Codes to define a community

Guru Gobind Singh lays down the rules of the Khalsa community, today in 1699. His codes would become a distinct identity marker for numerous Sikhs even today.

A depiction of the Sikhs; Source: Wikipedia

Khalsa means to be pure, to be clear - and this was the creed the Sikhs live by. Formed on the 30th of March 1699, the Khalsa tradition was to play a pivotal role in defining the Sikh community. Its etymology is rooted in the Arabic word Khalis - meaning pure.

The framework was laid down by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru, after the death of Guru Teg Bahadur, his father, at the hands of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. It was felt that the old masand system of Sikhism had been too weak to resist attacks like these, and thus a new system would be needed to command better.

Initiated as warriors to protect anyone from any form of religious persecution, Khalsa aimed to start a new tradition among the Sikhs. A new basis of leadership was created by the articulation of this ideology - a political and religious vision, becoming from a spiritual community to a temporally recognized, organized power.

Amrit Pahul was the ceremony needed to be initiated into the Khalsa - and upon initiation, a male would be given the title Singh, while a female would be given the title Kaur, and inducted into the community, on grounds that they follow the rules of life - the Rahit and the dress code, the five Ks.

The 4 prohibitions - not to disturb hair growth, not to eat kutha meat, not to cohabit with anyone else but the spouse, and not to use any intoxicant, along with 5 Ks as dress code  - the kesh (uncut hair), kangha (wooden comb), kara (iron or steel bracelet on wrist), kirpan (sword), kachera (short breeches) - would become the identifying markers for Sikhs in general, and signify their commitment to the Khalsa in particular.

The establishment of Khalsa is celebrated at Baisakhi every year, the harvest festival. However, not all Sikhs are the followers of Khalsa, yet retain a wide popularity.