(Continuation from last week)
Many famous Rehatname also support wearing of Dastaar. Here are some quotes:
"Each candidate for Baptism be made to wear kachera, tie hair in a topknot and cover the same with Dastar; wear Sri Sahib (Kirpan) in Gatra (shoulder belt). Then he/she should stand with folded hands." (Rehatnama Bhai Daya Singh Ji)
"...Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa should keep hair unshorn, have flowing beard and have simple Dastar which saves from impiety. Then the Sikhs asked what would happen to those Amritdhari who start cutting their hair or do not keep their hair covered. The Guru replied that they would be stupid and would lose their sensibility. It is a blemish to remain bareheaded...Always keep two turbans. When the bigger turban is removed, the smaller be kept. The smaller turban should not be removed."
(Bijai Mukat Dharam Shastra - Sakhi-8)
"(A Sikh) who eats food with turban removed from the head (i.e., bareheaded) is destined for 'Kumbhi' (hell)." (Rehatnama Bhai Prahlad Singh Ji)
"One who combs hair twice a day, ties turban fold by fold and cleans teeth daily will not come to grief." (Tankhah Naama Bhai Nand Lal Ji)
"Whosoever roams about bareheaded, takes food bareheaded and distributes the 'prasad' bareheaded is considered punishable."
(Uttar-prashan Bhai Nand Lal Ji)
"Women should tie their hair in topknot and should not keep them loose."
(Rehatnama Bhai Daya Singh Ji)
"Keshas be washed. Turban or Dastar should not be placed on floor but should always be kept with due respect. Food should not be eaten bareheaded."
(Bijai Mukt Dharam Shastra, Sakhi 70)
It is thus, absolutely clear from the above quotations that remaining bareheaded at any time (except when washing, drying, and combing the hair) and keeping hair loose and unknotted are basically against the Sikh Code of Conduct, which is applicable to all, men and women alike. For obvious reasons, therefore, the use of Dastar is indispensable. There is no other way to keep the head covered all the time. Sikh women who wear only dupattas, mostly remain bareheaded, especially in the privacy of their own homes, while taking food, etc., and thus are, perhaps unconsciously, infringing the Sikh Code of Conduct in this respect.
(Courtesy of www.searchsikhism.com)
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