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There are a number of religious prohibitions in Sikhism
- Cutting Hair: Cutting hair is strictly forbidden in Sikhism. From your head down to your toes, no hair is to be plucked, cut, burnt or chemically/surgically removed. Kesh (hair) should not to be dyed by any method whatsoever.
- Intoxication: Consumption of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and other intoxicants is not allowed. Intoxicants are strictly forbidden for a Sikh.
- Adultery: In Sikhism, the husband and wife must be physically faithful to one another. People who allow lust to overcome them and violate this rule will not escape the circle of life and death.[1]
- Blind spirituality Superstitions and rituals not meaningful to Sikhs should not be observed or followed, including pilgrimages, fasting and ritual purification; circumcision; idols, grave worship; compulsory wearing of the veil for women; etc. Compare to the Five Ks of Sikhism.
- Material obsession : Accumulation of material wealth has no meaning in Sikhism. Wealth, gold, portfolios, stocks, commodities, and properties will all be left here on Earth when you depart. Do not become attached to them.
- Sacrifice of creatures: The illegal practice of sati (widows throwing themselves on the funeral pyre of their husbands), ritual animal sacrifice to celebrate holy occasions, etc. are strictly forbidden.
- Non-family-oriented living: A Sikh is encouraged not to live as a recluse, beggar, yogi, monastic (monk/nun) or celibate. However, Shrichand, the son of Guru Nanak and the founder of the Udasi Sikh order, was a yogi and was respected by the Gurus.
- Worthless talk: Bragging, gossip, lying, slander, "back-stabbing", etc. are not permitted. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib tells the Sikh, "Your mouth has not stopped slandering and gossiping about others. Your service is useless and fruitless."[2]
- No Priestly class: Sikhism does not have priests, that were abolished by Guru Gobind Singh (the 10th Guru of Sikhism) as he felt they had become full of ego and corrupt.[3] The only position he left was a Granthi to look after the Guru Granth Sahib, any Sikh is free to become Granthi or read from the Guru Granth Sahib.[4]
- Eating meat killed in a ritualistic manner: Sikhs are strictly prohibited from eating meat killed in a ritualistic manner (such as halal or kosher meat), or any meat within premises of langar.[5] In some Sikh groups, ie Akhand Kirtani Jatha, Namdhari or Radhasoami eating any meat is believed to be forbidden, but this is not a universally held belief.[6]
- Having premarital or extramarital sexual relations
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Search&Param=english
- ^ Srigranth.org - Guru Granth Sahib Page 1253
- ^ The Sikhism Home Page: Introduction to Sikhism
- ^ The Sikhism Home Page: Introduction to Sikhism
- ^ "Sikhism, A Complete Introduction" by Dr. H.S. Singha & Satwant Kaur Hemkunt, Hemkunt Press, New Delhi, 1994, ISBN 81-7010-245-6
- ^ "Sikh Identity: An Exploration of Groups Among Sikhs" by Opinderjit Kaur Takhar, pg. 51, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd, 2005, ISBN 0754652025
