Guru
Gobind Singh was the last of the ten Sikh Gurus in human form.
He created the Khalsa;
a spiritual brother and sisterhood devoted to purity of thought
and action. He gave the Khalsa a distinctive external form, the
five "K's", to inspire and remind them of their commitment,
and to help them maintain an elevated state of consciousness.
Sikh men carry the middle name, Singh, meaning lion. Sikh women
carry the middle name, Kaur, meaning princess. Examples are, Hari
Singh Khalsa, and Hari Kaur Khalsa.
The
Five "K's"
Every
baptized Khalsa Sikh vows to wear these symbols
known as the Five "K's", first ordered by Guru
Gobind Singh.
KESH,
the God-given hair and beard kept unshorn to sustain him or her
in higher consciousness, and to be covered with a Turban, the
crown of spirituality.
KANGHA,
the wooden comb symbol and reminder of the commitment to cleanliness,
and used to groom the hair. See
TubansSee
Beards
KATCHERA,
the specially designed cotton underwear symbol and reminder of
the commitment to purity, and to refrain from sexual relationships
outside of marriage. (Khalsa Sikhs also vow to refrain from eating
meat or using tobacco, alcohol, and all other intoxicants.)
KARA,
the steel ring-bracelet symbol of Infinity, worn on the wrist,
signifying a bondage to Truth, The One God, The One Reality, and
freedom from every entanglement.
KIRPAN,
the small sword, the symbolic Sword of Righteousness, with which
a Khalsa is committed to righteously defend the innocent, and
the fine line of Truth.
Then
Guru Gobind Singh infused his own being into the Khalsa, declaring
that the Khalsa was now the Guru in all temporal matters. For
spiritual matters, the Guruship was given to the "Siri Guru
Granth Sahib", a compilation of sacred ecumenical writings
taken from saints and sages of several spiritual paths who have
experienced Truth. For Sikhs, "Siri
Guru Granth Sahib" is the living embodiment of the Guru,
and is regarded with the utmost reverence and respect wherever
it is found. Sikhs all over the world look to the "Siri Guru
Granth Sahib" as their supreme, living Guru, as the source
of their spiritual instruction and guidance.
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