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<p class="C1">&#65279SIROP&#256, a term adopted from Persian <i>sar-o-p&#257</i> (head and foot) or <i>sar&#257p&#257</i> (head to foot) meaning an honorary dress, is used in Sikh vocabulary for a garment, scarf or a length of cloth bestowed on someone as a mark of honour. It is the equivalent of <i><u>Kh</u>ill'at</i> or robe of honour with the difference that while a <i><u>Kh</u>ill'at</i> is awarded by a political superior and comprises a whole set of garments with or without arms, a <i>sirop&#257</i> is bestowed by a religious or social figure or institution and may comprise a whole dress or, as is usually the case, a single garment or a length of cloth as a mark of recognition of piety or as an acknowledgement of unswerving devotion to a moral or philanthropic purpose.</p>
<p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The use of the term may be traced to certain hymns of the Gur&#363s where the exact words used are <i>kap&#7771&#257</i> (garment or cloth), <i>pa&#7789ol&#257</i> (scarf) and <i>sirp&#257u (sarop&#257</i>, dress of honour), and they signify the bestowal of honour as well as protection of honour. For example, Gur&#363 N&#257nak sang, <i>sach&#299 sifat sal&#257h kap&#7771&#257 p&#257i&#257</i>--- I received by His grace the garment signalling me to sing His praise (GG, 150). And Gur&#363 Arjan said, <i>prem pa&#7789ol&#257 tai sahi dit&#257 &#7693hakan k&#363 pati mer&#299</i> --- O Lord, thou hast invested me with the scarf of love to save my honour (GG, 520). In another hymn he sang, <i>su&#7751&#299 puk&#257r samarth su&#257m&#299 bandhan k&#257&#7789i sav&#257re/ pahiri sirp&#257u sevak jan mele n&#257nak praga&#7789 pah&#257re</i>--- Responding to my humble plaint the all powerful Lord has cut asunder all of our shackles. Upon his servants he has conferred robes of honour (GG, 31). Yet in another place : <i>bhagat jan&#257 k&#257 l&#363gar&#257 o&#7693hi nagan n&#257 ho&#299/s&#257kat sirp&#257u resm&#299 pahirat pati kho&#299</i>--- devotees of God are not naked even in torn rag. One who is attached to <i>m&#257y&#257</i> loses his honour clad even in his silk robes (GG, 811).</p>
<p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<i>Sirop&#257</i> should be distinguished from the bestowal of a turban or gown by a saint upon a disciple as a mark of initiation or confirmation in an order or of succession to its headship. <i>Sirop&#257</i> among the Sikhs is a symbol of honour or benediction. The practice can be traced back at least as far as Gur&#363 A&#7749gad who bestowed upon (Gur&#363) Amar D&#257s a scarf every year. The latter treated these scarfs as sacred gifts and carried them tied on his head one above the other.</p>
<p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The <i>sirop&#257</i> is now a gift bestowed by <i>sa&#7749gat</i> on behalf of the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib upon someone who deserves the honour by virtue of his or her dedication. It is almost invariably in the form of a length of cloth, two to two-and-a-half metres, usually dyed in saffron colour, accompanied by <i>pras&#257d</i>, the consecrated food which could be in the form of <i>k&#257&#7771ah pras&#257d</i>, sugar crystal or bubbles, or dry fruit. <i>Sirop&#257</i> is the highest award that a Sikh may receive in <i>sa&#7749gat</i>. It is the most precious gift of the Gur&#363 made through the <i>sa&#7749gat</i>. The present practice of giving a <i>sirop&#257</i> to anyone who makes an offering of or exceeding a certain value or who happens to be socially or politically important is, strictly speaking, an aberration. <i>Sirop&#257</i> is earned through high merit and dedication.</p>
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<p class="BIB">
BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"><i>&#346abad&#257rth Sr&#299 Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib</i>. Amritsar, 1959<BR>
<li class="C1"> K&#257hn Si&#7749gh, Bh&#257&#299, <i>Gurushabad Ratan&#257kar Mah&#257n Kosh</i>. Patiala, 1981<BR>
</ol><p class="CONT">Major Gurmukh Si&#7749gh (Retd.)<br></p><BR>
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