Saturday 12 May 2012

52 Bachans Attributed to Guru Gobind Singh Ji


Taken from the Book in PUNJABI: 


Book name is PSP-054 Kalgidhar Ji De 52 Bachan 


1) Dharam di Kirat karni - Earn by honest means. 


2) Daswand dena - Give one tenth of your EARNINGS 


3) Gurbani kantth karni - Memorize Gurbani. 


4) Amrit Vaelae utthna - Wake up FOR Amrit Vela (before dawn). 


5) Sikh sewak di sewa ruchi naal karni - Serve the Sikh (SANGAT) with devotion. 


6) Gurbani dae arth Sikh vidhvana tuo parrhnae- Learn the meanings of Gurbani from Sikh Scholars. 


7) Punj Kakaar di Rehat drirh kar rukhni - Follow the discipline of the 5 K's strictly. 


Shabad da abhihas karna - Practice Shabad Gurbani in life. 


9) Sat-Saroop Satgur da dhian dharna - Concentrate on the True Guru (God). 


10)Guru Granth Sahib Ji noo Guru mananaa - Accept the Guru Granth Sahib as Guru. 


11)Kaarjaan dae arambh vich ardaas karni - At the beginning of a task, do ardaas. 


12)Jaman, maran, ja viah mokae Jup da paatth kar tihaaval (Karaah Parsaad) kar anand sahib dia punj paurian, ardaas, pratham punj pyaariaan atae hazoori granthi noo vartaa kae oprunth sangat noo vartaaouna - At birth, death, or marriage ceremonies, do Japji Sahib, make Karaah Parshaad, do five stanzas of anand sahib, do ardaas, and then distribute Karaah Parshaad to the Panj Pyare, the Granthi, and then to the sangat. 


13)Jad tak Karaah Parshaad Parshaad vartadaa rahae sadh sangat addol batthee rahae - Until Karaah Parshaad is completely distributed, the Sangat should remain SEATED. 


14)Anand Viah bina grahist nahi karna - Do not start married life without Anand Karaj (Sikh ceremony of marriage). 


15)Par-Istri, Ma-Bhain, Dhi-Bhain, kar jaanani. Par Istri da sang nahi karna - Recognize all other women other than your wife as mothers and sisters./Daughters Do not engage in Extra-marital behavior with any other than your legally wedded spouse.. 


16)Istri da mooh nahi fitkaarnaa - Do not be RUDE/INSULT/and otherwise cause shame to your wife/any woman by REBUKING her OPENLY to her face. That is TREAT your wife/all women with HONOUR.


17)Jagat-jootth tambaaku bikhiaa da tiaag karna - Abandon the worldly, false tobacco-poison. 


18)Rehatvaan atae naam jupan vaalae gursikhaa di sangat karni - Keep the company of Sikhs who follow the Rehat and meditate on the Name (of God). 


19)Kum karan vich daridar nahi karna - Dont't be lazy . 


20)Gurbani di katha tae keertan roaz sunanaa atae karna - Listen and do kirtan and Gurbani discourses daily. 


21)Kisae di ninda, chugali, atae eirkha nahi karni - Do not engage in slander, gossip or spite anyone. 


22)Dhan, jawaani, tae kul-jaat da abhiman nahi karnaa (Nanak daadak tahe duae goath. Saak guru sikhan sang hoath) - Do not take pride in wealth, youth and caste. ( LOSE BOTH CASTES..Mother and Father's . MARRY your sons and daughters among SIKHS ONLY. 


23)Mat uchi tae suchi rakhni - Keep the Mental faculties and reasoning/ discipline high and pure. 


24)Shubh karman tao kadae naa ttarnaa - Do not refrain from doing Righteous deeds. 


25)Budh bal da daataa vaheguroo noo jaananaa - Recognize God as the giver of intellect and strength. 


26)Sugandh (kasam sahu) dae kar itbaar janaaoun vaalae tae yakeen nahi karna - Do not believe a person who SWEARS on the NAME of GOD to win your TRUST.


27)Sutantar Vicharna. Raaj Kaaj dian kamaan tae doosrae mutaa dia purshaan noo huk nahi daenaa - KEEP an Independent MIND...Dont let others "rule" your mind. In Official affairs of government, do not give people of other religions authority/power to over-rule you.


28)Raajniti parhni - Study politics. 


