By Zile Singh
Ambassador(Retd.)
Vaisakhi is an ancient Hindu festival marking the Solar New Year and also celebrating the spring harvest. It is one of the three Hindu festivals chosen by Guru Amar Das to be celebrated by Sikhs (other being Basant Panchami and Diwali). The Khalsa calendar (New Year) also starts from creation of Khalsa Panth on Vaisakh 1, 1756 Bikrami ( 30 March 1699).
History of Vaisakhi, in relation to the Sikhism, traces its origin when on March 30, 1699, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth in succession called a congregation ceremony of his followers across the country at Keshgarh Sahib near Anandpur Sahib to instill courage and strength to sacrifice against the tyranny of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb was converting the Hindus and the Sikhs to Islam at the point of sword. At the ceremony the Guru selected Five Volunteers who were ready to give their heads to fight against injustice. In today’s parlance this congregation can be called the first national integration council because followers gathered from four corners of India breaking all the barriers of caste and creed. Those Five volunteers ( who were baptized as Panj Piarias – five beloved- by the Guru were: Bhai Daya Singh (shopkeeper from Lahore), Bhai Dharam Singh ( farmer from Meerut), Bhai Himmat Singh ( water- carrier from Jagannath Puri, Oddisha), Bhai Muhkam Singh ( tailor from Dwarka – Gujarat), Bhai Sahib Singh ( barber from Bidar, Karnataka). By this event the foundation of Khalsa Panth ( Order of the Pure Ones) was laid.
From then onward all the followers of the Guru were given surname ‘Singh’ and ‘Kaur’ for male and female respectively. They were also commanded to bear the following articles of faith : Kesh ( hairs), Kanga (wooden comb), Kachhera (loose undergarment), Kirpan (short curved sword) and Kara (iron or steel bangle). They were required to refrain from: Hukka (intoxication), Hajjamat ( shaving of hairs), Halaal ( meat made in Muslim way), and Haraam (adultery).
Sikhism is the fifth largest religion of the world. It is a distinct monotheistic religion with its own unique divine scripture and beliefs. It was founded in the Punjab Province (Undivided India) in the 15th Century by Guru Nanak Dev, the First Guru of the
Sikhs. The Ten Gurus in their succession are: Guru(s) Nanak, Angad, Amar Das, Ram Das, Arjan, Hargobind, Har Rai, Har Krishan, Teg Bahadur and Gobind Rai ( later Singh ). The Tenth Guru bestowed the Guruship forever to the Guru Granth Sahib ( the Holy Book containing the Teachings of all the Gurus in addition to the teachings of some renowned Bhagats/ saints of different faiths of that time). They are: Kabir, Namdev, Ravidas, Sheikh Farid, Trilochan, Dhanna, Sheikh Bhikan, Jaidev, Surdas,
Pipa, Sadhna etc.) The important aspect of including the Bani of all these Bhagats/Saints was to denounce the caste barriers and the superficial dogmas and rituals prevalent at that time. The fifth Guru Arjan Dev compiled the Granth (Adi Granth) in 1604 and installed it in Harminder Saheb, known as the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
The most important and guiding hymn in the Granth is ‘Japji Sahib which is preceded by a mangal which reads , “ ek onkar, satnam, karta purkh, nirbhau, nirver, akal murat, ajoony, saibhan, gurparsad”. ( One Universal Creator God. The Name is Truth. Creative Being Personified. No Fear. No Hatred. Image of the Undying. Beyond Birth. Self-Existent. By Guru’s Grace.)
The principal teachings of Sikhism are that there is only one God and that all human beings can have direct access to God with no need of rituals or priests. It denounced the caste system and taught that everyone is equal, regardless of caste or gender.
Three important advices of Guru Nanak Dev Ji are:
Kirat Karo: Earn an honest, pure and dedicated living by exercising God given skills, abilities, talents and hard labour.
Naam Japo: Do meditation in the name of God, especially chanting Waheguru which means Wonderful Lord.
Vand Chako: Share with the community whatever you have earned. This could be wealth, food and knowledge.
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji ki Fateh.
Zile Singh is a retired Indian Ambassador who now resides in Vancouver. He can be reached at [email protected].
