81-456: The term Khalsa refers to both a community that follows Sikhism as its religion, as well as a special group of initiated Sikhs . The Khalsa tradition was initiated in 1699 by the Tenth Guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh . Its formation was a key event in the history of Sikhism . The founding of Khalsa is celebrated by Sikhs during the festival of Vaisakhi . Guru Gobind Singh started
162-591: A metaphysical soteriology such as a state of "heaven" or "nirvana." Nevertheless, in Sikhism, both karma and liberation are "modified by the concept of God's grace" ( nadar, mehar, kirpa, karam , etc.). Guru Nanak states that "the body takes birth because of karma, but salvation is attained through grace." To get closer to God, Sikhs: avoid the evils of maya ; keep the everlasting truth in mind; practice shabad kirtan (musical recitation of hymns); meditate on naam ; and serve humanity. Sikhs believe that being in
243-536: A Khalsa. According to the Dabestan-e Mazaheb , the 'sahlang' term referred to person(s) initiated into the Sikh religion by a masand , who acted as representatives on behalf of the Sikh gurus. Such Sikhs were termed as meli or masandia , and were differentiated from Sikhs who had received their initiation rites directly from a Sikh guru, whom were termed as Khalsa . Whilst extant hukamnamas of Guru Gobind Singh from
324-532: A Sikh gurdwara . However, most Sikh gurdwaras forbid aarti during their Bhakti practices. Waheguru Waheguru ( Punjabi : ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ , romanized: vāhigurū , pronunciation: [ʋaːɦɪɡuɾuː] , literally meaning "Wow Guru", figuratively translated to mean "Wonderful God " or "Wonderful Lord" ) is a term used in Sikhism to refer to God as described in Guru Granth Sahib . It
405-460: A Sikh should perform constant Bhakti. Some scholars call Sikhism a Bhakti sect of Indian traditions, adding that it emphasises " nirguni Bhakti ", i.e. loving devotion to a divine without qualities or physical form. While Western scholarship generally places Sikhism as arising primarily within a Hindu Bhakti movement milieu while recognizing some Sufi Islamic influences, some Indian Sikh scholars disagree and state that Sikhism transcended
486-561: A behavioural code called Rahit. Some rules are no tobacco , no intoxicants , no adultery , no Kutha meat, no modification of hair on the body, and a dress code ( Five Ks ). " Khalsa ", is derived from the Arabic word "Khalis" which means "to be pure, to be clear, to be free from, to be sincere, to be true, to be straight, to be solid". Sikhism emerged in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent (now parts of Pakistan and India). During
567-846: A coalition army. The Dal Khalsa fought against the Mughals and the Afghans , eventually resulting in the establishment of a number of small aristocratic republics called misls (autonomous confederacies) and later in the formation of the Sikh Empire . After the fall of the Mughal Empire and the later establishment of the Sikh Empire in Punjab, the Khalsa was converted into a strong, multi-religious and multinational fighting force, modernized according to European principles:
648-406: A doctrine that has been practiced in Sikh religion since the seventeenth century. The doctrine of the "Mir" (social and political aspects of life) and the "Pir" (guides to spiritual aspect of life) was revealed by the first guru of Sikhism, Guru Nanak , but propounded by the sixth guru of Sikhism, Guru Hargobind , on 12 June 1606. After the martyrdom of his father , Guru Hargobind was elevated to
729-517: A few days after its formalization on 13 April 1699. He introduced ideas that indirectly challenged the discriminatory taxes imposed by Islamic authorities. For example, Aurangzeb had imposed taxes on non-Muslims that were collected from the Sikhs as well, for example the jizya (poll tax on non-Muslims), pilgrim tax and Bhaddar tax – the last being a tax to be paid by anyone following the Hindu ritual of shaving
810-435: A means to feel God's presence ( simran ), which can be expressed musically through kirtan or internally through naam japna ( lit. ' meditation on God's name ' ). Baptised Sikhs are obliged to wear the five Ks , which are five articles of faith which physically distinguish Sikhs from non-Sikhs. Among these include the kesh (uncut hair). Most religious Sikh men thus do not cut their hair but rather wear
891-467: A single edged sword, as opposed to the customary double edged one. The Tat Khalsa, concerned about the marginal presence of women in the Khalsa tradition and identity, led nascent efforts in the 1900s to allow women the same initiation as men, which was later emphatically advocated for and codified in the Sikh Rehat Maryada. According to Jaspal Kaur Singh, the baptism of women and the bestowal of Kaur
