Prohibitions in Sikhism

There are a number of religious prohibitions in Sikhism.

1. Cutting hair: Cutting or removing hair from any body part is strictly forbidden for Sikhs by the Sikh Temple governing board and not the Sikh religious texts.
2. Intoxication: Consumption of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and other intoxicants is not allowed. Intoxicants are strictly forbidden for a Sikh.^[1][2][3]
3. Blind spirituality: Superstitions and rituals should not be observed or followed, including pilgrimages, fasting and ritual purification; circumcision; idols, grave worship; compulsory wearing of the veil for women. Observation of the 5 K's, is not considered blind superstition.
4. Material obsession: Obsession with material wealth is not encouraged in Sikhism.
5. Sacrifice of creatures: Practices such as sati (widows throwing themselves on the funeral pyre of their husbands) and ritual animal sacrifice to celebrate holy occasions are forbidden.
6. Non-family-oriented living: A Sikh is encouraged not to live as a recluse, beggar, yogi, monastic (monk/nun) or celibate.
7. Worthless talk: Bragging, gossip, lying, slander, "back-stabbing", etc. are not permitted. The Guru Granth Sahib tells the Sikh, "Your mouth has not stopped slandering and gossiping about others. Your service is useless and fruitless."^[4]
8. Priestly class: Sikhism does not have priests, as they were abolished by Guru Gobind Singh (the 10th Guru of Sikhism).^[5] The only position he left was a Granthi to look after the Guru Granth Sahib; any Sikh is free to become Granthi or read from the Guru Granth Sahib.^[5]
9. Eating meat killed in a ritualistic manner (Kutha meat): Sikhs are strictly prohibited from eating meat killed in a ritualistic manner (such as halal or kosher, known as Kutha meat^[6] ), or any meat where langar is served.^[7] In some small Sikh sects, e.g. Akhand Kirtani Jatha eating any meat is believed to be forbidden, but this is not a universally held belief.^[8] The meat eaten by Sikhs is known as Jhatka meat.
10. Having extramarital sexual relations^{[1][2][9][10]}

Violation of prohibitions

Not all people calling themselves Sikh subscribe to these prohibitions. The Sahajdhari Sikhs reject most of the prohibitions, e.g. consumption of alcohol, drugs, intoxicants, tobacco , narcotics etc. and eating meat plus extramarital affairs amongst other prohibitions including trimming of hair (Kesh). Some young Sikhs are now cutting their hair to the dismay of spiritual leaders.^[11] According to the Sikh clergy, "the fad among youth to shed the pagri" is being observed more commonly among the Sikh youth in Punjab than Sikhs in other Indian states.^[12]

Nihang Sikhs of Punjab, who are defenders of historic Sikh shrines, are an exception and consume an intoxicant called bhang (cannabis sativa), opium and other narcotics to help in meditation^[13][14][15] saying that it is puratan maryada (Punjabi for "old tradition"). Bhang is common in India; according to a legend, even the Hindu God Shiva was fond of bhang and it became his favourite food.^[16] In 2001, Baba Santa Singh, the Jathedar of Budha Dal, along with 20 Nihang sect chiefs, refused to accept the ban on the consumption of bhang by the highest Sikh clergy.^[17] Baba Santa Singh was excommunicated and replaced with Baba Balbir Singh, who agreed to shun the consumption of bhang.^[18]

The Udasis, who consider themselves as a denomination of Sikhism, lay emphasis on being ascetic, thus violating the "Non-family-oriented living" principle. Sri Chand, the ascetic son of Guru Nanak, was the founder of the Udasi.

References

External links

• Fools Who Wrangle Over Flesh
• Adobe Version of Fools Who Wrangle Over Flesh
• Professor Gurbax Singh Dhillon – Meat Eating and Rehat Maryada
• Video Showing Jhatka at Hazoor Sahib
• The Myth of Goat Sacrifice and Hazoor Sahib
• Tenets of Guru Gobind Singh by Baldev Singh
• Sikh History on Diet
• Sikh Scholar Views on Diet

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