The Spirit Of the Khalsa

The Spirit of the Khalsa

"The Khalsa is my own form;
I manifest myself through the Khalsa.
So long as Khalsa remains distinct;
I bestow all glory on them."
(Guru Gobind Singh)

Every day parties of Sikh pilgrims arrived in Anandpur. The leader of one group, on seeing the Guru, made this request:

"O true King, the Muslim tyrants have made the life of the common people very difficult. They can't move as they wish. They are not allowed even to make pilgrimages to the holy places. Only yesterday as we were on our way to you, a party of Mughal soldiers stopped us and robbed us. They took some of our party and cut of their hair and when we resisted some of our friends were killed. Where can we look for assistance?"

"My brothers, I have made you the same as I am. There is no difference between you and me. You have passed my toughest test with honour. You are my five beloved ones."

Then he turned to the crowd and spoke: "In the time of Guru Nanak it was Lehna alone who passed the Guru's test. Now two hundred years later five followers have passed the test. I think the five Sikhs are strong enough to support the edifice that Guru Nanak planned. I am creating the Khalsa, an army of saint soldiers which will spread through the country and abroad to proclaim Guru Nanak's message of peace and brotherhood. Through the Khalsa I shall work to bring about an Age of Peace, in which all virtuous people will be exalted and the evildoers will be destroyed. Hail to the Khalsa panth."

The Guru embraced the five Sikhs and said, "O Beloved Ones, you are the foundation of the Khalsa. How blessed I feel to pledge my head to you as you did for me. Believe me, all that is mine is yours. I will never flinch from sacrificing my life for you. After your supreme sacrifice it is only befitting to baptize you with a sword. The baptized Sikhs will change from jackals (cowards) to lions (Singhs). They will not only enjoy this life with dignity but also obtain bliss hereafter."

"The Khalsa is the Guru and the Guru is the Khalsa. There is absolutely no difference between me and my Khalsa." The five Beloved Ones changed the Guru's name from Gobind Rai to Gobind Singh. In this way the Guru not only became the leader of the Khalsa but also accepted that his Khalsa could lead and order him whenever they so desired.

The Miracle of Amrit

Guru Gobind Singh started the baptism of Amrit and thousands of Sikhs drank the nectar from the five Beloved Ones. He gave a new hope and strength to the weak and the downtrodden. He swept away timidity and cowardice from the hearts of ordinary people. The Guru said, "Only then shall I be called Guru Gobind Singh, when I make the sparrows hunt down the hawks and a single Sikh (Singh) fight a legion."

When the women drank Amrit, they became Kaurs-the princesses. This was to make clear to the people the Guru's point of view that a daughter was as good as a son. This was the same idea as taught by Guru Nanak

"Why call her inferior who gives birth to Kings and great men?"

Guru Gobind Singh was staying at Anandpur and the Sikhs used to visit the place from time to time. There were no good roads in those times and the people used to travel on horseback or on foot in small parties (Amritdharis & Non Amritdharis). It so happened that a group of people front Majha (central Punjab) set out for a visit to Anandpur. There were some children and young ladies in this party. One of the young Singhnis who was on horseback, strayed ahead of the party. She did not wait and soon she was about a mile ahead of the others. Suddenly some robbers appeared and demanded all the money and gold that she had on her. She was distressed but soon took courage. She told the robbers that it was very wicked of them to rob her when she was going to visit the Guru at Anandpur. But the robbers only became angry and threatened her. She took out her purse and threw it down near the robbers. She sat firmly in the saddle and soon one of the robbers bent down to pick up the purse. She drew out her sword and killed him. The rest of the robbers ran away in panic.

When her companions arrived at the scene of the attack they were horrified to see a dead man. The brave lady told them the whole story. The party did not agree as to the proper conduct of the woman. Some said that it was unlady-like for a woman to fight against men. Others said that it was entirely against the tradition and ancient religions. But there were others who had caught the revolutionary spirit of the times. They praised her for bravery in fighting these evil men.

A day later the party arrived at Anandpur. The news of this incident spread quickly. A controversy arose over the role of the young lady. "How should a Sikh lady act in times of danger to her life and honour?" was the question. There was a great difference of opinion. When the question was referred to the Guru in the Sangat (The holy gathering) he praised the brave action of this daughter and asked her to appear before the congregation. There were loud cheers when the Guru said, "Dear daughter you have acted in the right way. You are really brave. I am pleased at your conduct. I wish all the Sikh ladies would follow your shining example." The young lady bowed and accepted the Guru's blessings. The Guru then addressed the Sangat

"All human beings, rich or poor, high or low, kings or subjects have the right to life-to an honourable life. All have the right of self-protection. If someone attempts to take your life, you have the right to use whatever you want for your self defense wheather you are man or women. It is a matter of greatest honour for everyone to protect the honour of women, whether they belong to friends or foes. Not to do so is totally against the Sikh religion. As for women, they must be ready to fight if there is no other alternative."

He added, "It is the duty of every Sikh to see that all women are treated honourably. A Sikh should always regard women whatever caste, colour or religion they belong to, as his mothers. sisters or daughters. If the lady is the age of your mother, respect her and call her mother's if she is of your age, call her sister; and if she is the age of your children, consider her as your daughter."

