Why did guru gobind singh start Khalsa?

Answer 1

Since the time of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the relationship between the ruling power Mughals and the Sikhs began to deteriorate. Guru Arjan Dev Ji was the first martyr of Sikhs, Guru Hargobind was imprisioned in Gwalior by the Mughal ruler Jahangir.Then the ninth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed by Mughal ruler Aurangzgeb.Guru Gobind Singh Ji lost his 4 fours, wife and mother while fighting with the Mughals. Please note, Guru Tegh Bahadur was the father of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

Considering the reason for all these conflicts between Sikhs and Mughals was one's freedom to practice one's faith. Historically, except Akbar all other Mughal Emperors of India from Jahangir, Shahjahan, Aurangzgeb were intolerant rulers and thus disliked the growth of any other religion except their own. From the time of Guru Arjan Dev Ji to Guru Gobind Singh Ji, all Sikhs guru fought for the freedom of one's right to practice one's faith. As most Mughal ruler were Muslims they were interested in converting others into accepting Islam.

One very prominent example was the case of Kashmiri Brahmins who appraoched Guru Tegh Bahadur as Aurangzgeb wanted them to quit Hinduism and accept Islam. Guru Tegh Bahadur accepted the request of Kashmiri Brahmins and faced Aurangzgeb which resulted in Guru Tegh Bahadur's execution but he didn't accept Islam.

Therefore, eventually Guru Gobind Singh Ji created Khalsa and its creation was not any development of any ritual or any new practice but since each one of us hold our own view and that we have our right to hold our view, thus creating Khalsa was to give a Sikh an identity of its own.It was and it is not to be meant to separate itself from other but to hold its own distinct position.

Please note historically speaking there are many situations where Sikhs and Muslims have faced each other but these should not reflect on position on the Sikh Gurus and Sikh Bhagats who throughout maintained oneness of the God and have used not just their own distinct names of God but even Hindu names as well Muslims names of God in the Sikh Holy Book. If a student don't study well, it is the student who is to be blamed not the teacher who teaches all the same. In the same way, Akbar was tolerant enough to see equality in all but the rest fell short of his view, therefore the conflicts was with Muslims not with Islam.

The point here is that God has given every single individual the right to listen and obey his/her word and thus no one has the right to impose or question anyone the right to practice one's faith.

Answer 2

The Langar or free kitchen was started by the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It is designed to uphold the principle of equality between all people of the world regardless of religion, caste, colour, creed, age, gender or social status. In addition to the ideals of equality, the tradition of Langar expresses the ethics of sharing, community, inclusiveness and oneness of all humankind. "..the Light of God is in all hearts."

Answer 3

He didn't write it, he just compiled other people's (especially Guru Nanak Dev) teachings and hymns and stuff and put it in a book.

He did this because he thought that Gurus could become corrupt and wouldn't lead the faith properly. The Guru Granth Sahib was supposed to be the Guru to end all Gurus, in a way. It would mean that no other Gurus would be needed, ever.

Answer 4

khalsa is derived from word "khalas" meaning pure

Answer 5

he didn't. It was Guru Gobind Singh.