29)Dushman naal saam, daam, bhaed, aadiak, upaa vartnae - When dealing with an enemy use all available weapons of STRATEGY - mental and physical


30)Shaster vidyaa atae ghorhae di savaari da abhiaas karna - Practice the knowledge of weaponry and horse riding. 


31)Doosrae mataa dae pustak, vidyaa parhni. Pur bhrosaa drirh Gurbani, Akal Purakh tae karnaa - Study the books and knowledge of other faiths. But keep trust in Gurbani and Akal Purukh ONLY. 


32)Gurupdaesaa noo dhaaran karna - APPLY the teachings of the Guru to your daily life.


33)Raheraas da paath kar kharae ho kae ardaas karni - After Rehras Paatth, do Ardaas standing up. 


34)Saun valae sohila atae 'paun guru pani pita...' salok parhna - Recite Sohila and 'paun guru pani pita...' stanza before going to sleep. 


35)Dastaar bina nahi rehnaa - Wear a turban at all times. 


36)Singha da adha naam nahi bulauna - Do not call a Singh by half of their name (nickname/or dropping the SINGH.


37)Sharaab nai saevani - Do not partake of alcoholic drinks. 


38)Sir munae noo kanaiaa nahi daeni. Uos ghar daevni jithae Akal Purukh di sikhi ha, jo karzaai naa hovae, bhalae subhaa da hovae, bibaeki atae gyanvaan hovae - Do not given a daughter's hand to a clean shaven. Give her hand in a house where God's Sikhi exists, where the household is not in debt, is of a good nature, is disciplined and knowledgable. 


39)Subh kaaraj Gurbani anusaar karnae - Do all work in accordance with Gurbani. 


40)Chugali kar kisae da kam nahi vigaarnaa - Do not ruin someone's work/REPUTATION by gossip. 


41)Kaurha bachan nahi kahinaa - Do not utter bitter statements. 


42)Darshan yaatraa gurdwaaraa di hi karni - Make pilgrimages to Gurudwaras only. 


43)Bachan karkae paalnaa - Fulfill all promises that are made. 


44)Pardaesi, lorvaan, dukhi, apung manukh di yataahshkat sewa karni - Do as much sewa as you can for foreigners, the needy , the troubled and the HANDICAPPED.


45)Putari da dhan bikh jananaa - Recognize the property of a daughter as poison...DONT live off your daughter's earnings/ sell your daughter/profit from your daughter


46)Dikhaawae da Sikh nahi bananaa - Do not become an outward show-off Sikh. 


47)Sikhi kesaa-suaasa sang nibhaaouni - Live as a Keshadhari Sikh until DEATH.


48)Chori, yaari, tthugi, dhokaa, dagaa bahi karnaa - Do not engage in theft, gangs-warfare ( dacoity), fraud, and falsehood. 


49)Sikh da itbaar karna - TRUST a Sikh. 


50)Jhutthi gavaahi nahi daeni - Do not give false testimony. 


51)Dhroh nahi karnaa - Do not cheat. 


52)Langar-Parshaad ik ras vartaaunaa - Distribute Langar and Karaah Parshaad with equality.


Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa,
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.....ੴੴੴ


Khalsa Rules

Wednesday 9 May 2012

Who is a Sikh?


The Word 'Sikh' in the Punjabi language means 'disciple', Sikhs are the disciples of God who follow the writings and teachings of the Ten Sikh Gurus. The wisdom of these teachings in Sri Guru Granth Sahib are practical and universal in their appeal to all mankind.



"I observe neither Hindu fasting nor the ritual of the Muslim Ramadan month; Him I serve who at the last shall save. The Lord of universe of the Hindus, Gosain and Allah to me are one; From Hindus and Muslims have I broken free. I perform neither Kaaba pilgrimage nor at bathing spots worship; One sole Lord I serve, and no other. I perform neither the Hindu worship nor the Muslim prayer; To the Sole Formless Lord in my heart I bow. We neither are Hindus nor Muslims; Our body and life belong to the One Supreme Being who alone is both Ram and Allah for us." (Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Granth Sahib, Raga Bhairon pg. 1136)


"Any human being who faithfully believes in: 
(i) One Immortal Being, 
(ii) Ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak Dev to Guru Gobind Singh, 
(iii) Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 
(iv) The utterances and teachings of the ten Gurus and, 
(v) The baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru, and who does not owe allegiance to any other religion is a Sikh." (Reht Maryada, Sikh Code of Conduct)


Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa,
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh...ੴੴੴ


Khalsa Rules

Saturday 5 May 2012

What is Nishan Sahib?



