It was the spring of 1699, and the Sikhs
had many enemies, including the Emperor of India, who
was a Muslim. Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth leader of
the Sikhs called them together at Baisakhi, an old Indian
festival celebrating spring. They were to meet at Anandpur.
People came from far and wide, and soon over a hundred
thousand Sikhs were gathered together.
On Baisakhi day, after
early morning prayers, Guru Gobind Singh stood outside
his tent, ready to talk to the huge crowd. He was dressed
in military uniform, and held a sword in his hand as
he began to speak. A hush fell over the crowd. Everyone
seemed to sense the seriousness of the occasion.
The Guru held his sword
high, and it glinted in the sun. “Which of you is ready
to die for your faith? Who will give his head to prove
he is ready to die for what he believes?” A gasp went
round the crowd. This was a strange demand from a leader
who had always been so kind and gentle. You could hear
a pin drop. Then some people in the crowd started to
turn and walk away. They thought the Guru had gone mad.
Suddenly one man stepped
forward. His name was Daya Ram. He looked his leader
in the eye. Daya Ram said he loved God enough to die
for him. The people in the crowd held their breath.
What would happen next? Guru Gobind Singh took Daya
Ram into the tent. There was a swish, and a thud, and
blood flowed out. The Guru emerged, his sword dripping
red. He demanded another head for God. Most people were
terrified by now, but another man plucked up courage,
and said that he too was willing to die for God.
Again there was a swish
and a thud from inside the tent, and again the Guru
emerged, sword dripping. And again, he asked for a head.
Another volunteer stepped forward. Twice more the same
thing happened, until five men had gone into the tent,
and only the Guru had come out.
By now the crowd was
much smaller. All those who were afraid, or who thought
Gobind Singh was mad, had left. Those who remained were
awe-struck by what they had seen. They were even more
amazed when, a few moments after the last swish and
thud, all five volunteers emerged from the tent with
the Guru. All five were dressed in saffron uniforms.
All five carried swords.
The Guru announced to
the crowd that these five were now his brothers, and
the first members of the Khalsa, an army of soldiers
for God, and a brotherhood where everyone is equal.
Each of the five men was given a drink of water and
sugar, called amrit, and some was sprinkled over them.
By the end of the day nearly all of the people present
had taken part in the same ceremony, including the Guru
and his wife.
To show that they belonged
to the khalsa, Gobind Singh asked all Sikhs to wear
the five symbols of their faith, the five Ks, as a sign
that they are all equal. He also gave everyone in the
khalsa a new name to show they belonged. All men should
take the name Singh, which means lion, and all women
Kaur, meaning princess.
Even today, Baisakhi
is a day when many Sikhs take part in the ceremony to
show they belong to the khalsa. They wear the five Ks,
and take the name Singh or Kaur.
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