Ask Your Question

Revision history [back]

I am disappointed by the response of Guruji's Daughter as Sikhi is not, nor was it ever intended to be, a legalistic faith. Judaism and Islam are both legalistic faiths, and their heavy focus on rules and laws is evident in their teachings.

I think it would be a mistake to see the keeping of hair as normative for all Sikhs, everywhere, forevermore. This is something that was very appropriate for that time when the Guru's lived, in that place in the world (i.e. The Punjab). It is clearly something derived historically from Indian (and specifically Punjabi) culture.

I have been reading the Siri Guru Granth Sahib ji every day for several months now, and studying a daily Hukam, and in none of my readings have I ever come across any mention that removing, dying, or otherwise processing one's hair is forbidden.

In one passage, it does say "They pluck the hair out of their heads, and drink in filthy water; they beg endlessly and eat the garbage which others have thrown away."

But then after that it says, "They remain polluted forever, day and night; they do not apply the ceremonial tilak mark to their foreheads."

So should I assume from this that we all must apply a ceremonial tilak mark to our foreheads? Is that a command from the Gurus? It's right there in the SGGS, after all.

Each person must do their best to judge whether keeping hair is right and reasonable for them or not.

Sikhi is about what's in your heart... how little attachment you have to the things of Maya as opposed to meditating on the Naam. I think it's just as big a mistake to become attached to the idea of keeping hair as it is to become attached to the idea of shaving it off, styling it, or what have you.