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Summary of Question:	Female With Singh As A Name?
Category:	Sikh Practices
Date Posted:	Friday, 3/29/2002 1:26 AM MDT

vaheguru ji ka khalsa, vaheguru ji ki fateh

i have seen many sikh women with the last name Singh, and I heard that some Sikh women actually use Singh as their middle name rather than Kaur.
This is all somewhat confusing to me
Someone told me that instead of Princess, Kaur actually means PRINCE, because the Guru wanted to get rid of the inequalities amongst the genders and propose that women are no lower than men...
However, would it be wrong for me to make my last name Singh? Or my middle name?

I haven't taken amrit yet but what about when I do - or when I'm closer to it? I'm on that path and I've really been thinking about it, does it matter whether I use Singh or Kaur? I know Guru Ji intended Kaur for females.......

But I want to have "Singh" in my name too!!! Being a prince is okay, being a ilon is another thing.. I don't care if I'm a female.. I can still be a lion.. & I wouldn't mind if someone misunderstood me to be a guy if they saw my name - none of this matters to me.... Do you think it'd be okay if I used Singh though?
Or possibly both Singh and Kaur?

Do you have any other suggestions because although Sikhism is equal, I still feel a bit weird about some things. When I mention anything about gender inequalities in Sikhi, people usually give me very practical responses that are backed up with some new reason.... But if I asked those same people this question, they would probably say I should just stick to Kaur.
FOr some strange reason however, Kaur still makes me feel just a slight bit inferior, oh how i wish i could be a Singh.... *sigh*

Thanks for any advice you can supply me with!

Chardee Kalaa!

Vaheguru Jee Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Jee Kee Fateh!

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REPLY
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Wahehguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
Being female does not matter to a Gursikh!
When you take amrit, you become a Princess of the Guru. Kaur means princess, pure and simple. Kaur becomes part of your name, period. Many Sikh women have the name _____ Kaur Singh because their husbands are ______ Singh and when they marry, they take the husbands 'last' name. For example, my good friend is Amrit Kaur Singh; she is married to H. Singh. Like that, you see?

I once knew of a Sikh woman named Singh Kaur! She wrote beautiful sacred music until she died.

There is nothing wrong with adopting Singh in your name. You can be a lioness; the lioness is far fiercer than the lion! She does most of the hunting for the lion and also protects her lion cubs from the father and other male lions. Mai Bhago is but one example of a Kaur who acted like a Singh!

The 10 Gurus were very clear that women are equal to men in their eyes. This has not followed in Sikh practice today, though, if you look at it. It is up to us as women to insist on our rightful place alongside men in our sangats and Gurdwaras. To do this does not mean becoming militant. It means commanding respect by our actions and our seva, and by our devotion. Practice the naam and serve Guru as you choose, and let your lion-heart be a role model for Kaurs everywhere.
guru ang sang,
-D Kaur