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The Guru did not sit idle in peaceful times. Martial training was an essential part of life for all the Sikhs. He also gave special attention to literature. He wrote number of poems in praise of God. Jaap Sahib, Akaal Ustat, Gian Probodh, Shabad Hazare, 33 Swiaiey, Zaffar Nama etc. speak of the high quality thoughts of the Guru. At one time he had 52 poets with him. Many mythological pieces of literature were translated by these poets from the original Sanskrit works. This work was for the general knowledge of the masses but bore no sanctity of the Guru. In the later times, whole of these writings was clubbed in one book called 'Dasam Granth'.
In the year 1699 AD, on the Ist of Vaisakh of Indian calendar month, a festival day, in a full congregation of about 80 thousand devotees, Guru Gobind Singh took out his unsheathed sword and asked for one head from the masses present there. All were stunned. Never a Guru has asked his followers like this. The Guru was determined. He again gave the call for the offer of one head. A follower got up and with folded hands offered himself. Repeating his call the Guru asked again, and the other person got up. And like that 5 persons, one after the other offered themselves. All the five were of different castes, from far places throughout India. The Guru attired them in a simple, beautiful uniform and baptized them. He declared them "Punj Piaras" the Five Beloved Ones" and called them Khalsa. Each Sikh was called a Singh (Prince) and each Sikh lady was called Kanwar i.e. Kaur (Princess).
In the year 1699 AD, on the Ist of Vaisakh of Indian calendar month, a festival day, in a full congregation of about 80 thousand devotees, Guru Gobind Singh took out his unsheathed sword and asked for one head from the masses present there. All were stunned. Never a Guru has asked his followers like this. The Guru was determined. He again gave the call for the offer of one head. A follower got up and with folded hands offered himself. Repeating his call the Guru asked again, and the other person got up. And like that 5 persons, one after the other offered themselves. All the five were of different castes, from far places throughout India. The Guru attired them in a simple, beautiful uniform and baptized them. He declared them "Punj Piaras" the Five Beloved Ones" and called them Khalsa. Each Sikh was called a Singh (Prince) and each Sikh lady was called Kanwar i.e. Kaur (Princess).
Thus a classless society of saint-soldiers was created and called Khalsa -The human being in its purest form. The Khalsa is the embodiment of Guru Gobind Singh. God has formed Man in His Own Shape. So Khalsa shall not disfigure himself.
Code of Conduct For Khalsa :
1. The khalsa shall not trim his/her hair anywhere over the body.
2. The Khalsa shall not adulterate. Shall not indulge in sex with other than his/her wife/husband. (A solution given by Guru Nanak 500 years ago for removing the curse of AID).
3. The Khalsa shall not take tobacco in any form.
4. The Khalsa shall not eat animals killed in a slow killing process.
Khalsa was further forbidden from:
1. Worshiping other gods and goddesses.
2. Treating the 10 Gurus differently.
3. Hurting feelings of people of other religions.
4. Deforming human body- like piercing ears, noses etc.
5. Taking all types of intoxicants like wines, drugs, cocaine, cigarettes, beetles etc.
6. Dyeing of hairs.
7. Making relations with:
I: Who kill their new-born and young daughters.
II: Who smoke and use tobacco.
III: Who cut their hairs and do not follow teachings of the Guru.
IV: Who because of their ego, selfishness, ignorance, jealousy, hate had enmity with the kind and blissful Gurus. (Off-shoots of Gurus families like Ram Rai and Dhir Mal who went astray).
The Guru, as well the Khalsa, is ever blissful. Those who sincerely accept mistakes of their misdeeds and repent shall be forgiven and accepted into the Khalsa fold. Such is the code of conduct of Khalsa.
Three Golden rules of Khalsa:
1. Remember God, always keep His memory in heart and live in high spirits.
2. Do not become burden on any body. Work and Earn.
3. Share and eat.
In the wars of Guru Gobind Singh, when there was not even the thought of a Red-Cross society, it was Bhai Kanniaha who started serving the injured soldiers alike. He saw the face of his beloved Guru even in the injured enemy pleading for help. Guru Gobind Singh was so pleased with his service, he gave him even medicines to serve all injured. This gesture of Bhai Kanniaha in the Sikh community could not be propagated, instead it is the West, who spread this message throughout the world, though centuries later, in the name of Red-Cross.
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