Khalsa Panth discredits the institution of castes as a serious disease of India. About the institution of castes, the universal prevalent evil in Indian society, Guru Nanak Dev has imparted powerfully effective teaching. Here are a few pronouncements, illustrating his deep and universal humanitarianism. Know all human beings to be repositories of divine light; stop, not to enquire about their castes; In the hereafter are there no castes, (As a 3 page 349) *Castes and dynastic pride are condemnable notions; The on Master shelters all existence Anyone arrogating superiority t himself be disillusioned; Sait Nanak; Superiority shall be determined by God; Crediting such one with honor.
(Sri Raga-ki-var 3 p.83) *Those forgetting the Lord are the truly low-caste; Nanak, the low caste are those who live without God, (As a 2 p.349) *Know ye this to be the Lord’s measure; Caste and birth are not there considered; Superiority of caste and worthiness by man’s deeds are determined. (Prabhati 10 p.1330) *Evil-doing, hard-heartedness, slander, violence These be the real untouchables, (Var Sri Raga 20 p.91) *Humility is my mace; Touching the dust of feet of all my spear; These weapons no evil-doer can withstand, The Master, perfectly endowed, has equipped me with these. (Sorath 80, p.628) *In joy abide the humble, controlling and subduing the ego. Saith Nanak; the pride of the greatly arrogant has all gone rotten (Sukhmani 12 Sloka) The Holy Gurus had great compassion with the lowest among low. Guru Nanak Dev placed himself on a level with these poor disinherited folk out of a spirit of compassion for them. The lowest among the low castes, lower than the lowliest Nanak is with them: He envies not those with worldly greatness. Lord! thy glance of grace falls on the land where the humble are cherished. (SriRaga2 p.15) * The Holy Guru further exalts the low castes Should anyone out of the higher castes serve the lord, Beyond expression in his merit. One out of the lower castes that serves God, Saith Nanak, may wear shoes made from my skin. (Malar p.1256) * God’s teaching to all four castes, Khatri, Brahmin, Shudra and Vaish may be imparted. Whoever by the Master’ s guidance utters the holy Name is liberated. Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth in line, by compiling the Sikh Scripture in 1604, and characteristically gave a more radical turn to the Sikh Panth (Nation) by including in its scripture the hymns of low caste saints from all over India, including Muslims. This gave a wider sociological base along with a deeper fathoming of the inner spirit. They include a weaver, a tailor, a skin worker, a trader, a sufi saint, jats (agriculturists) a sadhu, a butcher, and Brahmins, thus making Sikhism subsume the regional and caste diversity of saints of the bhakti and Sant movements. Thus Sikhism become more secular and a path for “Universal man” Guru Gobind Singh the 10th Guru by creating Khalsa Panth on the Baisakhi Day of 1699 at the “City of Bliss” The Anand Pur Chela Master and disciple ‘all in one. Ultimately conferred Gurship to Sri Guru Granth Sahib in 1708, Thus making Sikhism, religiously, socially, politically, regionally and historically truly secular in structure, Sikhism can be accepted as the ultimate religion of India first and then for the rest of the world, because of uniformity, equality, liberty, brotherhood, drug free edicts (smoking & drinking).
The Holy Gurus condemned the caste structure, but Guru Gobind Singh gave the practical shape to the concept and did away with the casteism at the birth of the Khalsa Panth. The castes of the chosen five ones (Beloved) the Panj Pyaras before merging into the Khalsa Panth were: Bhai Daya Singh (Khatri the trader, Bhai Dharam Singh (Jat) the agriculturist, Bhai Himmat Singh (Jheor) the cook, Bhai Mohkam Singh (Dhobi) the washer man, Bhai Sahib Singh (Nai) the barber, Daya, which means compassion, gives rise to Dharama the righteousness, when combined together attribute to Himmat-Effort/ courage, all the three turn a person to be Mohkam-strong will powered and with that one achieves the ultimate goal of Sahib-to merge with the ultimate absorption with God, wonderful qualities of Sikhism. That is why; Khalsa is of Waheguru and to Waheguru the victory. Khalsa is the army of the Waheguru for ameliorating the sufferings of the meck. (Khalsa Akal Purkh ki Fauj). Khalsa is combination of various castes and classes (high or low) with a common symbolic appearance and character (code).
All baptized Sikhs were made Singhs (Lions) and all Singh is as Kaur (Lioness) symbolized by the five Kakars i.e, 5K”s. Kes adoring uncut hair a true replica of nature. Kanga the comb for cleaning and combing the hair. Kara steal bracelet a reminder of non-committal of sin. Kachh pairs of shorts for remaining chaste and body hygiene. Kirpan sword to fight the tyranny and injustice against the weak with all his might.
Then the Guru issued strict edicts (Rehatnama) with a complete ban on smoking, drug, use, drinking and Kosher meat. No relationship with any women (even in dreams) except the wedded wife. So Guru Gobind Singh gave a practical form to Guru Nanak’s perception of classless and castles religion, The concept of Pehle Pangat Pichhe Sangat (first eat together and then sit together) the order of the Third Master Guru Amar Dass a step towards the renunciation of pride and caste, is still practiced by the Khalsa the world over in their congregations.
Do not ask a man’s caste, for in the hereafter there is no caste. For all the mankind there is but asingle refuge. All the four varns become one and acquire the got of Gurmukhi. The Guru transmutes eight metals into one, Thus the warriors, traders,” the people” the workers and the untouchables all brought into one fold. Guru Nanak’s mission was a protest against potential oppressor, social injustice and economic in equalities of the times. Guru Nanak inspired leadership and Guru Gobind Singh made Sikhs bold, assertive and dominant race, ever ready to defend the cause of religion.
Moghals and the British were uprooted from India by the sacrifices of Sikhs. Nonviolent movements of Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Teg Bahadur sacrifice at Delhi and Morchas of Jaito, Guru ka Bagh, Nankana’s Sahib, the sacrifices of Bhagat Singh, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Dewan Singh Kalepani, the Gadherite movement are historical facts glorifying the image of Sikhs. Sikhs were and would be always the fore runners of any reform movement, or freedom movement.
Sikh history-social, economic and political, the geographic location of Sikh shrines, composition of Sikh Scripture, institution of Khalsa Panth, location of Five Takhat is a living proof of Bigger Gurdwara in the Indian sub-continent. The fact needs to be brought home to all Indians to embrace Sikhism in greater number.
This universal religion is capable of ushering peace, prosperity and total welfare to all embracing Sikhism, quickly the better. So the growth of Sikhism is the ultimate answer to all problems of India. Sikhism can rightly be defined as the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 25, 1992
