An article on the wisdom of closed relationships, marriage and loyalty.
Monogamy is the state of having only one sexual partner at any one time. The word monogamy comes from the Greek word monos "μονός", which means one or alone, and the Greek word gamos "γάμος", which means marriage or union. In many cases, the word "monogamy" is used to specifically refer to marital monogamy.
- Social monogamy refers to two persons/creatures who live together, have sex with one another, and cooperate in acquiring basic resources such as food, clothes, and money.
- Sexual monogamy refers to two persons/creatures who remain sexually exclusive with one another and have no outside sex partners.
- Genetic monogamy refers to two partners that only have offspring with one another.
- Marital monogamy refers to marriages of only two people.
First attested in 1612 the English language word - monogamy comes from the French word - monogamie, from Late Latin - monogamia, from Greek - monogamia, from monogamos '"marrying only once,"' from monos - "single, alone" + gamos "marriage." Monogamous first recorded 1770.
Gamos is from gamete - "a sexual protoplasmic body," 1886, name introduced in Mod.L. by Austrian biologist Gregor Mendel (1822-1884), from Gk. gamete "a wife," gametes "a husband," from gamein "to take to wife, to marry," from PIE base *gem(e)- "to marry" (cf. Gk. gambros "son-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law;" Skt. jamih "brother, sister," jama daughter-in-law;" Avestan zama-tar "son-in-law;" L. gener "son-in-law"). This also is the source of the suffix in monogamy, etc. The seventh month of the ancient Attic (Greek) calendar (corresponding to late January and early February) was called Gamelion, i.e. the "Month of Marriages."
Monogamy and Sikhism
Chastity is a very important aspect of Sikh teaching because the divine spark of Waheguru (God) is present in every human body, and so the body has to be kept clean and perfect. Anything that may harm the body has to be avoided. Sex has to be limited to married couples and pre-marital (before marriage) or extra-marital (outside marriage) sex is forbidden.
A male Sikh should consider all females older than him as his mother, equal in age to him as a sister, and younger than him as a daughter.
Marriage is seen as a commitment before Waheguru and the purpose is companionship and help on their spiritual path, rather than sexual enjoyment. The married relationship is summed up in the phrase ‘one soul in two bodies’, so being faithful to a husband or wife is central to Sikh life. Monogamy is the rule in Sikhism.
In a marriage a couple can regulate their sex life. Some Sikhs believe that it is a great virtue to deny themselves sexual intercourse in order to concentrate on divine love. Family life is the aim for every Sikh in order to conceive and nurture their children and contribute to Waheguru’s creation.
Any other way of living is discouraged, including celibacy.
Polygamy in Sikhism
Polygamy is not allowed in Sikhism. However in Sikhism, since the days of Guru Nanak, who spoke out against the then prevalent (Hindu) practice of Sati (practice), a widow is encouraged to remarry.