Khalsa 523125 224919243 2008-07-11T00:21:44Z 206.169.172.212 /* Initial tensions with the non-Khalsa disciples */ {{Sikhi}} '''Khalsa''' ([[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]: {{lang|pa|ਖਾਲਸਾ}}, literally "Pure") refers to the collective body of all [[baptism|baptized]] [[Sikh]]s. The Khalsa was originally established as a [[military]] order of "saint-soldiers" on [[30 March]] [[1699]], by [[Guru Gobind Singh]], the tenth [[Sikh Gurus|Sikh Guru]]. It was the name given by the Guru to all his disciples baptized in the ''[[Amrit Sanchar]]'' ceremony. The symbolic meaning of Khalsa translates as "belonging exclusively to [[Guru Gobind Singh]]". Guru Gobind Singh describes in his book, the [[Dasam Granth]] the qualities of Khalsa:<ref>{{cite book | last = Guru Gobind Singh | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Dasam Granth | publisher = | date = | location = | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = }}</ref> <blockquote> ''The Khalsa is the reflection of my form'', ''The Khalsa is my body and soul'', ''The Khalsa is my very life''.... ....''Our enemies are vanquished by the steadfastness of Khalsa'', ''Unlike countless others, we are adorned by the Khalsa''. </blockquote> A Sikh who has been initiated in Khalsa is known as a Khalsa Sikh or '''Amritdhari''', as opposed to [[Sahajdhari]]. ==History== The word Khalsa is derived from [[Arabic language|Arabic]] word ''khālisa[h]'' خالصة ("pure/devoted").<ref>{{cite book | last = John Stratton Hawley | first = Gurinder Singh Mann | title = Studying the Sikhs: Issues for North America | year = 1993 | publisher = SUNY Press | location = | isbn = 0791414256 | pages = 178 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last = Nayyar | first = Gurbachan Singh | title = The Sikhs in Ferment: Battles of the Sikh Gurus | year = 1992 | publisher = National Book Organisation | location = Punjab (India) | isbn = 8185135576 | pages = }}</ref> In Sikh tradition, the term first appears in a ''[[hukmanama]]'' (order) by [[Guru Har Gobind]] (the sixth Guru), which refers to a ''[[Sangat (term)|sangat]]'' as "''Guru ka khalsa''" ("Guru's own Khalsa"). It also appears in a letter by [[Guru Tegh Bahadur]] (the ninth Guru), in the same sense. ===Foundation=== Although the early [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] emperors had peaceful relations with the Sikh Gurus,{{Fact|date=February 2007}} the Sikhs started facing religious persecution during the reign of [[Jahangir]]. [[Guru Arjan Dev]], the fifth Guru, was arrested and executed by [[Jahangir]] in 1606. In 1675, [[Guru Tegh Bahadur]], the ninth Guru of the Sikhs was executed by the Mughal emperor [[Aurangzeb]]. In 1699, his son and the tenth Guru, Gobind Singh decided to establish a military order to stage resistance against the Mughals. He sent ''[[hukmanama]]s'' ''(letters of authority)'' to his followers throughout the region, requesting them to congregate at [[Anandpur]] on [[13 April]] [[1699]], the day of [[Baisakhi]] (the annual [[harvest festival]]).<ref name="Cynthia_Mahmood_Faith_Baisakhi">{{cite book | last = Mahmood | first = Cynthia Keppley | title = Fighting for faith and nation dialogues with Sikh militants | year = 1996 | publisher = University of Pennsylvania Press | location = Philadelphia | isbn = 978-0812215922 | oclc = 44966032 | pages = 43-45 }}</ref> Guru Gobind Singh addressed the congregation from the entryway of a small tent pitched on a small hill ''(now called Kesgarh Sahib)''. He drew his sword and asked for a volunteer who was willing to sacrifice his head. No one answered his first call, nor the second call, but on the third invitation, a person called [[Bhai Daya Singh|Daya Ram]] (later known as Bhai Daya Singh) came forward and offered his head to the Guru. Guru Gobind Singh took the volunteer inside the tent, and emerged shortly, with blood dripping from his sword. He then demanded another head. One more volunteer came forward, and entered the tent with him. Guru again emerged with blood on his sword. This happened three more times. Then the five volunteers came out of the tent unharmed. These five, who were willing to sacrifice their lives for their Guru, were called ''[[Panj Piare]]'' ("the five beloved ones").