The Nishan Sahib is a Sikh holy triangular flag made of cotton or silk cloth, with a tassel (bunch of loose threads or cords bound at one end and hanging free at the other) at its end.
The word, Nishan means symbol, and the flag is hoisted on a tall flagpole, outside all the Gurudwaras in the world. The Flagpole itself covered with fabric, ends with a two-edged Khanda on top. The Emblem on the flag is known as Khanda, which depicts a double-edged sword called as "Khanda" in the centre, a chakkar which is circular, and flanked by two single-edged swords.

Traditional symbol of the Khalsa Panth, the Nishan Sahib can be seen from far away, signifying the presence of Khalsa in the neighbourhood. 

It is taken down every Baisakhi, and replaced with a fresh flag, and the flagpole refurnished.

The background color of the Nishan Sahib during the early phase of Sikh history was red. Its colour underwent a change, from white to saffron, in the hands of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji and it was hosted for the first time at Akal Takht Sahib in the year 1609 CE. However, it is steel blue in colour at Gurudwaras managed by Nihangs.





The Nishan Sahib is placed outside every Sikh Gurdwara and is supported by a pole of timber or metal.

The Khanda, a Sikh symbol, is rendered in blue on the saffron background. The khanda is placed high up on a flagpole as a sign for all Sikhs and indeed any other people that they can come and pray in this building. 

Great respect is shown to this flag which is shown by its washing using milk and water every year in April at the festival of Vaisakhi. The Nishan Sahib is changed once the saffron color has faded.

Like a Flag of any institution, this Flag symbolizes the presence of the Khalsa and hence is hosted at every Gurdwara premises. Therefore, anybody in need of help. However, with the Khalsa now being in non-war status, but always functional the Gurdwaras serve the purpose of congregational meeting, Langar and lodging.


Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa,
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.......ੴੴ



Khalsa Rules

Friday 27 April 2012

What is KHANDA?

The Khanda is one of symbol of Sikhism. The Khanda is like a "coat of arms' for Sikhs. It was introduced by the Sixth Guru, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji. The Khanda is on the Nishan Sahib or Flag of the Sikhs and in Gurudwaras. It is a collection of four weapons commonly used by Sikhs at the time of Guru Gobind Singh.


In the centre it is the Two-Edged sword which symbolises the Creative Power of God which controls the destiny of the whole universe. It is the Sovereign Power over life and death. One edge of the Sword symbolises divine justice, which chastises and punishes the wicked oppressors; the other edge symbolises Freedom, and Authority governed by moral and spiritual values.

In the center is the Khanda, the double-edged sword, used by the tenth guru,Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji to prepare Amrit to initiate the Sikhs. Khanda has cutting edge on both sides indicative of two swords fused together representing Spiritual and Temporal powers, giving birth to “The Khalsa”, who is a saint-soldier (Sant-Sipahi), the saint meaning scholarly in knowledge of Gurbani and soldier meaning martial in spirit.

To summarize, the Sikh national Emblem, reminds the Sikhs that they are warriors, they should take Pahul (Amrit), become ‘Khalsa’ i.e, The ultimate form of the Sikh, keep Guru Ka Langar going so that no body sleeps hungry, protect the weak and hapless, fight injustice and oppression, wherever it takes place, the victory will be theirs: ‘Deg-Teg-Fateh’.

There are three different items used in a Khanda, which also have a symbolic meaning:

• A double-edged sword called a Khanda which is in the centre
• A Chakkar which is circular
• Two single-edged swords, or kirpans, are crossed at the bottom and sit on either side of the Khanda and Chakkar. They represent the two characteristics, one being Miri (Temporal power) and the other, Piri (Spirituality).

On the outside of the two-edged sword, we can see two swords:

• On the left is the Sword of Spiritual Sovereignty (Piri);
• On the right is the Sword of Political Sovereignty (Miri)

The Chakra / Chakkar which was worn by the great martyr Baba Deep Singh is still preserved in the sanctum sanctorium of the Akal Takht.

In the symbol the sword to the left represents truth, and the sword to the right represents the willingness to fight for what is right- dharma (religion). The circle in the middle denotes the one God, never beginning and never ending.

The Khanda represents knowledge of God, the Chakkar represents the eternal nature of God and oneness of humanity, the two swords represent Miri (political sovereignty) and Piri (spiritual sovereignty).



Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa,
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.......ੴੴ



Khalsa Rules