Accordingly, Guru Gobind Singh chose the day of Baisakhi in 1699 to found the Khalsa, the pure, at Anandpur. He termed this initiation which aimed at the physical as well as moral transformation of his followers as Amrit Chakna (partaking of nectar). In the new order established by him, all castes were abolished. His followers were enjoined to address one another as brother, Bhai Belief in superstitions was forbidden and religious rituals were declared unnecessary. Under the new dispensation, one was to believe in one eternal God and extend the utmost tolerance and deference to all faiths. All pilgrimages were declared superfluous because a pure, noble and useful household life, extending due respect to the womenfolk, and blessed with a spontaneous urge to help the weak and protect the oppressed was prescribed as the holiest conduct.
While baptizing his first five chosen ones, Guru Gobind Singh denounced the personality cult in very severe terms. He convinced the people that real power belonged to them and thereby introduced democratic traditions into religion and other spheres of life.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 13, 1990
