What does ‘Langar’ mean?
According to the Rehit Maryada printed by the (SGPC) in 1945, the code for langar is as follows:
English version (It has been tried to keep the translation as literal as possible):
1. The Langar of the Guru (the Almighty) – It has two meanings: First, to teach the Sikhs about the concept of volunteer service; second to erase the doubt (notion) of superiority – inferiority, and untouchability.
2. By sitting in the langar of the Guru without any superiority- or inferiority- complex, a person belonging to any caste or sect, can eat food.
While seating in ‘pangat’ (row or line) there should not be any discrimination about the origin of the country, caste, creed, or religion of a person.
Bhai Kahn Singh Ji Nabha in Mahan Kosh defines langar as “An iron anchor which is thrown into the water to make the boat stand still”. Thus, the anchor of a boat goes to the bottom of the ground. The ground is a symbol of humility. This is the Nishani ( symbol ) of the Gurus Langar. Langar can only be classified as Langar if its eaten on the ground, and only by following the maryada ( conduct) of the Guru do blessings occur.
ਗੁਰੁ ਨਿਮਿਤ ਲੰਗਰ ਕਰਹੁ ਹੁਇ ਕਲ੍ਯਾਨ ਬਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼-
Arrange langar by the Gurus symbol ( nishani) ; therefore, special Kalyan blessings will flow.(Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji- Sooraj Parkaash)
Eating on the ground along with the sangat makes the mind humble. Only those who humble themselves before sangat are accepted in the Gurus darbar. If we want respect and acceptance in the Gurus darbar then we should come with a humble attitude if we have no desire for acceptance in the Gurus darbar then why even come to the Gurdwara Sahib? Sri Guru Ji states
“ਸਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਚਟਸਾਲ ਹੈ” meaning Sadh Sangat is a school.
The Gurdwara is where we come for Sadh Sangat. Sadh Sangat is a school where we learn Gurmat qualities such as humbleness. Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji says only when we become the dust of all do we come close to his side.
ਹੋਹੁ ਸਭਨਾ ਕੀ ਰੇਣੁਕਾ ਤਉ ਆਉ ਹਮਾਰੈ ਪਾਸਿ ॥੧॥
Become the dust of the feet of all, and then, you may come by my side.
History of Langar
The first langar to ever take place in History was during the times of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jis father “Mehta Kalu” gave Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji some money and said “ Son go to the town and buy some goods and resell these goods for a higher price and this will be a true bargain. As Sri Guru Ji headed towards town he met a group of Sadhus who were searching for God. Upon meeting these Sadhus he noticed how they were starving for God, but at the same time they were starving for food. Sri Guru Ji then told Bhai Mardana Ji that this is where he would make his true bargain. Sri Guru Ji then taught the Sadhus about Gurbani and then he offered these starving Sadhus some food. These starving Sadhus became humbled through the Gurus presence. They ate together on the same level of Sri Guru Ji and humility entered their hearts and at the same time numerous sins departed from their heart. Sri Guru Ji believed that the money is well spent on serving those humble beings of God, and this is the true bargain. This is one of the primary pillars of the Sikh faith: to make an honest living , share our earnings with others, meditate on Gods name, and encourage others to meditate on Gods name.
ਘਾਲਿ ਖਾਇ ਕਿਛੁ ਹਥਹੁ ਦੇਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਰਾਹੁ ਪਛਾਣਹਿ ਸੇਇ ॥੧॥
One who works for what he eats, and gives some of what he has earned .O Nanak, he knows the Path. ||1||
Originally the langar was set where sangat would sit on the floor in a line and sangat would be served. There was no high or low everyone sat humbly on the floor. Before the Guru Ka Langar, eating together with other faiths and castes was forbidden. Hindus were divided by high and low caste and Muslims regarded all other religions as infidels (kafirs). The Brahmins would eat first and enjoy delicious foods while the left overs and non-delicious foods were given to the poor. In India there were superstitions about eating along with people from different caste. The Brahmins would eat their food separately as they believed if someone from a low caste looked at their food their food would be polluted.
