Khalsa is my Own Form
I Reside in The Khalsa
Khalsa is my Body and Mind
Khalsa is Most dear to me
Khalsa is my True Guru
Khalsa is my Brave Friend

Raj Karega Khalsa




Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji
1666 - 1708

FOUNDER OF
THE KHALSA PANTH

ON VAISAKHI DAY 30th March 1699

The new radical, but common sense teachings of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji were built upon by the nine succeeding Sikh Gurus, ending with Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji who gave the present day shape to Sikhism by formulating the Khalsa Panth.

The Khalsa Panth or Saint-Soldier was created to annihilate evil, oppression and injustice; to protect the innocent, helpless and the weak; and to uphold the righteousness all over the globe.


CREATION OF THE KHALSA.

On Vaisakhi Day of 30th March 1699, at Anandpur Sahib, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji gave a test to his Sikhs in a specially convened gathering. Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji asked for devoted Sikhs who would be prepared to die for the Sikh faith and in the name of Waheguru (One God, The Wonderful Master). Five Gur-Sikhs volunteered and offered their heads to the Guru who then baptised by administering Amrit and welcomed them into the new order of The Khalsa Panth. They became to be known as the five beloved ones or Panj Piaras. This ordination into the Khalsa Panth obliterated all their previous caste, creed and class distinctions. From that moment, all new Sikh names were suffixed by the words Singh for men and Kaur for the women to indicate unitary bond of the Khalsa Panth.



To distinguish The Khalsa Panth, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji promulgated five mandatory "Articles of Faith", namely:

KESH:
Uncut hair confirming acceptance of God’s will and wisdom.

KANGHA:
A wooden comb to care for the uncut hair, a sign of cleanliness.

KACHHAIRA:
Special type of under garment worn to indicate restraint and cleanliness.

KARA:
An iron/steel bracelet worn on the right wrist indicating strength and unity, a reminder not to be tempted by greed, lust, love, anger or pride.

KIRPAN:
A small sword signifying power and dignity.




An initiated Sikh should also follow the Five Vows promulgated by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, namely:

1. Not to Remove Hair from any part of the body.

2. Not to Use intexicants (such as tobacco, alcohol, and drugs).

3. Not to Eat Halal Meat or eat any meat killed according to the Muslim practice.

4. Not to Commit Adultery.

5. Not to Worship tombs, graves, idols and deities.





The above account gives a backdrop to the creation of The Khalsa Panth 300 years ago, at a time when mankind was either faced with the fact of being killed or kill to survive. Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji overturned this for the Sikhs in one moment by his vision of creating the Sant Saphiae (Saint - Soldier) to annihilate evil, a vision first formulated by Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji almost 200 years earlier. All Sikhs are eternally gratefull to the Ten Sikh Gurus for bringing an end to the evil regimes being imposed on innocent people whilst the Gurus were alive. Their sacrifices, pains and sorrows can not be measured and Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji recognised this fact and put a stop to this by creating the Khalsa Panth on Vaisakhi Day.

On Sunday 11th April 1999, the atmosphere of Vaisakhi Day of 30th March 1699 was recreated in a quiet suburb of West London. To witness the 300th Vaisakhi celebrations, please follow the links below.





Nagar Kirtan - Sunday 11th April 1999





Changing of The Nishan Sahib Chola
Wednesday 14th April 1999.




Celebrating Vaisakhi 1999
to commemorate 300 Years of
The Khalsa.


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