Why I wear a Turban?: Difference between revisions
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The reason for this barbaric act? The father Guru would not submit to their fanatical demands – that is, to renounce his faith and join with them in their religion. The ground shook and the winds roared as a display of anger at such a traumatic event – and that against a most saintly and loving soul. | The reason for this barbaric act? The father Guru would not submit to their fanatical demands – that is, to renounce his faith and join with them in their religion. The ground shook and the winds roared as a display of anger at such a traumatic event – and that against a most saintly and loving soul. | ||
When the Guru's son, young Gobind Rai, soon to be [[Guru Gobind Rai]], found out about this tragic occurrence, he asked [[Bhai Jaita]] | When the Guru's son, young Gobind Rai, soon to be [[Guru Gobind Rai]], found out about this tragic occurrence, he asked [[Bhai Jaita]], a witness of the event: "Wasn't there any Sikh in the crowd" – meaning wasn't there any brave people in the crowd who would have stopped such a tragedy from taking place. The answer that was received led to the Guru's gift of the [[dastaar]] as part of the [[Articles of faith|5 Kakkars]] which would change the outward appearance of Sikhs so that they would be sure to stand out in any crowd. | ||
[[Bhai Jaita]] replied, "Guru Ji, many Sikhs must have been there in the crowd, but they could not be recognised." You see, in 1675, the Sikhs were not required to wear a turban. All the Sikh Gurus had worn [[turban|turbans]] but not all of their followers [[Sikhs]] did. | [[Bhai Jaita]] replied, "Guru Ji, many Sikhs must have been there in the crowd, but they could not be recognised." You see, in 1675, the Sikhs were not required to wear a turban. All the Sikh Gurus had worn [[turban|turbans]] but not all of their followers ([[Sikhs]]) did. | ||
[[Image:Bhagat Puran Singh M.jpg|thumb|200px|left|{{Cs|'''[[Bhagat Puran Singh]], World recognised humanist'''}}]] | [[Image:Bhagat Puran Singh M.jpg|thumb|200px|left|{{Cs|'''[[Bhagat Puran Singh]], World recognised humanist'''}}]] | ||
Revision as of 09:52, 19 May 2008
Most people in the west who wear the turban are Sikhs. All Sikhs, but particularly male Singhs are required to don the Dastaar due to the pronouncement in 1699 by the tenth Sikh master Guru Gobind Singh. Dastaar, is the native Punjabi term used to refer to this head dress. Even 300 years on, it is in compliance to the Hukam (or order) of this supreme Sikh leader that all Sikhs today wear the dastaar. It is in honour and obedience to this one person! The Sikh prime minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, displays his sky blue trademark turban out of respect for the Sikh Guru; the famous record breaking, 95-year-old marathon runner, Fauja Singh proudly wears his dastaar in honour of the tenth Sikh teacher; Bhagat Puran Singh the humble humanist and philanthropist used to don a simple turban in respect of the Sikh master. Why do the Sikhs go to all this trouble so many years after the diktat?
The dastaar comes in many different colours and styles and, to the keen eye, each turban is different. Some are simple but regal; others may be bright and sporty; yet others may be stylish and extravagant – each one has its own special and unique statement. Every morning, most Sikh men and many Sikh women, spend some 5 to 20 minutes to comb their long hair and then carefully handcraft their Dastaar the link to their Gurus – a daily reminder of their heritage and its responsibilities. What begins as a simple 4 to 8 metres of plain coloured cloth is then transformed into a statement. Each person is instantly elevated and recognised as different.
While the messages emanating from this simple piece of coloured cloth may vary from day to day depending on the creativity of the individual, the reason for and purpose behind this simple religious garment is a message which never varies for it is an extremely serious message.
For those of you who have no clue about Sikh history and tradition, what follows will be a revelation and a real eye opener – a total surprise.
I will try and keep the history brief so that it does not distract us from the main theme of this article. In 1675 in old Delhi at Chandni Chowk a most horrific event that was to change the course of Sikh history and perhaps the course of Indian history took place. The most pious and benevolent leader of the common people of India, Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded in an open public place by the then ruler.
The reason for this barbaric act? The father Guru would not submit to their fanatical demands – that is, to renounce his faith and join with them in their religion. The ground shook and the winds roared as a display of anger at such a traumatic event – and that against a most saintly and loving soul.
