Khande Bate Di Pahul – Revolutionary Power
Dr. Gurmanpreet Kaur Gurmat Gian Missionary college Ludhiana- 79 7304 7608
Month of Vaisakh (april-may) holds great importance for us as, Guru Nanak sahib g, founder of Sikhism stepped in the beautiful creation of almighty on 15 april,1469. Bhai Gurdas g states,
ਮਾਰਿਆ ਸਿਕਾ ਜਗਤ੍ਰਿ ਵਿਚਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਪੰਥ ਚਲਾਇਆ। (ਵਾਰ ੧ ਪਉੜੀ ੪੫)
They enlighten people burning and drenched in major illusions, false practices, beliefs, discrimination, gender inequality with wisdom of gurbani hymns,reciting and preaching to the world sermon of oneness- ‘EK ONKAR’, interpreting: god is one and is omnipresent, lies within, one doesn’t need to abandon basic needs and relationship to find or met him rather abandon the evil deeds and you will realize the creator inside. They made people acknowledge god exist within single creation of his whether micro or macro.
Likewise successor guru came into existence and series continued and till guru Ramdas g, mid of Guru Granth Sahib g was compiled and guru Arjan Dev g for the first time officially celebrated the opening of ‘AAD GRANTH’ at golden temple. This ceremony was done by Baba Budha g and sermon the world that there will be no physical guru. Every person will seek ‘AAD GRANTH’
As their guru and will bow their head.
When guru Hargobind sahib g came into existence though they witnessed the death of their father guru Arjan Sahib g in past who were martyrdom under false accusitions for the first time gave the concept of MIRI – PIRI, that along with worship, strength is also necessary when it comes for the matter of oppression or defense and created 2200 count armour ready and prepared sikh perfect in horse ride, archery, swordsmanship.
Guru Gobind Singh g in 1699, on the day of Baisakhi , did Khande Bate kiPahulceremony, created five pyaare (panj pyaare) rising KhalsaPanth. Every person who received khande bate kipahulis blessed with a new identity of Singh for male, Kaur for female. Not only this, but also alegiance by five signs, also called five K’S. KESH, KIRPAAN, KANGA , KADA , KACHERRA
Guru Hargobind sahib g where made sikh armored for the first time guru Gobind Singh g made sword as one of our kakar naming it KIRPAAN. They named it kirpaan, combination of two words:
kirpa + aan
which means used under the act of self – defense or for protecting weakers. Other reason was so that no one could question its existence for terror.
These are not only symbols but articles of faith that collectively form the external identity and khalsa devotee’s commitment to ‘sikhrehni’.
ਖਾਲਸਾ ਮੇਰੋ ਰੂਪ ਹੈ ਖਾਸ। ਖਾਲਸਾ ਮਹਿ ਹੌ ਕਰੌ ਨਿਵਾਸ।
What a beautiful scenario guru g created which is matchless and will forever be that on one hand guru g himself prepared khande bate kipahul and deliver it to five beloved one’s (panj pyaare) and on other hand then himself received the pahul from their beloved five disciples. Many saints, philosophers, renowned preachers stepped into the world but nowhere it is found that they were no boundaries between guru and their beloved one’s but here guru g practically proved that either guru or their followers both have same path to follow. It’s pretty natural to have this question in mind that why guru g took khande bathe kipahul, when he himself was guru ! ? Their this act proved of no demarcations between their guru and followers. If guru g might have delivered it to their five disciples or sangat then today we might have this feeling in our hearts that guru didn’t showed equality. Bhai Gurdas g recites:
ਵਾਹੁ ਵਾਹੁ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਆਪੇ ਗੁਰ ਚੇਲਾ।
We can’t create any question or doubts on importance of receiving khande bate kipahul. Moreover it is the beauty of our religion that our guru’s despite of giving only sermons to people first lived accordingly and then asked world to follow their paths.
Rise of Khalsa:
Khalsa word is derived from Arabic word KHALAS which means a land ruled by a king.
Secondly we also define it as being pure.
If we see thoroughly we find the principle is same. Guru Nanak sahib g, condemn the ideology of worshipping physical guru, guru Gobing Singh g once again on completion of sri Guru Granth sahib g compilation, sermon people,
ਆਗਿਆ ਭਈ ਅਕਾਲ ਕੀ ਤਬੀ ਚਲਾਇਓ ਪੰਥ। ਸਭ ਸਿਖਨ ਕੋ ਹੁਕਮ ਹੈ ਗੁਰੂ ਮਾਨਿਯੋ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ।
Guru nanak sahib g in bani of Jap ji questioned people,
ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ ? ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲਿ ?॥ (ਜਪੁ)
Guru Gobindsingh g made us khalsa, confining foreverto the concept of purity, being ‘ਸਚਿਆਰ’. But what we did, we thought that receiving khande bate kipahul was end stage of spirituality whereas it was just equivalent to being admission to school named khalsa with a peculiar dress code, demands mental surrender instead of paper money as fees, taught education of spiritual wisdom, make a soul enriched with charachter, gurbanipriciples and creates a ‘gurmukh’. Some of us take admission to school, recite gurbani indiscipline but become carefree when it comes to understanding and when we don’t learn, we fail in the attempts of life.
Some of us lack in courage to receive khandebate kipahul because we think that wewill not able to adore it. Again a major illusion ! First of all tell me that whether we have to take care of it or guru g bless us with this gift to take care of us ! ? Of course it is meant to take care of us.
Khande bate kipahul is for my soul not my body. My body don’t get effected by it but my soul does. It’s a commitment to god that for the rest of my life I will stand on the principles of sikhi and gurbani hymns.
Khande bate kipahul where created khalsa was also a practical act done by guru Gobindsingh g on ideology of Guru Nanak sahib g baani,
ਨੀਚਾ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਨੀਚ ਜਾਤਿ ਨੀਚੀ ਹੂ ਅਤਿ ਨੀਚੁ ॥ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਤਿਨ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਸਾਥਿ ਵਡਿਆ ਸਿਉ ਕਿਆ ਰੀਸ ॥ ਜਿਥੈ ਨੀਚ ਸਮਾਲੀਅਨਿ ਤਿਥੈ ਨਦਰਿ ਤੇਰੀ ਬਖਸੀਸ ॥ (ਮਹਲਾ ੧/੧੫)
The khande bate kipahul prepared is one and is received from same bowlby every individual whether rich or poor, guru or follower, superior or inferior, low caste \ high caste. Forever it became landmark of khalsapanth that there is no space for discrimination in this religion, we all are equal & same irrespective of our personalities. It gave practicality to guru nanak sahib g sermon,
ਅਵਲਿ ਅਲਹ ਨੂਰੁ ਉਪਾਇਆ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਕੇ ਸਭ ਬੰਦੇ ॥ ਏਕ ਨੂਰ ਤੇ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਉਪਜਿਆ ਕਉਨ ਭਲੇ ਕੋ ਮੰਦੇ ॥ (ਭਗਤ ਕਬੀਰ/੧੩੪੯)
Guru g blessed us with singh and kaur and forever diminished these concepts of caste based discrimination from a life of sikh. But we still need to be insightful, we let go ?
