In Sikhism, kesh (sometimes kes) (Gurmukhi: ਕੇਸ) is the practice of allowing one's hair to grow naturally out of respect for the perfection of God's creation. The practice is one of The Five Kakaars, the outward symbols ordered by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 as a means to profess the Sikh faith. The hair is combed twice daily with a kanga, another of the five Ks, and tied into a simple knot known as a joora or rishi knot. This knot of hair is usually held in place with the kanga and covered by a turban.
The 52 commands of Guru Gobind Singh written at Hazur Sahib at Nanded in the state of Maharashtra, mention that the kesh (hair) should be revered as the form of the Satguru (eternal guru) whom they consider as the same as god. For this reason by practitioners they are kept with the utmost respect. This includes regular maintenance of hair which includes but is not limited to combing at least twice daily, washing regularly and not allowing for public touching.
Kesh is a symbol of devotion to God, reminding Sikhs that they should obey the will of God.
Bhai Nand Lal, who was a well-respected poet in the court of the 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, wrote in Persian:[1]
Nishān-e-Sikhī ast īn Panj harf-e kāf,
Hargiz na bāshad azīn panj muāf,
Kara, Karad, Kacha, Kanga bidān,
Bina kesh hēch ast jumla nishān.
[These five letters of K are emblems of Sikhism.
These five are most incumbent;
Steel bangle, big knife, shorts and a comb;
Without unshorn hair the other four are of no significance.]
By not cutting hair, Sikhs honour God's gift of hair. Kesh combined with the combing of hair using a kangha shows respect for God and all of his gifts. So important is Kesh that during the persecution of Sikhs under the Mughal Empire, followers were willing to face death rather than shave or cut their hair to disguise themselves. The people are devout; not cutting their hair is/has been an emblem of their goodwill.
The tradition of keeping hair uncut has diminished in recent times, and it is estimated that half of India's Sikh men cut their hair. Reasons include simple convenience (avoiding the daily combing and tying), following their parents’ lead, and social pressure from the mainstream culture to adjust their appearance to fit the norm.[2][3]
In 2007, an 18-year-old Pakistani, Umair Ahmed, forcibly cut the hair of a 15-year-old Sikh boy Harpal Vacher in a US school. In 2008, he was convicted by the jury of "second-degree menacing as a hate crime, second-degree coercion as a hate crime, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and third-degree harassment,"[5] and was sentenced to probation, community service, and completion of a tolerance program.[6]
In 2009, Resham Singh, a Punjabi student in Melbourne, Australia, was attacked by a group of teenagers who tried to remove his turban and cut his hair.[7]
In 2010, Basant Singh, a Sikh youth in Penang, Malaysia, woke up discovering his hair was cut by 50 cm when he was asleep in his dormitory while serving the Malaysian National Service Training Programme. The incident traumatised the youth and is being probed as ordered by the Defense Ministry.[8]
In September 2012 a member of Reddit uploaded a picture of Balpreet Kaur, a young Sikh, mocking her facial hair. She responded in a calm manner, explaining the meaning of her appearance and the original poster apologized. It then went viral.[9]
References
^Gupta, Hari Ram (1984). History of The Sikhs - The Sikh Gurus 1469-1708 (2008 ed.). New Delhi: Munshiram Memorial Publishers. p. 275. ISBN978-81-215-0276-4.
^Young Men Get Haircuts, Annoying Their Elders. New York Times. March 29, 2007.
^"Indian Immigrant Killed in Ariz.; Man Charged in Slaying and 2 Other Attacks; Racism Suspected". Washington Post. September 17, 2001.
^Pakistani faces 4 years in jail for cutting Sikh's hair
^Elmhurst teen avoids jail for cutting off Sikh’s hair
^"Aussie teens try to cut Sikh youth's hair". Times of India. June 30, 2009.
^. The Star. January 19, 2010. Archived from the original on January 22, 2011.
