The Sikh Gurus spoke against the common practice of dowry when a gift of money or valuables had to be given by the bride's family to that of the groom at the time of their marriage.
Huge pressure was exerted on the bride's family for the extraction of a sizeable fortune at times of marriage.
It has been regarded as contribution of her family to the married household's expenses.
The Guru's called this giving of gifts an "offer for show" of the guests and a "worthless display" which only increase the "false egotism".
Dowry was prohibited amongst the followers of the Gurus.
ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਮੇਰੇ ਬਾਬੁਲਾ ਹਰਿ ਦੇਵਹੁ ਦਾਨੁ ਮੈ ਦਾਜੋ ॥
हरि प्रभु मेरे बाबुला हरि देवहु दानु मै दाजो ॥
O my father, give me the Name of the Lord God as my wedding gift and dowry.
ਹਰਿ ਕਪੜੋ ਹਰਿ ਸੋਭਾ ਦੇਵਹੁ ਜਿਤੁ ਸਵਰੈ ਮੇਰਾ ਕਾਜੋ ॥
हरि कपड़ो हरि सोभा देवहु जितु सवरै मेरा काजो ॥
Give me the Lord as my wedding gown, and the Lord as my glory, to accomplish my works.
ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਭਗਤੀ ਕਾਜੁ ਸੁਹੇਲਾ ਗੁਰਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਦਾਨੁ ਦਿਵਾਇਆ ॥
हरि हरि भगती काजु सुहेला गुरि सतिगुरि दानु दिवाइआ ॥
Through devotional worship to the Lord, this ceremony is made blissful and beautiful; the Guru, the True Guru, has given this gift.
ਖੰਡਿ ਵਰਭੰਡਿ ਹਰਿ ਸੋਭਾ ਹੋਈ ਇਹੁ ਦਾਨੁ ਨ ਰਲੈ ਰਲਾਇਆ ॥
खंडि वरभंडि हरि सोभा होई इहु दानु न रलै रलाइआ ॥
Across the continents, and throughout the Universe, the Lord's Glory is pervading. This gift is not diminished by being diffused among all.
ਹੋਰਿ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਦਾਜੁ ਜਿ ਰਖਿ ਦਿਖਾਲਹਿ ਸੁ ਕੂੜੁ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੁ ਕਚੁ ਪਾਜੋ ॥
होरि मनमुख दाजु जि रखि दिखालहि सु कूड़ु अहंकारु कचु पाजो ॥
Any other dowry, which the self-willed manmukhs offer for show, is only false egotism and a worthless display.
ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਮੇਰੇ ਬਾਬੁਲਾ ਹਰਿ ਦੇਵਹੁ ਦਾਨੁ ਮੈ ਦਾਜੋ ॥੪॥
हरि प्रभ मेरे बाबुला हरि देवहु दानु मै दाजो ॥४॥
O my father, please give me the Name of the Lord God as my wedding gift and dowry. ||4||
SGGS-79
