vaisakhi

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www.ProjectNaad.com VAISAKHI The Creation Of A Nation Author: SikhSpeak.com

Welcome and Thank you to all : 

www.ProjectNaad.com Welcome and Thank you to all “Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh” (The Khalsa belongs to God, All victories belong to God) Humblest apologies for any offence, inconvenience or mistakes It is the immortality of sacred identification with Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib,The immortality of a mystical union with Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib,And the immortality of total reliance in the Divine Namethat distinguishes and marks the Khalsa from others

Pictures in Sikhism : 

www.ProjectNaad.com Pictures in Sikhism Please note although pictures are used in various forms; for either teaching, video use or simply as artist impressions. Pictures are by NO MEANS meant to be prayed to or worshipped in Sikhism. They merely serve as a reminder, teaching resources or simply have been created out of creative devotion.

Vaisakhi 1699 : 

www.ProjectNaad.com Vaisakhi 1699

History – Setting the Scene : 

www.ProjectNaad.com History – Setting the Scene India was ruled by powerful and tyrannical Moghul Empire People’s human rights were suppressed; the right to free belief, and right to live without fear was being brutally denied The 5th Guru (Guru Arjan Dev Ji) was martyred defending freedom of belief as was the 9th Guru (Guru Tegh Bahadur), this was Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s own father The Guru’s preached love for all humanity, no matter which faith or caste Guru Gobind Singh Ji decided it was time for a new breed of person, someone who would not act as a sheep, and follow the crowd being downtrodden

The Creation of A Nation : 

www.ProjectNaad.com The Creation of A Nation Who would this person be? What would they look like? What would their qualities be? How would they be recognised? What will they do? These questions would be answered, but first it was important to congregate the Sikhs A massive circular was sent out to all Sikhs from Kabul (Afghanistan) to India A strict directive was given out for Sikhs to come with uncut hair and not to drink or smoke (as was common practise in those times) Turnout would also be high as it was in the month of VAISAKH – The time of harvest for all farmers Traditionally, this was a period of festivities and celebration As this was the call of the Guru – expectations were high All Sikhs would congregate at ANANDPUR SAHIB (then a fort on high grounds)

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www.ProjectNaad.com Anandpur Sahib

The Tents : 

www.ProjectNaad.com The Tents The next few days Anandpur Sahib began to swarm with people from all over Approximately 250,000 people assembled As people came in, they passed several different tents Each tent had a special message On one of the tents a message read ‘He who wishes to play the game of love, come with your head in the palm of your hand’ (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, page 1412)

The 5 Beloved Ones : 

www.ProjectNaad.com The 5 Beloved Ones Bhai Daya Singh - Compassion Bhai Dharam Singh - Dharma or Justice Bhai Himmat Singh - Courage Bhai Mohkam Singh - Discipline and Serenity Bhai Sahib Singh - Sardari or Leadership/Sovereignty Thus Guru Gobind Singh looking for an element of all five (Compassion, Justice, Courage, Discipline and Leadership) amongst his Khalsa

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www.ProjectNaad.com 5 Beloved Ones(Panj Pyaree)

Casteless & A Unique Identity : 

www.ProjectNaad.com Casteless & A Unique Identity Each Sikh drank from the same bowl, despite their caste The five Sikhs were all from different castes Three of them the so called low-castes, a Kshatriya and a Jat - formed the nucleus of the self-abnegating, martial and casteless fellowship of the Khalsa that Guru Gobind Singh had brought into being They added Singh (Lion) or Kaur (Princess) to their names and would be identified by a unique identity wearing 5 special symbols (known as the Panj Kakkar or 5Ks) 80,000+ were baptised that day in 1699 Upon that Amrit ceremony in 1699, some amrit spilt onto the floor and birds began to drink it, with this Guru Gobind Ji stated that his Sikhs would turn from sparrows to falcons Alongside this he ordered his Sikhs to live like Saints and Soldiers

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www.ProjectNaad.com Amrit

The Ordaining : 

www.ProjectNaad.com The Ordaining Thus the KHALSA (Pure Ones) were created Unique to this was the fact that Guru Gobind Singh Ji took amrit after baptising the 5 Beloved Ones (hence referred to a Guru-Chela or Master-Servant) – this concept is unique to sikhism signifying humility and equality Guru Gobind Singh Ji thus said ‘Where my 5 Beloved assemble, The Lord himself prevails.’ Amongst being part of a family the Khalsa adhere to a code of conduct (Rehat Maryada started by Guru Gobind Singh Ji) Guru Gobind Singh Ji also stated that his Khalsa would be fearless: ‘Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladoun, Tabhi Gobind Singh Naam Kalaoun’ ‘Only when one Sikh fights 125,000 will I be worthy of being called Gobind Singh’

