੧ ਸੁਰਮਈ ੨ ਸਵਯੇ ੩. ਪੀਤ ੪ ਹਰਤ ਬਸਤ੍ਰ ਧਾਰੇ ।ਬਸਤ੍ਰ c ਕੋ ਨ ਪਹਿਰਹਿ
Wear fresh blue, white and yellow clothing. Do no wear Red.
Bhai daya Singh Ji
ਸੂਹਾ ਪਹਿਨ ਲਏ ਨਸਵਾਰ, ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਜਮ ਕਰੈ ਖੁਆਰ (10)
Guru Gobind Singh Ji says those that wear red will go to hell
Bhai Nand Lal Singh Ji
In regards to not wearing the color green this has been an Gurmat principle observed through oral tradition ( Seena Baseena).
Leafy and Gurpreet in response to your statements.
During Dasmi Paatshahs time society was divided by dress. Similar to our own society. For example, If someone is rich they wear fancy clothes. If someone is poor they wear simple tattered . Where I went to High School the rich white people would wear Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hillfiger and other designer brands. While the poor people would wear cheap brands. The only difference is in India people were divided not by wealth but by social stratification. Muslims wore green, had a beard, and wore a turban. Turban was a symbol of high status and those in governance wore them. Jahangirs administration under Wahabbi ( fanatical branch of Islam) prevented other faiths from wearing a Turban, along with carrying arms and riding horses. However, Sri Hargobind Sahib Ji did not pay attention to these orders and demanded his Gurmukhs to continue to wear Dastar, and instead of giving dasvand of money they should give weapons and horses.
Going back to color and social stratification. One would often wear a color associated with their caste and disposition ( Trigun).The common belief was that people were born into a certain disposition due to their karma and would suffer or gain happiness according to their respective caste. For example, Brahmins wore white meaning they were pure and should be the official heirs of governance.
Khatris wore red the color of sacrifice which meant they were brave warriors who would sacrifice their life for the "faith". Within the Khatri caste exist the Khanna caste who were the most militant also were known as Khadag-dhari’ (Sword wielding) .At a young age many of the boys belonging to Khatri caste practiced their rituals ( ex Choti tradition ) and wore the red dress to familiarize them with their future role in society.
The Vasaiyas wore brown or yellow which symbolized they were the working/trading caste and should be working in the fields, outside etc. The lowest of the low were associated with dark-black blue aka Banwari Blue.T Because according to Hindu Tradition they were good for nothing and had no contribution to make to society their life was destined for pain. They did not wear clothes they were just associated with this dark color. This is the same color that yogis who cast themselves outside of society paint on their bodies.
Guru Sahib was against this concept of color/varna ( caste) and states that in the beginning there was no caste or color so then how did one get inflicted by pain or happiness.
ਜਬ ਇਸ ਕਾ ਬਰਨੁ ਚਿਹਨੁ ਨ ਜਾਪਤ ॥
ਤਬ ਹਰਖ ਸੋਗ ਕਹੁ ਕਿਸਹਿ ਬਿਆਪਤ ॥
Guru Sahib who regarded himself as the low of the lowest took on this Udasi color of Navy blue ( Akali Blue) when going on his sojourns. Guru Sahib did not take on BLue to resemble Krishna but instead as means to portray he was the lowest of the low and belonged to no previous religion/caste ( Hinuds or Muslims) instead he came to establish a third religion which was the true pathway to God. Dasmi Paatshah gave this dark color to Khalsa so they would not resort back to their previous social affiliations and they would remain distinct as a humble- single brotherhood. This uniformal dress appearance destroyed old age prejudices that were extremely popular in those times.
Going back to rehatnamey that forbid red. Some self willed people read these rehatnamey and they think "Wow, that is extreme. Going to hell for wearing red?" They fail to take this rehatnama in its historical context; thus missing the Gurmat principle behind these rehatnamey
Look at the Bhai Nand Lal Jis rehatnama for example: ਸੂਹਾ ਪਹਿਨ ਲਏ ਨਸਵਾਰ, ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਜਮ ਕਰੈ ਖੁਆਰ (10)
Guru Sahib has only banned the color red associated with the Khatri caste in this rehatnama. Why is this case? Thats because the other colors, yellow, white and blue are part of the Khalsa tradition which is mentioned in Bhai Daya Singh Jis rehatnama.
੧ ਸੁਰਮਈ ੨ ਸਵਯੇ ੩. ਪੀਤ ੪ ਹਰਤ ਬਸਤ੍ਰ ਧਾਰੇ ।ਬਸਤ੍ਰ c ਕੋ ਨ ਪਹਿਰਹਿ
Navy blue reminds Khalsa that they should no attachment to any status in society. They should be completely detached from society and not afraid to die for a just cause. While white reminds us we should live like Swans in the midst of maya we should remain unaffected.
If a Singh is wearing Blue but thinks he is high or better then other Gursikhs then in reality he is wearing red and will go to hell. Navy blue reminds us that we have taken birth in the holy city of Anandpur Sahib and our previous caste, religion, social status has no significance.
This does mean that navy blue has no place in modern society? People who think so must think Sri Sahib has no place in society as well. Today people dress themselves according to their minds pleasing instead of dressing to gain Guru sahibs happiness.
ਜੋ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸੇਵੇ ਖਾਦੇ ਪੈਨਦੇ ਸੇ ਮੁਏ ਮਰਿ ਜੰਮੇ ਕੋੜ੍ਹੇ ॥ (ਪੰਨਾ 306)
Those who eat and dress (means enjoy materials) without serving to Satguru (here serving could means Naam and Bani), they remains in cycle of reincarnation and lives like lepers.
Fair enough if one does not want to wear traditional Navy blue or white they should at least dress in simple Gursikh attire and regard themselves as Guru Sahibs slave; instead of dressing according to their minds thinking or with the intent of showing off and trying to impress others.The biggest problem we have in Sikhi is divisions. We have divided our self by caste, economic status, jathebandi,etc. If we stayed true to blue and saw ourselves as simple servants of the panth instead of competitors in this Manmukhi world who knows where the state of Sikhi would be today. Guru Sahib says as long as we stay distinct he will bless us with Raj, when we wear Banwari Blue it reminds us Khalsa Raj will be coming soon. In addition , it reminds us how Khalsa raj will come.
ਜਬ ਲਗ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਰਹੇ ਨਿਆਰਾ। ਤਬ ਲਗ ਤੇਜ ਦੀਉ ਮੈਂ ਸਾਰਾ। ਜਬ ਇਹ ਗਹੇ ਬਿਪਰਨ ਕੀ ਰੀਤ। ਮੈ ਨ ਕਰਉ ਇਨ ਕੀ ਪਰਤੀਤ।
As Long as Khalsa remains distinct I will give them authority to rule. But when they start adopting the ways ( dress and beliefs) of others I will not have faith in them.
Through obedience of Guru Sahibs Hukums/rehats we will eventually merge our minds in the color of his name.
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji has given us Sri Akal Purakhs every notion
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji breath is the sky his saliva is every ocean
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji sweet orders put the whole world in motion
So how can we break his orders after drinking his magic potion?
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਬਚਨਕਮਾਵਣੇਸਚਾਏਹੁਵੀਚਾਰੁ॥
