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The term “Khalsa” refers to the entire group of individuals who have actively decided to follow the way of life handed out by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru; it is the way of life controlled by the Khalsa society, which already is self-managed by their collective and democratic choices.
Since Vaisakhi 1699, when the Khalsa was formed, this community has lived as a distinct entity, fully immersed in its local communities yet also conscious of its spiritual and social responsibilities as prescribed by the 10th guru. This paper will discuss the background, history of Khalsa Panth, and the making of Granth sahib by Granth sahib Ji foundation.
Establishment of Khalsa Panth
The ‘Khalsa Panth,’ like Guru Nanak’s older word, the Nirmal Panth, implies the path of the pure or holy. It is the path of pure spirituality, free of ritualism and the “clutches of priests.” The phrase Khalsa has another meaning as well. During the Mughal reign in India, this word denoted crown areas governed by the emperor personally, even without the intervention of Jagirdars, etc. Guru ka Khalsa signifies the Guru’s own, unmediated by masands.
Going back to its beginnings, it began after “Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb” killed Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the 9th Guru of Sikhs, because the Mughals saw him as a danger since the Guru spoke up for Hindu rights. On the occasion of “Baisakhi in 1699, millions of pilgrims flocked to Anandpur Sahib to receive Guru’s blessings. The Guru waved his sword and exclaimed to the throng, ‘My sword is hungry for a head,’ and demanded ahead.
Even though Guru’s request sent a chill through the gathering, Daya Ram, a Khatri from Lahore, arose and volunteered. ” Guru Gobind Singh Ji” led him to a nearby tent, returned with his blade covered in blood, and demanded another head.
The Guru continued this till five disciples agreed with him. The audience was terrified at the prospect of the Guru killing the five men. But, to their surprise, Guru Gobind Singh Ji arrived with the five of them, all dressed in turbans and saffron-coloured robes.
The Guru then poured the holy water known as ‘Amrit’ and baptized the five volunteers. These five individuals were named the “Five Beloved Ones” or “Panj Pyare” Daya Singh, Himmat Singh, Mohkam Singh, Dharam Singh, and Sahib Singh were the five men.
What is guru Granth sahib ji?
The “Guru Granth Sahib” is the holiest religious document of Sikhism, and Sikhs consider it the last, sovereign, and eternal Guru who follows the line of the religion’s ten human gurus. The earliest version, the Adi Granth, was produced between 1564 and 1606 by the 5th guru, Guru Arjan. Its compilation was finished on August 29, 1604, and it was first installed within the “Golden Temple in Amritsar” on September 1, 1604.
The text is divided into 5,894 shabads and 1,430 angs or pages, which also are lyrically interpreted and performed to a rhythmically old north Indian classical music genre. The majority of the text is split into 31 main rgas, with each Granth rga further segmented based on length and author. The hymns in the text are organized mainly by the gas they have been read. In the Gurmukhi script, the Guru Granth Sahib is written in numerous languages, including Kauravi, Lahnda, Braj Bhasha, Sindhi, Sanskrit, and Persian. Manuscripts in these languages are frequently referred to as Sant Bhasha.
History of Granth sahib
During Guru Nanak’s lifetime, the task of transcribing his teachings, the 1st Guru and creator of Sikhism, began. Guru Nanak offered Guru Angad his treasury of hymns and lessons in a “pothi” format when he became the 2nd Guru of Sikhs (manuscript). Guru Angad contributed 63 of his works to the text before handing it over to the 3rd Guru, Amar Das.
Guru Amar Das compiled several manuscripts, which he complemented with 974 about his compositions and the works of numerous Bhagats. These manuscripts, called Goindwal pothis, comprise Guru Amar Das’ message explaining why “Bhagat Bani” was added and how Guru Nanak affected the Bhagats. The 4th Guru has also presented the hymns in the pothi.
The 5th Guru, Arjan Dev, decided to assemble the Adi Granth to solidify the Bani by prior Gurus and avoid fictitious compositions sneaking into the original text. Adi Granth is the “original volume,” which relates to the last prepared volume. Bhai Gurdas wrote it under the close guidance of Guru Arjan, who delivered the manuscript. It included the writings of the first 4 Sikh Gurus, to which the 5th Sikh Guru, Arjan Dev, was added. The Adi Granth also included the works of 17 Bhatts, 15 Bhagats, and 4 others, including Bhai Mardana, Guru Nanak’s lifelong companion.
Conclusion
In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the 10th Guru of the Sikhs, created the Khalsa Panth. It was designed to teach believers that no tradition or belief is more significant than the Almighty, and that no superstition should be believed. According to the Khalsa Panth, there is only one God who has been the Master and Protector of everyone, the sole Creator and Destroyer.