Bhai Gurdas Ji mentions how Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji humbled both Muslims and Hindus (ਹਿੰਦੂ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਣਿ ਨਿਵਾਇਆ) and one way was through the institution of langar. The historical text “ Gurbilas Chheva” mentions how the Langar would run during the Gurus time.
ਪੁਨਿ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਜੱਗ ਅਰੰਭ ਸੁ ਕੀਨੋ ਚਾਰਿ ਬਰਨ ਕੋ ਨਿਵਤਾ ਦੀਨੋ ਭਾਂਤਿ ਭਾਂਤਿ ਪਕਵਾਨ ਪਕਾਏ , ਜੋ ਹਮ ਤੇ ਨਹਿ ਜਾਤ ਗਿਨਾਏ -Then God ( the Guru) started the preparation of this place ( langar) and sent the four caste to come and eat . Numerous dishes were eaten and there was no sense of caste ( high or low).
Gurbilas also states:
ਤਬ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਸਗਲ ਬੁਲਾਇ ਕੈ ਪੰਗਤ ਦੀਨ ਬਹਾਇ . ਮਨ ਬਾਂਛਤ ਭੋਜਨ ਦੀਯੋ ਗਨਨਾ ( uncountable) ਗਨੀ ਨਾ ਜਾਇ Calling all four caste they came and sat humble together in a line ( pangat) . Cooking numerous dishes there was no distinction between caste/social status.
The Brahmins became extremely angry at the Gurus langar which started to deter the rigid caste system of India . All people were allowed to enter the Gurus langar as long as they sat humbly before the Gurus sangat. Even the Muslim Emperor of India would have to sit on the floor with the common people of India before being blessed with the Gurus presence. When Emperor Akbar went to visit Sri Guru Amar Das Ji for guidance, Sri Guru Ji said before he could meet with Akbar , Akbar would have to sit on the floor and eat with the common people. Even the most powerful man in India would have to humbly sit on the floor before having Darshan of the Guru. How can we expect Sri Guru Jis Darshan if we don’t humble ourselves before him? We can come to the Gurdwara and matha tekh a thousand times to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji but its all a show if one has no humility in the presence of sangat. Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji states
ਹੋਹੁ ਸਭਨਾ ਕੀ ਰੇਣੁਕਾ ਤਉ ਆਉ ਹਮਾਰੈ ਪਾਸਿ ॥੧॥ Become the dust of the feet of all, and then, you may come by my side.
Even Emperor Akbar who was not even a Sikh and had thousands of servants was willing to sit on the floor so he can meet the Guru . Akbar was so impressed with the Gurus langar he donated a large piece of land in Amritsar to Sri Guru Amar Das Ji. Eventually this land was used to make Sri Harmandir Sahib along with the grand langar hall. Sri Harmandir Sahib was built with four doors indicating all are treated as equals in the Gurus house. Also, before we enter any of these doors we must walk downwards to reach Harmandir Sahib. This teaches us to be humble in the sangats presence and be humble when seeking the Gurus presence.
In the historical text “ Mehma Parkaash”, there is an account on one of the langar sevadars during the times of Sri Guru Amar Das Ji.
ਇਕ ਕਰੇ ਟਹਲੀਆ ਲੰਗਰ ਕਾਰ . ਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਚਰਨ ਸਤਗੁਰੁ ਮਨ ਧਾਰ ਲੰਗਰ ਕੀ ਲਖੜੀ ਨਿਤ ਲਿਆਵੈ . ਤਿਸ ਬਿਨ ਗੁਰ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਅਵਰ ਨ ਭਾਵੈ- He would serve in the Gurus langar with his mind lovingly attached to the Gurus feet. He would bring wood for the langar everyday and would not think of anything else but gaining the Gurus vision ( Mehma Parkaash)
The sevadar would not see anyone but Sri Guru Ji when serving others. There was no high or low in the langar hall everyone sat humbly together as equals as the embodiment of Sri Guru Ji. Sri Guru Ji says only when we become humble do we gain his divine vision( nirgun darshan). Only those humble servants who see the Guru in sangat can obtain his vision. For this reason Langar has been set up so sangat sit together as one as sangat is the embodiment of Sri Guru Ji. In Sri Sukhmani Sahib , Sri Guru Ji has praised those humble servants who humble themselves before the Gurus sangat.
