By: Balwant Singh The Khalsa, an embodiment of baptized Sikhs, was created by Guru Gobind Singh on March 30, 1699. A.D. The ten Gurus had trained the Sikhs and wanted to demonstrate the holy qualities in these men and women. The Sikhs would be a model of Bhakti and Shakti. Thus, Guru Gobind Singh decided to create the Khalsa, men who would be strong enough to free them. selves from the oppression of rulers and to maintain this freedom. Dr. Gokul Chand Naring. A renowned Sikh historian, writes that the Khalsa developed from 200 years of teaching given by all of the Guru,”The harvest which ripened in the time of Gobind Singh had been sown by Guru Nanak and watered by his successors. The sword that carved the Khalsa’s way to glory was, undoubtedly, forged by Guru Gobind Singh, but the seek had been provided by Guru Nanak.” The day on which Guru Gobind Singh formed the Khalsa is known as Baisakhi.

On Baisakhi Day, Guru Gobind Singh assembled most of his Sikhs at Anandpur with the idea of transforming them from subservient to sell-respecting people. On this day, he prepared Khande da Amrit and asked for five volunteers to offer their lives. The Guru baptized the five volunteers, naming them the Panj Pinra. These Piaras belonged to different communities, high and low, and hailed from the different regions of the Indian sub-continent: Daya Ram was a Khatri from Lahore in the North: Dharam Das was a Jat from Delhi, the heart of India, Mukham Chand was a launderer from Dwarka in the West: Himat was a cook from Jagannath in the East; and Salub Chand was a barber from D are in the South. Thus the servine Amrit to the rive beloved of direct

Os was a revolutionary act, Riving blow to untouched ability and shocking all who were proud of their cases. I parked the path towards a national feel Khalisten for which the Sikh striving.

Afar baizing the rive, Guru Gobind Singh said, “Those who take the Amete became my lions. Theme them Singhs Prom now on the names of my Sikhs will not end in Das, Rai, Ram, Mal. or Chand. They will all end in ‘Singh’ My Sikhs must always wear the following five articles whose Punjabi names begin with ‘K’ namely, Kes(uncut hair),Kangha (a comb), Kirpan (sword). Kachh(short drawers), and Kara(usteel bracelet). My Sikhs should practice arms. They should be ever ready to use them for the defensa of their principles, their faith, and their country. They should not show their backs to the for in battle. They should ever live and act according to the three golden rules laid down by Guru Nanak They should ever help the poor. They should always protect those who seek their protection and help. They should give up and forget their previous castes They now belong to one enste, namely the Khalsa.”

The Guns then asked his Beloved Five to prepare the Amrit as he had done. When it was ready, he stood up before them with clasped hands and begged them to baptize him, to give him the Amrit in exactly the same way as he had baptized them. The Guru said, “I have given you my form my glory, and my appearance. I name you the Khalsa. There is no difference between you and me. I am now your chela or disciple. Baptize me as I have baptized you. Make me a Singh as I have made you Singhs.” The Guru then invited others to take the Amrit. Thousands of them were baptized that day. They all became Singhs. The baptismal ceremony was carried on daily for several days. Thus Khalsa was born: a nation of saint soldiers, worshippers of one God, friends and servants of man, and sworn foes of all tyrants, a Brotherhood in which all were to be equal in all respects, and in which all castes were knitted to form one caste.

The single-most marvelous effect of Amrit was that it infused a new spirit into the Guru’s followers. Those who never for generations carried a sword and trembled at the very name of a Mughal, a Pathan, or an Afghan, now, after receiving pahul, became daredevils ready to sacrifice their lives, and everything they possessed, for the sake of their dharma, their nation, and for the sake of righteousness. On the occasion of the first Amrit ceremony, Guru Gobind Singh had proclaimed that he would make one Sikh fight against sawa lakh, he would have sparrows hunt hawks. This was not mere rhetoric; it was given a practical form. It was the effect of this very Amrit that led the two elder sons of the Guru to die fighting in the battle against the Mughals at Chamkaur. It was the result of this ambrosia that impelled Guru Gobind Singh’s two younger sons to become martyrs at Sarhind, rather than renounce their dharma. It was this new born spirit which induced the forty Singhs (Muktas) to die fighting for their dharma, for their Guru, at Muktsar. Even after the death of Guru Gobind Singh, his followers continued to demonstrate this spirit by fighting the Mughal government and sacrificing their lives for dharma. Shahid Ganj in Lahore is a living monument to Sikh sacrifices. Also, thousands of Sikhs recently have given their lives to gain freedom from the oppressive Indian govemment The spirit of Khalsa has enabled them to do this and is continuing to provide us with the strength to establish our own Sikh homeland, Khalistan.

The following words by Guru Gobind Singh have given the Sikhs direction and have kept the spirit of Khalsa alive: Grant me this bonrn

O God, from Thy greatness, May I never refrain From righteous acts. May I fight without fear All foes in life’s battle, With confident courage Claiming the victory, May my highest ambition be Singing Thy praises, And may Thy glory be Embedded in my Mind! When this mortal life Reaches its limit, May I die fighting With limitless courage! Finally on the occasion of celebration of Khalsa’s Birthday. I humbly beg from the Akal Purk to grant all of us courage, steadfastness unity, sincerity, power lo sacrifice in the present time to serve the Khalsa Panth selflessly. Furthermore the leaders of the Khalsa Panth need the direction to work together for liberating

Khalistan.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Happy New Year to Khalsa Brotherhood.

Article extracted from this publication >> April 14, 1995