<ref name="Cynthia_Mahmood_Faith_Baisakhi"/> These five volunteers were the first Khalsa Sikhs: Daya Ram ([[Bhai Daya Singh]]), Dharam Das ([[Bhai Dharam Singh]]), Himmat Rai ([[Bhai Himmat Singh]]), Mohkam Chand ([[Bhai Mohkam Singh]]), and Sahib Chand ([[Bhai Sahib Singh]]). Some Sikhs believe that the Guru had actually beheaded the disciples, and then brought them back to life using divine powers, and others that he merely alluded to their beheading; however, there exists no reliable source as to what actually happened in the tent, and nobody involved with the act ever suggested one conjecture over any others. Regardless, to Sikhs, what actually happened in the tent ultimately bears no significance for it was the sacrificial nature of the act performed by the five volunteers that is important. Guru Gobind Singh then took an iron bowl, and poured some water in it. Sahib Devan (later [[Mata Sahib Kaur]]) added some sugar crystals to the water in the bowl, and Guru stirred this mixture with a double-edged sword whilst reciting [[gurbani]]. These actions allude to the nature expected of the inductees to the Khalsa: that they must have the will and the strength to fight oppression (symbolized by the sword), but must always remember that their actions are born from protection and not hatred (symbolized by the sweetness of the sugar). This sacred mixture, named ''[[Amrita|Amrit]]'' ("nectar"), forms the root of the word "[[Amritsar]]" (meaning "pool of nectar") — the holy city of the Sikhs. Each of the panj pyares drank five palmfuls of the amrit, and had amrit sprinkled in their eyes five times. Each time, they repeated the phrase, "''Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh''" ("The Khalsa belongs to God, the victory belongs to God"). Then they received five sprinkles in their hair and sipped from the bowl of amrit. Guru Gobind Singh gave them all the surname "[[Singh]]" (meaning "lion") over their original surnames (which indicated the [[Indian caste system|caste]] that they originally belonged to) to symbolize the caste-less nature of the order, and indeed of the religion itself. Similarly, every subsequent male who takes the ceremony are also given the surname "Singh", and every female is given the name "Kaur" (meaning "princess"); the collective body of whom is called the Khalsa. The ''Panj Piare'' were thus the first baptised Sikhs, and became the first members of the Khalsa brotherhood, who symbolically regard Guru Gobind Singh as their "father", and Mata Sahib Kaur as their "mother".<ref name="Cynthia_Mahmood_Faith_Baisakhi"/> Khalsa claims Anandpur, where they were created by Guru Gobind Singh, as their home, and celebrate [[Vaisakhi]] as their birthday.<ref name="Cynthia_Mahmood_Faith_Baisakhi"/> ===Initial tensions with the non-Khalsa disciples=== With the creation of Khalsa, Guru Gobind Singh had abolished all existing social divisions as per teaching of Guru Nanak. In their new order the lowest of the low would stand with the highest, all would become one and drink from one vessel.<ref name="davey">{{cite book | last = Cunningham | first = Joseph Davey | title = A history of Sikhs | year = 2002 | publisher = Rupa & Co., New Delhi | isbn = 8171677649 | pages = 68-69 | chapter = Sikhism under Govind }}</ref> All previous beliefs relating to family, occupation, customs and ceremonies were declared useless by the Guru and salvation could be achieved only by the ways of the Khalsa. This caused uncomfort to those who considered themselves to be superior races and they protested. Many departed from the ceremeony, but the Guru declared that the low castes should be raised and would dwell next to himself.