Baisakhi (Punjabi: ਵਿਸਾਖੀ) visākhī), also known as Baisakhi, Vaishakhi, or Vasakhi) is a festival
celebrated in the Punjab region. The festival coincides with
other festivals celebrated
on the first day of Vaisakh.
Vaisakhi is
especially important for the Sikh community as it marks
the establishment of the Khalsa. More recently, this festival is also celebrated
around the world by the Sikh diaspora.
The festival is also
celebrated by Hindus and Buddhists for different reasons
including the start of a new year. People in the Punjab Region regard Vaisakhi as a
harvest festival and
the Punjabi new year.
Harvest
festival and the Punjabi New Year
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Vaisakhi is a harvest
festival for Punjabis and, according to the Punjabi calendar, the Punjabi New Year. The Punjabi calendar is based on the Bikrami calendar and is used
by all communities. Hindus use the Punjabi calendar as their religious
calendar too. Fairs are organised on Vaisakhi day in Punjabi villages.
This day is also
observed as the thanksgiving day by the farmers whereby the farmers pay their
tribute, thanking God for the abundant harvest and also praying for the future
prosperity.
Celebration (Baisakhi)
Vaisakhi is usually
celebrated on 13 April, and occasionally on 14 April, in the different regions
across the world as the Sikhs migrated overseas.
The festival bears a
great significance for Sikhs due to the fact that on the Vaisakhi Day in the
year 1699, the 10th Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh laid down the
foundation of the Panth Khalsa, that is the Order of the Pure Ones. It is
also used as a celebration for those accepting the five Ks.
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To mark the
celebrations, Sikh devotees generally
attend the Gurdwara before dawn with
flowers and offerings in hands. Processions through towns are also common.
Formation of Khalsa
Panth:
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The Khalsa (Punjabi: ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ; is the collective
body of all initiated Sikhs represented by the five beloved-ones and can be called the
Guru Panth, the embodiment of the Guru and the final
temporal Guru/leader of the Sikhs. The word Khalsa translates to
"Sovereign/Free". Another
interpretation is that of being "Pure/Genuine.” The Khalsa was
inaugurated on March 30, 1699, by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru. From then on the temporal
leadership of the Sikhs was passed on to the Khalsa with the bestowed title of
"Guru Panth" and spiritual leadership was passed on to the Guru Granth Sahib with the Khalsa being
responsible for all executive, military and civil authority in the Sikh society. The Khalsa is also
called the nation of the Sikhs.
The Sikhs of the
Khalsa can be identified with the given Five Ks and titles of Singh and Kaur which are gained
after the disciple is being baptized into the order of the Khalsa. The tenth
Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh at an event that
coincided with the Vaisakhi day (of the new lunar
month Baisakh Samvat 1756) created the
Khalsa in the year 1699 A.D at Kesgarh,
inAnandpur Sahib ordained that every
Sikh becomes Amritdhari “[Having taken Amrit]” and follow the Five Ks; which are not merely
symbols but display commitment to the philosophy of Guru Nanak Dev like a uniform of an
organization.
A Sikh male at being
initiated into the Khalsa is titled Singh meaning “Lion” and a
female is entitled Kaur meaning “Princess”.
From then on they are commonly referred to as Amritdhari (having taken Amrit).
The Khalsa is
considered the pinnacle of Sikhism.[9] The Khalsa is
expected to perform no ritual and to believe in no superstition of any kind but
only believe in one God who is the Master and the Protector of all, the only
Creator and Destroyer.[10]
Foundation of Khalsa
Panth
Although the early Mughal emperors
had peaceful relations with the Sikh Gurus, the Sikhs started facing religious
persecution during the reign of Jahangir.
Persecution against the Sikhs continued until the creation of the Sikh Kingdom in
1799. Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Guru, was arrested
and executed by Emperor Jahangir in 1606. The following Guru, Guru
Hargobind formally militarized the Sikhs and emphasized the
complementary nature of the temporal power and spiritual power.
In 1675, Guru Tegh
Bahadur, the ninth Guru of the Sikhs was executed by the Mughal
emperor Aurangzeb for
saving the religious rights of Hindus. In 1699, his son and the tenth Guru,
Gobind Singh sent hukmanamas (letters of authority) to his followers
throughout the Indian sub-continent, asking them to
gather at Anandpur Sahib on March 31, 1699, the day
of Vaisakhi (the
annual harvest festival).
Guru Gobind Singh addressed the
congregation from the entryway of a tent pitched on a 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 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. The Guru again
emerged with blood on his sword. This happened three more times. Then the five
volunteers came out of the tent unharmed.
