Earrings Allowed?

Okay so the other forum never explained anything clearly to me. I was wondering if a female Sikh woman who has taken Amrit be allowed to get her ear's priced? Vaccines are allowed that make a hole inside one's body but why not earrings? If it's about you cannot wear jewelry I always see Sikh women wearing like rings and such but why not earrings? On one's own will is it okay? On a question I see here "http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110412003414AA1SWSe" people say it's okay but I want to know what you guys feel about this. Many Hindu Devi's take Amrit and they still wear earrings. I also heard a quote "If Hinduism is a Tree, Sikhism is a fruit on the tree" is that quote true? Thank you! I look forward to you're views.

 
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Welcome and thanks for the first post.

I believe the question of body ornaments have been covered in other threads but I don't have a quick reference. If I find one I will edit my post if it helps.

As far as the following excerpted in your post,

Sat Sri Akal.

For your information:

Sikh Rehit Maryada ( THE CODE OF SIKH CONDUCT AND CONVENTIONS )

Section Four, Chapter X
Living in Consonance with Guru's Tenets (Gurmat Rehni)

Article XVI :

( k ) Piercing of nose or ears for wearing ornaments is forbidden for Sikh men and women.

source: http://www.sgpc.net/rehat_maryada/section_four.html

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Can Sikh ladies wear earrings, makeup, and other jewellery?

According to the Panthic Sikh Rehat Maryada, there is no objection to wearing any kind of jewellery by an Amritdhari person provided one does not have to pierce his/her ear, nose or any part of the body to wear it.

ਚ) ਸਿੱਖ ਮਰਦ ਅਥਵਾ ਇਸਤ੍ਰੀ ਨੂੰ ਨੱਕ, ਕੰਨ, ਛੇਦਨਾ ਮਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਹੈ ।
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/questions-and-answers/35511-earrings-allowed.html
"k. Piercing of nose or ears for wearing ornaments is forbidden for Sikh men and women."
(SRM: Ch. 10, Article 16)

Gurbani says:

ਜੈਸੇ ਸੀਗਾਰੁ ਕਰੈ ਦੇਹ ਮਾਨੁਖ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨਾ ਨਕਟੇ ਨਕ ਕੀਕ ॥੩॥
"They may adorn and decorate their bodies, but without the Naam, they look like their noses have been cut off. ||3||"
(Ang 1336)

ਮਾਨੁਖੁ ਬਿਨੁ ਬੂਝੇ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਆਇਆ ॥
ਅਨਿਕ ਸਾਜ ਸੀਗਾਰ ਬਹੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਜਿਉ ਮਿਰਤਕੁ ਓਢਾਇਆ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
"Without understanding (the value of human life), his coming into the world is useless.
He puts on various ornaments and many decorations, but it is like dressing a corpse. ||Pause||"
(Ang 712)

During the olden days, the wearing of earrings and nose rings indicated slavery. The owners used them to identify their slaves. This does not fit in the Khalsa culture. We, the Khalsa, enjoy full freedom and are not slaves of any person or even of any god; hence we feel it degrading to wear earrings.

The reader may be surprised to know that wearing earrings is a recent fad. In early 1960s, when Dr. Gurbakhsh Singh visited the USA for higher studies, he did not see any woman or a girl with earrings. Rather he found, coeds chuckling at the ‘silly’ act on Indian women students piercing their ears and putting rings in them. They believed that it was practice of backward and uncultured people. (In 1961 two American friends of the Dr. Gurbakhsh Singh showed their concern about this hurtful and meaningless Indian custom).
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=35511

What a U-turn fashion has taken now! All females young or old, almost without exception, are now seen wearing earrings. The size and design of the rings have no limits. The earrings have grown long enough to touch the shoulders and they swing around when the head is suddenly moved to left or right. Such fads come and go to be replaced by new ones. Wearing lipstick, earrings, skirts, and keeping long hair by boys is another example. However it is healthier for the mind and convenient for the body to live and dress simply and gracefully.

Those who avoid such fads enjoy greater and everlasting peace of mind and keep themselves free from self-inflicted punishment. It also strengthens their mind to think independently and live as leaders among their peers.

source: http://www.sikhism101.com/node/189

If earrings show slavery then why did the Hindu Devi's/ Dev's wear earrings? o_O Like even before the 1900 I can guarantee in Rajasthan almost every man had earrings. Is it still bad if you wear earrings and pray so much in the day like how it is told to do prayers?

I think that there is one sentence that will cause considerable confusion in this conversation.