<ref name="davey"/> The newswriter of the Mughal government, Ghulam Mohyiuddin, reporting to the Emperor wrote:<ref name="sangat">{{cite book | last = Singh | first = Sangat | title = The Sikhs in History | year = 2005 | publisher = Singh Brothers | isbn = 8172052758 | pages = 67-68 | chapter = Evolution of Sikh Panth }}</ref><ref name="Gopal">{{cite book | last = Singh | first = Gopal | title = A history of the Sikh people | year = | publisher = Delhi | isbn = | pages = 291 | chapter = }}</ref> {{cquote|He has abolished caste and custom, old rituals, beliefs and supertitions of the [[Hindu]]s and bonded them in one single brotherhood. No one will be superior or inferior to another. Men of all castes have been made to eat out of the single bowl. Though orthodox men have opposed him, about twenty thousand men and women have taken baptism of steel at his hand on the first day. The Guru has also told the gathering: "I' ll call myself Gobind Singh only if i can make the meek sparrows pounce upon the hawks and tear them; only if one combatant of my force faces a legion of the enemy"}} ''Sri Gur Sobha'' (18th century) by Sainapati (Saina Singh) contains two sections (''adhyays'') on the controversies that arose, when Guru Gobind Singh's disciples in [[Delhi]] heard the news of his new order.<ref name="JeevanDeol_Identity">{{cite book | last = Deol | first = Jeevan | editor = Arvind-pal Singh and Mandair, Gurharpal Singh and Christopher Shackle | title = Sikh Religion, Culture and Ethnicity | year = 2001 | publisher = Routledge | isbn = 978-0700713899 | oclc = 45337782 | pages = 25-26 | chapter = Eighteenth Century Khalsa Identity: Discourse, Praxis and Narrative }}</ref> Much of the controversy stated in ''Sri Gur Sobha'' revolves around ''bhaddar'', the ritual shaving of head after death of a close relative, which was discouraged by Guru Gobind Singh. According to Sainapti, while creating the Khalsa, Guru Gobind Singh said that ''bhaddar'' is ''bharam'' (illusion), and not ''[[dharma|dharam]]''.<ref name="JeevanDeol_Identity"/> Tensions developed between the Punjabi [[Khatri]] disciples of the Guru in Delhi, and members of the newly-formed Khalsa. A prominent Khatri disciple was expelled from the place of worship ''(dharmasala)'' for refusing to join the Khalsa. Another disciple was expelled for eating with him, starting a chain of further expulsions.<ref name="JeevanDeol_Identity"/> The expelled disciples convened a community gathering, at which two wealthy Khatris demanded that the Khalsa produce a written order from the Guru that a new mandatory code of conduct had been promulgated. A Khatri family that refused to follow the ''bhaddar'' ritual was boycotted by the Khatri community.<ref name="JeevanDeol_Identity"/> The Khatri council ([[panchayat|panch]]) closed the bazaar ''(market)'' to pressurize the Khalsa. The Khalsa petitioned the state officials to intervene, who forced reopening of the shops. Later, peace was established between the two groups in a ''sangat'' (congregration). However, hostility between some Khatris and the Khalsa persisted in the later years.<ref name="JeevanDeol_Identity"/> Another rift between the Khalsa and some other Nanak Panthi groups seems to be the Khalsa's firm adherence to the doctrine that Guru Gobind Singh had ended the line of human Gurus, declaring the [[Adi Granth]] as the next Guru. Some eighteenth century Sikhs extended the line of Gurus to include [[Banda Bahadur]], [[Mata Sundari]], [[Mata Sahib Kaur]], Mata Sundari's adopted son ([[Sahibzada Ajit Singh|Ajit Singh]]) and grandson ''(Hathi Singh)''.