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Summary of Question:	Is Polygamy Really Forbidden?
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Tuesday, 5/20/2003 3:57 AM MDT

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ke Fateh!

I am writing this letter because I was reading through your archives and found a question that asked that adultry is forbidden. in the response it stated that Guru Gobind Singh Ji maharaj did not have three wives. I often believed that our Guru did have three wives, but looking into it further I realised that the response is true. However it is also well documented that Guru Har Gobind Ji maharaj did have three wives, So when did it really become forbidden to have more that one wife? is it written in any of bani? if this is the case then please clarify. I am asking this question to appease my curiosity, not to discredit our Great Gurus, whom I love dearly.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahegur Ji Ke Fateh!

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REPLY
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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh! The word you want is polygamy, not adultery! Adultery is when a married person intentionally and consensually has sexual relations with someone who is not their spouse. Polygamy means a man with more than one wife.

Guru Gobind Singh DID have 3 wives, as did 6th Guru. This is documented in historical books written by people who were there at the time. There is a large contingent of Sikhs around the world who simply refuse to believe that this was true of 10th Guru. The reasons for it have been covered in this Forum (keyword search on "wives" and "Guru"). Polygamy is no longer considered appropriate or proper and is thus forbidden in Sikhi. (It is not referenced in Gurbani.) Besides which, I don't think there are any Sikh women who would put up with it!
Guru ang sang,
-DKK