Prohibitions in Sikhism
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Adherents of Sikhism follow a number of prohibitions. As with any followers of any faith or group, adherence varies by each individual.
Prohibitions
These prohibitions are strictly followed by initiated Khalsa Sikhs who have undergone initiation. While the Sikh gurus did not enforce religion and did not believe in forcing people to follow any particular religion in general, the Sikh community does encourage all people to become better individuals by following the Guru's Advice (Gurmatta), as opposed to living life without the Guru's code of disciple (Man-mat):
4 major transgressions:[1]
- Hair removal – dyeing, or any other alteration from any body part is strictly forbidden.[2]
- Eating the meat of an animal slaughtered the Sadhu Singh Bhaura dated February 15, 1980, states that eating meat does not go against the code of conduct of the Sikhs. Amritdhari Sikhs can eat meat as long as it is Jhatka meat.[10]
- Adultery: Cohabiting with a person other than one's spouse (sexual relations with anyone who you are not married to- originally a prohibition on sexual intercourse with Muslim women, an injunction was made by Guru Gobind Singh not to seize them during warfare as sexual contact with them was seen as polluting. Kahn Singh Nabha of the Singh Sabha Movement had later inferred that the Guru's command was construed as a prohibition on intercourse with a woman other than one's wife.)[11][12][13][14][15][16]
- Jathedar Santa Singh, the leader of Budha Dal, along with 20 chiefs of Nihang sects, refused to accept the ban on consumption of shaheedi degh by the apex Sikh clergy of Akal Takht - in order to preserve their traditional practices.[26] According to a recent BBC article, "Traditionally they also drank shaheedi degh, an infusion of cannabis, to become closer with God".[27] Baba Santa Singh was excommunicated and replaced with Baba Balbir Singh, who agreed to shun the consumption of bhang.[28]
Other mentioned practices to be avoided, as per the Sikh Rehat Maryada:
- Piercing of the nose or ears for wearing ornaments is forbidden for Sikh men and women.[29]
- Female infanticide: A Sikh should not kill his daughter; nor should he maintain any relationship with a killer of daughter.[30]
- A Sikh shall not steal, form dubious associations or engage in gambling.[31]
- It is not proper for a
- Sikhs cannot wear any token of other faiths. Sikhs must not have their head bare or wear caps. They also cannot wear any ornaments piercing through any part of the body.[33]
- Hereditary priestly class – Sikhism does not have priests, as they were abolished by Guru Gobind Singh (the 10th Guru of Sikhism).[34] The only position he left was a Granthi to look after the Guru Granth Sahib; any Sikh is free to become Granthi or read from the Guru Granth Sahib.[34]
- Blind spirituality: five Ks, however, is not considered blind superstition, as they are intended to help Sikhs in their everyday life.
- Material obsession: Obsession with material wealth is not encouraged in Sikhism.
- Sacrifice of creatures: celebrateholy occasions are forbidden.
- Non-family-oriented living: Sikhs are discouraged from living as a ]
- Worthless talk: slander, "backstabbing," et cetera, are not permitted. The Guru Granth Sahib tells the Sikh, "your mouth has not stopped slandering and gossiping about others. Your service is useless and fruitless."[35]
See also
References
- ^ Sikh Rehat Maryada: Section Four, Chapter X, Article XVI, i.; Section Six, Chapter XIII, Article XXIV, p. 1.-4.
- ^ Sikh Rehat Maryada: Section Four, Chapter X, Article XVI, i.; Section Six, Chapter XIII, Article XXIV, p. 1. & q. 3.
- ^ Sikh Rehat Maryada: Section Six, Chapter XIII, Article XXIV, p. 2.
- ^ "The Multifarious Faces of Sikhism throughout Sikh History". sarbloh.info. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2010-08-18.
A Nihang carries out 'Chatka' on a 'Chatanga' (a specially selected goat for sacrifice).
