Once a Sikh steps out of his house he is destined to face one question. Why don’t you cut your hair? The simple and most appropriate answer to this question is that a Sikh keeps his hair unshorn, as his Guru has ordained it and it is an article of his faith. Most people accept this as a reasonable explanation but there are many who continue to prod further and further and some even go to the extent of making fun. Sometimes these people are unnecessarily vocal and their curiosity is not for knowledge but they have something else up their sleeves. What is really tragic and ironic is that even people who call themselves Sikhs, but do not keep unshorn hair, are asking this question. It is understandable if it comes from a Sikh child who tries to understand the rationale behind keeping the hair unshorn, but the situation has come to such a pass that many Sikh adults are putting this question to their fellow Sikhs who keep their hair unshorn. I have also faced this question many times. An attempt has been made in the following lines to answer this question and to understand the reality behind the concept of Sikh Appearance or Saabat Soorat.

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Abstract

It is often said that different religions in this world are only different ways people take to reach the same destination. It is like saying that God is sitting in some central place and people of different religions are heading towards It from different directions taking different routs. Is this true or false? Do people invariably have to take different routs to reach their destination? Guru Nanak challenged this concept and said that there is only one way leading towards God, and we are all required to walk this way irrespective of the religion we belong to or not. What is that one way? An attempt has been made in the following lines to explain and understand the religion or way revealed by Guru Nanak. It is the way that transcends all religions.

Continue reading “A Religion That Goes Beyond Religion” →

It was a time of great festivity in the household of Mehta Kalu, a prominent resident of village Talwandi. It was the time (1479) when his only son Nanak would be given a Janeu (the sacred thread) to put on by Pundit Hardyal, their family priest. It was the first major religious ceremony in the life of his only son. Lot of preparations were going on. An atmosphere of hustle and bustle was visible all around. A big feast was planned for the event. Lots of relatives, friends and everyone in the village were invited to participate in the event and enjoy the feast.

Continue reading “The Sacred Thread” →