What is the advantage of being a ‘Sardar’ in this world of fashion?

What is beauty and what is fashion? It is all subjective.

A Sikh does not submit to any power or fashion. A Sikh submits and pleases only Akaal Purakh.

A pig has many children and walks around cities and villages but finds no respect or dignity. However, a lion, although alone and might only have one child, wherever it roams it leaves his presence and shows that he is the king of the jungle.

You either give your head to the Guru and walk this path of Sikhi or you wander around like a Manmukh regardless whether you adorn yourself with the most elegant fragrances, fashionable clothes and beautiful looks. Sikhi is not a shop where you pick and choose and see what is advantage and what is disadvantage. Dharam is a way of life.

You can either think of your looks and see whether you fit in the fashion world or look in the mirror and see the face of Guru Gobind Singh jee. Look in the mirror and remind yourself that your great grandparents are those brave saint warriors who fought against tyrants, who were boiled alive, sawn alive, scalped alive, fought like lions and lived like saints and yet you ask questions like “What are the advantages of being a sardar in a fashion world”? Wake up O Sikh! Who are you!

You are born in the House of Guru Nanak and yet want to walk, talk and look like those who have no direction in life, those who have no Guru, those who’s lifestyle is animalistic, who have no goal, and those who have no peace in their hearts?

ਮਾਨੁਖੁ ਬਿਨੁ ਬੂਝੇ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਆਇਆ ॥
ਅਨਿਕ ਸਾਜ ਸੀਗਾਰ ਬਹੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਜਿਉ ਮਿਰਤਕੁ ਓਢਾਇਆ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
“Without understanding, 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)

Guru Sahib describes those without the blessings of Naam and those who do not Jap Naam:

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)

Who is beautiful? The Creator who created you has made you beautiful. Destroying and dishonouring the body which was supposed to be the temple of God – you think one is beautiful? This is nothing more than being ungrateful. In this world and beyond one’s face is blackened for being ungrateful.

Gurbani says:
ਮ੍ਰਿਗ ਤਿਸਨਾ ਪੇਖਿ ਭੁਲਣੇ ਵੁਠੇ ਨਗਰ ਗੰਧ੍ਰਬ ॥
ਜਿਨੀ ਸਚੁ ਅਰਾਧਿਆ ਨਾਨਕ ਮਨਿ ਤਨਿ ਫਬ ॥੧੪॥
“Seeing the mirage, the optical illusion, the people are confused and deluded. Those who worship and adore the True Lord, O Nanak, their minds and bodies are beautiful. ||14||”
(Ang 1425)

God is Perfect and He created us all Perfect. He gave us hands, feet, beautiful eyes, a nose, and Kesh. The Guru gave us HIS FORM (HIS ROOP). He blessed us children with the priceless form of himself – the Dastaar, the Kirpaan, the Kangha, the Kachhera, the Kara and flowing beard. This is the wonderful Guru Gobind Singh jee! Can any fashion model even compare to Guru Gobind Singh jee? These fashion models smoke, drink, live a life led by lust, ego, vanity, and have no contentment.

Can any of these fashion orientated people sit on hot iron plates?
Can any of these fashion orientated people put their head on their hand and fight for righteousness?
Can any of these fashion orientated people watch their children being cut piece by piece and placed in their lap and yet not surrender their faith?
Wake up O Sikh which asks such questions!

Read your history!
Read Gurbani!
And JAP NAAM!

Beauty is within. Wearing gold – the gold’s worth is within the gold; a man cannot become gold by wearing gold. Wearing nice clothes, the compliments and praise are to the clothes not to the wearer. The clothes beauty and worth lay within the clothes not in the person wearing it. The question is what is within you. What beauty do you have to offer? Is it just the clothes and ornaments you have to show? When one looks through your clothes, fragrances and gold you wear, will they find any beauty beyond? Wake up O Sikh!

ਮਤਿ ਵਿਚਿ ਰਤਨ ਜਵਾਹਰ ਮਾਣਿਕ ਜੇ ਇਕ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਸਿਖ ਸੁਣੀ ॥
“Within the mind are gems, jewels and rubies, if you listen to the Guru’s Teachings, even once.”
(Ang 2)

The fashion world is mere illusionary. It comes and goes. What was fashionable today will not be fashionable tomorrow. But the KHALSA is the TRUTH and the TRUTH will always radiate and shine its beauty forever. The Khalsa shined its beauty and excellence in the past, now and will continue to do so.

ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹੁ ਧਰਕਟੀ ਨਾਰਿ ॥ ਭੂੰਡੀ ਕਾਮਣਿ ਕਾਮਣਿਆਰਿ ॥
ਰਾਜੁ ਰੂਪੁ ਝੂਠਾ ਦਿਨ ਚਾਰਿ ॥
“Love of Maya is like a cursed woman, ugly, dirty and promiscuous.
Power and beauty are false, and last for only a few days.
(Ang 796)