21 Facts About Khalsa

1.

The Khalsa tradition was initiated in 1699 by the Tenth Guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh.

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2.

The founding of Khalsa is celebrated by Sikhs during the festival of Vaisakhi.

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3.

Additionally, the Khalsa provided a political and religious vision for the Sikh community.

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4.

Khalsa drew his sword, according to the Sikh tradition, and then asked for a volunteer from those who gathered, someone willing to sacrifice his head.

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5.

Khalsa asked for another volunteer and repeated the same process of returning from the tent without anyone and with a bloodied sword four more times.

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6.

Khalsa called the volunteers the Panj Pyare and the first Khalsa in the Sikh tradition.

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7.

Khalsa then administered this to the Panj Pyare, accompanied with recitations from the Adi Granth, thus founding the khanda ki pahul of a Khalsa – a warrior community.

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8.

Khalsa introduced ideas that indirectly challenged the discriminatory taxes imposed by Islamic authorities.

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9.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji declared that Khalsa do not need to continue this practice, because Bhaddar is not dharam, but a bharam .

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10.

The Khalsa Sikhs saw themselves as a separate religious entity, while the Nanak-panthi Sikhs retained their different perspective.

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11.

Khalsa's tradition has survived into the modern times, with initiated Sikh referred to as Khalsa Sikh, while those who do not get baptized referred to as Sahajdhari Sikhs.

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12.

Creation of the Khalsa; initiated by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru.

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13.

Khalsa is enjoined, to be honest, treat everyone as equal, meditate on God, maintain his fidelity, resist tyranny and religious persecution of oneself and others.

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14.

The Dal Khalsa fought against the Mughals and the Afghans, eventually resulting in the establishment of a number of small republics called misls and later in the formation of the Sikh Empire.

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15.

The "Sarkar-i-Khalsa" was dissolved during two wars fought against the British between 1846 and 1849.

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16.

Initiation into the Khalsa is referred to as Amrit Sanchar or Khande di Pahul .

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17.

Khalsa has abolished caste and custom, old rituals, beliefs and superstitions of the Hindus, Sufis and Shias bonded them in one single brotherhood.

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18.

The expelled disciples convened a community gathering, at which two wealthy Khatris demanded that the Khalsa produce a written order from the Guru that a new mandatory code of conduct had been promulgated.

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19.

The Khalsa petitioned the state officials to intervene, who forced reopening of the shops.

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20.

Today, the Khalsa is respected by the entire gamut of Sikhs; however, not all Sikhs are Amritdharis The issue of Khalsa code of conduct has led to several controversies.

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21.

Khalsa has been predominantly a male institution in Sikh history, with Khalsa authority with the male leaders.

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