As forum member Ambarsaria ji has stated: Sikhism is not the fruit of Hinduism. It is not a form of Hinduism, nor is it an offshoot of Hinduism. In fact, "Hinduism" did not exist as a religion until the time of the British raj. Before that "Hindu" was the Mughal/Muslim term for Brahmins. The British also followed along for more than a century, until the 19th Century when they began to group members of all dharmic religions as Hindus.

Therefore, Guru Nanak would not and could not begin a radical religious and ethical movement based on a "Hindu" religion ...because Hinduism did not exist.

Some "Hindu" swamis and academics even today say that the term "Hindu" is a misleading label for a very diverse group of religions that draw guidance from the ancient vedas.

Now, when we accept that Sikhism is not the fruit of Hinduism, then it does not matter what Hindu Devi's did before, during, or after taking "amrit." It is irrelevant whether they pierced their ears or wore earings. It takes us off track. It is irrelevant to Sikhs.

Next, it is a fact that body piercing is forbidden to Sikhs who have taken amrit sanchar/khande da pahul. That is clearly given in the Sikh Rehat Maryada. There is no use arguing about it, because here again the actions of Hindu Devi's is unrelated/irrelevant.

Yes, Punjabi Sikh women wear jewelry. Jewelry is also a very common way to gift a new bride. The jewelry includes rings, neck chains, wrist and ankle bracelets. Wearing jewelry is permitted. Clip-on earrings and earrings with little screws in the back are permitted. Pierced earrings ....not permitted to amritdhari Sikhs.

Earrings and nose-rings did not only identity slaves. Earrings and other forms of piercings identified membership in yogic cults, such as the followers of Gorakh, who in the times of the Gurusahiban wore huge earrings. To clearly mark the difference between Sikhi and forms of Hindu belief, the Sikh Rehat Maryada forbade piercings.

This was Guru Nanak's point!

Ang 6, Pauree 28

ਮੁੰਦਾ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਸਰਮੁ ਪਤੁ ਝੋਲੀ ਧਿਆਨ ਕੀ ਕਰਹਿ ਬਿਭੂਤਿ ॥
Mundhaa Santhokh Saram Path Jholee Dhhiaan Kee Karehi Bibhooth ||
Make contentment your ear-rings, humility your begging bowl, and meditation the ashes you apply to your body.

ਖਿੰਥਾ ਕਾਲੁ ਕੁਆਰੀ ਕਾਇਆ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਡੰਡਾ ਪਰਤੀਤਿ ॥
Khinthhaa Kaal Kuaaree Kaaeiaa Jugath Ddanddaa Paratheeth ||
Let the remembrance of death be the patched coat you wear, let the purity of virginity be your way in the world, and let faith in the Lord be your walking stick.

ਆਈ ਪੰਥੀ ਸਗਲ ਜਮਾਤੀ ਮਨਿ ਜੀਤੈ ਜਗੁ ਜੀਤੁ ॥
Aaee Panthhee Sagal Jamaathee Man Jeethai Jag Jeeth ||
See the brotherhood of all mankind as the highest order of Yogis; conquer your own mind, and conquer the world.

The pauree is talking about the yogis who made a public show of begging. And, as followers of Gorakh, they were recognized by their earrings. Guru Nanak is saying that symbols of your piety, like earrings, are meaningless, making a show of your poverty by begging is meaningless, wearing ashes, wearing a patched coat, and all of your abstinence from sex, all is meaningless, if you do not see all of mankind as one. The tuk, Aaee Panthhee Sagal Jamaathee Man Jeethai Jag Jeeth ||, is an outright rejection of the caste system, and all that Brahmins stood for (to include Hindu Devis and the yogis as well).
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=35511
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=35511

Therefore, what is or was part of the Brahmin tradition has nothing to do with Sikhi. You cannot use it as back up for the earring question.

How much of a sin is wearing earrings? 1-10 (10=worst)

good question imho.

Im no expert, but from what I understand, to do anything forbidden takes you further away from the light, and to heed the guru's advice brings you closer.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=35511

I would imagine being pierced and wearing rings is an encouragement for at least 3 of the five thieves. I don't believe there are scales to label things, other than how far away or how close you feel to gurmukh.

It clearly all depends on what sort of relationship you desire with the creator, for those who would put it above everything else, there are no grey areas, but the majority of people, including myself, make an effort to follow the way, but as long as it causes as little discomfort to my 'life' as possible. Of course my 'life' is nothing, and ignoring the love I feel, largely pointless without the hunt for way.

So I suppose in some respects its a 1, in some its a 10, depending on why you are doing it, where you are in the process of the hunt and where it leads to.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=35511

I do not speak with any authority of sikhi, just my own interpretation, I am sure someone more wiser than myself will also comment on this