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Founding of the Khalsa |
"manas ki jat sab ik hi pahchanho"
"All men are the same"
-- Guru Gobind Singh
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During those times, the Punjabi people, including Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims were severely persecuted
under the ruling Mughal empire. The Mughals beheaded Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru, after he helped
Hindus against forcible conversion to Islam, and executed Guru Arjan, the fifth Guru, for
refusing to convert. In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and last Guru, founded the Khalsa in reaction
to the constant persecution and aimed at creating a community based on spirituality and strength with
a strong identity. The Guru's efforts injected a new blood into the body of the downtrodden
and made his followers become a synonym of high consciousness, high purpose, and co-existence. The
Khalsa gave people self-confidence, self-esteem, and national pride,
and, in the process, abolished all boundaries based on birth, caste, religion, and profession. Guru
Gobind Singh's creation prepared the people for the collective action of the common good, and was
the first national effort to create a social order based on the concepts of equality and unity of
human race.
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Five Beloved Ones: In 1699 Guru Gobind Singh invited all Sikhs to a fair at
Anandpur where he asked if anyone was willing to die to prove their faith in him. One
by one, five Sikhs entered his tent. Each time, the Guru came out with his sword wet with
blood. When the crowd thought they were all dead, he revealed the Panj Pyare, the
five beloved ones, alive.
Guru Gobind Singh is Initiated: Having initiated the five Sikhs into the new
Khalsa community, he asked them to initiate him, then declared: "The Khalsa is the Guru
and the Guru is the Khalsa." In this way the Guru emphasized the equality of all Sikhs.
Wife of Guru Gobind Singh: Guru Gobind Singh's wife helped him in the initiation
of people, both men and women, into the Khalsa. The Guru intended men and women to be treated as
equals.
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The Five K's
When the men who had offered their lives to the Guru came out of the tent, they all
carried swords and wore the same safron uniform and the 5 "Ks" as he did. The Guru said to
them: "My brothers, I have made you the same as I am." He asked all Sikhs to wear the 5 "Ks":
Kesh, uncut hair, the traditional Asian image of saintliness
Kangha, the comb; for the hair
Kara, steel bangle
Kachh, undergarment
Kirpan, a dagger; reminder to fight against injustice
The 5 "Ks" and the turban compose the uniform of the Khalsa. It portrays the image of
the Guru, and depicts the Sikh ideal of a saint-soldier, one who aspires to be spirtual and brave.
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Words of the Guru:
Guru Gobind Singh described the Khalsa as follows:
Khalsa is the breath of my body,
Khalsa is the very soul of my life,
Khalsa is my real pride and glory,
Khalsa is my own personal self,
Khalsa is my life's sustainer,
Khalsa is my body and breath,
Khalsa is my creed and karma,
Khalsa is my conscience keeper,
Khalsa is my perfect satguru,
Khalsa is my brave friend,
Khalsa gives me intellect and wisdom,
Khalsa is my object of meditation.
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The Khalsa in History: The Khalsa uniform is a reminder to the
wearer to use the Gurus' actions as a model for their own. It also emphasizes the
equality of the human race. Women and men throughout the globe have adopted or continue to follow
the Khalsa tradition, and those that wear a turban have the
respectful title of being called Sardars. To many, the "Ks" are an
integral part of their identity and existance as individuals.
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