What does Sikhism's holy scriptures of Guru Granth Sahib, and other Gurbani, have to say about the subject of body piercing, and other body modifications including tattoo and body art such as henna staining, dyeing, piercing of the nose and ears for wearing of ornaments, and other decorative body adornments?

Gurbani

The hymns of Gurbani tell of the spiritual futility of outer adornment and how it serves only to entangle one in the illusory world of Maya.

The authors of Guru Granth Sahib have written extensively extolling the spiritual virtues of piercing, dyeing, staining and adorning, the heart, soul, and mind with the ever lasting color of divine love. The following verses are a small sampling:

First Guru Nanak Dev

Guru Nanak writes that the word of a Gursikh (seeker of Enlightenment) is true, and has duty to become truth, when one daily lives ones life in accordance with self restraint, patience, understanding, respect, repentance, and love. Following this practice, one creates a furnace to incinerate the ego. One becomes the smith, hammering out ones ego on the anvil, using ones saas - giraas (inhale - exhale) as a bellows uttering "Waheguru" with every breath, Undergoing change, by melting all qualities together in love, one catches the divine nectar that drips in to the filter of ones consciousness. When this divine quality is added to the alloy, of ones sub-consciousness, then one becomes as gold, and ones speech contains the quality of truth.

In this way one is pressed, stamped, tattooed, cast / caste as Gursikh, minted, branded, trademarked, with the royal insignia of the True Emperor (as Khalsa). Those who are favored with divine Grace, strive ever to live in the consciousness of One.

• "Jat paahaaraa dheeraj suniaar ||
  Self restraint is the furnace, patience the goldsmith.
  
  Aharann mat vaed hatheeaar||
  The anvil is understanding, divine knowledge the tool.
  
  Bhao khalaa agan tap taaou||
  Respect is the bellows, and the fire repentance, coupled with religious practice.
  
  Bhaanddaa bhaaou amrit tit ddhaal||
  The melting pot is love, that divine essence found within the extract [of the alchemists formula].
  
  Gharreeai sabad sachee ttaksaal ||
  This formula fashions sacred sounds to mint the true insignia stamping the trademark.
  
  Jin kou nadar karam tin kaar||
  Those who are looked on favorably with Grace follow this outline daily.
  
  Naanak nadree nadar nihaal||38||
  Naanak they are mercifully seen, and beheld in delight.
  
  SGGS||8 Guru Nanak
• "Mundhae pir bin kiaa seegaar ||
  O soul-bride, without your Divine Husband Lord, of what avail are your decorative adornments?
  
  Dar ghar dtoee na lehai daraeh jhooth khuaar ||1|| rehao ||
  Through this worldly door, you shall find no admittance, or refuge, being a false show here, you shall suffer in the after world. ||1||Pause and reflect||"...
  
  ..."Chandan mol anaa-i-aa kungoo maang sandhoor ||
  The bride may buy sandalwood oil, perfumes, saffron, and ornaments applying them to the reddened parting of her hair.
  
  Choaa chandan bahu ghanaa paanaa naal kapoor ||
  As well as sandalwood, in great abundance, she sweetens her breath with betel leaf mixed with camphor.
  
  Jae dhan kant na bhaavee ta sabh addanbar koorr ||4||
  But if the bride pleases not her Husband Lord, then all these trappings are false. ||4||
  
  Sabh ras bhogan baad heh sabh seegaar vikaar ||
  All her enjoyment and pleasure is futile and vain, and all her decorations are corrupt.
  
  Jab lag sabad na bhaedee-ai kio sohai gurduaar || Unless she (her soul) has been pierced through with the hymn of God's Name, how can she with honor appear as beautiful at Enlightener's door?
  
  Naanak dhann suhaaganee jin seh naal piaar ||5||13||
  O Nanak, blessed is the fortunate bride, whose love is for her Husband Lord." SGGS||18/19 Guru Nanak Dev
  
  
• "Lakh ttakiaa kae mundarrae lakh ttakiaa kae haar ||
  Worth hundred of thousands are the earrings with which they adorn themselves, and worth hundred of thousands are the necklaces with which they adorn themselves.
  
  Jit tan pa-ee-a-eh naanakaa sae tan hoveh chhaar ||
  The bodies which they adorn, O Nanak, those bodies are burnt to ash." SGGS||464 Guru Nanak Dev
  
  
• "Jaetaa moh pareet suaad ||
  These worldly attachments of love and pleasurable tastes,
  
  Sabhaa kaalakh daagaa daag ||
  All are but black stains.
  
