The Sikh Thong

There's a Sikh thong on cafeexpress.com with a Khanda placed on it.

Sikhsangat is, of course, trying to get this banned.

What do you guys feel of the clothing and if possible, the ban on what is purposely religious satire?
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From what I've understood CafeExpress is just a site that allows individuals to sell anything they desire. I don't see there being anything satirical about what's happened here, just someone trying to make a quick buck without realising/totally ignoring the consequences of their actions. I found both the product and the attached description to be extremely insulting.

For those who don't know anything about the Khanda, here's a little bit of info I've tried putting together. Apologies in advance for any mistakes or omissions.

The Khanda has a very special significance within the Sikh faith and it's spiritual significance solidifies the basis and beliefs of a Sikh.It is comprised of 3 parts, the central Khanda (from which the name is derived), the Chakkar and the twin Kirpans.

The Khanda, a large double edged dagger, signifies the divine ability to distinguish truth from falsehood. It is also used during the preparation of Amrit thus carries a very special meaning.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-sikhi-sikhism/1671-the-sikh-thong.html

The Chakkar, a circular weapon, signifies the eternity of God by having no beginning and no end. It exemplifies completeness, oneness and reminder to a Sikh to stay within the rule of God.

The Twin Kirpans highlight the twin philosophy of Miri (Temporal) and Piri (Spiritual) sovereignty.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=1671
They represent a Sikh's commitment to these goals, giving equal importance to both and at the same time going hand in hand with the role of a Sikh as a Sant/Sipahai (Warrior/Saint).

These three put together amalgamate all aspects of a Sikh's belief and is regarded as a highly spiritual symbol which is not to be flouted or taken lightly. It's significance is such that it is placed on the Nishan Sahib (Sikh Flag). It can normally be seen mounted on a long steel pole at the entrance to Gurdwaras, overlooking the building.

Recently, people have begun to misunderstand the importance of the Khanda (and Nishan sahib) and place it on cars, as tattoos, on clothes etc. You can see youth driving along during Vaisakhi waving the Nishan Sahib as a common flag with no respect or understanding as to it's importance. How far and modern we have become when what was once taken into battle, held high with the utmost respect and never allowed to drop, seems to have now fallen to the status of a fashion item.

Gursharan Singh

Could you post the exact link... i am finding it hard to trace...

Aman Ji

The World Sikh Council have contacted CafeExpress and sucessfully negotiated to remove the item from sale, that's probably why you are having trouble tracking it down.

Ban it, and quick.

I believe this item was purely satirical and should not be banned. And I question why Sikhs take offense to it?

My views go along the lines that this is just a mere image or painting of a khanda, and not a khanda itself. We do not idolize any pictures or paintings, whether they be of the Guru or of the 5 K's. Similary to how someone draws a painting on a piece of paper of a khanda, and someone puts it on a piece of cloth, what is the difference?

Suppose someone puts a Khanda on a piece of paper and either burns the paper, or wrinkles it up and throws it away, should we be against them? Has the paper become "holy" simply because someone drew a Khanda on it?

Do we idolize even the mere picture of a Khanda ? Is there no distinct difference between a picture and the actuality of a khanda?

If a picture also symbolizes the same amount, can I not just print a picture of a kirpan and carry it around?

I thought Guru Nanak's message was NOT to idolize pictures or things of that nature, but to keep in essence the reality of them.

Now some may argue on when religious satire can be seen and should be banned. The Behzti play had the actual Guru Granth Sahib inside the what was called a "Gurdwara" where misconduct was taking place. The play abused actual, real kirpans, and other REAL K's.

This, however, is a mere PICTURE placed upon a piece of clothing. How does this violate Sikhi? Aren't we violating Sikhi by claiming that the artist has mixed something holy (picture of a Khanda) with something unholy (a thong) ?

Does a picture become Holy if only Guru Nanaks face crosses over the piece of paper? Do we hold his FACE to holiness? Do we hold the PICTURE of a Khanda to holiness? Or the actual elements of it?

This would be a different issue, if the artist had actual chakkars and kirpans placed and thongs over them, or stepped on to show disrespect to the various elements of the Khanda.

You also mentioned how earlier in the years the Flag and the Khanda were held dearly and never allowed to drop, and how today they are just a fashion symbol. What makes the Sikhs of earlier years any correct in holding a Flag and a Picture of a Khanda correct?

Is a Flag not a piece of cloth? So if a Khanda can be placed on a Flag, that flag becomes holy? But, a Khanda can not be placed on a thong? Is this just personal bias towards what you might believe to be unholy (a thong).

What is unholy and what is not? How does a flag become holy with a mere picture of a Khanda, but a thong not?

When the Khanda was originally created, it was not just a picture of it that was passed around, but the actual elements which were held to either be one of the 5 K's or of high standards which had meaning. All the picture and idolizing of a flag with a khanda on it came well in the later years.

I believe there was a reason as to why an actual kirpan is given during Amrit Sanchaar and not just a picture of it. We do not idolize statues or things which COULD resemble other pieces, we maintain the actual ITEM, which shows our dedication to faith. Theres no symbolic reasoning to a picture of a Khanda except that some people feel the need to hold it to utmost respect and idolize a painting. Besides, that is all that it is, just a mere painting of a Sikh artifact.

I wonder what Guru Nanak would think of this issue.

I agree with S|kH,

What purpose does banning acheive except helps us inflate our own ego which has been 'hurt' due to someone printing a khanda on a thong. It is a tasteless choice and nothing more.

