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day dawned clear and bright for the Baisakhi celebration
of 1699. The Sikhs were in a festive mood because Guru
Gobind Rai had proclaimed that all should come together
at Anandpur Sahib.
The crowds gathered in anticipation
in front of the Guru's tent. They expected to hear a
stirring speech. No one was prepared for the sight of
the Guru when he did appear. He was dressed in his royal
blue uniform with his arms girded about him; his eyes
were so intense that no one dared to look at him. He
drew his sword and shouted, "I need a head!"
People could not believe their ears. The Guru wanted
to kill one of his beloved Sikhs? Again the cry rang
out, and again. Many people ran away in fear and horror.
But one man, Daya Ram, rose and said, "O beloved
Guru, my head has always been yours." The Guru
took him into the tent and came out with a sword dripping
with blood. Again he asked for a head. Dharm Das came
up and said, "Take my head, O dear one." Once
again, the Guru took him into his tent and emerged with
a dripping sword. For the third time, he asked the question.
Mokum Chand bowed before his Master. The Sikhs began
to think that he was going to kill them all. Two more
times the call went out, and two more devoted Sikhs,
Himmat and Sahib Chand, stepped forward to fill the
void. The Guru then went into the tent himself.Suddenly, the Guru and the five
appeared, as if from the dead. He had dressed them and
himself in beautiful golden clothes so that they shone
like the sun. To them he said, "You and I are one
and the same." The Guru sat the five near him and
said, "Guru Nanak had only one devoted Sikh, Angad.
In my time there are five Sikhs who are totally devoted
to the Guru. They shall lay the foundation for the new
Sikh faith." The gathering cheered the five for
their courage. The Guru then said, "From this day
on the Khalsa, the Pure Ones, will be baptized by the
Amrit. They shall become Singhs and Kaurs."The Guru began stirring water
in a steel bowl with his dagger while reciting the banis.
When he had finished, two sparrows sipped some of the
water and rose up into the air, fighting so fiercely
that they killed each other. The Guru's wife, Mata Sahib
Devan, was hurriedly brought to the scene by some bystanders.
She put some sweets into the holy water so that those
who drank it would be both strong and kind. The Guru
honored her by making her the Mother of the Khalsa.
The Guru gave the Amrit to the
five in much the same manner as it is given today. He
laid down the rehit: to wear the five K's, help the
poor, be faithful to one's spouse, work by honest labor,
keep a healthy body, keep long hair, give one tenth
of one's earnings to the Guru, and rise early and praise
God's Name. When he had given them the Amrit, he asked
them to give it to him. They were amazed at this request.
The Guru said, "The Khalsa is the Guru, and the
Guru is the Khalsa. There is no difference between you
and me. I have now seated you on the Guru's throne."
They then baptized him as he had them, with the same
ceremony and vows. He called the five Sikhs his "Panj
Piare", or five beloved ones, and thereafter called
himself Guru Gobind Singh.
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