Sat Sri Akal: Invoking the Fighting Spirit entrenched in Sacrifice for the Infinite

Last updated on: November 28, 2011 at 7:47 pm by Desh Kapoor

Sat Sri Akal: Invoking the Fighting Spirit entrenched in Sacrifice for the Infinite 2011-11-28T19:47:32-06:00 Desh Kapoor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The beauty of Sikhism is that the teachings of the Gurus is profound and yet simple. The problem anyone trying to walk this path is that one cannot find something “Spiritually interesting” unless it also comes across as profound. So, one tries to make things profoundly complex to give it enough “weight”. And therein loses that which is the core.

I am not well versed in Sikh scriptures nor have I had much knowledge of the history or the spiritual/theological discourse. But I find baani (words) of the Gurus very enriching. One of the things that I was wondering the past week was the reason for having something “new” as a way of addressing. “Sat Sri Akal”, in this case vs “Namaskar”. Now, its not that the Gurus were against Namaskar or anything like that. Guru Gobind Singh himself addresses his way of respect the Cosmic/Infinite God with a “namaskar” in his own prayer (Benti Chaupaee).

jvan kal jogi siv kio. baid raj brahma joo thio. jvn kal sabh lok svara. namaskar hai taeh hmara

namaskar tis hi ko hamari. skal prja jin aap svari. sivkn ko siv gun sukh dio. sttrun ko pul mo bdh kio

What would he be trying to denote when the call of Sat Sri Akal first resounded? Now, Sikhism is a unique mix of Bhakti Yogis taking on the sword to honor their karmic situation. So, Sikh Gurus approached war with spiritual sensitivity.

In a tradition, where for the love of one’s Guru, the disciples gave their lives – often tortured in the most horrific ways – it was important that the same element of sacrifice be invoked in the war. When the war is fought – consciously – not for one’s own gain, but because it needs to be done due to the situation, then the war cry had to be different.

And nothing exemplifies it more that the Sikh war cry itself. Sat Sri Akal, Jo Bhole So Nihaal. The Way I understood it by looking at its literal meaning which is simple yet profound!

That which is Sat (Satyam, the Truth), that which is Sri (Sundaram, the Beauty) and that which is Akal (Shivam, the Timeless). When it says/calls “Jo Bole” (the voice of the Infinite, Timeless Truth will be in form of the Cosmic Law or the Hukam or Dharma), then I be so without intervention “So Nihaal” (when the ego of the “me” doesn’t interfere in my action, and my action is of the situation).

This saluation, which became the war cry of many Sikhs – was to invoke the sacrificing tendency of a disciple firmly entrenched in the love of his Master, so that he may fight but not for his personal reasons. For general good and because the situation demands it. If the situation didn’t demand it, such a Sikh would be contented to live as a Saint. In its spiritual sense, it is very similar to Namaskar, in that when just “Sat Sri Akal” may be used as a salutation, one is reminded that the “other” is One Truth/Beauty/Timeless reality.

This one salutation, if properly understood in its profundity, can take one beyond all limitations of physical and mental constructs… to the timeless state of being. In it is hidden the message that even war cannot be waged for one’s personal ego or good. It brings out the beauty of Sikh teachings. Simple, yet profound!

Special Stories

Spirituality

Previous Post

November 28, 2011

Non-Indian Hindus Interviews #3: The White Hindu: Ambaa

Next Post

November 29, 2011 Perceptions and Value: When a World Class Violin Prodigy played a $3.5 mn violin at a Metro Station

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Aarti Achievement and Leadership AfPak Africa Annual and Year-end Asia Audio Australia Behavioural Sciences Bhagwad Gita Bhagwad Gita Blogging Blogs Business Business Intelligence Business Strategy Cannes Careers Chanakya China Conservation Corruption Creative Daily Links Desh Poems Development & Welfare Devotional Audio Devotional Songs Drama Earth Economics Education Entertainment Environment Europe Everyday Quotes Featured Articles Featured Songs Finance Flickr Pictures Food Geo-Political Global Warming Globalization Health & Medicine Hinduism Historic History Humour India Indian Culture Indian music Indian Weddings Israel Issues Legal Link Love Minorities Misc Motivation and Personal Development Movie Lists Movie Reviews Movies Mumbai terror attacks Natural Disasters Nature News Outsourcing Pakistan Parenting Personal Philosophy Poetry Politics Poverty Quotes Recipe Regular Blog Post Relationships Religion Religious/Spiritual Audio Sciences Showcase Slideshow South Asia Special Stories Spiritual Quotes Spirituality Sports Stories Strategy Technology Technology Terrorism Travel Uncategorized US Video Women Women_s Rights Worship Yoga

Select a Month December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 June 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 September 2014 August 2014 January 2014 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Commanded to go to Nineveh, I fled in the opposite direction on a ship to Tarshish. Who am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jonah Elijah Hosea Jeremiah