How did the khalsa form?

Answer 1

THE STORY OF VAISAKHI DAY

Vaisakhi is celebrated with joyous music and dance. It is Punjab's New Year's

Day. It falls on April 13, though once in 36 years it occurs on April 14th. The

Sikhs celebrate this festival as a collective birthday of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru

Gobind Singh, who founded the Khalsa (the Sikh brotherhood) in 1699. Here is

the story.

Picture 1

Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and last human Guru of Sikh's, called together a

huge crowd of over 50,000 Sikhs to join him for a meeting on Vaisakhi Day,

March 30, 1699. When all were expecting to hear words of comfort and

consolation from the lips of their Guru, they were troubled to see him with a

drawn sword in his hand and crying, ' If there is anyone here who would lay down

their lives, dedicate themselves to God, defend their faith and care for the poor

and the helpless, let them come forward.' There was a big silence, but the Guru

went on repeating his demand. Twice more the Guru issued his invitation to the

crowd. Then one man came forward. Guru Gobind Singh took him into his tent.

After a while he came out by himself and in his hand was a sword apparently

covered in blood! The crowd gasped and started to disperse. Then the Guru asked

again and amazingly another man stepped forward and went into the tent with the

Guru. Yet again the Guru came out of the tent alone, with blood on his sword.

Another man stepped forward and went into the tent, and then another. When a

fifth man stepped forward and went into the tent with the Guru, the crowd

wondered how many men must die.

Picture 2

The fifth time to everyone's joy, the Guru came out of the tent with his sword

and the five men walking behind him, still alive! 'This was a test,' the Guru

explained, 'to see who was brave and willing enough to dedicate themselves to

God, to defend their faith and to care for the poor.' The Guru, after dressing

the five in handsome clothes, brought them from the assembly. They were then

knighted as Singh's, as the Five beloved ones or the Panje Pyare (Panje means Five

and Pyare means beloved ones), the first members of the Order of the Khalsa

(Sikh).

2

Picture 3

The Guru put water in a bowl for sprinkling over the five in a simple initiation

ceremony, said prayers and stirred the water with a short steel sword

symbolising the need for strength. The Guru's wife, Mata Sundri, also placed

some sugar crystals into the holy water or amrit as a reminder that strength

must always be balanced by sweetness of temperament. After completing his

prayers, the Guru sprinkled the amrit over the five. He asked them to give him

some of the amrit too to show that although he was the Guru all people were

equal in God's eyes. That day amrit was given to people in the crowd who said that

they believed in one God, and that all people were equal. In a move to end social

divisions the five dropped their surnames, that linked to caste or occupation, and

were given new last names to show that they now belonged to one big family -

women were given the name Kaur meaning 'princess' to emphasise dignity and men

were given the name Singh, which means lion, a reminder of the need for courage.

The Guru declared the five to be the first members of a new community of

equals, to be called the Khalsa which would defend the Sikh faith and care for

the poor and helpless, whoever they were and whatever they believed. They were

to be dedicated to the service of others and the pursuit of justice for all people

of all faiths

Picture 4

The Panje Pyare or beloved five were asked to wear five distinctive symbols of

their new identity:-

 Kes - uncut hair

 Kanga - a small comb in the hair, a reminder of the importance of

cleanliness

 Kara - a steel bracelet, a reminder of a link to God and godly ideals

 Kirpan - a sword for self-defense and the protection of the weak

 Kaccha - a modest and specially designed cotton undergarment

From this time, people have gathered in Gurdwaras (temples) on Vaisakhi Day,

usually 13th April. A new Sikh flag is put in place and the flag pole washed. There

are shared meals called Langar and celebrations. Sikhs have their own holy

scripture, Guru Granth Sahib. Written, composed, and compiled by the Sikh Gurus

themselves, the Guru Granth Sahib serves as the ultimate source of spiritual

guidance for Sikhs. Men and women from 16 or 18 years of age can be initiated

Answer 2

Guru Gobind Singh Ji gave the Khalsa. After one of the Sikh festivals, Guru Gobind Singh Ji gave the name to it. This was the birthplace of Khalsa.

Answer 3

in India by sikhs

Answer 4

1699