ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>W&#256JAB UL-ARZ</TITLE> <style type="text/css"> .BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;} .C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} </style><META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD> <BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"> <FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma"> <p class="C1">&#65279<i>W&#256JAB UL-'ARZ</i>, lit. a properly petition, is a section of <i>Sikh&#257&#7749 d&#299 Bhagat M&#257l&#257</i>, also known as <i>Gursikh&#257&#7749 d&#299 Bhagatm&#257l</i>, a manuscript in Punjabi, Gurmukh&#299 script, attributed to Bh&#257&#299 Man&#299 Si&#7749gh (d. 1737) the martyr, who had received the rites of initiation at the hands of Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh himself. Three copies of the manuscript were preserved in the Sikh Reference Library at Amritsar under No. 7398, No. 6140 and No. 751 until these perished during operation Blue Star in 1984. The printed version of <i>Sikh&#257&#7749 d&#299 Bhagat M&#257l&#257</i> however does not include this section. The <i>W&#257jab ul-'Arz</i> also forms part of Bhagv&#257n Si&#7749gh's anthology of <i>rahitn&#257m&#257s</i> entitled Bibekb&#257rdh&#299, an unpublished manuscript of which is preserved in the Dr Balb&#299r Si&#7749gh S&#257hitya Kendra, Dehr&#257 D&#363n.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The text is meant to be a ten point petition addressed to Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh by Sikhs who were not formally admitted into the Sikh fold but who otherwise believed in Sikh teachings and precepts. These ten questions relate to the difficulties in observing the new code of conduct prescribed by Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh for the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 inaugurated on the Bais&#257kh&#299 day of AD 1699. The petitioners requested that the reply should be under the Gur&#363's own signatures so as to preclude any ambiguity later on. In the manuscript, the words "specially signed by the Gur&#363" are added to six out of the ten answers. Two of the questions, for instance, were :</p> <blockquote class="C1"><p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) Br&#257hma&#7751s used to conduct our marriage ceremonies and the Vedic ritual was followed, but now the Sikhs who have undergone the rites of <i>p&#257hul</i> and who keep their hair unshorn say that we should not call in Br&#257hma&#7751s, but should read <i>Anand</i>, along with <i>L&#257v&#257&#7749</i>. We await your order, O' Gur&#363:</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) O' True Master ! We used to feed the Br&#257hma&#7751s at marriages and on death anniversaries. Now we are required to feed Sikhs alone.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</blockquote></p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Since the replies to the questions tend to allow some laxity to the believer, it has led many to doubt the genuineness of the work. The name of Bh&#257&#299 Man&#299 Si&#7749gh seems to have been introduced merely to lend it authenticity. One of the manuscripts (No. 7398) contained additionally an enumeration of the taboos for Sikhs ; also, directions for them to read Scripture, the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib, with devotion and faith, follow truth and righteousness, to hold no one in fear and by the same token to fear none. Men of good deeds were to be reckoned of high birth and respected, and those of evil deeds of low caste.</p> </ol><p class="CONT">K. S. Th&#257par<br></p><BR> </font> <img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""> </HTML></BODY>