- ^ "The most special occasion of the Chhauni is the festival of Diwali which is celebrated for ten days. This is the only Sikh shrine at Amritsar where Maha Prasad (meat) is served on special occasions in Langar", The Sikh review, Volume 35, Issue 409 – Volume 36, Issue 420, Sikh Cultural Centre., 1988
- ^ "The tradition traces back to the time of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji who started the tradition of hunting for Sikhs ... The tradition of ritually sacrificing goats and consuming Mahaparshad remains alive not only with the Nihang Singh Dals, but also at Sachkhand Sri Hazoor Sahib and Sachkhand Sri Patna Sahib (two of the Sikhs holiest shrines)." Panth Akali Budha Dal Archived 2010-05-23 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Another noteworthy practice performed here is that a goat is sacrificed on Dussehra night every year. This ceremony was performed on Diwali day this year (Oct 28, 2008). The fresh blood of the sacrificed goat is used for tilak on the Guru’s weapons.", SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS OF THE SIKH COMMUNITY, Dr Madanjit Kaur, Institute of Sikh Studies Institute of Sikh Studies, Madan Kaur Archived 2010-06-12 at the Wayback Machine
- ISBN 81-7010-245-6
- ISBN 0-7546-5202-5
- ISBN 9788173807367.
- ISBN 978-0-8108-6344-6.
The sexual intercourse item, however is evidently a modern development from the 18th century prohibition of intercourse with Muslim women.
- ISBN 978-1-4422-3601-1.
Sources from the 18th century indicate that sexual contact with Muslim women was polluting, and Guru Gobind Singh is said to have commanded that during warfare they should not be seized for this purpose.
- ISBN 978-0-19-099038-1.
- ISBN 978-0-415-24748-1.
- ^ Jakobsh, Doris R. 2003. Relocating Gender In Sikh History: Transformation, Meaning and Identity. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. pp. 39–40
- ^ Sikh Rehat Maryada: Section Six, Chapter XIII, Article XXIV, p. 3.
- ^ Sikh Rehat Maryada: Section Four, Chapter X, Article XVI, j.
- ^ Sikh Rehat Maryada: Section Six, Chapter XIII, Article XXIV, p. 4. & q. 1., q. 5.
- ISBN 978-0-19-969930-8.
- ISBN 978-90-04-24236-4.
- ISBN 0-435-30692-8.
- ^ Hola Mohalla: United colours of celebrations,
- ^ "Mad About Words". Telegraphindia.com. 2004-01-03. Archived from the original on January 12, 2004. Retrieved 2014-01-04.
- ^ "UCSM.ac.uk". Philtar.ucsm.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 2010-10-16. Retrieved 2014-01-04.
- The Tribune. March 26, 2001.
- ^ Hegarty, Stephanie (2011-10-29). "BBC News - The only living master of a dying martial art". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-01-04.
- The Tribune. March 10, 2001.
- ^ Sikh Rehat Maryada: Section Four, Chapter X, Article XVI, k.
- ^ Sikh Rehat Maryada: Section Four, Chapter X, Article XVI, l.
- ^ Sikh Rehat Maryada: Section Four, Chapter X, Article XVI, o.
- ^ Sikh Rehat Maryada: Section Four, Chapter X, Article XVI, s.
- ^ Sikh Rehat Maryada: Section Four, Chapter X, Article XVI, i.; Section Six, Chapter XIII, Article XXIV, d.
- ^ a b "Sikhism Religion of the Sikh People". sikhs.org.
- ^ "Sri Granth: Sri Guru Granth Sahib". srigranth.org.
External links
- Fools Who Wrangle Over Flesh
- Adobe Version of Fools Who Wrangle Over Flesh
- Professor Gurbax Singh Dhillon – Meat Eating and Rehat Maryada
- Video Showing Jhatka at Hazoor Sahib
- The Myth of Goat Sacrifice and Hazoor Sahib
- Tenets of Guru Gobind Singh by Baldev Singh
- Sikh History on Diet
- Sikh Scholar Views on Diet