When the Guru's son, young Gobind Rai, soon to be Guru Gobind Rai, found out about this tragic occurrence, he asked Bhai Jaita, a witness of the event: "Wasn't there any Sikh in the crowd" – meaning wasn't there any brave people in the crowd who would have stopped such a tragedy from taking place. The answer that was received led to the Guru's gift of the dastaar as part of the 5 Kakkars which would change the outward appearance of Sikhs so that they would be sure to stand out in any crowd.
Bhai Jaita replied, "Guru Ji, many Sikhs must have been there in the crowd, but they could not be recognised." You see, in 1675, the Sikhs were not required to wear a turban. All the Sikh Gurus had worn turbans but not all of their followers (Sikhs) did.
Guru Gobind Rai said, "Bhai Jaita ji, I will create the Khalsa, who will stand out in the crowd and who will never flinch from performing their duties whatever the odds."
Over the next 24 years, the Guru prepared the Sikhs to reach a high level of consciousness; to become brave and strong; to love truth and dharma more than pleasure and materialist gain. Then in 1699, he announced: "Saava lakh say ek laarrau, tabh Gobind Singh namh kaahaoo" – "When one will stand and fight 125,000, then I shall be called Gobind Singh." In those 24 years he transformed a passive, feeble and subservient people of India into a brave and fearless warrior people who were extremely courageous and valiant but at the same time were compassionate and just – a real Sant Sipahi - a "warrior saint".
His father Guru Tegh Bahadur had sacrificed his live in 1699 in the cause of the path of righteousness when young Gobind Rai was only nine. From that day onwards, Guru Gobind Singh led 'from the front' and taught the Sikhs how to master their balance of saintliness and gallantry; how to be compassionate and to fight for the weak; to be strong but humble. In the days after the betrayal at Anandpur and the broken oaths of the Pahari Rajas (the hill chiefs) and their Mughal overlords the Guru would lose his mother and his four sons as they sacrificed their lives in the cause of righteousness, choosing death in their fight against evil. Though the loss of his family must have weighed heavily on his heart the Guru never failed in showing his people how to follow the path of righteousness. He never wavered in his belief in truth and honesty right to the end.
Though most of his family was lost; his two eldest, teenage, sons martyred in battle; his two youngest sons martyred as they refused to bow to Islam; his aged, weakened and starved mother dying as she heard of her two grandchildren's tortured death, the 10th Guru's spirit was never defeated. He remembered God, even when all wealth was gone; he barely had clothes on his back; most of his companions had perished in battle – what did he say to God – "God, I am not happy with you. I have never done anything wrong. Why are you punishing me like this?" – Most definitely not!
This is the actual Shabad which he sang at the time:
| ਮਿਤਰ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਨੂੰ ਹਾਲ ਮਰੀਦਾ ਦਾ ਕਹਿਣਾ ॥
ਤਧ ਬਿਨ ਰੋਗ ਰਜਾਈਆ ਦਾ ਓਢਣ ਨਾਗ ਨਿਵਾਸਾ ਦੇ ਹਹਿਣਾ ॥ ਸੂਲ ਸਰਾਹੀ ਖੰਜਰ ਪਿਆਲਾ ਬਿੰਗ ਕਸਾਈਆਂ ਦਾ ਸਹਿਣਾ ॥ ਯਾਰੜੇ ਦਾ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਸੱਥਰ ਚੰਗਾ ਭਠ ਖੇੜਿਆ ਦਾ ਰਹਿਣਾ ॥ |
| mithr piaarae noo(n) haal mureedhaa dhaa kehinaa ॥ thudhh bin rog rajaaeeaa dhaa oudtan naag nivaasaa dhae hehinaa ॥ |
| Please tell my dear friend (God) the plight of his disciples.
Without You, comfort of rich blankets is a disease; living in a home is like living with snakes. Our water pitchers are like torturous stakes and our cups have edges like daggers. Neglecting You, is like the suffering of animals at the hands of butchers. My Beloved's straw bed is more pleasing than living in costly furnace-like mansions. |
Remembering the Lord is more important than all the wealth and all relationships in the world! Guru Gobind Singh's contribution to the world has been undeniable and proof of that lies in the accomplishments of millions of Sikhs who everyday wear his token on their head; to honour his life and remember the wonderful example that he set for the rest of us. May his memory live forever! Waheguru.
