Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
Pyari Saadh Sangat Ji,
Aap Sab Nu Visakh de Mahiney di Lakh Lakh Vadayee Hove.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji chose the first day of Vaisakh to mark the Birth Of Khalsa. Why did he not choose any other month or any other day? We all agree that certain dates are very special because they are related to events and events become landmarks in the history of mankind. Different Sikh Scholars and Historians, through their independent research have commonly come to establish one fact, that the first of Vaisakh in 1469 is also the day that Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born. Since the founder of Sikh Religion was born on this day, it becomes natural that this day be kept for the day of Birth of Khalsa.
It is very important to reflect upon the image that Guru Gobind Singh ji conceived in his mind as the identity of the Sikhs. The image of "Sant-Sipahi".
This image was conceived in the mind of Guru Gobind Singh ji, on the day, Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib ji, was sacrificed along with other Sikhs in front of the public, and in spite of so many Sikhs present in the crowd, none of them came forward to claim his body or head, as everybody was scared to face the wrath of Muslim rulers. Guru Ji said that he would give such an identity to his Sikh that he will not hide behind any mask.
When anybody hides behind a mask, it is because of fear and Fear was not acceptable. He did not want his children to live in fear of any kind least of all an unjust ruler….rather have a short life but live with pride and bravery…..just as demonstrated by the Chaar Sahibzaade.
What is in the image of Sant-Sipahi. Why did Guru Ji think that this image for important for his Khalsa? Where One is a meditator, the other is a soldier. How is this image same and how is it different and how can one identity merge into the other giving a satisfying transition from one to another?
Well the answer lies in our Guru History…just like Guru Arjan dev ji being a Sant demonstrated that when time comes he could be a Sipahi too and sacrifice his life to fight with tyranny of any kind. This was again demonstrated by his grandson....Guru Teg Bahadur ji and then again by his four grandchildren Chaar Sahibzade.
There is yet another similarity where Sant is no different from Sipahi. Both personalities are kind of Guards. Where a Sant guards the soul from the five vices, the Sipahi guards the body where the soul resides, from the outward threat. Guru Ji visualized his Sikh to be protected from both the threats: the threat to the soul and the threat to the body. Therefore he wanted us to have a personality where one behaviour would take over the other according to the need of the time.
This has been very effectively demonstrated in Sikh history by Baba Deep Singh Ji and countless other Sikhs.
The one ceremony that was created by Guru Ji, to turn from ordinary to Sant-Sipahi….is the ceremony of Amrit or Khande Di Pahul. And since then, that option is open to all of us Saadh Sangat Ji. Let us not forget that if we are part of the Khalsa Panth it is because somebody from our Fore-Fathers' must have taken Amrit, must have defied the norms of the society, prevalent in those times. They were brave and we were lucky. Let us also make an effort to pass that heritage to our children.