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These five, who were willing to
sacrifice their lives for their Guru, were called Panj Piare ("the
five beloved ones"). These five volunteers were : 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).
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, and the Guru stirred
this mixture with a double-edged sword whilst reciting the Five Banis.
The resultant solution is called as "Khandey di
Pahul" (ceremony of the double-edged sword) or commonly known
as "amrit"
(nectar of immortality)
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).
Each of the Panj Piares were
given five handfuls of the Amrit to drink, and had amrit sprinkled in their
eyes five times. Each time, they repeated the phrase "Waheguru Ji ka
Khalsa, Waheguru Ji ki Phateh" ("The Khalsa belongs to Waheguru (the
wondrous teacher), the victory belongs to Waheguru (the wondrous
teacher)").[14]
Guru Gobind Singh gave them the
title (analogous to "Knight" or "Sir" in English culture)
of "Singh"
(meaning "tiger"). Similarly, for female the title of "Kaur" (meaning
"Princess"). It is noted that about twenty thousand men and woman
took this baptism of steel on the first day.[15] Majority of Sikhs nowadays
carry this title without taking the oath of double-edged sword.
Guru Gobind Singh is the "Father"
of the Khalsa and Mata Sahib Kaur is the "Mother".
One important outcome of joining the Khalsa is the abolition of one's
previous caste,
nation, race, rituals, customs, religion, clan, Karma. The new member is
the citizen of Anandpur Sahib and their birthplace is
the Keshgarh Sahib.[16]
The Khalsa is led by Panj Pyare or
the five-beloved. At the Battle of Chamkaur, the Khalsa led by Panj Pyare
passed on an order/command to the Guru Gobind
Singh to escape from the Chamkaur and the Guru had to obey it,
because at that point of time, and as proclaimed by the Guru on March 30, 1699
about his absorption into the Khalsa and declaring the five-beloved being equal
to him, the Guru was just a Singh of the Khalsa.
Code of conduct
The Khalsa needs to
abide by the four restrictions set by Guru Gobind Singh and if a Sikh breaks
one of these four restrictions they are excommunicated from the Khalsa Panth
and must go 'pesh' (get baptized again). Guru Gobind Singh also gave the Khalsa 52
hukams or 52 specific
additional guidelines while living in Nanded in 1708
Prohibitions:
The four prohibitions or mandatory
restrictions of the Khalsa are:
1.
Not
to disturb the natural growth of the hairs.
2.
Eating Kutha meat, meat of an animal slaughtered
in the Muslim halal or Jewish kosher way;
3.
Cohabiting
with a person other than one's spouse;
4.
Using
tobacco or hookah.
Five Ks
Main
article: Five Ks
The uniform of a
Singh/Kaur of the Khalsa comprises the Five Ks:
1.
Kesh –
Uncut hair on the face, head, and all parts of the body.
2.
Kanga -
A wooden comb.
3.
Kara -
An iron bracelet.
4.
Kacchera –
A pair of drawers (a specific type of cotton underwear).
5.
Kirpan – A
dagger or sword.
Five banies to recite in morning and evening Daily:
In the Morning: Japji Sahib, Jaap Sahib, Chopai Sahib, Shabad-Hajarey-Patshahi-Dasvi, Anand Sahib and Ardaas
in the Evening: Rehras Sahib & Sohela Sahib and Ardaas
These are for
identification and representation of the ideals of Sikhism, such as honesty,
equality, fidelity, meditating on God, and never bowing to tyranny, and for
helping/protecting the weak, and self-defence.
Initiation into the
Khalsa is referred to as Amrit Sanchar (water of immortality
life-cycle rite) or Khande di Pahul (Initiation with the double edged sword). Anyone from any
previous religion, age, or knowledge group can take Amrit (Amrit Chhakh) when
they are convinced that they are ready.This baptization is done by the Panj Pyare in front of the Guru Granth Sahib. The devotee must arrive
to the place of baptization, usually a Gurdwara, in the morning after bathing
completely including having washed their hair and must be wearing the 5 articles of the Khalsa
uniform.
After
baptization the new Singh or Kaur must abide by the four restrictions or must
get re-baptized if they break any of them. Jasjpit Singh in Lucinda Mosher book
describes taking Amrit as a huge commitment, "You are making a commitment
to God, to God's creation, to yourself - and you're giving up yourself. It is
like giving up your own ego and accepting God into your life - and accepting
yourself as one with the entire creation.
PROUD TO BE A KHALSA
