The Gurus
Guru Naanak Dev Ji (1469 AD – 1539 AD)
Humility & Oneness
Guru Angad Dev Ji (1539 AD -1552 AD)
Obedience to dharma
Guru Amar Das Ji
(1552 AD – 1574 AD)
Equality
Guru Raam Das Ji
(1574 AD – 1581 AD)
Service of humanity
Guru Arjan Dev Ji
(1581 AD – 1606 AD)
Boat to Gurbani
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Guru Har Gobind Sahib Ji
(1606 AD – 1644 AD)
Balance of spirit and justice
Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji
(1644 AD – 1661 AD)
Care for nature
Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji
(1661 AD – 1664 AD)
Merciful healer
Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji
(1664 AD – 1675 AD)
Liberator of the oppressed
Guru Gobind Singh Ji
(1675 AD – 1708 AD)
Sovereignty of Khalsa
Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
(1708 AD - Present)
The eternal embodiment of the predeceasing Gurus
The founding principals
Naam japo
Vand chakko
Kirat karo
To remember 'god' throughout the day and night, meditating on the mantra 'Va-hi-gu-ru'.
Kirat karo
Vand chakko
Kirat karo
To earn a livelihood by means of earnest and honest endeavours.
Vand chakko
Vand chakko
Vand chakko
To serve others, sharing income and resources.
Khalsa Panth sovereignty
The Punjabi definition of 'Sikh-na' means to learn. Thus, the term 'Sikh' came to be. The succession of the 10th Guru saw a change in the practice of Charan-Pauhl initiation, and In 1699 Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa Panth. All Khalsa must adhere to the Rehit Maryada (Code of conduct) which stipulates how one should speak, eat, sleep, dress, live etc..
Since the inception of the Khalsa Panth, they are the rightful custodians of the Sikh community. During the 1700s the Khalsa lived nomadic lives escaping persecution while many settled Sikhs maintained low profiles in villages. Today there are over 27 million Sikhs identifying worldwide, with the Khalsa living as a minority. Colonial interference from the British in Sikh politics saw to the ousting of the rightful Jathedar (Leader) Akali Baba Sahib Singh Kaladhari from the Akal Takht and was replaced with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) who maintain power to this day.
Rehit Maryada
Identity
To join the Khalsa one must always keep Punj Kakkar (five articles) on their person at all times. Each Kakkar maintains spiritual and practical benefits, they are;
Kacch - Knee length under garments
Karra - Iron bangle worn on the wrist
Kirpan - Iron dagger kept in a sheath
Kanga - Sandalwood comb tucked into a topknot
Kesh - Unshorn hair accompanied by a Dastar (Turban)
Bujjar Kurehits
There are four major violations known as the ‘Char Bujjar Kurehits’ that a Khalsa abstains from, these are;
Hooka (smoking)
Halaal (meat slaughtered in non-Sikh tradition)
Haram (being unfaithful)
Hajamat (cutting of hair)