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Summary of Question:	Why Hair Cutting Is Banned?
Category:	Hair
Date Posted:	Friday, 1/16/2004 2:27 PM MST

WGJKK WGJKF

I don't understand why is there so much fuss as to not cut one's hair in Sikhism? A lot of sages and rishis in India did not used to cut hair as they were immersed in meditation and penance for years, hence did not bother with it. Guru Gobind Singh Ji laid 5 K's for Amritdhari Sikh. That does not mean that a Non-Amritdhari Sikh stops being a Sikh if he/she cuts hair or commits a sin for cutting it. I understand that Guru Nanak Dev Ji kept long hair to accept the form as given by God and respect it and Guru GobindSingh Ji urged the Sikh soldiers as they would appear ferocious in the battle fields with long beards and mustache etc. Another reason is that a preson may be perceived as vain for cutting hair etc. But, a person can be pious and God loving as well as can cut his/her hair at the same time, what's wrong with that? Are they committing a sin?

Thanks.

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REPLY
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Sat Sri Akal,

You have brought up some good points. You are very right, one can cut his/her hair and still be pious and very God loving. I have met many Christians who look like just another American person on the outside but on the inside are very loving and very in tune with God. Just because they cut their hair does not mean they can't be in touch with God. Cutting hair is definitely not a sin.

The point is that to be a Sikh one must not cut his or her hair. That's the end of the argument. If someone cuts his or her hair, then they are not Sikh. It's not a hard concept. To be a Sikh, one must keep hair. It's a matter of whether someone chooses to be a Sikh or not. There's nothing wrong with not being a Sikh and cutting one's hair. But it is wrong to say that one can cut his or her hair and still be considered Sikh. That is not true.

Gur Fateh,
HSD