As a young Sikh, I have been pressured by my family to cut my hair despite discovering the importance of keeping it uncut. Conflicting with their reasons for neatness, convenience, education, and official documents, I reached out to my grand uncle who claimed that cutting hair is not explicitly prohibited. I am torn and inexperienced, seeking advice on whether to defy my family’s wishes and keep my hair and beard, and whether Guruji will forgive me. Your guidance and opinions would be greatly appreciated. Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.
As a young Sikh, I have been pressured by my family to cut my hair despite discovering the importance of keeping it uncut. Conflicting with their reasons for neatness, convenience, education, and official documents, I reached out to my grand uncle who claimed that cutting hair is not explicitly prohibited. I am torn and inexperienced, seeking advice on whether to defy my family’s wishes and keep my hair and beard, and whether Guruji will forgive me. Your guidance and opinions would be greatly appreciated. Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.
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Respected Brother,
Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh!
In response to your question, the undersigned wants to say that as understood by the undersigned, a Sikh is a Seeker of Truth and is a student. By imbibing the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib, he has to become a Khalsa i.e. Akalpurakh’s own. Perhaps, you may be aware that Khalsa is a Persian word, which means King’s own land.
Please read two Pangtis of Shabad of Fifth Guru Person Guru Arjun Sahib in Raag Maru, which is located at Panna 1083-84 of Guru Granth Sahib. In this Guru Sahib is teaching us that one is not to disturb the saroop given by Akalpurakh to us. Rather, keeping it as it is, is a way to get respect.
Now, the person who cuts hair and shaves beard, has not imbibed the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib and has failed as a student. Therefore, can he/she be called a Sikh? In undersigned’s opinion the answer is no.
Further, he/she will keep on fighting with Akalpurakh also, in his/her entire life. By doing so, can he/she become Akalpurakh’s own i.e. a Khalsa? So, he/she will be neither here nor there. Please think about it.
Therefore, as understood by the undersigned, a Sikh has to maintain both Sikhi Saroop, as also Character, so that the onlookers can see Guru in him/her.
As regards the situation in which you are in, you have to be very patient and cool but firm on your resolve to maintain Sikhi Saroop. When your family sees your resolve, they will finally give in. May Akalpurakh bless you with Chardi Kala, to enable you to achieve your resolve! This is our Ardas to Him!
I hope it helps. If you have any further questions please do ask. If you find any deficiencies please point out the same for improvement in the future.
Regards,
Your Brother
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ਨਾਪਾਕ ਪਾਕੁ ਕਰਿ ਹਦੂਰਿ ਹਦੀਸਾ, ਸਾਬਤ ਸੂਰਤਿ ਦਸਤਾਰ ਸਿਰਾ।।੧੨॥ {ਪੰਨਾ 1084}
ਪਦ ਅਰਥ: ਸਾਬਤ ਸੂਰਤਿ = (ਸੁੰਨਤਿ, ਲਬਾਂ ਕੱਟਣ ਆਦਿਕ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਰਹ ਨਾਹ ਕਰ ਕੇ) ਸਰੀਰ ਨੂੰ ਜਿਉਂ ਕਾ ਤਿਉਂ ਰੱਖਣਾ। ਦਸਤਾਰ ਸਿਰਾ = ਸਿਰ ਉਤੇ ਦਸਤਾਰ (ਦਾ ਕਾਰਨ ਬਣਦੀ ਹੈ) , ਇੱਜ਼ਤ-ਆਦਰ ਦਾ ਵਸੀਲਾ ਹੈ।12।
ਅਰਥ: (ਸੁੰਨਤਿ, ਲਬਾਂ ਕਟਾਣ ਆਦਿਕ ਸ਼ਰਹ ਨੂੰ ਛੱਡ ਕੇ) ਆਪਣੀ ਸ਼ਕਲ ਨੂੰ ਜਿਉਂ ਕਾ ਤਿਉਂ ਰੱਖ = ਇਹ (ਲੋਕ ਪਰਲੋਕ ਵਿਚ) ਇੱਜ਼ਤ-ਆਦਰ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਵਸੀਲਾ ਬਣ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।12।
Further to the explanation given by Respected Kulvinder Singh on the subject of “not to distort our body” we can refer to following stanza of a Shabad given on page 1350 of GGS- ( with thanks from srigranth.org )
ਮਾਟੀ ਏਕ ਅਨੇਕ ਭਾਂਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਸਾਜੀ ਸਾਜਨਹਾਰੈ ॥
ਨਾ ਕਛੁ ਪੋਚ ਮਾਟੀ ਕੇ ਭਾਂਡੇ ਨਾ ਕਛੁ ਪੋਚ ਕੁੰਭਾਰੈ ॥੨॥
meaning that Akal Purakh ie God is perfect creator and all of His creation is also perfect. Even the smallest part of our body has its unique purpose. We should not distort or remove it. If some body part is not required under His ecosystem, God Himself modify it into a vestigial organ eg vermiform appendix ihas become vestigial organ in human body but is functional in some animals to form extreta pallets. So we must obey the Hukum/laws of God. To obey Hukum ie laws of nature is the fundamental doctrine of Sikhi.
regards,
The main target of Gurmat is to understand the Hukam of Akal Purkh and try to become Sachyaar /Truthful person.
ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥ Jap – 1
At the same time we must understand that whatever we do, we should be ready to bear the consequences.
Akal Purkh has created all the body parts with specific purposes. If we play with any of the body parts then we may suffer in the long run.
ਇਹੁ ਸਰੀਰੁ ਸਭੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਹੈ ਜਿਸੁ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਸਚੇ ਕੀ ਵਿਚਿ ਜੋਤਿ ॥ – 309
This refers to not only the hair at the head but also at all the body parts
While fiddling with the hair at any part of the body, we disturbing the equilibrium of the skin.
Hair are live when they are attached to the body. When they are dead, they start coming out. Hence, every Sikh is supposed to comb his hair to keep them neat and clean.
Similarly nails are also live and dead. Pink nails are live and no one can dare to cut them, because they have sense organs. The dead nails are black/brown/white, which do not have sense organs. Hence we can cut them to keep our body clean.
Only difference is that hair do not have sense organs, hence people can cut them without any pain.
But definitely we are disturbing the equilibrium of the body, for which one will have to pay in the long run. Many unwanted elements come out of the body with the help of hair.
In olden days most of the people and the religious leaders used to keep hair. All the Sikhs were having hair as they were taught to understand and follow the Hukam of Akal Purkh.
Please go through the following article for the details
http://www.geocities.ws/sarbjitsingh/Bani9010GurMagPart23D20140724.pdf