COMMON
QUESTIONS
Where
in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib is it written
that we must wear six to seven yards of
turban?
The answer to the question can best be
understood by bringing another question
to our mind, "On which page in the book
"Rules of the Hockey Game", is the uniform
of a hockey team described?" All of us
know the answer is "nowhere". It describes
only the rules and regulations of the
hockey game and is not expected to prescribed
the uniforms of the teams who want
to play the game. That choice, we know,
lies with the organizers of the team.
Sri Guru Granth describes the mission
of human life and teaches us how to achieve
that. Anyone and everyone, of whatever
faith one may be, is welcome to take advantage
of the directions and guidance for leading
one's life on the path described in Sri
Guru Granth Sahib.
In 1699 Guru Gobind Rai founded, Khalsa
Panth, a "team" of the Sikhs under the
"captainship" of the Panj Pyaras and ordered
them to wear the 5K uniform, which includes
the wearing of the turban to cover one's
head. One has a choice to be a member
of the Sikh Panth or not.
Wearing a turban is not the invention
of the Guru; this practice is as old as
the written history of mankind. It will
interest the readers to know that the
Old Testament mentions the requirement
of typing turbans by the priests. "Once
they enter the gates of the inner Court,
they are to wear linen vestments, they
shall wear linen turban and linen drawers
on their loins." Old Test. Ezekiel 44:18-19.
Even in the West, in the so called advanced
culture which does not always respect
traditional values, a bride at the time
of her marriage still feels honored to
cover her head and face by a veil. The
requirement of covering one's head is
not peculiar to Sikh faith; it is an old
worldwide culture of the civilized people.
Gurbaani is concerned only with describing
the mission of human life and guiding
the followers to achieve that goal. It
enlightens the holy path for all of humanity
and tells us how to follow it. It teaches
us how to take advantage of the gift of
human life and enjoy it. In simple words,
Gurbaani, the sacred scripture, guides
all human beings to identify with their
Lord (Father and Mother of all people)
and thus help them to fulfill themselves
by loving Her/Him. Gurbaani guides all
of us, not just Sikhs alone, for this
union.
We, Sikhs, have been designated as the
Akal Purkh Ki Fauj and were given our
5K uniform including the turban. We wear
it not just because we believe in Gurbaani,
non-Sikhs, also believe in the teachings
of the Guru Granth Sahib but because we
are all members of the Khalsa Panth whose
membership requires both males and females
to keep their heads covered.
Sikhs wear shirts, pants and other clothes,
not because it is written in Sri Guru
Granth, but because it is a part of the
culture of civilized human beings. They
wear Turbans and maintain the 5K's, not
because it is mentioned in Guru Granth
Sahib but because it is a requirement
for members of the Panth.
Police, army, and sportsmen all have their
uniform to identify them and remind them
of their mission. They enjoy wearing their
uniform. Similarly Sikhs enjoy wearing
the 5K's, which includes the turban as
their identity and honour. It reminds
them of their mission.
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