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#1732837129824972-600: A spiritual union with the Akal , which results in salvation or jivanmukti ('enlightenment/liberation within one's lifetime'), a concept also found in Hinduism . Guru Gobind Singh makes it clear that human birth is obtained with great fortune, and therefore one needs to be able to make the most of this life. Sikhs accept reincarnation and karma concepts found in Buddhism , Hinduism , and Jainism , but do not necessarily infer
1053-517: A sword, and were asked to drink it. The significance of the Khalsa is reflected in the fact that Guru Gobind Singh considered it his equal. He allowed the Panj Pyare to give him Tankah, or punishment. There are instances where this occurred, as reported in the Suraj Prakash . Guru Gobind Singh demonstrated his respect for the Panj Pyare by bowing down to them and asking them to baptize him. This act
1134-477: A tent. The Guru returned to the crowd without the volunteer, but with a bloody sword. He asked for another volunteer and repeated the same process of returning from the tent without anyone and with a bloodied sword four more times. After the fifth volunteer went with him into the tent, the Guru returned with all five volunteers, all safe. Rather, the Guru had slaughtered 5 goats from which the blood had appeared. He called
1215-539: A turban . The definition of a Sikh, according to the Rehat Maryada , the Sikh code of conduct, is any human being who faithfully believes in the following: The religion developed and evolved in times of religious persecution , gaining converts from both Hinduism and Islam . The Mughal emperors of India tortured and executed two of the Sikh gurus— Guru Arjan (1563–1605) and Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621–1675)—after they refused to convert to Islam . The persecution of
1296-588: A turban and the 5 K's. Baptized women are not required to tie a turban, and it remains a personal choice. It also clearly states that it is not appropriate for Sikh women to cover their faces with any type of veil as practiced in the Indian, Islamic, or Judeo-Christian traditions. Piercing of the nose or ears for wearing ornaments is forbidden for Sikh men and women. Sikhs cannot wear any token of any other faith. Sikhs must not have their head bare or wear caps . They also cannot wear any ornaments piercing through any part of
1377-422: Is a monotheistic and panentheistic religion. Sikhs believe that there exists only one God and that God is simultaneously within everything and is all-encompassing. The oneness of God is reflected by the phrase Ik Onkar . In Sikhism, the word for God is Waheguru ( lit. ' wondrous teacher ' ). The Waheguru is considered to be Nirankar ("shapeless"), Akal ("timeless"), Karta Purakh ("
1458-640: Is a praise of the Guru and not a term for God. This also changes the phrase "Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh " and its meaning to "Wah Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wah Guru Ji Ki Fateh " meaning "Khalsa belongs to the Wondrous Guru, Victory belongs to the Wondrous Guru". The term finds usage in the jaikara ( battle cry ), greeting , and parting phrase introduced by Guru Gobind Singh : "Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh " (translated as 'the Khalsa belongs to God and victory belongs to God'). This phrase
1539-458: Is an Indian religion and philosophy that originated in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent around the end of the 15th century CE. It is one of the most recently founded major religions and among the largest in the world with about 25–30 million adherents (known as Sikhs ). Sikhism developed from the spiritual teachings of Guru Nanak (1469–1539), the faith's first guru , and
1620-620: Is an excerpt of the Khalsa Mahima from the Sarbloh Granth : ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਮੇਰੀ ਜਾਤ ਅਰ ਪਤ॥ ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਸੋ ਮਾ ਕੋ ਉਤਪਤ॥ ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਮੇਰੋ ਭਵਨ ਭੰਡਾਰਾ॥ ਖ਼ਾਲਸੇ ਕਰ ਮੇਰੋ ਸਤਿਕਾਰਾ॥ ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਮੇਰੋ ਸਵਜਨ ਪਰਵਾਰਾ॥ ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਮੇਰੋ ਕਰਤ ਉਧਾਰਾ॥ ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਮੇਰੋ ਪਿੰਡ ਪਰਾਨ॥ ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਮੇਰੀ ਜਾਨ ਕੀ ਜਾਨ॥ romanized: xālasā merī jāt ara pata. xālasā so mā ko utapata. xālasā mero bhavana bhaṇḍārā. xālasā kara mero satikārā. xālasā mero savajana paravārā. xālasā mero karata udhārā. xālasā mero piṇḍa parāna. xālasā merī jāna kī jāna. Translation: Khalsa
