In the Sikh view, the turban is the self-crowning of the individual who sits on the throne of commitment to higher consciousness. Whether a man or a woman, this projective identity conveys royalty, grace, and uniqueness. It is a signal to others that this person lives in the image of the Infinite and is dedicated to serving all.
Wearing a turban has always been in the Sikh tradition from the time of Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru, but it was formalized by Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru, in a declaration of sovereignty and royalty, despite the fact that only kings at the time wore turbans. For Sikhs, turbans signify royalty. By wearing the turban, the followers of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, saw themselves on a par with the Mughal rulers at the time.
Turbans are one way that Sikhs are recognizable and distinct (“Niara”). Guru Gobind Singh gives his blessings to his Sikhs who remain Niara.
The turban also houses and protects the uncut hair (“Kesh”) coiled on the top of the head. The hair is tied at an important spiritual center on the body—the “Dasam Duar” (7th Chakra), and the turban contains the hair. The turban also crosses pressure points on the temples which help a person to be calm and centered.
Technically and scientifically, a turban serves to protect the hair and scalp from the elements, and by keeping the crown covered, one can automatically enhance internal thermal controls, remaining cooler in the heat of the sun and warmer in colder temperatures. A turban also puts pressure on the frontal lobes and helps maintain stability on the cranial plates—and this serves to enhance mental focus and the clarity of thought projections.
In ancient times, all of the world’s religions taught people to wear turbans. They were worn by the Hebrews and early Christians, they were worn by ancient Chinese, by the Japanese, by the Egyptians and Africans, by the Muslims of the Arab Nations, by the Hindus, Buddishts, and by the ancient South Americans.
Many religions today still maintain some type of head covering for their priests, but the reasons for wearing a turban have long since been lost to most religions and cultures. So today we see the yarmulke, or veil, or other type of covering for the crown, which are modern-day practices of the ancient observance of wearing a turban.
In sum, Sikhs wear turbans for the following reasons:
- To minimize the movement of the cranial bones
- To protect the pineal gland from the effect of direct sunlight falling on the head
- To put pressure on the temples (at the frontal lobe), which enhances focus and clarity of thought
- To conserve energy – a major source of loss of body heat is through the top of the head
- As a sign of respect: the head is covered when going before an elder or King in ancient cultures, and similarly Sikhs cover their heads as a sign of reverence in recognition of the presence of God
- It is the self-crowning of the individual in the court of God, a crown of divine privilege, worn by those who acknowledge the gift of God’s presence within themselves and within all creation
- The turban is part of the identity of Sikhs and requires that Sikhs stand out so that they can be recognized and called upon to serve others in need
The Spiritual Technology of the Turban
From the time of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak, tying a turban was part of the unique spiritual path that would become Sikh Dharma. For thousands of years, in many different spiritual traditions, the turban has served a unique and universal purpose. It helps a person to experience, integrate, and maintain his or her highest consciousness throughout the day.
The top of the head, the place where babies have their “soft spot,” is called the Tenth Gate. In yogic terms, it is also known as the crown chakra (the Seventh Projected Energy Center of Consciousness). Thousands of years ago, yogis and spiritual seekers discovered that the hair on the top of the head protects the Tenth Gate from sun and exposure. In addition, the hair acts as antennae, absorbing and channeling the energy of the sun into the body and brain. To amplify the effect and direct the radiant energy into a spiritual focus, spiritual seekers would coil or knot their uncut hair at the top of the head at the Tenth Gate–also called the “solar center” of the head.
In men, the solar center is on top of the head at the front (anterior fontanel). Women have two solar centers: one is at the center of the crown chakra, the other is on top of the head towards the back (posterior fontanel). For men and women, coiling or knotting the hair at the solar centers focuses the energy upward to higher centers of consciousness and helps retain a spiritual vibration throughout the day.
This hair knot, traditionally called the “rishi” knot or joora, assists in the controlling and directing of energy in meditation. In ancient times, a “maharishi” was someone who could regulate the flow of energy in the body, meditatively and at will. The rishi knot assists in the channeling of energy in meditation (Naam Simran). If one cuts off the hair, there can be no rishi knot. By giving humanity the rishi knot and the turban, the Sikh Masters shared a very ancient technology for how an ordinary person can develop the capacity of a Rishi.
More than a religious symbol of commitment, it actually helps concentration, because when tied correctly, the pressure of the multiple wraps keeps all the bones of the skull in place and activates pressure points on the forehead that keep a person calm and relaxed. Turbans cover the temples, which is said to help protect a person from mental or psychic negativity. The pressure of the turban also changes the pattern of blood flow to the brain. And it protects the hair from dust and dirt.
The Turban and Divinity
Throughout history, the cutting of hair has been associated with the taking of power. Conquerors would cut the hair of the conquered as part of their enslavement. In Sikh Dharma, there are no slaves and no masters. Each person lives to his or her highest excellence, and treats others as equals.
The bana (clothing) of a Sikh is the visible manifestation of the belief that each person is sovereign, noble, dignified, and divine, and that no human being is higher or lower than any other human being.
The Divine Energy that governs the Universe and guides our own life is mostly unknown to us. It is mastery as well as mystery. Sikhs believe that living with an awareness of that Divine Energy within oneself and the entire creation allows us to live in our highest potential. In the Sikh view, covering one’s head is an action of acceptance that there is something greater than us and shows our willingness to stand under that greatness.
Covering the head is also a sign of humility, of surrender to God, and only to God. Wrapping a turban every day is our spiritual practice and declaration that the highest, most visible part of us, this head, this mind, is dedicated to our Creator. The turban becomes a flag of our consciousness as well as our crown of spiritual royalty. Wearing a turban over uncut hair is a technology of consciousness that can give you the experience of God. This experience is for everyone, men and women alike.
Video: Why Do Sikhs Wear Turbans?
In this video SS Shanti Kaur Khalsa explains the history, tradition, and practical reasons for wearing a turban:
~Resources: Living Reality (1994) by Bibiji Inderjit Kaur Khalsa, Heroes, Saints and Yogis (2012) by Shakti Parwha Kaur Khalsa and Guruka Singh Khalsa, “Why Do Sikhs Wear Turbans?” (Sikh Dharma International) and “Video: Why Do Sikhs Wear Turbans?” (SikhNet).
