Inderjeet S Bhatia “Prince”
Baisakhi, also pronounced as Vaisakhi, marks the onset of spring season in India and usually signifies the end of the harvest season. It falls on 1st day of the month of Vaisakh and is one of the most awaited major festivals of North India especially in Punjab, Haryana and J&K. Since Baisakhi festival marks the time of harvest of Rabi crops, it is time of tremendous joy and festivities for farmers. The people celebrate the day with a lot of enthusiasm and gaiety by performing “Bhangra” and “Gidda” in the open fields. Other than marking the season of harvest, Baisakhi also has religious significance for the Sikhs. On the occasion of Baisakhi festival in 1699,a revolution occurred in Punjab. The Khalsa Panth was born on this day under the 10th Sikh Guru, Shree Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji at Keshgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib in Punjab. That was the Baisakhi festival of 1699 when 10th Sikh Guru ,( then)Guru Gobind Rai ji sent special messages to Sikhs all over India that they would meet at Anandpur Sahib on the auspicious occasion of Baisakhi.
On this occasion , after the Gurbaani recitation was over, Guru ji went to the stage in an unusual mood, drew his sword and called for a brave Sikh to come forward to offer his head to the Guru. This unexpected call was answered with complete silence from the audience. The Guru raised his voice and repeated his words, demanding the head of a Sikh. At this, Bhai Daya Ram ji, A Khatri from Lahore calmly came on the stage. Guru ji took him to the nearby tent and came back on the stage again with bloody sword in his hands to ask for another head of a Sikh. This was done for a total of 5 times and five Sikhs came forward one by one . Bhai Daya Ram ji , a Khatri of Lahore, Bhai Dharam Chand ji, a Jat from Delhi, Bhai Himmat Dass ji , a washerman of Dwaraka, Bhai Mohkam Chand ji ,a calico printer of Puri, Orissa, and Bhai Sahib Chand ji, a barber from Bidar in Karnatka state offered their heads one by one to Guru ji.Then, to the surprise of the whole congregation, all 5 Sikhs were brought back on the stage, alive and dressed in special clothing They were dressed like their master, in saffron garments. Their faces dress and appearances were like their master’s. Guru ji, then prepared AMRIT for them by reciting from holy Gurbaani, the five compositions: Japu, Jaap, Swayas, Chopai and Ananad Sahib ji. The water kept in an iron vessel was stirred with a double edged sword and was sweetened by adding sugar,(Pattass ), in it.The “AMRIT”, thus prepared was administered to those chosen 5 to whom Guru ji called as” Panj Piayrey”, the five beloved ones. They were given a common surname, Singh ,and were to be called as “Khalsa.” They were told that from onwards ,they were no more Jats,Khatris, high or low caste people. The divine message of Guru ji was “Maanas Ki Jaat, Sabhe Eke Peachanbo” (All human beings created by the almighty were equal)There should not be any discrimination on the basis of caste, colour, creed and gender.One should not have any fear except the fear of the Almighty who is the sole creator of this universe. Everyone was equal and they were all like brothers. Anyone accepting “Amrit ” became a Singh and the Singhs in a group were given the name of” Khalsa.” They have the full authority to take decisions regarding the situation and problems faced by the” Khalsa Panth” .The decisions have to be taken in accordance with the directions of the holy Guru Granth Sahib Ji and are to be respected and obeyed by all the Sikhs.
Guru ji paid the the greatest tribute to the Khalsa when he said,: “Khalsa Mero Roop Hai Khaas, Khalsa Mai Main Karu Niwaas”(The Khalsa is my own image and I reside in the Khalsa) It is written in Sarb Loh Granth Sahib ji as under: “Khalsa Akalpurkh Ki Fauj, Pargatiyo Khalsa , Parmatam Ki Mauj” (Khalsa is the army of eternal Lord, raised by him out of his pleasure). Their distinguishing features were their uncut beard, unshown hair (Kesh)with a Turban (Pagri), an iron bangle (Kara), a small sword( Kirpan), dangling on the left,an underwear (Kachhara), and a small comb (Kanga),in the hair. They were mean to be legions of the timeless God, commissioned to establish the rule of Dharma on our motherland and uproot all evil. The Guru ji himself joined them to fulfill this mission. Guru ji held his Chosen five in so high esteem that he knelt before them and asked them to initiate himself in to the “Khalsa Panth” in the same way he had done them before. The Guru ji was then administered” Amrit” in, the same manner and was given the surname “Singh”. Guru ji, thus, became Guru Gobind Singh ji from Guru Gobind Rai ji (Guru ji’s previous name) The Khalsa, with God’s light shining within was meant to be a global society. They were not to form a separate denomination, as that was totally against the Guru Ji’s concept of universal brotherhood. The creation of the Khalsa was,thus,the crowning event of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji’s life from the stand point of both organisation and ideology. Ideologically the creation of the Khalsa aimed at a well balanced combination of the ideals of Bhakti and Shakti of moral and spiritual excellence and militant valour and heroism of the highest order.
Sri Aurobindo, a great Indian philosopher said,”Guru Gobind Singh Ji picked up five souls from the multitude and breathed fire of faith in to them.The creation of the Khalsa Panth by the 10th master was a marvel by itself. At the age of 33 years, Guru ji got 33000 people gathered on the day of Baisakhi in 1699 at Keshgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib, Punjab and called five Sikhs to give life at the feet of Lord.What a submission, dedication, and devotion indeed!” In the words of J D Cunnigham, another historian ,who authored “History of the Sikhs” in 1849,”The creation of the Khalsa ideally transformed the life,outlook and aspirations of the people and imparted a new direction to Indian history. ” Gurudev Rabindra Nath Tagore held that ,”Guru Gobind Singh Ji appeared on Indian National scene with the message of militarism of the community for the defence of social equality and religious freedom.
In order to execute his plan, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji unified the Sikhs, taught them how to face any crisis calmly and boldly and generated a new hope and confidence.” Incidently, Baisakhi, in its local flavor, is also observed in different parts of India by its diverse names.In Bengal,it is called as Pohela Boishakh, Bohang Bihu in Aasam, Puthandu in Tamilnadu ,Bihu in Uttarakhand, Ugadi in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Pooramvishu in Kerla and Maha Vishuva Sankranti in Odisa . Sadly, Baisakhi is also commemorative of the fateful Baisakhi day of 1919 when an uncouth colonial British officer, Gen.Dyer opened fire on thousands of innocent Indians at Jallianwala Baug in Amritsar. The death of thousands of festive revellers by the haul of bullets shocked the entire world and also set the narrative for independence from the foreign rule that finally came by in 1947.
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