Sikh Missionary Society U.K. (Regd)
10, Featherstone Road.
Southall, Middx, U.K. UB2 5AA
Tel: +44 020 8574
1902
Fax: +44 020 8574
1912
Reg Charity No: 262404
|
Sikh Missionary Society U.K. (Regd)
10, Featherstone Road.
Southall, Middx, U.K. UB2 5AA
Tel: +44 020 8574
1902
Fax: +44 020 8574
1912
Reg Charity No: 262404
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
A New Turning Point and the Great Test
On April 13, 1699 at Anand Pur (Punjab), Guru Gobind Rai took a momentous
decision. He called together his Sikhs from allover India to join in the
celebrations of the Baisakhi fair(Baisakhi is a harvest festival in India.
It falls on 13th April every year). The historians tell us that as many
as 80,000 Sikhs responded to the Guru's call. A tent was pitched near the
assembled court. Various choirs sang hymns in praise of God. When all were
seated there, Guru Gobind Rai came out from his tent and stood on the dais
with a drawn sword. "My faithful Sikhs," said the Guru, "Is there anyone
here who would lay down his life for our religion? I want the head of a
Sikh. I want this as a sacrifice to ensure freedom of worship and religion
for all." There was no immediate response. The whole gathering was taken
aback. The Guru repeated his demand but nobody moved. At the third call,
Daya Ram of Lahore came forward and bowed. "My Lord," he said, "My head
is at your disposal." At this the Guru took him into the tent and everybody
heard a thud and saw a stream of blood coming from under the tent. The
Guru came back with his sword dripping fresh blood and said, "I want another
head. My beautiful sword wants to taste the blood of another beloved Sikh
of mine." This was too much. People started to slink away. But lo! there
stood up Dharam Das of Delhi and offered his head. The same thud was heard
and more blood flowed. The Guru came back again with the same demand once
again, then came forward Mohkam Chand, Sahib Chand and Himmat Rai one after
the other. The five brave Sikhs passed the great Guru's supreme test. Soon
after this, the Guru and those five Sikhs came to the dais with a new glow
of life in them. They were in new uniforms. In the presence of that huge
gathering the Guru, in collaboration with the five 'beloved ones' prepared
the Amrit (Nectar). He filled the iron vessel with water, added some sugar
cakes to it and stirred it with a double edged sword (Khanda) while reciting
hymns over it. This Amrit (baptismal water) was administered to all five
from the same vessel. The Guru thus abolished the notorious caste system
and declared them equal. In Sikh history these five are known as PANJ PYARE
(the five beloved ones). They received the new surname of 'Singh' added
to their names. The Guru then himself took the Amrit from those five and
thus from Guru Gobind Rai became Guru Gobind Singh. Later, Sikh women on
taking Amrit were given the surname of 'Kaur' added to their names. 'Singh'
means brave as a lion and 'Kaur' means a princess or the second son of
a king. Within a short time as many as 80,000 Sikhs were baptised and thus
admitted into the order of the Khalsa -- the army of saint soldiers.
| Previous Chapter - The Background |
Next Chapter - The
Five K's
|