Duties
of the Khalsa
In one of his poems, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib defines the Khalsa :
"He who repeats night and day the name of Him,
Who has full love and confidence in God,
Who bestows not a thought on anv but one God,
Whose enduring light is inextinguishable,
Who puts no faith in fasting and worshipping cemeteries and
monasteries,
Who only recognises the one God and makes no fetish, Of pilgrimages,
alms, charities and austerities:
He is recognised as a true member of theKhalsa,
In whose heart the light of the Perfect One shines."
Guru Gobind Singh Sahib laid down the following duties for the Khalsa
:
I. The Khalsa is to worship one God and read Nitname (Five Banis) and
daily meditate on the Name.
II. He is to keep the symbols (Panj Kakar) and to lead his life
according to the Guru's teaching. Gurmantra is Waheguru and the Basic
creed is Mool-manlra.
III. He has no caste after joining the brother-hood ; he has to
repudiate non-Sikh rites and ceremonies, and follow only Sikh
practices.
IV. He is not to commit 'any of the four misdeeds (Kurahat) namely,
the shaving or cutting of hair, eating Halal meat, adultery and the
use of tobacco or any other intoxi-cant.
V. He is not to commit any of the social offences (Tankhah), such as
giving dowry, using liquors and intoxicants, raising monuments over
graves and associating with apostates.
VI He must contribute one-tenth {daswand) of his income for religious
purposes.
VII He is to serve the sangat in all ways
VIII He must practice arms and be ready defend the weak.
The Khalsa was a saint-soldier wedded to the two-fold ideal of Bhagti
and Shakti. He was to combine self-respect with humility.Guru Gobind
Singh Sahib though a creator of the Khalsa regarded himself as their
servent . He says, " To serve them pleases me the most; no other
service is so dear to my soul." Like a loving father, he was
prepared to forgive the sudden lapses of the Khalsa as in the case of
the "Forty Immortals", whom he claimed as his own in the
nick of time. The Khalsa was given a position equal to that of the
Guru. The Guru consists of two parts : the body and the Name. The Guru
nominated the Khalsa, as his body and Guru Granth Sahib as the
embodiment the Name. That is why we use the title of Guru-Khalsa. The
Guru acknowledged his debt to the Khalsa in one of his verses.
"It is through them that I have gained experience ; with their
help I have subdued my enemies. Through their favour, I am exalted,
otherwise there are millions of ordinary humble men like me."
Meaning of Symbols: Symbols or outward signs are a mode of
discipline. A person who enters the Panth (Khalsa Community) will
gladly embrace all its tenets and symbols. Symbols test the disciple's
firmness and strengh of faith. They indicate the type of character the
wearer should have. He must be proud of being a Sikh, even though it
may cost him his life. Secondly this common appearance and uniform
ensures easy recognition One can easily spot a Khalsa in a crowd. Each
symbol has its own use and psychological significance.
The significance of Symbols-Panj Kakar- is given below :
I. Underwear {Kachha) ensures agility and briskness. It is a mark of
perpetual readi-ness. It also stands for chastity.
II. Wrist-band {Kara} is a sign of restraint and bondage. It
indicates that one is a devotee of the Guru. A look at the wrist-band
will bring shame to a Sikh when he does any misdeed.
III. Sword (Kirpan) is an emblem of power and courage. It is to be
used primarily as an instrument of defence.
IV. Unshorn Hair {Kes) is an emblem of the saints and Rishis of the
past.
V. Comb {Kanga} is necessary to keep the hair clean and in shape. The
hair make a Khalsa look exactly like Guru Gobind Singh Sahib and
enable him to behave exactly like the Guru. Guru Gobind Singh Sahib
says, "The Khalsa is my special form ;I live in the embodiment of
the Khalsa. The Khalsa is a part and parcel of my body ; the Khalsa is
my very soul."