1701-577: Is done by the Panj Pyare in front of the Guru Granth Sahib . The devotee must arrive at the place of baptism, 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 baptism, the new Singh or Kaur must abide by the four restrictions or must get re-baptised if they break any of them. The initiation of women did not receive mainstream acceptance until
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#17328371298241782-543: Is enjoined, to be honest, treat everyone as equal, meditate on God, maintain his fidelity, resist tyranny and religious persecution of oneself and others. One of the duties of the Khalsa is to practice arms. This has been deemed necessary due to the rising persecution of the rulers. Before joining the Khalsa, most of the people were from professions like farming, pottery, masonry, carpenters, Labanas , etc. Guru Gobind Singh in Oct 1708 deputed his disciple Banda Singh Bahadur to lead
1863-476: Is known as the Pahul ceremony or Amrit Sanchar , and it is still performed in Sikhism today. The Guru's act of bowing down to the Panj Pyare was a symbolic gesture of the Guru's humility and his recognition of the Panj Pyare's spiritual authority as being equal to his own. The Panj Pyare , in turn, demonstrated their loyalty to the Guru by baptizing him and giving him the title of Singh, as well as still revering him as
1944-901: Is more loosely rendered 'the one supreme reality', 'the one creator', 'the all-pervading spirit', and other ways of expressing a diffused but unified and singular sense of God and creation. The traditional Mul Mantar goes from ik onkar until Nanak hosee bhee sach. The opening line of the Guru Granth Sahib and each subsequent raga , mentions ik onkar : ੴ ikk ōankār ਸਤਿ sat (i) ਨਾਮੁ nām (u) ਕਰਤਾ karatā ਪੁਰਖੁ purakh (u) ਨਿਰਭਉ nirabha'u ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ niravair (u) ਅਕਾਲ akāl (a) ਮੂਰਤਿ mūrat (i) ਅਜੂਨੀ ajūnī ਸੈਭੰ saibhan ਗੁਰ gur (a) ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ॥ prasād (i) {ੴ} ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੈਭੰ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ॥ {ikk ōankār} sat (i) nām (u) karatā purakh (u) nirabha'u niravair (u) akāl (a) mūrat (i) ajūnī saibhan gur (a) prasād (i) "There
2025-586: Is my caste & creed. Because of the Khalsa, I was born. Khalsa is my world treasure. Because of the Khalsa, I have respect. Khalsa is my close family. Khalsa grants me favours. Khalsa is my body and soul. Khalsa is the breath of my life. - Sri Manglacharan Purana , pages 519–524, Khalsa Mero Rup Hai Khas The famous contemporary Writer, Bhai Gurdas Singh (Not to be confused with Bhai Gurdas ), notes in his book of compositions, or veteran: ਵਾਹਵਾਹਗੋਬਿੰਦਸਿੰਘਆਪੇਗੁਰੁਚੇਲਾ॥੧॥ vāha-vāha-gobinda-singh-āpe-guru-celā ||1|| Hail, hail (Guru) Gobind Singh; He, Himself,
2106-399: Is one supreme being, the eternal reality, the creator, without fear and devoid of enmity, immortal, never incarnated, self-existent, known by grace through the true guru." Māyā , defined as a temporary illusion or " unreality ", is one of the core deviations from the pursuit of God and salvation: where worldly attractions give only illusory temporary satisfaction and pain that distracts from
2187-646: Is the Master and Disciple too. - Bhai Gurdas Singh Ji Vaaran Whilst Guru Gobind Singh passed on the mantle of guruship to both the Guru Granth and Guru Panth , the practice of Guru Panth was prevalent in the 18th century during the era of the Sikh Confederacy but fell into obscurity during the rise of Ranjit Singh . Today, the Guru Panth is rarely evoked, being overshadowed by the more popular Guru Granth . A Khalsa
2268-529: Is the most common term to refer to God in modern Sikhism. The meaning of the word vāhigurū (usually spelled in English as Waheguru ) is traditionally explained as vāh 'wondrous!' ( Punjabi word analogous to "wow" in English), and guru , Sanskrit for 'teacher, spiritual guide, God', which taken together are said to carry the meaning, 'Wondrous Lord'. It is built upon an expression of awe and amazement of
2349-496: The Dasam Granth and rahit-namas to support her hypothesis; women were often depicted as seducers and thus inhibited men from attaining the warrior-saint status that the Guru wanted to inculcate in his order. According to Merry Wiesner-Hanks , as the influence of the Khalsa grew, women and those not in the Khalsa brotherhood were relegated to secondary status in the Sikh community. J. S. Grewal considers Jakobsh to be fascinated by
