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In one of his poems, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib defines the Khalsa :
"He who repeats night and day the name of Him, Who has full love and confidence in God, Who bestows not a thought on anv but one God, Whose enduring light is inextinguishable, Who puts no faith in fasting and worshipping cemeteries and monasteries, Who only recognises the one God and makes no fetish, Of pilgrimages, alms, charities and austerities:
He is recognised as a true member of theKhalsa, In whose heart the light of the Perfect One shines."
Very many people question the need of Kirpan or the sword in the atomic age. Others require an explanation for the wearing of the sword. How can sword he reconciled with spirituality ? Even before Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, his grand father Guru Hargobind had donned the sword as a twin-symbol of temporal and spiritual power(Miri & Piri). He had maintained an army and taken part in military operations against the Mughal forces.
Guru Gobind Singh Sahib justified the use of the sword as a duty and as a means of protecting the weak and the oppressed. With human brutes, non-violence is meaningless. Guru Gobind Singh Sahib says:
When the affairs are past other remedies, It is justifiable to unsheath the sword.
Tyrants are like mad dogs and wolves. They should be opposed in the interests of the good of humanity as a whole. The sword is neither to be used for conquest nor for wrecking vengeance. The sword is meant only for self-defence or for the good of the people. In cases of injustice and intolerance, the refusal to use the sword may do more harm than good. The Sikh's sword is not an instrument of offence but a symbol of independence, self-respect and power. Guru Gobind Singh Sahib called it Durga or Bhagwati and praises it thus :
Sword that smites in a flash, That scatters the armies of the wicked In the great battle-field, 0 symbol of the brave. Your arm is irresistible, your brightness shines forth The splendour of the black dazzles like the sun. Sword, you are the scourge of saints, You are the scourge of the wicked ; Scatterer of sinners, I take refuge with you. Hail to the Creator. Saviour and sustainer, Hail to you : Sword supreme !
Main Principles. The word 'Sikh' means a disciple. So Sikhism is essentially the path of discipleship. The true sikh remains unattached to worldly things just as the lotus keeps its blossom over and above the surface of water. The Sikh must do his duty to his family and to the community. The main thing is leading a pure and moral life, full of noble deeds and kind words. A Sikh does not regard fasting, austerities, pilgrimages, alms-giving and penance as important things.
Bhagti: Those who know the importance of Bhagti feel like Guru Nanak Sahib that forgetting God is just like death and brooding upon His Name is life and joy. Without the nectar of God's name, the polgrim dies his misery. But Bhagti is possible after certain conditions are fulfilled:
i) Faith in God. ii) Following Truth. iii) Unattachment and desirelessness. iv) Control over throught, word and deed. v) Association with holy men(Satsang) vi) Humanity and submission to Hukam.
Sri Harmandir Sahib, also known as Sri Darbar Sahib or Golden Temple, (on account of its scenic beauty and golden coating for English speaking world), is named after Hari(God) the temple of God. The Sikhs all over the world, daily wish to pay visit to Sri Amritsar and to pay obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib in their Ardas.
Guru Arjan Sahib, the Fifth Nanak, conceived the idea of creating a central place of worship for the Sikhs and he himself designed the architecture of Sri Harmandir Sahib. Earlier the planning to excavate the holy tank (Amritsar or Amrit Sarovar ) was chalked out by Guru Amardas Sahib, the Third Nanak, but it was executed by Guru Ramdas Sahib under the supervision of Baba Budha ji. The land for the site was acquired by the earlier Guru Sahibs on payment or free of cost from the Zamindars (landlords) of native villages. The plan to establish a town settlement was also made. Therefore, the construction work on the Sarovar(the tank) and the town started simultaneously in 1570. The work on both projects completed in 1577 A.D.
Guru Arjan Sahib got its foundation laid by a muslim saint Hazrat Mian Mir ji of Lahore on 1st of Magh, 1645 Bikrmi Samvat(December,1588). The construction work was directly supervised by Guru Arjan Sahib himself and he was assisted by the prominent Sikh personalities like Baba Budha ji, Bhai Gurdas ji, Bhai Sahlo ji and many other devoted Sikhs.
Unlike erecting the structure on the higher level(a tradition in Hindu Temple architecture), Guru Arjan Sahib got it built on the lower level and unlike Hindu Temples having only one gate for the entrance and exit, Guru Sahib got it open from four sides. Thus he created a symbol of new faith, Sikhism. Guru Sahib made it accessible to every person without any distinction of Caste, creed, sex and religion
(i) Unity of God : There is but One God. He is Unborn, Omni-potent, Infinite, Formless, All-knowing and All-pervading.
(ii) Equality : All men are equal. God is our Mother & Father and we are His children. There is none high or low on account of birth, sex, position or riches.
(iii) Faith : One must have perfect faith in the Guru. The word Sikhism literally means the way of the disciple. The disciple must follow the Guru's word.
(iv) Love of God : We can love God only when we cease to love ourselves. We must first destroy the ego {haumai}.
(v) Character-building: If the mind is impure, it cannot deserve union with Divinity. Guru Nanak Sahib says : "Truth is no doubt great, but greater is triumphful living." The development of character is the only foundation on which the edifice of disciple-ship can be raised. Conquer the five deadly sins-lust, anger, greed, attachment and pride, Morality is an important step in the path of discipleship.
(vi) Nam Simran : The practice of the Name is an-essential duty of a Sikh. The Guru seeks the dust of the feet of those who remember the Name and make others remember it. Simaran is the practice of the presence of God. It is God-vision. As we think, so we become. It is by meditation that we attain to the glory and greatness of the Almighty.
