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Summary of Question:	Bana Gien By Guruji
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Thursday, 11/14/2002 11:58 AM MST

waheguru ji ka khalsa waheguru ji ki fateh

i wanted to ask that if guru nanak said that there was no need of a spiritual dresses to remember god u just haveto be simple in ur living
then why did guruji give a bana(special dress) to us and is it really necesary to wear it for every sikh
plz post this q n the site

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Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa,
Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh.

Guru Nanak was the first Nanak and, in his time, he taught the foundation of the Sikh life. But even Guru Nanak had a discipline of dress - he asked Mardana to always wear a turban. So there was a reason for it that wasn't ritualistic. The turban has a function. It protects the tenth gate when the tenth gate opens. It actually helps keep your mind clearer.

But Guru Nanak and the succeeding four Gurus were peacful people. They were the "saints." Guru Arjun Dev ji spent five days and nights on the hot plate with burning sand poured over him. Why? Well - there were those who were afraid of the light and the power of the Sikhs. And so Guru Hargobind ji set the stage for us to become warriors, as well. He gave us the concepts of Miri Piri - that we are soverign in the heavens and soveriegn on the earth, as well. This is a radical concept in religion. No other religion claims that spiritually aware people have the right to be rulers on the earth. Most religions teach people to look away from the earth and just focus on heaven and, in this way, the power of the earth stays in the hands of tyrants and egomaniacs. But with Guru Hargobind - he said - no the power of the earh belongs in the hands of those who have a conscious connection with God.

This, of course, was very threatening. And so in the next five Gurus we see the Sikhs going through times of war as well as peace.

Gobind Rai lost his father when he was nine years old. And he saw the fear that Guru Teg Bahadur's martyrdom instilled in the Sikhs. So he had to give the Sikhs an identity that would last them through all the challenges of space and time. He gave them the form of the Khalsa - the one who lives by his or her purity and is willing to fight unto death to defend truth. Khalsa is the warrior saint. And as a warrior in his army, we have a uniform and that uniform is bana. And the uniform is not meaningless - it supports us to be warriors or truth wherever we go.

The kara reminds us that we are a slave to God. And you know - if you truly see yourself as God's slave, you will never ever be a slave to any other person.

The kanga reminds us that we are spiritual people who look good. As nobility, we have to present ourselves well. Even if we have nothing else, that little wooden comb allows us to renew our energy and keep ourselves neat.

Kacheras help us restrain our sexual energy. And again - why is this important? Because a man or a woman who is not in command of his or her sexuality can be manipulated and exploited. If you are in charge of your sexual energy, it can never be used against you or used to destroy you.

The kirpan is our sword of truth. It serves both a spiritual and physical function. First, it reminds us to cut through the falsehood of Maya - both outside of ourselves and within ourselves. Then, on the physical realm, we have a duty to stand up and protect those who cannot protect themselves. We have a duty to defend all people to practice their religion freely. And the kirpan reminds us of that duty.

The kesh is our signature. It shows we are surrendered to the Will of God and, in that surrender, there is tremendous power. Many traditions from all over the world talk about the hair and how it gives physical strength to the body. When we keep our hair, we are accepting all of our strength and we need that strength to live as Warriors of Truth.

So together - we have this uniform that gives us a spiritual and universal identity of a warrior saint. And if you want to be a warrior saint of Guru Gobind Singh, then yes - you have to wear the uniform. But understand the uniform is a gift that empowers you to live the Khalsa identity.

Hope this answers your questions.

All love,

GPK