2430-481: The Five K's tradition of the Khalsa, He also announced a code of discipline for Khalsa warriors. Tobacco, eating meat slaughtered according to Muslim ritual and sexual intercourse with any person other than a spouse were forbidden. The Khalsas also agreed to never interact with those who followed rivals or their successors. The co-initiation of men and women from different castes into the ranks of Khalsa also institutionalized
2511-672: The Khalsa tradition after his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur , was beheaded during the rule of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb after the Hindu Brahmins requested for his help to save their religion. Guru Gobind Singh created and initiated the Khalsa as a warrior with a duty to protect the innocent from religious persecution. The founding of the Khalsa started a new phase in the Sikh tradition. It formulated an initiation ceremony ( amrit sanskar , nectar ceremony) and rules of conduct for
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2592-425: The Khalsa warriors. It created a new institution for the temporal leadership of the Sikhs, replacing the earlier Masand system. Additionally, the Khalsa provided a political and religious vision for the Sikh community. Upon initiation, a male Sikh was given the title of Singh meaning " lion ". Kaur was made the sole, compulsory identifier for female Sikhs in the twentieth century. The rules of life include
2673-486: The Mughal empire rule, according to professor Eleanor Nesbitt, Khalsa originally meant the land that was possessed directly by the emperor, which was different from jagir land granted to lords in exchange for a promise of loyalty and annual tribute to the emperor. Prior to Guru Gobind Singh , the religious organization was organized through the masands or agents. The masands would collect revenue from rural regions for
2754-469: The Panj Pyare , accompanied by recitations from the Adi Granth, thus founding the khanda ki pahul (baptism ceremony) of a Khalsa – a warrior community. After the first five Khalsa had been baptized, the Guru asked the five to baptize him as a Khalsa. This made the Guru the sixth Khalsa, and his name changed from Guru Gobind Rai to Guru Gobind Singh. Around 80,000 men were initiated into the Khalsa order in
2835-584: The Sikh Khalsa Army which had a huge role in the expansion of the empire. Led by generals like: Maharaja Ranjit Singh himself, Misr Diwan Chand and Hari Singh Nalwa . It successfully defeated all its adversaries, including the Afghan tribals and army, Hill Chiefs , Misldars , Chinese , Tibeans and Gorkhas . By the time of death of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1839, the whole army of Sikh Empire
2916-663: The "theology of difference," and oversimplifying the issue; Gurinder Singh Mann , not attributing the Charitropakhyan to Guru Gobind Singh, considers both the analyses of Nikky Singh and Jakobsh to be lopsided, as in his view they both glean selectively from the Dasam Granth. Sikhism Sikhism ( / ˈ s iː k ɪ z əm / SEEK -iz-əm ), also known as Sikhi ( Punjabi : ਸਿੱਖੀ Sikkhī , [ˈsɪk.kʰiː] , from Punjabi : ਸਿੱਖ , romanized: Sikh , lit. 'disciple'),
2997-612: The 18th century, particularly between the Nanakpanthi and the Khalsa. Guru Gobind Singh had a deep respect for the Khalsa, and stated that there is no difference between the True Guru and the Sangat (panth). Before he found the Khalsa, the Sikh movement had used the Sanskrit word Sisya (literally, disciple or student), but the favored term thereafter became Khalsa. Additionally, before the Khalsa,
3078-486: The Guru's teaching remembrance of nām (the divine Name of the Lord) leads to the end of egotism. Guru Nanak designated the word Guru ('teacher') to mean the voice of "the spirit": the source of knowledge and the guide to salvation. As ik onkar is universally immanent , Guru is indistinguishable from Akal and are one and the same. One connects with Guru only with accumulation of selfless search of truth. Ultimately
3159-488: The Guru. This act was a recognition of the Guru's spiritual authority and his commitment to the principles of Sikhism. The Panj Pyare were not just the Guru's disciples; they were also his equals (collectively) and his companions in the struggle for justice and equality. Guru Gobind Singh wrote two famous excerpts collectively known as the Khalsa Mahima , which can be found in the Dasam Granth , and Sarbloh Granth . Below
3240-525: The Guruship and fulfilled the prophecy that was given by the primal figure of Sikh, Baba Buddha , that the guru will possess spiritual and temporal power. Guru Hargobind introduced the two swords of Miri and Piri symbolizing both worldly (social and political) and spiritual authority. The two kirpan of Miri and Piri are tied together with a khanda in center, so the combination of both is considered supreme. This means that all action informed or arising out of
