In today’s world, makeup is a big part of beauty standards, influenced by media and businesses. But in Sikhi, the human body is seen as a gift from Guru Sahib Ji, given to us to do bhagti (devotion) and reach mukti (liberation). This article looks at whether wearing makeup fits with Sikh beliefs. It discusses how Sikhi teaches us to focus on inner beauty rather than outer appearance and how makeup is often used to meet society’s standards rather than Guru Sahib Ji’s teachings. Using Gurbani and real-life examples, this article encourages us to think how it affects both our spiritual and physical well-being.
1) Our compassionate Guru Sahib Ji temporarily gave us the body to do bhagti in this lifetime so we could get mukti, and we are harming and wasting it by wearing makeup. Guru Sahib Ji tells us: ਸਭਿ ਰਸ ਭੋਗਣ ਬਾਦਿ ਹਹਿ ਸਭਿ ਸੀਗਾਰ ਵਿਕਾਰ॥, meaning enjoying all worldly pleasures is futile and all decorations are useless (because this body will turn to ashes one day). Gurbani also tells us: ਲਖ ਸੀਗਾਰ ਬਣਾਇਆ ਕਾਰਜਿ ਨਾਹੀ ਕੇਤੁ॥, meaning one may decorate oneself in thousand ways, but it’s not of any use. Gurbani reveals several times that we should make fear of Vaheguru Ji and follow his hukam as our ਸ਼ਿੰਗਾਰ. How can we do bhagti if we use our time doing makeup and falsely pleasing others?
2) Cosmetics is a billion-dollar industry worldwide, dominated by some multinational corporations. According to the 2015 U.S. Statistics, the U.S. was the most valuable beauty and personal care market, having a market value of $80 billion US dollars. For-profit maximization, corporations use media to manipulate society, showing how women should look like. According to them, women should have fair and blemish free faces (using foundation and concealer), coloured eyes (using eye shadow and eyeliner), big dark eyelashes (using mascara), coloured lips (using lipstick), pink cheeks (using blush), coloured nails, scented body, nice hairstyles, etc. This market is heavily dependent on women, and corporations target them stating that their bodies are not good enough. By wearing makeup, we are responding to societal demands, trying to fit into societal women’s image, conforming to beauty standards, and letting corporations control our bodies. However, Dhan Guru Gobind Sahib Ji Maharaj wanted his sons and daughters to be niare. Guru Sahib Ji said:
ਜਬ ਲਗ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਰਹੇ ਨਿਆਰਾ॥
ਤਬ ਲਗ ਤੇਜ ਦੀਓ ਮੈਂ ਸਾਰਾ॥
ਜਬ ਇਹ ਗਹੈ ਬਿਪਰਨ ਕੀ ਰੀਤਿ॥
ਮੈ ਨ ਕਰਉਂ ਇਨ ਕੀ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਤ॥
How can we be niare if we cannot be distinguished from the rest of the society?
3) Corporations tell us that however Vaheguru Ji made us is not good enough. We need to rely on human products in order to look good. By wearing makeup, we are going against Guru Sahib’s will. We are disrespecting Sache Patshah’s creation.
4) These corporations are only concerned about profit maximization. They are not concerned about the detrimental impact of using cosmetics on the skin. Many of these cosmetics products are now seen as toxic and harmful to the human body. One in eight ingredients used in cosmetics are industrial chemicals. These ingredients have been revealed to cause cancer, lower immunity to diseases, and cause reproductive and neurological damage. These chemicals get into the bloodstream, harming the human body. Perfumes and hair sprays are inhaled; lipstick or lipgloss is swallowed with food; eye makeup is absorbed by sensitive mucous membranes, risking eye inflection and blindness. Acne, skin allergies, eye infections, premature aging, infertility, and headaches are some of the known harmful effects of wearing makeup.
It is clear that we harm our body by wearing makeup. Nonetheless, what body are we talking about? Gurbani says, “ਇਹੁ ਸਰੀਰੁ ਸਭੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਹੈ ਜਿਸੁ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਸਚੇ ਕੀ ਵਿਚਿ ਜੋਤਿ॥” We are harming our body in which Vaheguru Ji’s jot resides. Guru Sahib Ji calls human body Har Ka Mandar and tells us the essence of the human body:
ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਮੰਦਰੁ ਆਖੀਐ ਕਾਇਆ ਕੋਟੁ ਗੜੁ॥
ਅੰਦਰਿ ਲਾਲ ਜਵੇਹਰੀ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਪੜੁ॥
ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਮੰਦਰੁ ਅਤਿ ਸੋਹਣਾ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਦਿੜੁ॥
We gave our head to Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj when we took Amrit. This body does not belong to us anymore. So why wear something (makeup, western clothes, jewelry, etc.) that does not please Guru Sahib Ji? We are obligated to keep this Har Ka Mandar clean and healthy.
5) Some people argue that there is nothing in Rehit prohibiting the use of makeup. However, Bhai Daya Singh ji’s Rehitnama tells us: ਸੁਰਮਾਦਿਕ ਸ਼ਿੰਗਾਰ ਨਹਿਂ, ਨਹਿਂ ਪਰ ਤਰੁਨੀ ਸੰਗਿ, meaning do not wear makeup or ornaments; do not commit adultery.
