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{{short description|One of the Five Thieves of Sikhism}}
{{Redirect|Kam}}
[[File:Drawing of an amorous Sikh couple by James Abbott, circa 1826–1867.jpg|thumb|Drawing of an amorous Sikh couple by James Abbott, circa 1826–1867]]{{SikhBeliefs}}{{Five Evils}}

'''Kaam''' ([[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]: ਕਾਮ; ''Kāma'') is one of the [[Five Thieves|five thieves]] in [[Sikhism]], described as excessive lust or desire.<ref name=":1">{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Harbans |title=The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism |date=1992–1998 |publisher=Punjabi University |location=Patiala |isbn=9788173803499 |page=419}}</ref> A devout Sikh is expected to be in control of ''Kaam'' at all times.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Blake |first=Simon |title=Faith, values and sex & relationships education |date=2002 |publisher=National Children's Bureau |others=Zarine Katrak, National Children's Bureau |isbn=1-900990-32-6 |location=London |pages=55 |oclc=863556177}}</ref>

== Translation ==
The term has been rendered as translating to desire, longing, concupiscence, sensuality or lasciviousness in English.<ref name=":1" />

== Description ==
[[File:Artwork from a folio of a Janamsakhi manuscript depicting Kaljug (Kali Yuga) in the presence of Guru Nanak stating that he will bind the people in the vices of lust and gluttony whilst holding an erect penis.jpg|thumb|Artwork from a folio of a Janamsakhi manuscript depicting Kaljug (Kali Yuga) in the presence of Guru Nanak stating that he will bind the people in the vices of lust and gluttony whilst holding an erect penis]]
In common parlance, the term refers to excessive sexual desire.<ref name=":1" /> Sikhism views kaam as an urge that an individual must keep in-control from time to time.<ref name=":1" /> It is not viewed as dissimilar to other urges and cravings of the human experience that must also be periodically kept in-check.<ref name=":1" />

Kaam becomes a true evil when it begins interfering with one's marital life, such as leading a spouse to cheat on their partner under its influence.<ref name=":1" /> Sikhism condemns kaam which interferes with the spiritual journey and day-to-day life of an individual.<ref name=":1" />

Guru Tegh Bahadur states the following on the issue of kaam:<ref name=":1" />
{{Blockquote|text=In the sinning heart reigns kaam and the fickle mind breaks out of control. Kaam casts its noose even upon [[yogi]]s, jangams and [[sannyasi]]s. Only those imbued with God's Name (fall not a prey to it) and are able to go across the ocean of existence|author=Guru Tegh Bahadur|title=Guru Granth Sahib, page 1186|source=The Encyclopedia of Sikhism (Vol. 2: E–L) by Harbans Singh}}
The word refers to all desires but usually it is used in reference to desires which are sexual in-nature.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Anand |first=Tejinder Kaur |title=Essence of Sikhism |publisher=Vikas Publishing House |year=2015 |isbn=9788125919490 |edition=Reprint |volume=8 |pages=45–46}}</ref> Normal and healthy amounts of sexual lust and desire, such as between two married spouses, is not condemned in Sikhism but rather excessive amounts which interfere in one's spiritual journey is treated as both a vice and immoral.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Singha |first=H. S. |url= |title=Sikh Studies - book 7 |publisher=Hemkunt Press |year=2005 |isbn=9788170102458 |location= |pages=65 |oclc=967096375}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Dilagīra |first=Harajindara Siṅgha |title=The Sikh reference book |date=1997 |publisher=Sikh Educational Trust for Sikh University Centre, Denmark |isbn=0-9695964-2-1 |edition=1st |location=Edmonton, Alb., Canada |pages=108–109 |oclc=37769917}}</ref> Kaam is not looked upon as wholly a biological phenomenon but also as a learnt behaviour in-which one can be influenced negatively by others.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Jagraj |title=A complete guide to Sikhism |date=2009 |publisher=Unistar Books |isbn=978-81-7142-754-3 |location=Chandigarh, India |pages=292 |oclc=319683249}}</ref>

The [[Guru Granth Sahib]] offers the following commentary on the nature of ''Kaam'':<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
{{Blockquote|text="O Kaam, you send men to hell and make them wander through myriad wombs. You cheat all minds; sway all the three worlds; and vanquish one's all austerities, meditation and culture. Your pleasures are illusory; you make men unsteady and weak; and punish the high and the low alike." (Guru Granth Sahib)|author=H.S. Singha|title=Sikh Studies|source=book 7, page 65}}''Kaam'' is related and linked to ''[[lobh]]'', another of the five thieves.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last1=Cole |first1=W. Owen |title=A Popular Dictionary of Sikhism: Sikh Religion and Philosophy |last2=Sambhi |first2=Piara Singh |publisher=Routledge |year=2005 |isbn=9781135797607 |pages=84–85 |quote=Guru Amar Das stated, 'Within this body are hidden five thieves: they are lust, wrath, greed, attachment and egoism. They steal away the nectar within us ... In Punjabi the names of the five vices are, kam, krodh, lobh, moh, and hankar.}}</ref> Whilst kaam is the extreme desire for sexual things, lobh, on the other hand is the disproportionately large desire or covetousness for material things.<ref name=":2" />