3321-444: The Khalsa in an uprising against the Mughals. Banda Singh Bahadur first established a Sikh republic and then brought in the land reforms in the form of breaking up large estates and distributing the land to peasants. He and his comrades were eventually defeated and executed, but he became an icon among the Sikhs. After a long exile the Khalsa regrouped under Nawab Kapur Singh , who gathered local Khalsa leaders and created Dal Khalsa ,
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3402-449: The Sikh cause, much like jagirs would for the Islamic emperor. The Khalsa , in Sikhism, came to mean pure loyalty to the Guru, and not to the intermediary masands who were increasingly becoming corrupt, states Nesbitt. The word "Khalsa" as used by Sikhs first finds mentions in the hukamnamas issued during the guruship tenure of Guru Hargobind , where he references the congregation of
3483-636: The Sikh congregations across India had a system of Masands appointed by the Sikh Gurus. The Masands led the local Sikh communities, and local temples collected wealth and donations for the Sikh cause. Guru Gobind Singh concluded that the Masands system had become corrupt, he abolished them and introduced a more centralized system with the help of Khalsa that was under his direct supervision. These developments created two groups of Sikhs, those who initiated as Khalsa, and others who remained Sikhs but did not undertake
3564-482: The Sikh congregations of Bhai Rupa and Jaunpur refer to them as being ' Akal Purakh jio da Khalsa ' (meaning "the Khalsa of the Immortal Being"). With the later hukamnamas of Guru Gobind Singh's widowed wives, Mata Sundari and Mata Sahib Devan , of which there are around a dozen issued variously between the years 1717–1732, the Khalsa is also described as belonging to the supreme god, termed as Akal Purakh . By
3645-462: The Sikhs and emphasised the complementary nature of the temporal power and spiritual power. In 1675, Guru Tegh Bahadur , the ninth Guru of the Sikhs and the father of Guru Gobind Singh was executed by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb for resisting religious persecution of non-Muslims, and for refusing to convert to Islam. Guru Gobind Singh's sons were killed since they refused to convert to Islam. In 1699,
3726-568: The Sikhs triggered the founding of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 as an order to protect the freedom of conscience and religion , with members expressing the qualities of a sant-sipāhī ("saint-soldier"). The majority of Sikh scriptures were originally written in the alphabet of Gurmukhī , a script standardised by Guru Angad out of Laṇḍā scripts historically used in present-day Pakistan and North India . Adherents of Sikhism are known as Sikhs , meaning "students" or "disciples" of
3807-592: The body. The four prohibitions or mandatory restrictions of the Khalsa or life of Khalsa at the time of Guru Gobind Singh are: A Khalsa who breaks any code of conduct is no longer a Khalsa and is excommunicated from the Khalsa Panth and must go and 'pesh' (get baptized again). Guru Gobind Singh also gave the Khalsa 52 hukams or 52 specific additional guidelines while living in Nanded in 1708. The Sikh Rehat Maryada states "The Guru Panth (Panth’s status of Guruhood) means
3888-400: The company of the satsang (association with sat , 'true', people) or sadh sangat is one of the key ways to achieve liberation from the cycles of reincarnation. The Sikh community may be seen to correspond to A.D. Smith's definition of a politicized community, sharing common ancestry myths and historical memories of martyrdom and persecution under successive rulers. Miri Piri is
3969-408: The congruence between spiritual development and everyday moral conduct. Its founder, Guru Nanak, summarized this perspective as: "Truth is the highest virtue, but higher still is truthful living." Sikhism lays emphasis on Ėk nūr te sab jag upjiā , 'From the one light, the entire universe welled up.' Guru Nanak also emphasized his teachings to his disciples by giving them real-life examples. Sikhism
4050-413: The creator being "), Akaal Purkh ("beyond time and death") and Agam Agochar (" incomprehensible and invisible"). In a literal sense, God has no gender in Sikhism, but, metaphorically, God is presented as masculine and God's power as feminine. For example, Guru Gobind Singh refers to God as his father, and God's creative power as his mother. Similarly, another example is that the Guru Granth Sahib ,