<ref name="JeevanDeol_Identity"/> ===Khalsa as a military force=== One of the duties of a Khalsa was to practice arms and be ready to defend the weak. This was deemed necessary due to the rising religious persecution from zealous Islamic [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] rulers. In this context the Khalsa rose as a group as saint-warriors to withstand the Mughals. After the death of Guru Gobind Singh, his disciple [[Banda Singh Bahadur]] led the Khalsa warriors in an uprising against the Mughals. Banda Singh Bahadur first established a Sikh kingdom when he defeated the Mughals at [[Sirhind]]. He and his comrades were eventually defeated and executed, but he became an icon among the Khalsa Sikhs. By the late 1730s, the Khalsa regrouped as a military force under [[Nawab Kapur Singh]], who gathered local chieftains and created ''Dal Khalsa'', a coalition army.<ref name="Cynthia_Mahmood_Faith_military">{{cite book | last = Mahmood | first = Cynthia Keppley | title = Fighting for faith and nation dialogues with Sikh militants | year = 1996 | publisher = University of Pennsylvania Press | location = Philadelphia | isbn = 978-0812215922 | oclc = 44966032 | pages = 107 }}</ref> The Dal Khalsa fought with the Mughals and the Afghans, eventually resulting in the establishment of a Sikh kingdom in the Punjab region. After the fall of the Mughal empire and the later establishment of a Sikh state in [[Punjab region|Punjab]], the Khalsa became an instrument of the Punjab Maharajas: the Khalsa was a democratic body, and could oppose the Maharaja. By the death of [[Ranjit Singh]] in 1839 the regular army of Punjab was assessed by Sir Lepel Griffin at 29000 men, with 192 artillery guns. The irregular levies were estimated at a similar number. <ref name="Pearse1">Major Pearse, Hugh; ''Ranjit Singh and his white officers''. In {{cite book | first=Alexander| last=Gardner | title=The Fall of Sikh Empire | publisher=National Book Shop | location=Delhi, India | origyear=1898| year=1999 | id=ISBN 81-7116-231-2}}</ref> {{seealso|Sikh Khalsa Army}} ===Modern status=== The Khalsa order attracted the vast [[Jat people|Jat]] peasantry of middle and eastern Punjab, and over the years, the Khalsa Sikhs became the orthodox majority in the Sikh community.<ref name="IAhmed_State">{{cite book | last = Ahmed | first = Ishtiaq | title = State, Nation and Ethnicity in Contemporary South Asia | year = 1999 | publisher = Continuum International Publishing Group | isbn = 978-1855675780 | oclc = 33008494 | pages = 115-116 }}</ref> The rise of Khalsa dominance in the Sikh community is sometimes associated with rise of Jat influence in the Sikh community, and the decline of the [[Khatri]] influence (all ten Sikh Gurus were Khatris).<ref name="WHMcLeod_Sants">{{cite book | editor = Karine Schomer and W. H. McLeod | title = The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India | origyear = 1987 | publisher = [[Motilal Banarsidass]] | isbn = 978-8120802773 | oclc = 17747311 | pages = 238-242 }}</ref> However, W. H. McLeod states that while the Khalsa may incorporate powerful Jat influences, it would be a "naive interpretation" to regard the Khalsa as an "institutionalized conquest of the (Sikh) Panth by its Jat constituency".<ref name="WHMcLeod_Sants"/> Under the Khalsa dominance, the Sikh religion came to be identified with the Khalsa and the Jats, although not all of the Khalsa Sikhs are Jats, and not all Sikhs subscribed to the Khalsa code of conduct.<ref name="IAhmed_State"/> Today, the Khalsa brotherhood is respected by the entire Sikh community; however, not all Sikhs are Amritdharis.<ref name="Cynthia_Mahmood_Faith_Baisakhi"/> The issue of Khalsa code of conduct has led to several controversies. In the early 1950s, a serious split occurred in the [[Sikh diaspora|Canadian Sikh community]], when the [[Khalsa Diwan Society Vancouver|Khalsa Diwan Society]] in [[Vancouver]] elected a clean-shaven Sikh to serve on its management committee.