Dowry System

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Shabad against dowry

The Sikh Gurus spoke against the common practice of dowry when a gift of money or valuables had to be given by the bride's family to that of the groom at the time of their marriage. Huge pressure was exerted on the bride's family for the extraction of a sizeable fortune at times of marriage. It has been regarded as contribution of her family to the married household's expenses. The Guru's called this giving of gifts an "offer for show" of the guests and a "worthless display" which only increase the "false egotism". Sikhs families were discouraged this practise and slowly this trend has diminished. The following Shabad explains the Guru's position:

Any other dowry, which the self-willed manmukhs offer for show, is only false egotism and a worthless display.
O my father, please give me the Name of the Lord God as my wedding gift and dowry. (4)

- Srigranth Guru Granth Sahib page 79

Lobh the one of 5 evils

Killings due to dowry

Women status in GGS

From woman, man is born

In this Shabad, the Guru expresses the importance of a woman. It begins with the line "From a woman, a man is born" which removes a doubt from the minds of man that they are all a produce of a woman. This theme then continues with the Guru highlighting in a logical sequence the various stages of life where the importance woman is noted – "within woman, man is conceived" and then " he is engaged and married" to a woman who becomes his friend, partner and the source for future generations. So throughout man's life, he is dependent on woman and every critical stage. The Shabad continues, " When his woman dies, he seeks another woman" – so if his wife dies, he may seek another woman and bound to the female gender. In the final lines, the Guru asks: "So why call her bad?" – when even kings are born from a female mother as are other women themselves. The Guru then conclude that "without woman – there would be no one at all". So this leave no doubt in the faithful person's mind that the female gender is critical for the survival of the race and that there would be no one alive without women. The Guru in very simple terms has outlined the importance, the magnitude and value of women and shown how significant a role they play in the propagation of the race.

From woman, man is born;
within woman, man is conceived; to woman he is engaged and married.
Woman becomes his friend; through woman, the future generations come.
When his woman dies, he seeks another woman; to woman he is bound.
So why call her bad? From her, kings are born.
From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all.

- Guru Nanak, Raag Aasaa Mehal 1, Page 473

Parayi cheez da khayaal rakho

Love daughter in law as your daughter