4131-477: The divine. Another explanation for the term's meaning is that it refers to a great instructor who takes away the darkness from their pupil and enlightens them. Waheguru is described and envisioned as a formless and omnipresent deity by Sikhs with whom a devotee is able to establish a personal relationship with by following the teachings of the Sikh Gurus . Waheguru is considered to be ultimate goodness, into which
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#17328371298244212-425: The east as being the "Khalsa of the guru". A later hukamnama issued by Guru Tegh Bahadur refers to the local Sikh congregation of Pattan Farid as being 'Guru ji ka Khalsa' ("Khalsa of the guru"). In a hukamnama of Guru Gobind Singh dated to 25 April 1699, he refers to a congregation of local Sikhs of Bhai Gurdas Bhagte Phaphre village as 'sangat sahlang', with the 'sahlang' term being a different designation from that of
4293-492: The emergence of the Singh Sabha Movement in the twentieth century. Rehat-namas produced shortly after the Khalsa's inauguration are exclusively addressed to men, and communicate various notions surrounding women. Although they do not explicitly negate a woman's place in the Khalsa, the exhortations and directives within them are interpreted by scholars such as W. H. McLeod and Doris Jakobsh as women being ancillaries to
4374-549: The environment it emerged from. The basis of the latter analysis is that Bhakti traditions did not clearly disassociate from Vedic texts and their cosmologies and metaphysical worldview, while the Sikh tradition clearly did disassociate from the Vedic tradition. Some Sikh sects outside the Punjab region of India, such as those found in Maharashtra and Bihar , practice aarti (the ceremonial use of lamps) during Bhakti observances in
4455-499: The events of Vaisakhi in 1699. Before the formalization of the Khalsa Panth in April 1699, the term Khalsa referred to a very special Sikh who was held in high esteem and considered as being close to the Guru. The Khalsa Panth's formalization in 1699 essentially opened this restricted class of Sikhs as a possibility to attain for the wider congregation. During the period of Banda Singh Bahadur , two extant hukamnamas of Banda that were issued to
4536-467: The exonym term Sikhism as they claim the word was coined by the British colonists rather than by Sikhs themselves, and they instead prefer the endonym Sikhi . They argue that an "-ism" connotes a fixed and immutable worldview which is not congruent with the internally fluid nature of the Sikh philosophy. The basis of Sikhism lies in the teachings of Guru Nanak and his successors. Sikh ethics emphasize
4617-453: The guru. The English word Sikhism derives from the Punjabi word for the religion Sikhi ( Punjabi : ਸਿੱਖੀ Sikkhī , [ˈsɪk.kʰiː] , from Punjabi : ਸਿੱਖ , romanized: Sikh , lit. 'disciple'), which connotes the "temporal path of learning" and is rooted in the verb sikhana ( lit. ' to learn ' ). Some Sikhs oppose
4698-455: The head after the death of a loved one and cremation. Guru Gobind Singh declared that Khalsa does not need to continue this practice, because Bhaddar is not dharam , but a bharam (illusion). Not shaving the head also meant not having to pay the taxes of Sikhs who lived in Delhi and other parts of the Mughal Empire. However, the new code of conduct also led to internal disagreements between Sikhs in
4779-543: The inauguration of the Khalsa, maintained that women were allowed into the Khalsa and received the title of Kaur , which she purports was congruent with and indicative of the inherent egalitarianism of the Sikh tradition. Her claims were criticized by Doris Jakobsh who argued that her work revealed the effectiveness and pervasiveness of the Singh Sabha's interpolations. Jacob Copeman, an anthropologist, described Singh's analysis as deliberately elusive, clearly presenting itself at
4860-563: The initiated men, as opposed to having a formal role. They mandate men to respect women in the same manner that is rendered to their mother, prohibit violence against them, cursing them, and engaging in extramarital affairs. They further regard women as innately untrustworthy never to be confided in or relied on. Men were to partake in righteous warfare and protect their families, whereas women were expected to be housewives raising their children and providing service for their husbands. Early Sikh texts either omitted any mention of directives concerning
