New Delhi: Khalsa was established in 1699 by the tenth guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh. The establishment of Khalsa is considered as a watershed moment in the history of Sikhism. As today, January 6, we observe Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti, let us look at lesser-known facts about Khalsa and why it was established.
ਮੈਂ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਨੂੰ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ਪੁਰਬ ‘ਤੇ ਨਮਨ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਗਤੀਸ਼ੀਲ, ਖੁਸ਼ਹਾਲ ਅਤੇ ਦਿਆਲੂ ਸਮਾਜ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਪ੍ਰੇਰਿਤ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ। pic.twitter.com/naNCKvq9o5
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 6, 2025
Why was Khalsa established?
During the Mughal Empire, Sikhs faced persecution for their beliefs. In 1606, the Mughal ruler Jahangir imprisoned and executed Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Guru. Guru Hargobind, the next Guru, turned Sikhs into a military group and highlighted the importance of both spiritual and worldly power.
In 1675, Mughal King Aurangzeb executed Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru and father of Guru Gobind Singh, for defending the rights of non-Muslims and refusing to convert to Islam. The sons of Guru Gobind Singh were also killed for rejecting conversion.
After his father was killed by Aurangzeb, Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa tradition. He formed the Khalsa as a group of warriors dedicated to protecting the innocent from religious oppression. This marked a new chapter in Sikh history.
About Khalsa
The Khalsa warriors underwent an initiation ceremony (Amrit Sanskar) and followed a code of conduct. The earlier Masand System replaced this with a new structure for Sikh leadership. It gave the Sikh community a vision both politically and spiritually. Khalsa Sikhs receive the names Singh (meaning “lion”) for men and Kaur (meaning “princess”) for women during initiation.
The life code, known as “Rahit,” forbids tobacco, alcohol, adultery, and specific types of meat. It also includes guidelines on maintaining uncut hair and a dress code known as the Five Ks.
Foundation of Khalsa and Panj Pyare
On April 13, 1699, during the harvest festival of Vaisakhi, Guru Gobind Singh called Sikhs to Shri Anandpur Sahib. He spoke to the crowd from a hilltop tent now known as Shri Kesgarh Sahib.
According to Sikh tradition, he drew his sword and asked for a volunteer willing to sacrifice himself. One person stepped forward, and the Guru took him into the tent. He then came out alone, carrying a bloody sword. He repeated this four more times, each time returning without a volunteer but still with a bloodied sword. After the fifth time, he came out with all five volunteers unharmed. Instead of killing them, he sacrificed five goats, and the blood was from these goats. The five volunteers became known as the Panj Pyare and the first Khalsa. The five volunteers were:
Daya Ram (Bhai Daya Singh)
Dharam Das (Bhai Dharam Singh)
Himmat Rai (Bhai Himmat Singh)
Mohkam Chand (Bhai Mohkam Singh)
Sahib Chand (Bhai Sahib Singh)
Guru Gobind Singh made Amrit (“nectar”) by mixing water and sugar in an iron bowl while chanting holy verses. He gave this to the Panj Pyare and read passages from the Adi Granth, establishing the Khalsa baptism ceremony. The Guru asked the first five Khalsa to baptise him, and he became Guru Gobind Singh, the sixth Khalsa.
The 5 K’s of Khalsa Tradition
Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa’s tradition of the 5 K’s:
Kesh: uncut hair
Kangha: a wooden comb
Kara: an iron or steel bracelet worn on the wrist
Kirpan: a sword
Kachera: short breeches
Amritdhari Khalsa Sikh men must wear a turban and the 5 K’s according to the Sikh Code of Conduct. For baptised women, wearing a turban is a personal choice.
A Khalsa must be truthful, treat everyone equally, think about God, maintain honesty, and oppose oppression and religious persecution. Learning to handle arms is also an obligation for the Khalsa due to increasing persecution. Most of the Khalsa members came from agricultural, pottery, brickmaking, carpentry, and other trades before joining.
This article explores the establishment of the Khalsa in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh, a pivotal moment in Sikh history. Driven by the persecution faced by Sikhs under the Mughal Empire, Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa, a community of warriors dedicated to defending the innocent. The article details the formation of the Panj Pyare, the Khalsa initiation ceremony (Amrit Sanskar), and the significance of the Five Ks, which symbolise Khalsa identity. It highlights the profound impact of the Khalsa on Sikh spirituality and governance. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