<ref name="PRMagocsi_Canada">{{cite book | editor = Paul Robert Magocsi | title = Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples | origyear = 1998 | year = 1999 | publisher = University of Toronto Press | isbn = 978-0802029386 | oclc = 56300149 | pages = 1157 }}</ref> Although most of the early Sikh immigrants to Canada were non-Khalsa, and a majority of the members of the society were clean-shaven non-Khalsa Sikhs, a faction objected to the election of a non-Khalsa to the management committee. The factions in Vancouver and Victorial broke away from the Khalsa Diwan Society, and established their own gurdwara society called Akali Singh.<ref name="PRMagocsi_Canada"/> In the United Kingdom also, there have been tensions between the Khalsa Sikhs and the non-Khalsa Sikhs. Many Sikhs in Britain have insisted on their right of not confirming to the Khalsa norms, while maintaining that they are truly Sikh. On the other hand, some of the Khalsa Sikhs think of the non-Khalsa Sikhs as having abandoned the Sikh faith altogether.<ref>{{cite book | last = Parsons | first = Gerald | title = The Growth of Religious Diversity: Britain from 1945 | year = 1994 | publisher = Routledge | isbn = 978-0415083263 | oclc = 29957116 | pages = 231 }}</ref> ==Khalsa code of conduct== A Khalsa needs to follow rules and codes of conduct set by [[Guru Gobind Singh]]. The [[Reht Maryada]] (code of conduct) is based upon guidlines laid down by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. ===Five Ks=== {{main|Five Ks}} [[Image:CIMG0349.JPG|thumb|thumb|right|[[Kanga (Sikhism)|Kanga]], [[Kara (Sikhism)|Kara]] and [[Kirpan]] - three of the five articles of faith endowed to the Sikhs.]] The Five Ks (see [[Five Ks]]), or ''panj kakaar/kakke'', are five items of faith that all Khalsa are required to wear at all times, at the command of the tenth Sikh Guru, [[Guru Gobind Singh]] who so ordered at the [[Baisakhi]] [[Amrit Sanskar]] in 1699. They are:- * [[Kesh (Sikhism)|Kesh]] (uncut hair) * [[Kanga (Sikhism)|Kanga]] (wooden comb) * [[Kaccha]] (underwear) * [[Kara (Sikhism)|Kara]] (Iron bracelet) * [[Kirpan]] (strapped sword). They are for identification and representation of the ideals of Sikhism, such as honesty, equality, fidelity, meditating on God, and never bowing to tyranny.<ref>Eleanor Nesbitt, "Sikhism: a very short introduction", ISBN 0-19-280601-7, [[Oxford University Press]], pp. 40–43</ref> ==Distinction between Khalsa and Sahajdhari== All Khalsa Sikhs are [[Sahajdhari]]s ''(non-baptized Sikhs)'' at some point in their life. In Sikhism, the children are not baptized at birth because the ceremony requires the individual to become a Khalsa Sikh by [[free will]]. The person aspiring to be a Khalsa must be able to speak, read and recite from the [[Sikh scriptures]]. All Khalsa Sikhs must follow a very strict code of conduct for the rest of their lives. As Khalsa all Guru Gobind Singh's codes of conducts and daily religious practices must be followed ''for life'' with no infraction ''(only exception being if the person is ill or unwell so can't do the daily pray)''. Since the initiation into the Khalsa is a serious step, only a person mature enough to understand and accept the Khalsa way of life should undertake it. However, there are several cases of younger people being initiated into Khalsa.<ref>{{cite book | last = Fowler | first = Jeaneane D. | coauthors = Merv Fowler, David Norcliffe, Nora Hill, Diane Watkins | title = World Religions: An Introduction for Students | year = 1997 | publisher = Sussex Academic Press | isbn = 978-1898723493 | oclc = 37560846 | pages = 369 }}</ref> Due to these hard requirements many people are [[Sahajdhari]] Sikhs. ==See also== * [[Sahajdhari]] ==Footnotes== {{reflist|2}} ==External links== *[http://www.sridasamgranth.com The Knowledge of the Khalsa as enshrined in the Sri Dasam Granth] *[http://www.baisakhi1999.org/order1.htm Order of The Khalsa] *[http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Khalsa Khalsa] at SikhWiki *[http://www.scys-online.org/site/khalsa.html Birth of the Khalsa] {{Sikhism}} [[Category:Sikhism]] [[Category:Punjabi words and phrases]] [[fr:Khalsa]] [[he:קהלסה]] [[pt:Khalsa]] [[sv:Khalsa]] [[ur:فتح]]