Guru Granth Sahib on adornment

From SikhiWiki

SGGS on make-up

There is some confusion within the Sikh community on whether a woman (or for that matter, a man) is allowed to wear make-up or not and if one is allowed to "dress-up" or "decorate" oneself in expensive embroidered Punjabi salwar kameez, Kurtas, sharwani, etc. The nearest word in Gurmukhi to "makeup" or "dressing-up" is "shegar" (ਸੀਗਾਰ or "sīgār") which means "decorate" or "adorn". This article deals with the guidance provided by Guru Granth Sahib and some other Sikh practices. The first thing to note is that if decorating was wrong, then we would not decorate our Guru, the Guru Granth Sahib with such beautiful and expensive rumallas.

What does the Guru say about this matter? It must be noted that there is a fine line drawn on this point in the Holy Scripture and one must be prepared to understand the finer points that are highlighted in the holy text. The Guru clear says that by just decorating oneself, you cannot obtain any long lasting happiness thus:

ਆਸਾ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥ ਜਉ ਮੈ ਕੀਓ ਸਗਲ ਸੀਗਾਰਾ ॥ ਤਉ ਭੀ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨੁ ਨ ਪਤੀਆਰਾ ॥ ਅਨਿਕ ਸੁਗੰਧਤ ਤਨ ਮਹਿ ਲਾਵਉ ॥ ਓਹੁ ਸੁਖੁ ਤਿਲੁ ਸਮਾਨਿ ਨਹੀ ਪਾਵਉ ॥ ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਚਿਤਵਉ ਐਸੀ ਆਸਾਈ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਿਅ ਦੇਖਤ ਜੀਵਉ ਮੇਰੀ ਮਾਈ ॥੧॥

Āsā mehlā 5. Ja­o mai kī­o sagal sīgārā. Ŧa­o bẖī mėrā man na paṯī­ārā. Anik suganḏẖaṯ ṯan meh lāva­o. Oh sukẖ ṯil samān nahī pāva­o. Man meh cẖiṯva­o aisī āsā­ī. Pari­a ḏėkẖaṯ jīva­o mėrī mā­ī. (1)

Aasaa, Fifth Mehl: Even though I totally decorated myself, still, my mind was not satisfied. I applied various scented oils to my body, and yet, I did not obtain even a tiny bit of pleasure from this. Within my mind, I hold such a desire, that I may live only to behold my Beloved, O my mother. (1) (SGGS p373)

On the other hand, in the following Shabad, the Guru tells us that if one remembers the Lord all the time (ie: "within whose home the Husband Lord abides"), then he or she will be "totally adorned and decorated" by the Lord. So if you live according to the Waheguru's hukam, then you may decorate yourself as you like. But remember that without the remembrance of the Lord, the "sheegar" (decorations) will bring no happiness or comfort.

ਜਿਸੁ ਘਰਿ ਵਸਿਆ ਕੰਤੁ ਸਾ ਵਡਭਾਗਣੇ ॥ਤਿਸੁ ਬਣਿਆ ਹਭੁ ਸੀਗਾਰੁ ਸਾਈ ਸੋਹਾਗਣੇ ॥ ਹਉ ਸੁਤੀ ਹੋਇ ਅਚਿੰਤ ਮਨਿ ਆਸ ਪੁਰਾਈਆ ॥ ਹਰਿਹਾਂ ਜਾ ਘਰਿ ਆਇਆ ਕੰਤੁ ਤ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਪਾਈਆ ॥੪॥

Jis gẖar vasi­ā kanṯ sā vadbẖāgṇė. Ŧis baṇi­ā habẖ sīgār sā­ī sohāgṇė. Ha­o suṯī ho­ė acẖinṯ man ās purā­ī­ā. Harihāʼn jā gẖar ā­i­ā kanṯ ṯa sabẖ kicẖẖ pā­ī­ā.(4)

Very fortunate is she, within whose home the Husband Lord abides. She is totally adorned and decorated; she is a happy soul-bride. I sleep in peace, without anxiety; the hopes of my mind have been fulfilled. O Lord! When my Husband came into the home of my heart, I obtained everything.(4) (SGGS p1361)

also:

ਫੂਲ ਮਾਲਾ ਗਲਿ ਪਹਿਰਉਗੀ ਹਾਰੋ ॥ ਮਿਲੈਗਾ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮੁ ਤਬ ਕਰਉਗੀ ਸੀਗਾਰੋ ॥੨॥

Fūl mālā gal pahir­ugī hāro. Milaigā parīṯam ṯab kar­ugī sīgāro.(2)

I will decorate my neck with garlands of flowers. When I meet my Beloved, then I will put on my decorations.(2) (SGGS p359)

Other Shabads

1. In this Shabad on page 394, the Guru says that the Lord, my beloved Husband, himself has decorated the Guru thus:

ਮੀਠੀ ਆਗਿਆ ਪਿਰ ਕੀ ਲਾਗੀ ॥ ਸਉਕਨਿ ਘਰ ਕੀ ਕੰਤਿ ਤਿਆਗੀ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਿਅ ਸੋਹਾਗਨਿ ਸੀਗਾਰਿ ਕਰੀ ॥ ਮਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਕੀ ਤਪਤਿ ਹਰੀ ॥੧॥

Mīṯẖī āgi­ā pir kī lāgī. Sa­ukan gẖar kī kanṯ ṯi­āgī. Pari­a sohāgan sīgār karī. Man mėrė kī ṯapaṯ harī.(1)

The Order of my Husband Lord seems so sweet to me. My Husband Lord has driven out the one who was my rival. My Beloved Husband has decorated me, His happy soul-bride. He has quieted the burning thirst of my mind.(1) (SGGS p394)

2. In this Shabad on page 929, the Guru says that all his necklaces, hair-ties, decorations and adornments (ie. make-up) are singing the glorious praises of the Lord.

ਸਭਿ ਕਾਮ ਪੂਰੇ ਮਿਲਿ ਹਜੂਰੇ ਹਰਿ ਚਰਣ ਸੇਵਕਿ ਸੇਵਿਆ ॥ ਹਾਰ ਡੋਰ ਸੀਗਾਰ ਸਭਿ ਰਸ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਉ ਅਲਖ ਅਭੇਵਿਆ ॥

Sabẖ kām pūrė mil hajūrė har cẖaraṇ sėvak sėvi­ā. Hār dor sīgār sabẖ ras guṇ gā­o alakẖ abẖėvi­ā.

All my desires have been fulfilled, meeting the Lord face-to-face; I am His servant, I serve at His feet. My necklaces, hair-ties, all decorations and adornments, are singing the Glorious Praises of the unseen, mysterious Lord. (SGGS p929)

External Links

• Srigranth.org - search for "decorate"

• gurmat.info
• www.gurbani.org