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What about the Sikh Woman? : 

www.ProjectNaad.com What about the Sikh Woman? You may be wondering for a religion that preaches equality what is the role of the Sikh woman in Vaisakhi 1699? Just as Guru Gobind Singh Ji is the spiritual father of the Khalsa The most important aspect of the Amrit ceremony was completed by the Spiritual mother of the Khalsa, Mata Sahib Kaur “I want my sons/daughters to have sweetness and compassion along with the strength and valor of a true soldier. So she put sweets into the bowl of Amrit.” Why is this important? It signifies sweetness, truth, innocence and UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, that began with Guru Nanak Dev Ji

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www.ProjectNaad.com Mata Sahib Kaur

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www.ProjectNaad.com “The creation of the Khalsa was the greatest work of the Guru. He created a type of super-human, a universal servant of God, casteless and country less. The Guru regarded himself as the servant of the Khalsa. He said, "To serve them pleases me the most; no other service is so dear to my soul. "The Khalsa was the spearhead of resistance against tyranny.” (Pearl S. Buck)

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Kesh : 

www.ProjectNaad.com Kesh Kesh is uncut or unshorn hair It is supposed to be kept in a turban Traditionally, Sikhs do not cut their hair and or their beards Women can also wear Turbans This natural state symbolises devotion to God Guru Gobind Singh encouraged Sikhs not to cut their hair, which should be allowed to grow as God intended

Kara : 

www.ProjectNaad.com The Kara is usually made from iron or steel and worn on the dominant wrist The steel is a symbol of strength, and the circular shape is a symbol of unity and eternity - a circle has no beginning and no end This reflects the Sikh view of God who is eternal and infinite The circular shape also stands for unity between Sikhs and between Sikhs and God In addition, it can serve as a reminder to who we are, and to refrain from wrongdoings Kara

Kanga : 

www.ProjectNaad.com Kanga The kanga is a wooden comb which is used to keep the hair clean and tidy Cleanliness is an important aspect of Sikhism as emphasised by Guru Gobind Singh when he formed the Khalsa Sikhs wash their hair very early every morning, then comb it, and wind it into a topknot The kanga is placed in the topknot which is then covered with a turban The Kanga represents discipline in all aspects of life I suppose that answers the age old question – Do you have hair under there? Do you ever wash your hair?

Kachera : 

www.ProjectNaad.com Kachera Kachera are short trousers which now are usually worn as undergarments Guru Gobind Singh told Sikhs to wear short trousers as part of the Khalsa uniform The short trousers made it easier for Sikhs to move in battle The Kachera is also a symbol of self-discipline and refraining from adultery

Kirpan : 

www.ProjectNaad.com The kirpan is a sword worn by initiated (Khalsa) Sikhs. The Sikh community does not like the kirpan to be referred to either as a dagger or as a knife as both of these terms suggest violence and an intent to cause injury, in fact, the word KIRPA AAN meaning defender of the needy The kirpan (sword) is worn as a reminder of the courage of the first five Sikhs who were willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of their religion. The kirpan is therefore a symbol of bravery and of faith in God The kirpan is worn as a symbol of the Sikh being willing to defend his or her faith, or to defend the weak or oppressed The most important meaning is that the kirpan symbolises the commitment to fight ‘the enemy within’, that is weaknesses in one’s own character and behaviour Kirpan

Khalsa and Its Future? : 

www.ProjectNaad.com Khalsa and Its Future? Khalsa is about purity from inside-out, not outside-in – therefore it is important to understand Guru’s message of having love for Waheguru and Waheguru’s Creation Khalsa follows Bani, Bana, Sewa, Simran Khalsa are perfectly balanced Saint-Soldiers With God’s grace Khalsa will grow from strength to strength, because purity will always be victorious

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Khalsa Greeting : 

www.ProjectNaad.com Khalsa Greeting Greeting: Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ke Fateh Meaning: In those whose hearts there is love for the Wonderful God, their victories are God’s victories