Guru Granth Sahib on Adornment: Difference between revisions
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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 "sīgĝr") 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 ਮਨ ਨ ਪਤੀਆਰਾ ॥ |
| Āsĝ mehlĝ 5. Jao mai kīo sagal sīgĝrĝ. Ŧao bẖī mėrĝ man na paṯīĝrĝ. |
| Aasaa, Fifth Mehl: Even though I totally decorated myself, still, my mind was not satisfied. |
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.
| ਜਿਸ ਘਰਿ ਵਸਿਆ ਕੰਤ ਸਾ ਵਡਭਾਗਣੇ ॥ਤਿਸ ਬਣਿਆ ਹਭ ਸੀਗਾਰ ਸਾਈ ਸੋਹਾਗਣੇ ॥ ਹਉ ਸਤੀ ਹੋਇ ਅਚਿੰਤ ਮਨਿ ਆਸ ਪਰਾਈਆ ॥ ਹਰਿਹਾਂ ਜਾ ਘਰਿ ਆਇਆ ਕੰਤ ਤ ਸਭ ਕਿਛ ਪਾਈਆ ॥੪॥ |
| Jis gẖar vasiĝ kanṯ sĝ vadbẖĝgṇė. Ŧis baṇiĝ habẖ sīgĝr sĝī sohĝgṇė. Hao suṯī hoė acẖinṯ man ĝs purĝīĝ. Harihĝʼn jĝ gẖar ĝiĝ kanṯ ṯa sabẖ kicẖẖ pĝīĝ.(4) |
| Very fortunate is she, within whose home the Husband Lord abides. She is totally adorned and decorated; she is a happy soul-bride. |
also:
| ਫੂਲ ਮਾਲਾ ਗਲਿ ਪਹਿਰਉਗੀ ਹਾਰੋ ॥ ਮਿਲੈਗਾ ਪਰੀਤਮ ਤਬ ਕਰਉਗੀ ਸੀਗਾਰੋ ॥੨॥ |
| Fūl mĝlĝ gal pahirugī hĝro. Milaigĝ parīṯam ṯab karugī sīgĝro.(2) |
| I will decorate my neck with garlands of flowers. When I meet my Beloved, then I will put on my decorations.(2) |
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 ॥ ਪਰਿਅ ਸੋਹਾਗਨਿ ਸੀਗਾਰਿ ਕਰੀ ॥ ਮਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਕੀ ਤਪਤਿ ਹਰੀ ॥੧॥ |
| Mīṯẖī ĝgiĝ pir kī lĝgī. Saukan gẖar kī kanṯ ṯiĝgī. Paria sohĝgan sīgĝr 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) |
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 ਗਣ ਗਾਉ ਅਲਖ ਅਭੇਵਿਆ ॥ |
| Sabẖ kĝm pūrė mil hajūrė har cẖaraṇ sėvak sėviĝ. Hĝr dor sīgĝr sabẖ ras guṇ gĝo alakẖ abẖėviĝ. |
| 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. |
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