Nails

Nail or Nakhun or Nahoon is a hard, horn-like structure at the end of a human's and an animal's fingers or toes.

References in gurbani

The reference to nails is given in guru granth sahib when Bhagat Parlahad was saved by god sent Nar Singh, to kill Deamon Harinya Kashap. he killed him with his nails. Nar Singha used his nails as a weapon, because harinakashyap had been blessed that he could not be killed by any weapon.

In one more place the Nails are Reffered to in gurbani: Where Guru nanak Sahib says Nails of Ahalkars (officials of kings) are like nail of dogs used to give wounds to the poor.

Cutting nail & Hair

It is often argued that Sikhs do not cut their hair so why do they cut their nails. Many people ask why then do Sikhs cut their nails, as nails also grow continually and cutting them is destroying naturality, if they can't cut their hairs then why can they trim their nails?

Acc. to Sant Singh Maskeen, We cut the dead part of nail not the living part like you buried or cremate the dead human. Moreover Nails are not associated with Spirituality, as body hairs are.

Sikhism hasn't written anything directly about cutting nails, but one should take care of his/her body which sikhism says. Cutting Nails is hygenic. moreover long nails also gives problem in routine life.

Sikhs only cut the dead gray part of their nails, not the alive pink/red part. This is similar to combing and removing dead hair while retaining live hair. Just like we do not cut the pink/red part of our nails, why should we cut our perfectly live and healthy hair?

In addition, hair is not a hindrance to anyone. Because hair can be placed in a bun and kept clean and does perform a number of functions, it is only pragmatic to realize that hair is not bad. On the other hand, having long nails is a hindrance to the body. An individual with long nails cannot function and do everyday chores comfortably. In order to ensure that one can perform the tasks of everyday life, the dead part of nails are trimmed.

In addition, whereas the hair grows from a tubular pit (hair follicle), formed by sinking in of the most actively dividing layer of the skin (stratum germinativum) into the lower dermis, the gray part of nails is only modifications of the upper dead layer (stratum corneum). Further, the base of every follicle bulges out forming an inverted cup, which receives blood capillaries for nourishment and nerve fibers to make the hair sensitive. An oil gland, known as sebaceous gland, opens into every hair follicle, the secretion of which lubricates the hair. A muscle is also attached to the base of every hair for bringing about movement. Pigments are added to the shaft of the hair as it grows. None of these features is associated with the dead part of nails.

Structurally, hair is extremely strong, and resists breaking due to its elasticity and flexibility. Strength of hair can be estimated from the following facts, a human hair laid on a bar of steel and then passed through a cold rolling mill would leave an imprint on the face of the steel. A hair of a man’s beard is about as strong as a copper wire of the same dimensions. If a rope were made out of strands of long hair, it would be strong enough to lift an automobile. Dead part of nails, on the other hand, are very brittle and rigid, breaking off easily. Hair are countless (upto 1,25,000 on head region alone), thereby increasing the surface area, as if to meet a specific requirement.

The differences between the two do not end with the structural features. Even the body’s response towards the two is totally different. Our body, throughout life, tries to maintain a particular length of hair. And if the hair is cut anywhere, the body responds by growing it again to the specific length. It clearly indicates the link of the body with the hair all along its length. The body shows no such response to the nails, which grow from birth to death at the same rate, irrespective of whether cut or not. It follows, thus, that cutting of the dead part of nails does not tell on the body at all, whereas, cutting of hair puts extra load on the body. To sum up, if there is anything on the head that can be compared with the dead part of nails, it is either dandruff or dead hair which are removed by combing!

Nature knows best what to discard or retain. Whatever is retained is not without purpose. Hair is a gift from God, not a burden. Guru Gobind Singh Ji, in his infinite wisdom, commanded us to respect hair and refrain from tampering with it. This is the visible token of his affection for us, as well as our faith in him.

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