Ans. The literal meaning of the word “Tankhaahiaa” is a salaried person. Any one who works on a salary (or wages) is not independent.
He is subordinate to someone. Thus, a Sikh is Tankhaahiaa who is subordinate to a desire, e.g., greed, ego etc., is influenced by rituals, or gives in to social pressures and acts against the directives of the Sikh code.According to the Sikh code of conduct the following are considered “Tankhaahiaas”:
1. Those who socially interact (deal) with Meenas, Masands, Dhir Maleeas, Ram Raaeeas etc., who are antagonists of the Panth, and who practice infanticide.who use tobacco and those who cut their hair.
2. Those who eat out of the same plate as an apostate or anyone who has not undergone the ‘Amrit’ ceremony.
3. Those who dye their beard.
4. Those who take or give (or take) money for the matrimony of their children.
5. Those who consume intoxicants like opium, marijuana, liquor etc.
6. Those who go against any of the Sikh tenets.
7. Those who violate any of the enjoinments of the Sikh code.
PROCEDURE TO LEVY ‘TANKHAAH’:
Whenever a Sikh advertently or inadvertently violates any enjoinment of the Sikh code (Rehit) he/she should go to a nearby Sikh congregation, stand up and admit his/her fault. The congregation would then select five beloved ones (in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib). Those five would then consider the fault and propose the ‘Tankhaah’ (punishment) to the congregation.Neither those who are imposing the ‘Tankhaah’ nor the person subject to it should enter into any argument or raise any objections. The ‘Tankhaah’ is supposed to be a kind of service, preferably one that is to be performed with ones hands. At the end a supplication should be said to the Guru for granting pardon to the offender.