=== Extramarital connection ===
[[File:Sikh lover and a Kangra lady, ca.1830, Pahari-Sikh style.jpg|thumb|Sikh lover and a Kangra lady, c.1830, Pahari-Sikh style. From the family workshop of Purkhu.]]
Kaam is connected to the potential of transgressing upon one's marriage by cheating on their partner.<ref name=":1" /> This is warned against in Sikh texts, such as in the ''[[Varan Bhai Gurdas|Varan]]'' of [[Bhai Gurdas]].<ref name=":1" /> Bhai Gurdas says the consummate Sikh is utterly faithful to his wife and regards all other women as "mothers, sisters and daughters" in Varan 29:11.<ref name=":1" />

Guru Gobind Singh gives the following piece of advice to his Sikhs:<ref name=":1" />
{{Blockquote|text=Love your own wedded wife ever so more, but do not go to another woman's bed even in a dream.|author=Guru Gobind Singh|title=52 Hukams|source=The Encyclopedia of Sikhism (Vol. 2: E–L) by Harbans Singh}}

=== Solution ===
Since Sikhism does not advocate for celibacy and asceticism as fixes for kaam, it has taught other methods of dealing with the issue.<ref name=":1" /> There are two ways of dealing with kaam within Sikhism through channelization and redirection of the energy to other aims:<ref name=":1" />

# Adopting the life of a ''grihastha'', that is, the married life of a householder.<ref name=":1" />
# ''[[Pyaar]]'', one of the five virtues.<ref name=":1" /> Reaching a state of mind where one is totally emersed and imbued with the love of the divine.<ref name=":1" /> The implementation of ''[[Naam Japo|Naam Simran]]'' is important for reaching this state of love for [[God in Sikhism|God]].<ref name=":1" />

Regarding the second way of sublimating kaam, Guru Gobind Singh makes the following remark the affirm this method:<ref name=":1" />
{{Blockquote|text=Hear ye all, I proclaim here the truth: only they who love God find Him.|author=Guru Gobind Singh}}
The ideal relationship between the divine and devotee in Sikhism is envisioned as a soul-bride, in-which the devotee is a wife longing for her husband (''kant''), which is God.<ref name=":1" /> This is a reoccurring theme that is repeated through the Sikh canon.<ref name=":1" /> The devotee is pained by the state of being separate from God and craves reunion with God.<ref name=":1" /> This procedure of complete devotion stifles the negative potentials of kaam and redirects its energy to spiritual progress for the individual.<ref name=":1" />

Guru Arjan states on page 534 of the Guru Granth Sahib that a person who has truly fallen in love with God humbly seeks neither positions of power, authority, nor even spiritual liberation ([[Moksha#Sikhism|''mukti'']]).<ref name=":1" />

== Comparison to the concept of ''kama'' in other Indic religions ==
In the Hindu tradition, kaam is not always seen as a negative state of mind.<ref name=":1" /> There exists many Indic deities related to kaam, such as [[Kamadeva]].<ref name=":1" /> Thus, unlike Sikhism, the concept does not necessarily imply adverse effects to the spiritual path as per Hinduism.<ref name=":1" /> It also views ''[[kama]]'' as one of the four ''[[Puruṣārtha]]'' of a human life.<ref name=":1" />

However, certain schools and traditions of Hindu thought, such as the [[Yogi|yogis]] of the [[Samkhya]] school, practice the suppression of kaam as part of their beliefs and practices.<ref name=":1" />

Sikhism's conceptualization of kaam/kama is analogous to those of the [[Śramaṇa|Sramanic]] traditions, such as [[Buddhism]] and [[Jainism]].<ref name=":1" /> These traditions see kaam as a source for alarm.<ref name=":1" /> Therefore, they have prescribed celibacy and asceticism as methods for dealing with kaam.<ref name=":1" /> This differs from Sikhism, which does not advocate for the lifestyle of a celibate or ascetic.<ref name=":1" />

==See also==
*[[Sikhism and sexual orientation]]
*''[[Kama]]'', a word with a similar meaning
*[[Religion and sexuality]]
*[[Lust]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Sikhism}}

[[Category:Sexuality and religion]]
[[Category:Sikh philosophical concepts]]

{{sikh-philo-stub}}

Kaam - Revision history

RuebenFrankfurte at 02:14, 18 July 2025