ਸਗਲ ਪੁਰਖ ਮਹਿ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨੁ ॥ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਜਾ ਕਾ ਮਿਟੈ ਅਭਿਮਾਨੁ ॥
ਆਪਸ ਕਉ ਜੋ ਜਾਣੈ ਨੀਚਾ ॥ ਸੋਊ ਗਨੀਐ ਸਭ ਤੇ ਊਚਾ ॥
ਜਾ ਕਾ ਮਨੁ ਹੋਇ ਸਗਲ ਕੀ ਰੀਨਾ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਤਿਨਿ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਚੀਨਾ ॥
Among all persons, the supreme person is the one who gives up his egotistical pride in the Company of the Holy. One who sees himself as lowly, shall be accounted as the highest of all. One whose mind is the dust of all, recognizes the Name of the Lord, Har, Har, in each and every heart.
Langar on chairs and tables ?
Now that we have moved to the Western Hemisphere, we have become too arrogant , and we refuse to sit humbly on the floor with the humble sangat. We come to the langar hall with our mind not focused on the Guru , but instead focused on the latest gossip as we chit chat about non sense.
Langar hall is treated as a social buffet instead of a holy place where humble sangat come to eat as one. We even dare come to the Gurus Kitchen with our shoes on and our head uncovered. The Langar Hall is the Gurus kitchen and we should keep this holy place spotless.
When mentioning the maryada in preparing Langar, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji gives Bhai Nand Lal Ji the following instructions.
ਪਹਲੇ ਆਵਨੀ( dhartee) ਸੋਧਨੀ ਕੀਜੈ ਮਲ ਅਸਥੀ ਲੌ ਦੂਰ ਸਟੀਜੈ- First clean the ground of the langar hall , and throw all garbage away from this area- Bhai Nand Lal Ji rehatnama
Langar should be kept clean. We don’t wear shoes in our own houses so how dare we think about wearing shoes in the Gurus house?
ਜੋੜੇ ਚੜ੍ਹੇ ਲੰਗਰ ਵਿਚ ਜਾਏ ਸੋ ਭੀ ਤਨਖਾਹੀਆ – Those who come in the langar with their shoes on are Tankhyia Bhai Chaupa Singh rehatnama
ਜੋੜੇ ਚੜ੍ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦ ਖਾਏ ਸੋ ਭੀ ਤਨਖਾਹੀਆ- Those who eat with their shoes on are Tankhiya- Bhai Chaupa Singh Rehatnama
We go to the gurdwara for spiritual lessons, not for a buffet meal. The ultimate spiritual lesson of langar is utter humility. Where else would you see a corporate CEO, doctor, taxi driver and poor person, or in earlier times a Maharaja and a Guru, all sitting together and not on chairs, or cushions or thrones but on the floor like the poorest of the poor. Gurdwara Sahib is not a restaurant where eating food is the objective and chairs are needed to sit on. Partaking of langar is an essential part of our religious practice of breaking bread with the congregation. Sitting on the floor has its own charm and pleasure; it sends the proper message to all that being humble in the presence of the Guru is paramount.
It is a slap-in-the-face reality check that no matter how rich, powerful or self-important you may think of yourself, in the eyes of Waheguru we are all human beings and we are all equal.
And for those of you who think sitting on tables and chairs in langar is about ‘modern times’, or eating a meal in comfort and convenience, you are completely missing the whole point of this extraordinary gift to us.
Bhul Chuk di muafi