6) Women wear makeup for self-confidence issues and to please the opposite sex, whether that’s their partner or men in general. Women don’t let their husbands see them without makeup. There have been cases where husbands did not recognize their wives without makeup after marriage, and their marriages ended in divorce. In one case, the bride’s face got wet in a swimming pool and all her makeup came off. The husband divorced his wife a few days after marriage. In another case, the husband thought there was a thief in the house, but it was actually his wife.
Women’s insecurity about their physical looks also comes from men, even Gursikhs. Many Gursikh men expect their wives to wear makeup and look “good.” This is hugely problematic. A relationship can never be strong when it’s dependent on outer appearance or kaam. There are always going to be conflicts if women want their partners or people to like them because of their outer false appearance. We should let others like us however Guru Sahib Ji made us. Do we need this false belief that we are beautiful by wearing makeup? Do we really need to get attention from the opposite sex? Isn’t this a form of kaam? Do we want relationships based on falsehood?
7) Whilst some women might think makeup gives them contentment, Gurbani says something else. Guru Nanak Dev Ji Patshah says:
ਨੈਨ ਸਲੋਨੀ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਨਾਰੀ॥
ਖੋੜ ਸੀਗਾਰ ਕਰੈ ਅਤਿ ਪਿਆਰੀ॥
ਬਿਨੁ ਜਗਦੀਸ ਭਜੇ ਨਿਤ ਖੁਆਰੀ॥
Guru Arjun Dev Ji Patshah also writes:
ਜਉ ਮੈ ਕੀਓ ਸਗਲ ਸੀਗਾਰਾ॥
ਤਉ ਭੀ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨੁ ਨ ਪਤੀਆਰਾ॥
ਅਨਿਕ ਸੁਗੰਧਤ ਤਨ ਮਹਿ ਲਾਵਉ॥
ਓਹੁ ਸੁਖੁ ਤਿਲੁ ਸਮਾਨਿ ਨਹੀ ਪਾਵਉ॥
ਮਨਮਹਿ ਚਿਤਵਉ ਐਸੀ ਆਸਾਈ॥
ਪ੍ਰਿਅ ਦੇਖਤ ਜੀਵਉ ਮੇਰੀ ਮਾਈ॥੧॥
ਮਾਈ ਕਹਾ ਕਰਉ ਇਹੁ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਨ ਧੀਰੈ॥
ਪਿਰ੍ਰ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮ ਬੈਰਾਗੁ ਹਿਰੈ॥ਰਹਾਉ॥
ਬਸਤ੍ਰ ਬਿਭੂਖਨ ਸੁਖ ਬਹੁਤ ਬਿਸੇਖੈ॥
ਓਇ ਭੀ ਜਾਨਉ ਕਿਤੈ ਨ ਲੇਖੈ॥…(੩੭੩).
These shabads illustrate that decorating our bodies does not eliminate our suffering or bring pleasure to us. It is only Naam that can bring us joy and bliss.
8) Some women argue that they get better career opportunities by wearing makeup. Everything is in Guru Sahib Ji’s hands. The person who is giving a job or a promotion to us, is controlled by Guru Sahib Ji. We only need to do ardas with pure love, faith, and nimrata.
ਕਾਰਜ ਸਭਿ ਸਵਾਰੀਅਹਿ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਚਰਣੀ ਲਾਗੁ॥ All affairs are settled holding onto Guru Sahib’s feet, meaning by living according to Him.
9) Non-Gursikh women can continue living in a false world controlled by corporations and media. However, Gursikh bibian need to be in a better position. When we took Amrit, we had to stop using our manmatt, and we promised to adopt Guru Gobind Singh Ji Patshah’s matt. We are daughters of Mata Sahib Kaur Ji and Guru Gobind Singh Ji, representing Khalsa, and there are certain expectations that we must adhere to. Avoiding makeup is one of the expectations, my sisters. We are special Kaurs, not like ordinary women. Adorn yourself with bana, dastaar, and shastars! You will feel more powerful, happy, and self-confident with these, compared to wearing makeup and jewelry.
Guru Sahib tell us: ਵਾਹੁ ਵਾਹੁ ਕਰਹਿ ਸੇਈ ਜਨ ਸੋਹਣੇ ਤਿਨ ਕਉ ਪਰਜਾ ਪੂਜਣ ਆਈ॥, meaning only those are beautiful who sing bani and jap naam and the entire world venerates them. Guru Sahib Ji also tells us: ਨਾਨਕ ਤੇ ਜਨ ਸੋਹਣੇ ਜਿ ਰਤੇ ਹਰਿ ਰੰਗੁ ਲਾਇ॥, meaning O Nanak, only those are beautiful who are imbued with the Vaheguru’s love. Guru Sahib Ji knew that his princess daughters will be harmed physically and spiritually by wearing makeup, which is why he told us to avoid it.
Guru Sahib Ji only gets pleased by his Gursikhs who jap naam, sing bani, and do seva. We can either please our society or Guru Sahib Ji. If Vaheguru Ji is happy with us, the whole world will be happy with us too. Let us bow our heads to Sache Patshah in greatest reverence.
Bhul chuk di maafi ji!
Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh jio!
Written By: Bhenji Sidak Kaur