4941-585: The initiation of women or rejected it; an exception to this norm was the Chaupa Singh Rahit-nama which explicitly forbade a woman's initiation conducted through the khanda ceremony ; they were to instead receive charan amrit . W.H. McLeod notes that while the tenor of the rahitnamas marked the milieu of the 18th century and into the time of Ranjit Singh, some progress had occurred in the mid nineteenth century; Joseph Davey Cunningham, in 1849, reported that some women had received initiation conducted through
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#17328371298245022-548: The initiation. The Khalsa Sikhs saw themselves as a separate religious entity, while the Nanak-panthi Sikhs retained their different perspective. The Khalsa warrior community tradition started by Guru Gobind Singh has contributed to modern scholarly debate on pluralism within Sikhism. His tradition has survived into modern times, with initiated Sikhs referred to as Khalsa Sikhs, while those who do not get baptized are referred to as Sahajdhari Sikhs. Guru Gobind Singh initiated
5103-604: The level of mythos, and based on the recovery of lost potentials. Jakobsh contends that the initiation of women into the Khalsa originated with the Namdharis , who during the British Raj , were particularly active in preaching for the upliftment of women and against pervading social taboos. She further posits that as the military ethos of the Sikhs reached its apogee under the mandate of Guru Gobind Singh, women were concomitantly made to undertake more traditional roles. She cites tales from
5184-535: The name of the one creator ( Ik Onkar ), the divine unity and equality of all humankind, engaging in selfless service to others ( sevā ), striving for justice for the benefit and prosperity of all ( sarbat da bhala ), and honest conduct and livelihood. Following this standard, Sikhism rejects claims that any particular religious tradition has a monopoly on absolute truth. As a consequence, Sikhs do not actively proselytize, although voluntary converts are generally accepted. Sikhism emphasizes meditation and remembrance as
5265-515: The nine Sikh gurus who succeeded him. The tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708), named the Guru Granth Sahib , which is the central religious scripture in Sikhism, as his successor. This brought the line of human gurus to a close. Sikhs regard the Guru Granth Sahib as the 11th and eternally living guru. The core beliefs and practices of Sikhism, articulated in the Guru Granth Sahib and other Sikh scriptures, include faith and meditation in
5346-492: The period of 1699 to 1707 refer to local Sikh congregations or individual Sikhs as being the guru's Khalsa (often with the phrase ' Sarbat sangat mera Khalsa hai ' meaning "the entire congregation is my Khalsa"), with the coming of the end of a personal guruship, Guru Gobind Singh would then issue a hukamnama to the Sikh congregation of Varanasi on 3 February 1708 that referred to them as being ' Waheguru ji ka Khalsa ' ("Khalsa of Waheguru "). The term Khalsa in Sikhism predates
5427-425: The primary Sikh scripture, says that all humans are soul-brides who long to unite with their husband Lord. In addition, the gurus also wrote in the Guru Granth Sahib that there are many worlds on which the transcendental God has created life. The Sikh scripture begins with God as Ik Onkar ( ੴ ), the 'One Creator', understood in the Sikh tradition as monotheistic unity of God. Ik onkar (sometimes capitalized)
5508-563: The principle of equality in Sikhism regardless of one's caste or gender. According to Owen and Sambhi, Guru Gobind Singh's significance to the Sikh tradition has been very important, as he institutionalized the Khalsa, resisted the ongoing persecution by the Mughal Empire, and continued "defense of Sikhism and Hinduism against the Muslim assault of Aurangzeb". According to the Sikh Code of Conduct (Sikh Rehat Maryada), Amritdhari Khalsa Sikh men must wear
5589-413: The process of the devotion of God. However, Nanak emphasized māyā as not a reference to the unreality of the world, but of its values. In Sikhism, the influences of ego , anger , greed , attachment , and lust , known as the pānj chor (' Five Thieves '), are believed to be particularly distracting and hurtful. Sikhs believe the world is currently in a state of Kali Yuga ('age of darkness') because
5670-602: The purified soul merges whilst evil is vanquished. According to some Sikh scholars, in Guru Granth Sahib , Bhatt Gayand praises Guru Ramdas in many ways, including "Wah Guru" (Wondrous Guru), but as the writings in Guru Granth Sahib are in Larivaar form (continuous, without gaps in between words), most Sikhs may have misinterpreted the phrase "Wah Guru" and sought it as a single word that may refer to God. Scholars argue that these words should not be regarded as one single word (Waheguru) and but instead two distinct words, which
