What is the code of discipline for the Khalsa?
At the first initiation of the Khalsa Brotherhood, Guru Gobind Singh Ji gave the instructions to the Panj Piyaras during the ceremony of Amrit. These instructions may be summarized as under:
* Today you are reborn in the true Guru's household, ending the cycle of migration, and joined the Khalsa Panth (order).
* Your spiritual father is now Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji and the spiritual mother, Mata Sahib Kaur Ji.
* Your place of birth is Kesgarh Sahib and your are a native of Anandpur Sahib.
* Being the sons of one father, you and other Amritdhari Sikhs are all spiritual brothers and sisters.
* You have become the pure Khalsa, having renounced belief in your previous lineage, professional background, past actions, beliefs, that is, having given up all thinking that bound you to your caste, descent, birth, country, (previous) religion, etc..
* You are to worship none except the One Timeless Being (Waheguru) and no god, goddess, incarnation or prophet.
* You are not to think of anyone except the Ten Gurus and anything except their Bani (Divine Word) as your saviour.
* The Mool Mantar contains the basic tenet of Sikh belief and the Sikh's Gurmantar is "Waheguru".
* You are supposed to know Gurmukhi (Panjabi alphabet). (If you do not, you must learn it).
* And recite, or listen in to the recitation of Nitnem Banis:
Morning - (1) Japji Sahib, (2) Jaap Sahib, (3) Svaiyye (beginning "svaarag sudh"), (4) Chaupai Sahib, and (5) Anand Sahib. (You recite the same Banis which created the Amrit so that you rejuvenate the Amrit within you daily).
Evening - Sodar Rehraas
Night time/ Before bed: Sohila Sahib.
Besides the Nitnem (daily prayers), you should do at least 1 hour Naam Abhiyaas (Repetition of the Divine-Name) at Amrit-vela and also read from or listen in to the recitation from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
* Always keep the 5 Ks on your body:
(1) Kesh (hair) covered with Keski (turban)
(2) Kirpan (The length of the Kirpan to be worn is not prescribed but it must be a gatra kirpan, i.e. worn a strap across the body and not a symbolic Kirpan).
(3) Kachhehra (The Kachhehra (drawers like garment) may be made from any cloth, but its legs should not reach down to below the shins.)
(4) Kanga (wooden comb)
(5) Karha (The Karha should be of Sarbloh (pure steel))
* The undermentioned four transgressions (tabooed practices) must be avoided:
1. Dishonouring the hair (plucking, cutting, dyeing, shaving etc);
2. Eating Kuthhaa (killed animals, i.e. meat, fish & eggs).
3. Intimitate relationship outside of marriage.
4. Using tobacco (or any other intoxicants and non-medicinal drugs).
In the event of the commission of any of these transgressions, the transgressor must retake Amrit. If a transgression is committed unintentionally and unknowingly, the transgressor shall not be liable to punishment.
* You must not associate with a Sikh who had uncut hair earlier and has cut it or a Sikh who smokes.
* You must ever be ready for the service of the Panth and of the Gurdwaras (Sikh places of worship).
* You must tender one tenth (Daswand) of your earnings to the Guru.
* In short, you must act the Guru's way in all spheres of activity.You must remain fully aligned to the Khalsa brotherhood in accordance with the principles of the Khalsa faith. If you commit transgression of the Khalsa discipline, you must present yourself before the Sangat (congregation) and beg pardon, accepting whatever punishment is awarded. You must also resolve to remain watchful against defaults in the future.
* The following individuals shall be liable to chastisement involving automatic boycott:
1. Anyone maintaining social relations or communion with elements antagonistic to the Panth including the minas (reprobates), the masands (agents once accredited to local Sikh communities as Guru's representatives, since discredited for their faults and aberrations), followers of Dhirmal or Ram Rai, et. al., or users of tobacco, killers of female infants, and Sirgum (Sikh who had uncut hair earlier and has cut it).
2. One who eats/drinks Left-overs of the non-Amritdhari or the fallen Sikhs;
3. One who dyes his beard;
4. One who gives off son or daughter in matrimony for a price or reward;
5. Users of intoxicants (hemp, opium, liquor, narcotics, cocaine, etc.);
6. One holding, or being a party to, ceremonies or practices contrary to the Guru's way;
7. One who defaults in the maintenance of Sikh discipline.
In addition to the above instructions, Guru Gobind Singh Ji also gave oral instructions to well-known Khalsa leaders like Bhai Daya Singh, Bhai Desa Singh, Bhai Chaupa Singh. These were later written down and were called Rehat-Names (codes of conduct). He also gave some instructions to Bhai Nand Lal Singh, the poet-laureate of his court, which is called Tankhah-Nama. The main points of these instructions are given below:
i) A Khalsa should not follow any ascetic practices of Yogis, Sanyasis etc. and should not follow any Tantra, Mantra or Jantra.
ii) He should not give his daughter in marriage to a Patit Sikh or accept any money for the marriage of his daughter from the boy's family.
iii) He should give one-tenth of his income to charitable or religious purposes.
iv) He should not wear a cap, hat or helmet.
v) He should not use any money from temple offerings or charity funds. If he happens to be a priest, a granthi or the caretaker of a Gurudwara, he should accept only what is necessary for his needs.
vi) A Sikh should marry within the Sikh Panth.
vii) He should not break his vows or any other promise he makes nor commit perjury or treachery.
viii) He should not listen to vulgar, profane or sexy songs.
ix) He should always keep a turban (dastaar) on his or her head and retie a fresh turban each time.
x) He should teach his children how to read Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and understand its message.
xi) He should use the Sikh greetings when greeting another Sikh, namely "Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh".
The above instructions form the main part of the Code of Discipline. They may be categorized under two headings: religious and social. The religious directives are in keeping with the Sikh tradition. The social directives are intended to make the Khalsa a good citizen and a responsible member of the community. The prohibition of theft, plunder, perjury, treachery, cheating, gambling and exploitation of the poor and weak sections of the community contribute to the smoothening of the course of normal social life and benefit the community as a whole. The bans on the use of alcohol and tobacco are intended to safeguard the health of the Khalsa. The Directives against the four misdemeanors, association with patits, Dhirmalias etc., the misuse of religious offerings and charities are meant to wean the Khalsa from religious misdeeds. All in all, the code is intended to make a Khalsa an ideal person.