|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Baisakhi is the
anniversary of the creation of the Khalsa Pantha. Guru Govind
Singh selected this auspicious day of Baisakhi to initiate
revolt against injustice, by forming the order of the Khalsa.
The Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb, installed himself as the Emperor
of India in 1657. To achieve his aim he had annihilated almost
all his family opposition. Immediately after consolidating his
power he embarked on a policy of religious persecution and set
upon the process of Islamization of India. The Brahmins were his
primary target. He levied unethical religious taxes against
Hindus, and shut their temples and places of learning. He had
been convinced by his clerics that once the Brahmins accepted
Islam the others would follow. The Brahmins, particularly the
inhabitants of Kashmir, looked for some dynamic leadership to
fight this subversion.
The Brahmins of Kashmir approached Guru Tegh Bahadur
(1621-1675), the ninth in the line of Sikh Gurus, who was on the
throne of the Sikh religion. They asked him for guidance on
combatting the atrocities committed by the Mughal Emperor. At
the time of their meeting, Guru Tegh Bahadur's nine year old
son, Gobind Rai, was sitting beside him. As Guru Tegh Bahadur
went into a deep state of contemplation, his young son asked the
reason of his repose. Guru Tegh Bahadur said that the matter was
of vital importance; the world is aggrieved by oppression; and
no brave man had yet come forward who was willing to sacrifice
his life to free the earth from the burden of' Aurangzeb's
persecution of Hindus. Young Gobind Rai replied: "For that
purpose who is more worthy than thou who art at once generous
and brave." So after entrusting the Guruship to Gobind Rai,
Guru Tegh Bahadur proceeded towards Delhi, the seat of the
Mughal Empire.
Upon reaching Delhi, the Guru and his loyal attendants were
immediately imprisoned by Aurangzeb. While in prison, Guru Tegh
Bahadur foresaw the beginning of his ecclesiastic journey. To
test his son's courage and capability to carry on the Guru's
mission, he wrote him saying, "My strength is exhausted, I
am in chains and I can make not any efforts. Says Nanak, God
alone is now my refuge. He will help me as He did his
Saints." In reply young Guru Gobind Rai wrote: "I have
regained my Power, my bonds are broken and all options are open
unto me. Nanak, everything is in Thine hands. It is only Thou
who can assist Thyself." Guru Teg Bahadur offered his life
for the freedom of conscience and conviction of anyone belonging
to a faith other than his own. His spirit of sacrifice and
courage was kindled into the heart of Gobind Rai.
Hundreds of people gathered around the place where Guru Tegh
Bahadur was martyred in Delhi. The executioner abandoned the
Guru's body in the open. No one came forward openly to claim the
body to perform religious rites. Even ardent disciples withdrew
unrecognized. Taking advantage of the stormy weather that
followed the execution, two persons covertly took the body of
Guru Tegh Bahadur for cremation. This cowardice fomented in
Gobind Rai an urge to endow his Sikhs with a distinct identity.
With the criteria of courage and strength to sacrifice, Gobind
Rai became the tenth Sikh Guru. He wanted to instill these
principles in his downtrodden followers. He wanted to uplift
their morale to combat the evil forces of injustice, tyranny,
and oppression. He was 33 years old when he had Divine
inspiration to actuate his designs. Every year at the time of
Baisakhi (springtime), thousands of devotees would come to
Anandpur to pay their obeisance and seek the Guru's blessings.
In early 1699, months before Baisakhi Day, Guru Gobind Rai sent
special edicts to congregants far and wide that that year the
Baisakhi was going to be a unique affair. He asked them not to
cut any of their hair -- to come with unshorn hair under their
turbans and chunis, and for the men to come with full beards.
With the criteria of courage and strength to sacrifice, Gobind
Rai became the tenth Sikh Guru. He wanted to instill these
principles in his downtrodden followers. He wanted to uplift
their morale to combat the evil forces of injustice, tyranny,
and oppression.
He was 33 years old when he had Divine inspiration to actuate
his designs. Every year at the time of Baisakhi (springtime),
thousands of devotees would come to Anandpur to pay their
obeisance and seek the Guru's blessings. In early 1699, months
before Baisakhi Day, Guru Gobind Rai sent special edicts to
congregants far and wide that that year the Baisakhi was going
to be a unique affair. He asked them not to cut any of their
hair -- to come with unshorn hair under their turbans and chunis,
and for the men to come with full beards.
On Baisakhi Day, March 30, 1699, hundreds of thousands of people
gathered around his divine temporal seat at Anandpur Sahib. The
Guru addressed the congregants with a most stirring oration on
his divine mission of restoring their faith and preserving the
Sikh religion. After his inspirational discourse, he flashed his
unsheathed sword and said that every great deed was preceded by
equally great sacrifice: He demanded one head for oblation.
After some trepidation one person offered himself. The Guru took
him inside a tent. A little later he reappeared with his sword
dripping with blood, and asked for another head. One by one four
more earnest devotees offered their heads. Every time the Guru
took a person inside the tent, he came out with a bloodied sword
in his hand.
Thinking their Guru to have gone berserk, the congregants
started to disperse. Then the Guru emerged with all five men
dressed piously in white. He baptized the five in a new and
unique ceremony called pahul, what Sikhs today know as the
baptism ceremony called Amrit. Then the Guru asked those five
baptized Sikhs to baptize him as well. He then proclaimed that
the Panj Pyare -- the Five Beloved Ones -- would be the
embodiment of the Guru himself: "Where there are Panj Pyare,
there am I. When the Five meet, they are the holiest of the
holy."
He said whenever and wherever five baptized (Amritdhari) Sikhs
come together, the Guru would be present. All those who receive
Amrit from five baptized Sikhs will be infused with the spirit
of courage and strength to sacrifice. Thus with these principles
he established Panth Khalsa, the Order of the Pure Ones.
At the same time the Guru gave his new Khalsa a unique,
indisputable, and distinct identity. The Guru gave the gift of
bana, the distinctive Sikh clothing and headwear. He also
offered five emblems of purity and courage. These symbols, worn
by all baptized Sikhs of both sexes, are popularly known today
as Five Ks: Kesh, unshorn hair; Kangha, the wooden comb; Karra,
the iron (or steel) bracelet; Kirpan, the sword; and Kachera,
the underwear. By being identifiable, no Sikh could never hide
behind cowardice again.
Political tyranny was not the only circumstance that was
lowering peoples' morale. Discriminatory class distinctions
(--the Indian "caste" system--) promoted by Brahmins
and Mullahs were also responsible for the peoples' sense of
degradation. The Guru wanted to eliminate the anomalies caused
by the caste system. The constitution of the Panj Pyare was the
living example of his dream: both the high and low castes were
amalgamated into one. Among the original Panj Pyare, there was
one Khatri, shopkeeper; one Jat, farmer; one Chhimba,
washer-man; one Ghumar, water-carrier; and one Nai, a barber.
The Guru gave the surname of Singh (Lion) to every Sikh and also
took the name for himself. From Guru Gobind Rai he became Guru
Gobind Singh. He also pronounced that all Sikh women embody
royalty, and gave them the surname Kaur (Princess). With the
distinct Khalsa identity and consciousness of purity Guru Gobind
Singh gave all Sikhs the opporunity to live lives of courage,
sacrifice, and equality.
The birth of the Khalsa is celebrated by Sikhs every Baisakhi
Day on April 13. Baisakhi 1999 marks the 300th anniversary of
Guru Gobind Singh's gift of Panth Khalsa to all Sikhs
everywhere. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