  Daag dos muhe chaliaa laa-e ||
  One who departs with the marks of black stains blemishing the face,
  
  Darageh baisan naahee jaa-e ||3||
  In the Lord's Court, he shall find no place to sit."||3|| SGGS||662 Guru Nanak Dev

Third Guru Amar Das

• "Jio oubalee majeethai rang gehagehaa tio sachae no jeeo daee ||
  Like the deep red crimson color of the madder plant, such is the dye which shall color you, upon dedicating your soul to the True One." SGGS||311 Guru Amar Das
  
  
• "Har cholee daeh savaaree kaddh paadee kaar||
  The Lord has adorned the body jacket, embroidered with devotional meditation, I wear it.
  
  Har paatt adhikaaee bahu bahu bhaat kar||
  The Lord's Name is the silk woven there in plentiful patterns of multiple manners in various fashionable ways.
  
  Koee boojhai boojhanhara antar bibaek kar||
  Rare is the one of conscious understanding who comprehends this mystery by deeply deliberating.
  
  So boojhai ehu bibaek jis bujhaa-ee aap har||
  They alone comprehend such consciousness whom the Lord Himself inspires.
  
  Jan Naanak kahai vichara gurmukh har sat har||11||
  Says poor slave Nanak, the Guru-wards deem God to be the ever True Lord." ||11|| SGGS||646 Guru Amar Das
  
  
• "Satgur apanaa manaa-e lai roop charree taa agalaa doojaa naahee thaao ||
  Become pleasing to your True Enlightener, then only shall you be totally beautified, otherwise, there is no place of rest.
  
  Aisaa seegaar banaa-e too mailaa kadae na hovee ahinis laagai bhaao ||
  Put on yourself such decorations that will never stain, and cause you to love the Lord spouse day and night." SGGS||785 Guru Amar Daas

Fourth Guru Raam Das

Guru Raam Daas tells that all beings are pierced, wearing a nose ring tethered by the Lord of the Universe. The labor of selfless service is the formula by which one is pressed, stamped, tattooed, cast / caste as Gurmukh, (one whose face looks toward the Enlightener) minted, branded, trademarked, with the royal insignia of The True Emperor.

• "Jagannaath sabh jantar oupaa-ae nak kheenee sabh nathehaarae ||
  All beings created by the Lord of the Universe are pierced by nose rings, and all are made to bow before him." SGGS||981 Guru Raam Das
• "Gurmukh saevaa ghaal jin ghaalee ||
  The Gurmukh, who selflessly labors to serve,
  
  Tis gharreeai sabad sachee ttakasaalee ||2|| That one fashioning sacred sounds mints the true insignia stamping the trademark. ||2||

Fifth Guru Arjan Dev

• "Naaraainn har rang rango ||
  Dye yourself with the color of the Lord's Love.
  
  Jap jihavaa har ek mango||1|| rehaao ||
  Recite with your tongue the Name of the One Lord, and ask for Him alone." ||1||Pause|| SGGS||241 Guru Arjan Dev
  
  
• "Mirat mohn alap budhhyan rachant banitaa binod saahn||
  The person of paltry intelligence and shallow understanding is perishing in attachment of worldly love, is engrossed in the pursuits of pleasure with his wife.
  
  
• Jauban behkram kanik kunddaleh ||
  Adorned to appear youthful with golden earrings
  
  Bachithra mandir sobhant basatraa ethyant maaiaa byaapita ||
  Wondrous mansions, impressive decor, and fashionable clothes, the entanglements of Maya cling to them.
  
  Hae achut saran sant naanak bho bhagavaana-e nameh ||11||
  O Eternal Master, Benevolent Lord, the sanctuary of saints, Nanak humbly pay homage to You." ||11| SGGS||1354 Guru Arjun Dev

Bhagat Kabir

• "Kabeer mehhee kar ghaaliaa aap peesaa-e peesaa-e ||
  Kabeer, I have made myself into henna powder and paste, grinding and grinding.
  
  Tai seh baat na poochhee-ai kabahu na laaee paa-e ||65||
  But You, O my Husband Lord, have neither asked for me; nor applied me to Your Feet." ||65|| SGGS||1367 Kabir

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