Why is that in Sikhism you take your shoes off in the Gurudwara or in presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji but not in a Church?
Why is that in Sikhism you take your shoes off in the Gurudwara or in presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji but not in a Church?
Share
We have our living guru
even the other religion know it appreciate it and respect our guru sahibji and bow their heads to the universal principles of Shri Guru Granth Sahib ji
and are waiting when the Sikhs will unveil these principles for the welfare of all well beings
I agree withthe answere above.
Just to add my two bits:
Taking shoes off is a way to show respect to the spiritual authority (even just an authority) one is visiting. It is cultural praactice in India. Not only Sikhs but also Hindus, and Muslims do the same when visiting their spiritual places.
In the west, a simmilar tradition is to take off head covering (Hat) while viditing authority, specialyy spiritual authority.
There is no specific mention in Guru Granth Sahib about removing the shoes in the Gurdwaras.
However to keep the environment clean this practice is going on. Not only removing the shoes even one has to wash the hands and feet so that any dirt and contamination does not spread.
Even when one enters in the special laboratories or computer rooms one removes his shoes for controlling the dust and contamination.
ਬਾਬਾ ਹੋਰੁ ਖਾਣਾ ਖੁਸੀ ਖੁਆਰੁ
ਜਿਤੁ ਖਾਧੈ ਤਨੁ ਪੀੜੀਐ ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਚਲਹਿ ਵਿਕਾਰ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ – 16
The reason most religious places prefer people to be barefooted is cleanliness and because most of the shoes are made of leather which is a killed animal and hence all shoes are not allowed inside the religious place.
This is the same reason why its not allowed in kitchens too.
Also because religious places are abundant with positive energy.
One of the ways of absorbing this energy is by the base of our feet.
When we enter the Gurdwara Sahib bare feet after cleaning the feet, we are stepping into the energy zone and letting the positivity inside our body.
Hence we walk barefeet in the Gurdwara Sahib.