DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15172#0136
CHAP. V.
SEIK RELIGION.
101
At Mooltan we first saw the practice of religion
amongst the Seiks. In a veranda of the tomb of
Shumsi-Tabreezee, a " Gooroo," or priest of that
persuasion, had taken up his abode since the con-
quest of the city. We found him seated on the
ground, with a huge volume in front of him ; and
a place covered with cloth, like an altar, at one end
of the apartment: he opened the book at my re-
quest, and repeating the words " wa gooroojee
" ka futteh," * touched the volume with his fore-
head, and all the Seiks in attendance immediately
bowed to the ground: he then read and explained
the first passage that he turned up, which was as
follows : — " All of you have sinned ; endeavour
" therefore to purify yourselves : if you neglect the
" caution, evil will at last overtake you." I need
hardly mention, that the volume was the " Grinth,"
or holy book of the Seiks: their reverence for it
amounts to veneration, and the priest waves a
" choury" or a Tibet cow's tail, over it, as if he
were fanning an emperor. The Gooroo was free
from pomp and pride, and gave a willing explanation
to our inquiries : he opened his holy book to ac-
knowledge the gift of a few rupees, that I made in
due form, and requested my acceptance of some
confections in return.
The presence of a Seik priest, and the para-
phernalia of his order, under the roof of a Mahom-
medan tomb, will furnish a good commentary on the
* " May the Gorooo be victorious," the national war-cry of
the Seiks.
H 3
SEIK RELIGION.
101
At Mooltan we first saw the practice of religion
amongst the Seiks. In a veranda of the tomb of
Shumsi-Tabreezee, a " Gooroo," or priest of that
persuasion, had taken up his abode since the con-
quest of the city. We found him seated on the
ground, with a huge volume in front of him ; and
a place covered with cloth, like an altar, at one end
of the apartment: he opened the book at my re-
quest, and repeating the words " wa gooroojee
" ka futteh," * touched the volume with his fore-
head, and all the Seiks in attendance immediately
bowed to the ground: he then read and explained
the first passage that he turned up, which was as
follows : — " All of you have sinned ; endeavour
" therefore to purify yourselves : if you neglect the
" caution, evil will at last overtake you." I need
hardly mention, that the volume was the " Grinth,"
or holy book of the Seiks: their reverence for it
amounts to veneration, and the priest waves a
" choury" or a Tibet cow's tail, over it, as if he
were fanning an emperor. The Gooroo was free
from pomp and pride, and gave a willing explanation
to our inquiries : he opened his holy book to ac-
knowledge the gift of a few rupees, that I made in
due form, and requested my acceptance of some
confections in return.
The presence of a Seik priest, and the para-
phernalia of his order, under the roof of a Mahom-
medan tomb, will furnish a good commentary on the
* " May the Gorooo be victorious," the national war-cry of
the Seiks.
H 3