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Bir-asan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bir-asan is a traditional Sikh bodily-pose. It is regarded as a heroic posture amongst Sikhs and symbolizes martial preparedness (Tyar bar Tyar).[1][2][3] According to the Sikh Rehat Maryada of the SGPC, the pose consists of holding the left-knee upright and keeping the right-knee on the ground.[1][2] However, the Taksalis on the other hand practice having their left-knee down and the right-knee upright as the bir-asan pose, a reversal of the form outlined in the Sikh Rehat Maryada.[4] According to W. H. McLeod, the body weight is kept on the right-foot, if the version of the pose has the right-knee being down and the left-knee help upwards.[5]

According to 20th century Sikh writers, such as Kapur Singh's Pārāśarapraśna: The Baisakhi of Guru Gobind Singh, this pose is the one in-which the inaugural quintet of Panj Piare held when they underwent the Pahul ceremony from Guru Gobind Singh.[1] As per Kapur Singh, the pose is well-suited for archery.[1] Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh states that the pose does not have only martial or aggressive meanings but also is a sign of humility and esteem, related to having one-knee on the ground and criticizes "macho" interpretations of the pose that miss the deferential meanings of it.[1]

Those undergoing the Amrit Sanchar baptismal ceremony should be seated in the bir-asan pose when kneeling before the Panj Piare quintet administering the amrit, with the initiate's right-hand cupped into their left-one whilst chanting the Japji.[6][7]

Etymology

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The word "bir", meaning "hero", is related to the word "vir", meaning "virile".[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Singh, Nikky-Guninder Kaur (Feb 1, 2012). The Birth of the Khalsa: A Feminist Re-Memory of Sikh Identity. State University of New York Press. pp. 54–55. ISBN 9780791482667.
  2. ^ a b Fenech, Louis E.; Singh, Pashaura (Feb 1, 2012). "Vows in the Sikh Tradition". In Raj, Selva J.; Harman, William P. (eds.). Dealing with Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia. State University of New York Press. p. 206. ISBN 9780791482001.
  3. ^ Nesbitt, Eleanor (1997). "The Body in Sikh Tradition". In Coakley, Sarah (ed.). Religion and the Body. Cambridge University Press. p. 295. ISBN 9780521783866.
  4. ^ Pashaura, Singh (Dec 7, 2012). "Re-imagining Sikhi ('Sikhness' ) in the Twenty-First Century". In Hawley, Michael (ed.). Re-imagining South Asian Religions: Essays in Honour of Professors Harold G. Coward and Ronald W. Neufeldt. BRILL. p. 39. doi:10.1163/9789004242371_004. ISBN 9789004242364. Second, the Taksal maintains that during the 'heroic posture' (bir asan) the left knee should be laid on the ground and the right knee should be held upright. This is directly opposite to the description given in the standard manual, the Sikh Rahit Maryada, whereby the right knee is laid on the ground and the left is held upright
  5. ^ McLeod, W. H. (Oct 15, 1990). Textual Sources for the Study of Sikhism. University of Chicago Press. p. 153. ISBN 9780226560854.
  6. ^ Bakhshi, Surinder (2008). Sikhs in the Diaspora: A Modern Guide to Practice of the Sikh Faith: A Knowledge Compendium for the Global Age. Sikh Publishing House. p. 227. ISBN 9780956072801.
  7. ^ Sikh Code of Conduct: A guide to the Sikh way of life and ceremonies. Translated by Singh, Harjinder; Singh, Sukha (6th ed.). Akaal Publishers. December 2020. p. 2. ISBN 9781999605247.