^Swash, Rosie (September 26, 2012). "The Sikh woman who stood up to online abuse about her facial hair". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
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In Sikhism kesh sometimes kes Gurmukhi ਕ ਸ is the practice of allowing one s hair to grow naturally out of respect for the perfection of God s creation The practice is one of The Five Kakaars the outward symbols ordered by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 as a means to profess the Sikh faith The hair is combed twice daily with a kanga another of the five Ks and tied into a simple knot known as a joora or rishi knot This knot of hair is usually held in place with the kanga and covered by a turban A Sikh man wearing a turban A Sikh boy wearing a rumalThe 52 commands of Guru Gobind Singh written at Hazur Sahib at Nanded in the state of Maharashtra mention that the kesh hair should be revered as the form of the Satguru eternal guru whom they consider as the same as god For this reason by practitioners they are kept with the utmost respect This includes regular maintenance of hair which includes but is not limited to combing at least twice daily washing regularly and not allowing for public touching Contents 1 Significance 2 Modern trend 2 1 Harassment 3 References 4 External linksSignificance EditKesh is a symbol of devotion to God reminding Sikhs that they should obey the will of God Bhai Nand Lal who was a well respected poet in the court of the 10th Guru Guru Gobind Singh wrote in Persian 1 Nishan e Sikhi ast in Panj harf e kaf Hargiz na bashad azin panj muaf Kara Karad Kacha Kanga bidan Bina kesh hech ast jumla nishan These five letters of K are emblems of Sikhism These five are most incumbent Steel bangle big knife shorts and a comb Without unshorn hair the other four are of no significance By not cutting hair Sikhs honour God s gift of hair Kesh combined with the combing of hair using a kangha shows respect for God and all of his gifts So important is Kesh that during the persecution of Sikhs under the Mughal Empire followers were willing to face death rather than shave or cut their hair to disguise themselves The people are devout not cutting their hair is has been an emblem of their goodwill Modern trend Edit A Sikh boy wearing a patka The tradition of keeping hair uncut has diminished in recent times and it is estimated that half of India s Sikh men cut their hair Reasons include simple convenience avoiding the daily combing and tying following their parents lead and social pressure from the mainstream culture to adjust their appearance to fit the norm 2 3 Harassment Edit After the attacks of September 11 2001 Sikhs in the West have been mistaken for Muslims and subjected to hate crimes Balbir Singh Sodhi a Sikh living in Mesa Arizona was shot to death on September 16 2001 when he was mistaken for a Muslim 4 In 2007 an 18 year old Pakistani Umair Ahmed forcibly cut the hair of a 15 year old Sikh boy Harpal Vacher in a US school In 2008 he was convicted by the jury of second degree menacing as a hate crime second degree coercion as a hate crime fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon and third degree harassment 5 and was sentenced to probation community service and completion of a tolerance program 6 In 2009 Resham Singh a Punjabi student in Melbourne Australia was attacked by a group of teenagers who tried to remove his turban and cut his hair 7 In 2010 Basant Singh a Sikh youth in Penang Malaysia woke up discovering his hair was cut by 50 cm when he was asleep in his dormitory while serving the Malaysian National Service Training Programme The incident traumatised the youth and is being probed as ordered by the Defense Ministry 8 In September 2012 a member of Reddit uploaded a picture of Balpreet Kaur a young Sikh mocking her facial hair She responded in a calm manner explaining the meaning of her appearance and the original poster apologized It then went viral 9 References Edit Gupta Hari Ram 1984 History of The Sikhs The Sikh Gurus 1469 1708 2008 ed New Delhi Munshiram Memorial Publishers p 275 ISBN 978 81 215 0276 4 Young Men Get Haircuts Annoying Their Elders New York Times March 29 2007 Pagri not very attractive out of tune with times Indian Immigrant Killed in Ariz Man Charged in Slaying and 2 Other Attacks Racism Suspected Washington Post September 17 2001 Pakistani faces 4 years in jail for cutting Sikh s hair Elmhurst teen avoids jail for cutting off Sikh s hair Aussie teens try to cut Sikh youth s hair Times of India June 30 2009 Minister orders probe into cutting of Sikh boy s hair The Star January 19 2010 Archived from the original on January 22 2011 Swash Rosie September 26 2012 The Sikh woman who stood up to online abuse about her facial hair London The Guardian Retrieved 27 September 2012 External links EditHail Hair by Dr Birendra Kaur in All About Sikhs PDF on the 5 Ks from Sikhnet 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kesh Sikhism amp oldid 1126026749, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
