A Compilation
Jaspal Singh
The creation of Khalsa marked the culmination of about 240 years of training given by the the Sikh Gurus. Guru Gobind Singh Ji conceived Khalsa as ideal people who should be perfect in all respects, with a combination of devotion (Bhakti) and strength (Shakti). He combined charity (Deg) with the sword (Tegh) in the image. The Khalsa was to be a saint, a soldier and a scholar, with high morals and excellent character. He or she would be strong, courageous, learned and wise.
In order to mould his personality the Guru inculcated in his Khalsa five virtues – sacrifice, cleanliness, honesty, charity and courage, and prescribed a Rehat – the Sikh code of discipline.
His character would be strengthened by the spirit of God revealed in the Guru’s hymns. For this purpose he was asked to recite the five sacred composition or Banis daily.
In those times, caste divisions were much more stringent as compared to today. It was no less than a miracle that Guru Gobind Singh inspired disparate individuals, belonging to different castes and regions and speaking different languages to renounce differences and come together under the banner of the Khalsa Panth. More and more people got Baptised and joined the order of the Khalsa. The Guru’s Khalsa had become a cohesive and well-organised martial force that fought the forces of oppression.
The Khalsas played a key role in the liberation of the country from the British and since Independence have been guarding the country’s borders.
Guru Gobind Singh ji prohibited among other things, consumption of tobacco, which came to India, during the time of Jahangir and people became very addicted to it. He also prohibited consumption of Halal meat. Actually, the Muslims wanted to make Hindus weaponless, so they prescribed that meat cut only by Muslim butchers was allowed to be consumed, which was cut in Halal way, so that Hindus did not have any weapons even to cut and consume meat. Guru Gobind Singh ji prohibited consumption of Halal meat.
Panj Pyare
Bhai Daya Singh:
The first of the Panj Pyare to answer the call of Guru Gobind Singh and offer his head was Bhai Daya Singh.
- Born as Daya Ram in1661 in Lahore (present-day Pakistan)
- Family: Son of Suddha and his wife Mai Dayali of the Sodhi Khatri clan
- Occupation: Shopkeeper
- Initiation: at Anandpur Sahib in 1699, at age 38
- Death: at Nanded in 1708; martyred age 47
Bhai Dharam Singh:
The second of the Panj Pyare to answer the call of Guru Gobind Singh was Bhai Dharam Singh.
- Born as Dharam Dasin in 1666 in Hastinapur,(present day Delhi)
- Family: Son of Sant Ram and his wife Mai Sabho, of the Jat clan
- Occupation: Farmer
- Initiation: at Anandpur Sahib in 1699, at age 33
- Death: At Nanded in 1708; martyred age 42
Bhai Himmat Singh:
The third of the Panj Pyare to answer the call of Guru Gobind Singh was Bhai Himmat Singh.
- Born as Himmat Rai on January 18, 1661, at Jagannath Puri (present-day Orissa)
- Family: Son of Gulzaree and his wife Dhanoo of the Jheeaur clan
- Occupation: Water Carrier
- Initiation: Anandpur Sahib in 1699. Age 38
- Death: At Chamkaur Sahib, December 7, 1705; martyred age 44
Bhai Muhkam Singh:
The fourth to answer the call of Guru Gobind Singh was Bhai Muhkam Singh.
- Born as Muhkam Chand on June 6, 1663, at Dwarka (present-day Gujrat)
- Family: Son of Tirath Chand and his wife Devi Bai of the Chhimba clan
- Occupation: Tailor, Printer of Cloth
- Initiation: at Anandpur Sahib, 1699 at age 36
- Death: Chamkaur Sahib, December 7, 1705; martyred age 44
Bhai Sahib Singh:
The fifth to answer the call of Guru Gobind Singh was Bhai Sahib Singh.
- Born as Sahib Chand on June 17, 1663, in Bidar (present-day Karnataka, India)
- Family: Son of Bhai Guru Narayana and his wife Ankamma Bai of the Naee clan.
- Occupation: Barber
- Initiation: at Anandpur Sahib in 1699, at age 37
- Death: at Chamkaur Sahib, December 7, 1705; martyred age 44.
The Panj Pyare then drank the Amrit one by one straight from the bowl. The Guru neutralised their caste and socio-economic status and created a brotherhood of equals called the Khalsa, Pure Ones. The five now had to follow a Rehator code of conduct — grow unshorn hair and wear the five K’s, adopt a common surname, Singh meaning ‘lion’ and worship only the one almighty God.
Battle dress of Kachera
During ancient times, there was a king Nal. About his army, a Sanskrit book Nal Champu has been written, Champu means army. About uniform and weapons of the army, the writer writes that his army had Kachhas, which reached up to knees. From word Kachha, Kachhehra has been derived. This dress was chosen by Guru ji, to differentiate his army from Mughal army, which wore pyjamas and also from dhotis, which were worn by casteist Hindu armies.
Nirmala Sect
Guru Gobind Singh Ji had wanted to create a scholarly sect, so he sent five Sikhs in saffron robes to Varanasi. They studied Sanskrit literature for many years and came to be known as Nirmala Sants. The place, where they studied is called Chetanmath Guru ki Sangat. Names of five first such Sikhs are Ram Singh, Karam Singh, Ganda Singh, Veer Singh and Sobha Singh.
End of Masand System
Masand system was initiated by Guru Arjun Dev ji, to propagate Sikhism in far away areas. with time it had become very corrupt. Masands tried to dissuade Guru Gobind Singh Ji, from making Sikhs martial, because it will create enmity with the Mughals and thus will affect their livelihood. Guru ji came to know about their misdeeds through some Bhands at Anandpur Sahib. They told Guru ji in humour, by imitating about Masands that they took wine, indulged in prostitution, they made devoted Sikhs afraid by curses. Since Nirmala Sect had been prepared by Guru ji by that time and Udasis were propagating Sikhism in remote areas, Guru ji discontinued Masand system.
Meeting with Bairagi Madho Singh
After helping Bahadur Shah to become the Mugal emperor, Guru ji moved from Agra to Mathura, Aligarh, Bharatpur and Alwar, in Jat area and propagated Gurmat. He made Dholpur his headquarter and many people there, became his disciples. Guru ji stayed there for 8-9 months and propagated Gurmat.
After passing through Ajmer, Chittorgarh and Ujjain, he reached Burhanpur after crossing Tapti river. People here made Guru ji stay for some days. The place where Guru ji stayed is known as Hathi (Determined) Singh’s Mandir. One old Jogi, Jeevan Das, stayed with Guru ji. Dadu Panthi Mahant Jaitram also met Guru ji, while passing through that area. When he came to know that Guru ji is going to Deccan, he told him about Bairagi Madho Das of Nanded. Jeevan Das also told Guru ji about the Bairagi. After some days, Guru ji left for Amravati and reached Hingoli. After reaching here, Guru ji separated from Bahadur Shah who went to Hyderabad to fight his brother Kam Bakhsh, who was following almost the same route separately. From Hingoli, Guru ji reached Nanded and met Bairagi Madho Das, who later became Banda Singh Bahadur aka Gurbakhsh Singh.
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