Taliban banned lots of muslim symbols. They even destroyed the old Buddha statues. They banned music. Harmoniums and Tablas( boths' origin is afganistan) were destroyed in the name of Allah. And we all know what happened to them.

Sikhi is not based on any symbols but ideas. If Sikhi teaches us to hold on to our symbols with tooth and nail for our 'salvation', then we should ban all sants and others putting khanda on their turbans, ban all diamond encrusted khandas around the necks.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=1671
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=1671

Now after having done that, lets pause for a moment and realise what we have achieved?

We have achieved nothing but made Khanda a symbol that we want to worship as an Idol.

The symbols given to us in Sikhi are gentle reminders of DO'S and DON'TS in Sikhi life, which should be etched on to our souls so that we can use them in our rehat to make a difference. They only mean something when we use them in our everyday life. Otherwise they are nothing but idols for us to worship.

Tejwant

Although I have heard sound points, you seem to be mixing up the idea of idolising something and respecting something. I would never matha tek to a Khanda but I treat it with the utmost respect. The image of a Khanda is just as important as the actual shasters because of what it represents and not just because of what it is made up of.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=1671

Think for yourself, what do you deem to be respectful for the symbol that represents everything a Sikh stands and lives for?

I feel the only places a Khanda should reside are on a Nishan Sahib or on a turban. Both places demand the highest respect. The Nishan Sahib for obvious reasons and the turban because it is the "crown" on a Sikh's head and represents his honour and dignity.

Remember the Nishan Sahib was not just placed outside gurdwaras but was the also the duty of the "standard bearer", during battle, to keep aloft no matter the cost. There are several accounts of how important this was deemed to be, even by the Guru's themselves.

What makes the Sikhs of earlier years any correct in holding a Flag and a Picture of a Khanda correct?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=1671
I'd have to say it's their willingness to lay down thier lives, and keeping it held high, for what it represented rather than letting it get trampled on.

When I was in the Sikh Society at uni, a point was made never to use the Khanda on posters, leaflets etc because we know they might get dropped stepped on etc. Not out of any "holiness" as you put it but out of respect for what it means to us. There are plenty of other symbols and ideas that identify a Sikh but which don't carry the special significance a Khanda does.

Respecting something to me, means to respect it in its original form.

Not, a picture of it, when you begin to respect pictures and statues which symbolize something else that is achievable in its actual form, you begin to idolize.

Do you believe then, all the pictures taken of the Guru Granth Sahibs should NEVER be discarded, because its just a picture, that clearly depicts our holiest book. They should never be thrown off? I mean, if we show respect to a picture that holds a Khanda which greatly symbolizes what a Sikh for, than why not a picture of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji -- the book that DEFINES what a Sikh stands for?

Your next statement says "You feel...", so your beginning to understand that this subject is something that is relative to ones feeling on it, and therefore should not be banned, as it holds no obsolete ground.

Just as you say the only places you feel a Khanda is appropriate is either under the Nishaan Sahib or on the Turban, I could say the only place I feel it is appropriate is infront of the very innocence and virginity of the female body. Although, this is a very far-fetched example, there is no possible way to prove it wrong, hence limiting your reasoning to something that is relative to the individual human being.

To me, a thong could symbolize the beauty and virgin power of the female body, the innonence held behind it. And to place a Khanda infront of it, would only mean the protection of all innocence to the females, besides we're a religion that promotes equality. The turban may symbolize different things to different people, but it was never a 5 K, and I certainly don't hold it to be one (of course this is a different topic thats been discussed). And, by placing the Khanda ontop of the turban you are placing the Khanda, a sikh symbol, ontop of something that is ONLY of cultural-value. That to me, limits the Khanda's scope, but shall I attempt to get that banned?

So, would you want the Golden Temple stamps that the United States Postal Service is giving out banned also? Because it depicts a Gurdwara that is commonly referred to as the Sikhs holiest shrine? Because, those stamps will eventually be discarded, just like that thong, just like that poster/leaflet.

Anways, what would you do with pictures of the Golden Temple or pictures of the Guru Granth Sahib, or paintings of the Guru?

Just because some artist draws a Khanda, we must respect the piece of clothing its on, or respect the drawing itself? What about a little childs drawing of a Khanda, one could barely decipher that its a khanda, but should we definetly keep it out of respect?


What about a Khanda on a normal piece of paper that is burned, or thrown away? A Necklace like Vaheguruseekr stated?

When you show respect, you always show it to the original thing. Respecting something that merely symbolizes or is a painting or a drawing, is a form of idolization. When Hindus do aarti and perform other ritual deeds infront of a Statue of Krishna, they are not performing it directly to the statue, but to what the statue represents (Lord Krishna). They do not perform those deeds in order to appease the statue, but for the representation of it. To them, Lord Krishna statue represents everything they believe in. The way you refer to a Khanda and how you "respect" it is VERY similar to the way Hindus "respect" Lord Krishna's statues.

Anyways these are just questions which arise in my mind, because when someone takes the necessary attempts to place a ban over something, they must provide logic that is CONSISTENT in every example and can not be cornered, only than is the ban applicable. If the ban has too many holes, its useless. So far, I see this ban as only something a select few would hate against due to personal bias.

I, like you, was enraged when I saw the picture of the thong, and I thought why would anyone want to put a Khanda there? But, I sat down and thought about it, and came with the conclusion of to each their own.