Question from a satsanggi:
Sat Sri Akal Ji..Would like some clarification. Can langgar be cooked outside like in a home and be brought to Gurudwara and served as Guru ka Langgar?
Thank you.
Bhai Manjeet’s response:
In Gurbani, we are told of the langgar served from the kitchen in Khadur Sahib.
From SGGS Anggs 966- 968.
We are told,
“Langgar chale Gur Shabad Har tott na aavi khatiye” (Ang 967)
ਲੰਗਰੁ ਚਲੈ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦਿ ਹਰਿ ਤੋਟਿ ਨ ਆਵੀ ਖਟੀਐ ॥
(The Langgar, the Guru’s Kitchen was prepared whilst singing the Guru’s Shabads and it never ran out)
Mata Khivi Ji, gave shade/support to many weary visitors and ran the Langgar.
“Langgar daulat vandiye’ rass amrit kheer gheeyali” (Ang 967)
ਲੰਗਰਿ ਦਉਲਤਿ ਵੰਡੀਐ ਰਸੁ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਖੀਰਿ ਘਿਆਲੀ ॥
(The wealth of langgar was distributed including kheer which had generous portions of ghee).
Article 21 of the Sikh Rehat Maryada makes some references to langgar but that provision does not answer your query.
My personal view is that if langgar is prepared by Sikhs at home or elsewhere after Ardas and the substance/essence of the pangtis quoted above is observed, there should be no objection to it being served as Guru Ka Langgar. Only the place of preparation is different. If all other protocols are observed, re cleanliness, vegetarian food, and Ardas before preparing and Ardas in shukrana after preparation and seeking the Guru’s agyaa to use it as Guru Ka Langgar, my view is it can be used as Guru Ka Langgar.
This is in contrast to food bought from any shop. There is no guarantee under which conditions such food was prepared.
Despite my views, Sikhs generally are reluctant to treat food brought from outside as Guru Ka Langgar.
Sometimes it may be practical to prepare the langgar in one gurdwara kitchen and to transport the langgar to the gurdwara where the prayers are to be held. There can be no objection to langgar brought in from another gurdwara kitchen.
Gurfateh
Manjeet Singh
Malaysia
March 21st, 2020
