Khalsa 1699: Final Phase of Socio-Political Revolution Started by Guru Nanak Sahib
ਪ੍ਰਗਟਿਓ ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਤਮ ਕੀ ਮੌਜ ॥
Khalsa Emerged by the Will of The Supreme Being
(Sarabloh Granth)
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Part 2: Vaisakhi 1699, the High Point of Guru and Khalsa Ithaas (History and Tradition)
We need to locate Vaisakhi 1699 in Guru Nanak-Gobind Singh Mission in the context of lived Sikhi continuum from 1469, when Guru Nanak Jote arrived in this world to show the way at a critical time. Khalsa Ji Ki Ardaas summarises that continuity and also defines a Sikh who places total faith in that continuity with Sri Guru Granth Sahib as the &ldquoDhura&rdquo (at the centre of the Sikhi edifice).
It is clear, that with Guru Granth Sahib as the Sikh Constitution, the lived Sikhi of the Guru-persons and the Guru Khalsa are all One Continuity. The Bani is sarab sanjhi for all humanity but the path (Panth of Sikhi) is for those virlay who are unequivocally committed to tread the path of Sikhi.
Regrettably, much damage has been done by Sikh and non-Sikh pseudo-scholars chasing Ph Ds, competing for contesting interpretations of simple Sikhi, the Light of Shabad Guru (Gurbani is jag meh Chaanan) showing the True Path.
Many scholars try to validate Sikhi against outdated and failed Western ideologies, isms and philosophies instead of learning Sikhi as Sikhs of Gur- Shabad. Ancient Gursikh scholars like Bhai Gurdas, showed the methodology: to learn Gurbani from Gurbani Itself, Guru Lives and Khalsa living from Gur Ithaas and Khalsa Ithaas.
Through their Own lives and in succession, the Ten Guru-persons showed how the Shabad Guru should be interpreted. The Guru looked for seekers of One Ultimate Reality (Sikhs), within self and without in creation. They did not look for blind-faith followers like the derawadi sants of today. They said, Sikhi Sikhia Gur Vichaar (Sikhi is thoughtful self-learning of the Shabad Guru).
From the outset, Guru Nanak Jote (Light) in Ten Guru-persons looked for those who were prepared to die for Truthful conduct. They also showed by two Guru-shaheedis, how and for what cause. They produced Mar-Jeevra Khalsa (Own, directly linked, Khalsa from Mughal land-law term). Prem bhagats but not in the pure/purity Brahmanic sense as preferred by some.
Next part of this series will summarise the Ten Steps of the Guru period during which Vaisakhi 1699, the High Point of Sikhi was reached. These were like 10 rungs of One Sikhi ladder, Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh. There was only One Guru Nanak Jote in Ten Nanaks which now resides in Sri Guru Granth Sahib and the Guru Khalsa Panth. One Guru Nanak-Gobind Singh Mission was accomplished in Ten Steps.
Through the clearly expressed Nash Doctrine (discussed last week), the Khalsa was revealed (pragteo) on Vaisakhi 1699. Time had come to return spiritual Guruship to Guru Granth Sahib as the Khalsa Constitution, and physical personality of the Guru to the collective body of the Khalsa Panth.
The edifice of Sikhi is built on deep foundations laid by Guru Nanak Sahib. Predictions of those like late S. Khushwant Singh writing in 1953 the last chapters of Sikh history, will always be premature! New Age Sikhi will never pass into oblivion. Gurbani Message is for all humanity while It also sets down theo-temporal objectives of the Khalsa Panth (Reht Maryada Panthic objectives).
Shoots of pristine Sikhi will continue to sprout in the Sikh diaspora.
Further reading: Vaisakhi 1699 - The High Point of Sikhism
Gurmukh Singh OBE
E-mail: sewauk2005@yahoo.co.uk
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Gurmukh_Singh_OBE