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What Does The Sikh Turban Mean?

RD1

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Sep 25, 2016
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This is such a basic and fundamental question that gets asked. I have heard and read many different explanations for what the turban means, and why Sikhs wear it. Sometimes I feel the answers are kind of “wishy-washy” or not that clear. If someone asked me what does the turban mean, why do Sikhs wear it - I feel I would struggle to give a coherent answer. How to answer this basic question?
 

Original

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Jan 9, 2011
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How to answer this basic question?
..think of three things:
  1. Evolution: the need to protect the head from the scorching heat was an evolutionary act, particularly when humans began agriculture. Classic case is the polar bear for instance, those with thick fur stood to survive and reproduce more offspring than those with thin fur in the Arctic. Similarly, was the case with those humans that flourished into civilisations in and around the equatorial regions and the need to keep a cool head played a significant role in the evolution of the brain.
  2. Religious connotations and the supremacy of the Turban within the hierarchical order [see, Ezekiel 21:26].
  3. Social status conferred to an elite and high serving citizens such as the Monarch and its Counsel.
The rationale behind the turban for the Sikh was to counter the status quo of the ruling classes and breakdown of social and religious injustices of the then Indian Society. Guru Gobind's message was one of "equality" and the removal of inequalities.

Goodnight !
 
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Rajwinder

Writer
SPNer
May 2, 2006
77
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My take not only on turban but other articles of faith is that , Our ancestors analyzed the situation in their time > Gave their view on the situation >. Stood by it > Adopted these articles to represent one or more views that they had. Most of the generations that followed , only did the last step .. so i think you can wear anything , until u believe in it's value , no miracle is going to happen.
 

Harry

SPNer
Jan 21, 2017
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Most of the generations that followed , only did the last step .. so i think you can wear anything , until u believe in it's value , no miracle is going to happen.

Would a miracle happen if you did believe in its value?
 

Rajwinder

Writer
SPNer
May 2, 2006
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This is what miracle means to me "a highly improbable or extraordinary event, development, or accomplishment that brings very welcome consequences" .. and yes i think if u believe in something .. it can happen.
 

Harry

SPNer
Jan 21, 2017
79
39
This is what miracle means to me "a highly improbable or extraordinary event, development, or accomplishment that brings very welcome consequences" .. and yes i think if u believe in something .. it can happen.

How do miracles stand with the Sikh concept of acceptance and all things being equal?
and, its a rather personal question, Do you wish miracles?
 

Rajwinder

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May 2, 2006
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Well i can just compare with the historic events that atleast what i know .. like Somebody thinking about if the current rituals in a religion make sense and challenging them , somebody documenting philosophies of different people regardless of their religion , caste etc , somebody empowering people to stand against the wrong doings and dont hesitate to send own family to certain death and probably there will be many more, to me all these things were highly improbable or extraordinary events which gave birth to a new way of life.

So i do wish personally that these kind of miracles should happen ;-)
 

Harry

SPNer
Jan 21, 2017
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somebody documenting philosophies of different people regardless of their religion , caste etc , somebody empowering people to stand against the wrong doings and dont hesitate to send own family to certain death and probably there will be many more, to me all these things were highly improbable or extraordinary events which gave birth to a new way of life.

Personally I find them neither improbable nor extraordinary, they were the actions of brave people, true people, it took hard work, determination, intellect, spirit, not miracles, surely....
 

Dalvinder Singh Grewal

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Historian
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Jan 3, 2010
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My take not only on turban but other articles of faith is that , Our ancestors analyzed the situation in their time > Gave their view on the situation >. Stood by it > Adopted these articles to represent one or more views that they had. Most of the generations that followed , only did the last step .. so i think you can wear anything , until u believe in it's value , no miracle is going to happen.

In a Hukamnama on Vaisakhi of 1698 AD Guru Gobind Singh all Sikhs to gather at Anandpur Sahib with full hair on Vaisakhi 1699 AD. At Vaisakhi he gave 'Khande da Pahul' to Panj Piaras and gave these instructions as per Bhatt Vahi Bhadson Pargan Thanesar: ........kangha, karad, kesgi, kada , kachehra sabh ko dia. sabh kesadhari kie.....'Guru Kian Sakhian ,Piara Singh Padam, Giani Garja Singh (edited) , Kalam Mandir Patiala,1986, p14.
Kesgi meaning Turban was integral part of Sikhs ordered by Guru Gobind Singh on Vaisakhi 1699 AD
 

Rajwinder

Writer
SPNer
May 2, 2006
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Personally I find them neither improbable nor extraordinary, they were the actions of brave people, true people, it took hard work, determination, intellect, spirit, not miracles, surely....
Personally I find them neither improbable nor extraordinary, they were the actions of brave people, true people, it took hard work, determination, intellect, spirit, not miracles, surely....

I think it's a word and it's how one interpret it's meaning thing .. this also made me wonder .. if on one word there could be so many diff way u can interpret .. with so many words and their combination in religious books .. no wonder we have so many diff people with so many diff interpretations ..
 

Harry

SPNer
Jan 21, 2017
79
39
I think it's a word and it's how one interpret it's meaning thing .. this also made me wonder .. if on one word there could be so many diff way u can interpret .. with so many words and their combination in religious books .. no wonder we have so many diff people with so many diff interpretations ..

interpretation is one thing, as is translation, but words are quite easy to find out what they mean.

According to wikki

A miracle is an event not explicable by natural or scientific laws.[1] Such an event may be attributed to a supernatural being (a deity), magic, a miracle worker, a saint or a religious leader.
 

chazSingh

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Feb 20, 2012
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interpretation is one thing, as is translation, but words are quite easy to find out what they mean.

According to wikki

A miracle is an event not explicable by natural or scientific laws.[1] Such an event may be attributed to a supernatural being (a deity), magic, a miracle worker, a saint or a religious leader.

What if you found that 'You' .... the harry ji that lives beyond the lifespan of your physcial body, is multi-dimensional, and capable of so much more than you currently believe..

if you found this out, whilst alive and in the body....would the things you do (which may appear as miracles to others) ...really be a miracle?...or have you just stumbled across things you just didnt know you could do...but were in fact just normal...your true capability...

what then would we class as miracles? in this case, i would say that miracles do not exist :)
 

jasi

SPNer
Apr 28, 2005
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canada
This is such a basic and fundamental question that gets asked. I have heard and read many different explanations for what the turban means, and why Sikhs wear it. Sometimes I feel the answers are kind of “wishy-washy” or not that clear. If someone asked me what does the turban mean, why do Sikhs wear it - I feel I would struggle to give a coherent answer. How to answer this basic question?

My personal thinking about turban has been a symbol of respect. Guru Gobind Sahib ji added one of norm as a part of uniform of Khalsa fauj with other 4 K. to protect the head during wars which were not like today turban but having large turbans.
 

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