Punjab plume controversy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Guru Gobind Singh (with bird) encounters Guru Nanak Dev. An old painting of an imaginary meeting
Guru Gobind Singh (with bird) encounters Guru Nanak Dev. An old painting of an imaginary meeting

In the Indian subcontinent, the rulers have often worn a "kalgi" or plume (a jewelled ornament with one or more feathers) in the front of their turbans ( see Salute Rulers of India). In Sikhism, some of the Sikh Gurus, specially Guru Gobind Singh, are often shown using a plume.

In north India, the bridegoom is regarded to be a king for a day, and customarily wears a plume[1]. However in recent years, the Sikh orthodoxy has started claiming that anyone wearing a kalgi is imitating Guru Gobind Singh [2]. The individuals accused of imitatiing Guru Gobind Singh include:

No contemporary portraits of Guru Gobind Singh exist. The oldest portraits date to 1800s ( [5], [6]), more than a hundred years after Guru Gobind Singh's Sikh ascension into heaven in 1708. For comparison, see Shah Jahan Accepts a Falcon from Dara Shikoh, 1630.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Hindu : Opinion / News Analysis : Politics, religion, and resistance
  2. ^ Punjab faces another religio-political crisis-India-The Times of India
  3. ^ Punjab faces another religio-political crisis-India-The Times of India
  4. ^ http://worldsikhnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=653&Itemid=29
  5. ^ http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/galleries/faith/object.cfm?f=sikhism&uid=033ORI0000II014U00002V00 1800-1850
  6. ^ http://chdmuseum.nic.in/art_gallery/indian_miniature_painting.html 1815-1882