Hankaar


Hankaar, Hankār or Ahankar, is the Gurmukhi word originated from a Sanskrit word Ahankāra which translates to mean ego or excessive pride due to one's possessions, material wealth, spirituality, beauty, talents, physical strength, intelligence, authoritative powers, charity work etc. It gives an individual the feeling that he is superior to others and therefore they are at a lower level than he is. It leads to envy, feelings of enmity, and restlessness amongst people.
It occurs in a person only when the person is in देह बुद्धि i.e. when he consider himself a 'body' only. So, ahemkaar is a product of अस्मिता loss of true identity.
Sikhism requires that a person serves society and community with Nimrata or humility. This is obtained by Sewa and hence, one sees the practice of devotees cleaning the footwear of visitors to a Gurdwara so that the mind of devout Sikh is made more humble.
This Cardinal Evil is often regarded by Sikhs as the worst of the Five Evils.
They feel that pride leads to Haumai because it makes people believe that they are the most important thing in life and leads to self-centredness.
The following Shabads from Gurbani clarify this cardinal vice:
forsake Maya and eliminate egotistical pride.