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Summary of Question:	Did Gurus Marry W/In Their Caste?
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Monday, 10/15/2001 3:17 PM MDT

I HAVE READ THORUGH THE QUESTION BUT CAN U PLEASE ANSWER THIS FOR ME. I WAS TOLD WE MUST MARRY WITHIN OUR CASTE. FROM OTHER LETTERS THIS DOES NOT SEEM EVIDENT FROM PAST LETTERS.

I WAS ALSO TOLD GURU GOBIND SAID THAT WHEN SOMEONE IS BEEING PERSECUTED WE MUST NOT DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN CASTE AND HELP THEM WHEN ANY ONE IS BEEING OPRESSED. BUT MARRIAGE WAS A DIFFERENT ISSUE. I WAS TOLD HE SAID WE SHOULD MARRY IN OUR CASTE. IS THIS TRUE.

I WAS ALSO TOLD IN THE GURU GRANTH SAHIB THE CASTES ARE LISTED. IS THIS TRUE. MY GRANDPARENTS SAID TO ME IF THERE IS KNOW CASTE THE CASTES WOULD NOT BE LISTED IN THE GURU GRANTH.

LASTLY DID OUR GURUS MARRY WITHIN THERE CASTES. DID GURU GOBIND SIMGH MARRY A PERSON FROM WITHIN HIS OWN CASTE. I KNOW IM GOING TO BE TOLD THEY MARRIED SIKHS SO IT IS IRRELEVANT IF THEY WERE FROM THE SAME CASTE OR ANY OTHER CASTE AS SIKHS SAYS THERE IS NO CASTE. BUT I WOULD APRRECIATE BEEING TOLD. IT WOULD HELP ME CLEAR UP THINGS IN MY MIND.

THANKS SENDEEP SINGH

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REPLY
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Sat Siri Akaal. The requirement to marry within caste is NOT Sikh. It might be a cultural necessity for Indians/Punjabis, but it is not a Sikh requirement. The 10th Master did NOT insist that Sikhs marry within their caste. That would have gone against all the teachings of the 10 Gurus and Siri Guru that says the only caste is the Lord, and that no one is above another. Why would 10th Master tell people to take care of others no matter who they are but don't ever think of them as family? That makes no sense.

People pervert the Gurus' teachings for their own purposes or because the family and cultural pressures around them are so strong. Check out this paper on caste: http://www.sikhnet.com/s/Castes-HarbansLal

Castes are indeed mentioned in Siri Guru here and there, but they are not 'listed' as such. I am not Indian, but I know I have seen in English translation the 4 main castes referenced, but not in terms that indicate anyone should OBSERVE caste rituals and rules. Quite the opposite.

The Gurus except 4th and 8th Guru married within their caste. As our faith developed, this was not done as a means of keeping caste. Rather, suitable women who were also of the same caste showed themselves or were put forth. Gurus did not accept or reject any prospective marriage mates on the basis of caste, but on the basis of virtues or lack thereof. 4th Guru was an orphan, I don't know if Bibi Bhani Kaur was of his caste or not. 8th Guru died at the age of 7 or 8.

There is nothing wrong with marrying within caste if the two being married love and respect each other. What IS against Sikhi is determining marriage SOLELY on the basis of whether or not both partners are in the same caste.

Guru ang sang,
-DKK