The Sangat was greatly pleased with the Guru's instructions. It was with these teachings in mind that later on many Sikh women fought shoulder to shoulder with the men in the fight against the oppression, bigotry and intolerance of the Mughal rulers. They made heroic sacrifices to keep the flame of religious freedom burning.

"Consider women other than your wife,
as your mothers, sisters and daughters.
To look lustfully at a woman other than your wife,
is like pork for a Muslim and beef for a Hindu."
(Bhai Gurdas)

A Struggle

Some very serious objections were raised by the Hindus against the Khalsa. They asked, "How can all castes eat together? How can people obtain salvation without reading the Vedas? How can the sword preach peace?" The Guru did not care what they said. He ordered all his followers to be baptized and become members of the Khalsa. He asked them to renounce the caste system and abandon Hindu beliefs and ways of worship.

On one occasion Ajmer Chand, a descendant of Raja Bhim Chand, was in Anandpur. He asked the Guru some questions about the Khalsa

Ajmer Chand: "In what way will your Sikhs be different from the Hindus or the Muslims?"

Guru Gobind Singh: "My Sikhs shall remain in their natural form. They will not shave off their hair (Bhadan) like the Hindus, nor will they be circumcised like the Muslims. A turban will be part of their uniform."

Ajmer Chand: "How can your religion flourish when you don't accept the two basic Hindu Principles of shaving and worshiping idols?"

Guru Gobind Singh: "Time alone shall answer this question. For the present, let me say that if hair were not pleasing to God, why should He have caused it to grow? As for the idols, I must say that my Sikhs will worship the only God who according to Guru Nanak, can never be set up by any human hand (Thapia Na Jai). You will see that my Sikhs: with the name of God in their hearts, will be able to hold their ground against hundreds and thousands. I will show you how sparrows shall kill hawks. The lowest in society which you call riff-raff will lose all caste, and when they become my Singhs they shall make the mightiest warriors tremble in their shoes. These are not mere words. Their truth will be as clear as daylight in the near future."

The Raja was, however, not convinced and did not accept the Guru's baptism. Conspiring with other hill chiefs he sent a man named Parma Nand to act as a secret agent in the Guru's court, to report on what the Guru did. It was on Parma Nand's advice that two hired murderers Balia and Alim Chand, ambushed the Guru when he was alone. But they were both killed and their attempt to kill the Guru failed. The Guru's growing popularity and the dangers that it entailed, had already been reported to Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb agreed to destroy the power of the Guru and his Sikhs if the armies of the hill chiefs also joined in the hunt. The hill chiefs agreed and an army of 10,000 was immediately sent to Anandpur under the command of Dina Beg and Painda Khan. At Ropar, the armies of the hill chiefs also joined them. It was decided that's if possible, the Guru should be caught alive, so that he should meet the severest punishment, which would be a terrible warning to his followers.

When the news of the Imperial army's advance reached the Guru, he appointed his five Beloved Sikhs as his generals and made quick preparations. When the two armies met, a fierce battle took place. Painda Khan, the Moghul Commander, was killed. Ajmer Chand and some other hill Chiefs took flight. Soon after that the second Moghul Commander, Dina Beg, was wounded. The imperial army had to retreat to Ropar. It was now quite clear to the Guru that the Sikhs must always be on the alert. He, therefore, sent for more muskets, swords and gunpowder and started more intensive training for his followers.

After this defeat, the hill chiefs of Jammu, Nurpur, Mandi. Kullu, Chamba, Srinagar, Guler and Dadwal met to discuss plans to oust the Guru from Anandpur. They decided to besiege Anandpur. They also wrote a letter to the Guru which said, "The land of Anandpur is ours. We allowed your father to live without paying any rent. You have not only started a new religion to discredit ours: but you have also laid our country waste. We have never complained until now but we can no longer keep quiet and let you carry on with your activities. Pay the rent and leave Anandpur. Or, be ready to face our armies. After sunrise tomorrow, not a dry crumb of bread will be allowed into the town." The Guru replied, "O Ajmer Chand, you and your friends are discrediting your religion and yourself by telling lies. The land of Anandpur is a freehold property bought for cash by my father. I do not owe you any rent. As for your threat to starve us, you can do what pleases you. I and my Sikhs live by faith in God's generosity. Guru Nanak says, 'The great Lord keeps giving even when those who receive become weary'."

The siege was carried out. When the news reached some of the Sikhs. they rallied round their leaders and marched towards Anandpur to help the Guru in this hour of need. About 500 men under the command of Duni Chand entered the town killing the royal soldiers at the gates. Within Anandpur the Guru had two fortes Lohgarh and Fatehgarh. One guarded by Sher Singh and Nahar Singh with 500 soldiers. The other was guarded by Ude Singh and Duni Chand. The siege went on and on. For a time it looked as though the Sikhs were facing defeat. But their determination never let them down. One day Ajit Singh, the eldest son of the Guru, asked his father for permission to go out and fight the enemy. The Guru allowed him to go and soon Ajit Singh was out in the thick of the fighting, He shot his arrows so skillfully that they brought death to many enemy soldiers. When his horse was killed under him, he fought on foot. Another brave Sikh, Baba Bachittar Singh showed rare courage in tackling a fully armed, drunken elephant. The elephant was sent to break open the main gate of the fort. The struggle continued for many months and it seemed as though the siege would never end.

"Do not present yourself before me without Keshas and arms."
(Guru Gobind Singh)