5751-510: The rigid delimitation between men and women in the praxis of the Khalsa stemmed from a need to enhance esotericism within their institution and create a tightly bonded brotherhood ready to deal with the harsh exigencies of war and defence. This also manifested through the disparity between male and female naming conventions as prescribed by Guru Gobind Singh; men were mandated the compulsory identifier of Singh , whereas women received no such dictum. Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh , in her explication of
5832-472: The seeker realises that it is the consciousness within the body which is the seeker/follower of the Word that is the true Guru . The human body is just a means to achieve the reunion with Truth. Once truth starts to shine in a person's heart, the essence of current and past holy books of all religions is understood by the person. Guru Nanak's teachings are founded not on a final destination of heaven or hell, but on
5913-489: The spiritual heart completes one's purpose and meaning in the world of action: spirituality . Guru Nanak , the first Sikh guru and the founder of Sikhism, was a Bhakti saint. He taught that the most important form of worship is Bhakti (devotion to Waheguru ). Guru Arjan , in the Sukhmani Sahib , recommended the true religion as one of loving devotion to God. The Guru Granth Sahib includes suggestions on how
5994-461: The tenth Guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh asked Sikhs to gather at Anandpur Sahib on 13 April 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, according to the Sikh tradition, and then asked for a volunteer from those who gathered, someone willing to sacrifice his head. One came forward, whom he took inside
6075-581: The time the Akal Takht began to issue hukamnamas, referring to itself as ' Sat Sri Akal Purakh ji ka Khalsa ', the phrase 'Waheguru ji ka Khalsa' had already been established in common Sikh parlence to refer to specific people or a collective. The Sikhs faced religious persecution during the Mughal Empire rule. Guru Arjan Dev , the fifth Guru, was arrested and executed by Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1606. The following Guru, Guru Hargobind formally militarised
6156-530: The volunteers the Panj Pyare and the first Khalsa in the Sikh tradition. 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 mixed water and sugar into an iron bowl, stirring it with a double-edged sword while reciting Gurbani to prepare what he called Amrit ("nectar"). He then administered this to
6237-547: The whole body of committed baptized Sikhs . This body was fostered by all the ten Gurus and the tenth Guru gave it its final shape and invested it with Guruhood". The Khalsa is considered equal to the Guru in Sikhism. The five men, known as the Panj Pyare or the Five Beloved Ones, were baptized by the Guru and given the title of Singh , which means lion. They were then given the Amrit, a mixture of sugar and water stirred with
6318-406: The world is led astray by the love of and attachment to māyā . The fate of people vulnerable to the five thieves is separation from God, and the situation may be remedied only after intensive and relentless devotion. According to Guru Nanak, the supreme purpose of human life is to reconnect with Akal ('The Timeless One'). However, egotism is the biggest barrier in making this connection. Using
6399-415: Was assessed at 120,000 men, with 250 artillery pieces. The irregular levies were included. The official name of the state ( Sikh Empire ) of Sikhs was "Sarkar-i-Khalsa": Government of the Khalsa. The boundaries of this state stretched from Tibet to Afghanistan and from Kashmir to Sutlej in the south and included regions of Punjab , Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , Kashmir , Ladakh , etc. The "Sarkar-i-Khalsa"
6480-449: Was dissolved during two wars fought against the British between 1846 and 1849. 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, caste, or knowledge group can take Amrit (Amrit Chhakh) when they are convinced that they are ready. This baptism
6561-452: Was incipient only during the colonial period, during which the Tat Khalsa sought to combat perceived threats to Sikhism, both from Christian missionaries and Arya Samaj proselytization, by removing "Hinduized" and "un-Sikh" cultural and religious practices from within their fold and introducing egalitarian practices to the fore of the religion. Gilbert Lewis, an anthropologist, wrote that
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