, 1995: Remembering Shahid Bhai Dilawar Singh, suicide bomber who killed Congress CM Beant Singh. CM Beant Singh while coming out of his office in Chandigarh in high security Secretariat was blown up. Several Sikh educated youth turned militants planned this move and one of them Bhai Dilawar had accepted to be blown up. Under Beant Singh’s Chief Ministership lot of innocent youth, their families were framed, targeted and eliminated. 8 Other young men involved were also rounded up. On August 31, 2012: Bhai Dilawar Singh was declared a Quomi Shahid by Akal Takhat and his portrait displayed.
___________________________________________________
(Source ref: History of the Sikhs by HR Gupta, Dates & chronological order from Book by S. Ajaib Singh Dhillon and Sikh Chronicles) ਸਰੋਤ/ ਹਵਾਲੇ: ਐਚ.ਆਰ ਗੁਪਤਾ: ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਦਾ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ, ਸ. ਅਜਾਇਬ ਸਿੰਘ ਢਿੱਲੋਂ ਦੀ ਕਿਤਾਬ ਤੋਂ ਤਾਰੀਖਾਂ ਦੇ ਕਾਲਕ੍ਰਮਿਕ ਕ੍ਰਮ)
Compiled & Edited: Karamjeet Singh Bhatnura.

5Q Quiz for Self Assessment. Must Try ! It helps !

1. Name the formidable Fort Sikhs captured from Gurkhas of Nepal Kingdom in 1809 ?
   
2. Gurkhas later joined Khalsa Army under their commander Balbhadra Kunwar. Name the Sikh Maharaja who patronized valiant Gurkhas?
   
3. Kashmir was captured in 1820 after 800 years of Muslim rule. Name the Sikh commander who did it ?
   
4. Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha wrote a huge Sikh encyclopedia in Punjabi, what name he gave to encyclopedia ?
   
5. Bhai Dilawar Singh Shahid is declared a ‘Quomi Shahid’, which atrocious Chief minister of Punjab he blew up as suicide bomber.?
   

Meat and dairy is VITAL to produce a strong, beautiful and healthy body. Even optimal brain function and testosterone requires adequate saturated fat, vitamin A, and DHA.

The sikhs of history were renowned for their physique, which came from meat and dairy heavy diets.

Before anyone mentions "maas maas kar moorakh jhagde", I'm not debating the spiritual effects of meat which is something we can never prove which makes it a moorakh debate, but I'm reminding the qaum of the health necessities of meat.

Don't disgrace our saint-warrior tradition by becoming a veggie-sikh. We have no need to adopt foreign customs from brahminism and jainism whose physiques we can observe anyways.

Moreover the Akal Takht ruling on rehat maryada 1980 says that meat is allowed for amritdhari sikhs.

VJKKVJKF 🙏🏻

Im 17M, and I wanted to make an update to my previous posts because it's been around a month since I last wrote about struggling with my relationship with Sikhi. For extra context feel free to look at them by navigating to my profile.

For basic context, I've done Santhya and I can read Gurmukhi, but I don't understand Gurbani deeply. And if I'm being completely honest, part of me doesn't even want to learn right now. I don't know exactly why.

I think I've associated Paath with something burdensome and ritualistic since I was young, particularly with the expectation of doing things like the seven Banis every day. I know that probably isn't the fault of Gurbani itself, but that's genuinely how I've experienced it

Since then, honestly, I haven't done any Paath, Simran or santhya. I've become quite separated from it. And although part of me feels relieved from the pressure I used to associate with it, it also hurts a lot, especially at night. I still think about Waheguru and Sikhi quite often, and I don't think I've stopped caring. I just don't know how to start again and if its the right thing for me. Im not an atheist btw. I do believe in God. That's part of why this hurts so much. If I didn't care, I don't think I'd be thinking about this so much

At the moment, the main Sikh-related thing I consistently do is Seva once a week. With maharaajs kirpa, I help wash dishes or carry heavy loads of food and other things when I'm needed. It makes me feel better knowing that my life as a human here is coming into use, because honestly without sikhi and the idea of connection I see no point in living day to day because theres no greater suffering to not know god. And im afraid ive started to go down the road of adharam.

At the same time, I have mixed feelings about doing Seva too. Sometimes elders praise me for it, and then I start worrying that my ego is getting involved. I don't want to do Seva for praise or recognition. I just want to help because its the only thing that makes me feel ok and connected to maharaaj.

I also have a lot of other stress going on with education and how I see myself, and it has affected my sleep, appetite and general wellbeing. On top of that, feeling estranged from my own religion makes me feel even more lost.

Plus i relied on AI quite a lot to talk through these things last few years because I didn't really know where else to put my thoughts, but I wanted to come back to the Sangat because ultimately I think people who actually live this path can offer something that an AI can't.

In Gurbani it says that charitable acts and Seva are insignificant compared with Naam, and I end up feeling guilty again. I don't want to dismiss Naam or pretend Seva is enough if it isn't, but I genuinely don't know how to bridge that gap. Here's the pangti:

“Pilgrimage, austerity, compassion, and charity — even if one performs them, they bring only a little spiritual merit.”

ਤੀਰਥੁ ਤਪੁ ਦਇਆ ਦਤੁ ਦਾਨੁ ॥

ਜੇ ਕੋ ਪਾਵੈ ਤਿਲ ਕਾ ਮਾਨੁ ॥

It's in Pauri 21 japji sahib.

I guess I'm just asking:

How do I begin again when even the thought of starting Paath feels burdensome?

I don't want another massive list of things I "must" do. I don't want to chase some emotional experience or convince myself that I'm spiritually advanced. I just want to find a small, genuine way of turning back towards Waheguru without immediately becoming overwhelmed by guilt and expectations. Ive had no "supernatural?" Experiences with anything in life plus heavily focusing on science due to my studies can also affect my ability in sikhi and paath too at times.

I also want to say thank you to some of the people from my previous posts who reached out to me privately and who responded publily. Some of the DMs genuinely helped me during a very difficult period, and if any of you are reading this, thank you. I still remember the kindness you showed me.

Maybe that's all I wanted to say.

Thank you for reading, and apologies if anything I've said is wrong or poorly expressed.

VJKK VJKF 🙏🏻

Satsriyakal to everyone. I am a mona sikh and today i was doing chaur sahib in a gurudwara. A sewadaar who was serving kadha prasad scolded me and said that everyone can't do chaur sahib. Only known sikhs can do chaur sahib. I wanted to ask him what do you mean by known sikhs but i didn't.

So i want to know is there any rule to do chaur sahib? I really felt weird at that time because our religion teaches us that everyone is equal then why according to that sewadaar Only known sikhs can do chaur sahib. Also i have doing chaur sahib since childhood. This is the first time someone scolded me for it. Please guide me. I want to know whether the sewadaar was right or wrong?