Introductory - Global Sikh Studies

178
They would destroy the (established) rule,
And establish their own everywhere…
Khalsa would become the image of God,
With His own attributes.
They would acknowledge no authority other than that of the
True Lord.’ 10
Gursobha testifies that ‘The Khalsa is created to destroy the
evil-doer (‘Asur’ and ‘durjan’). 11 Koer Singh writes that after the
baptism ceremony, the Guru gave instruction to the following effect:
‘Destroy the Mughal forces… (and you) rule for ever.’ 12 The later Sikh
literature records the same tradition. ‘Khalsa is one who fights in the
front line… Khalsa is one who protects the poor. Khslas is one who
crushes the tyrant (‘dushat’).’ 13 ‘Where the (Singhs) fight the Turks for
upholding Dharma and the Sikh ideals and to help others, there my
presence will be felt among the Sikhs’. 14 Khalsa is the army of God’. 15
It was ordered: “You should now wear weapons, and worship
iron and love it, because this iron will lead you to a high postion.”15a
Guru Gobind Singh addressed his two sons at the battle of
Chamkaur: ‘My sons, you are dear to me. You are born to destroy the
Turks (tyrants). Only if you sacrifice yourselves in the battle can the
tyrants be eliminated. There can be no better opportunity than the
present one. Both of you go and join the battle.’ 16 And, when his
eldest son died fighting their, the Guru said, ‘Today he has become
the chosen Khalsa in God’s court.’ 17 Thus, to sacrifice one-self for the
revolutionary cause was the fulfilment of the Khalsa ideal and it was
sanctified by religion.
The acceptance of Khalsa ideology naturally meant becoming
whole-time revolutionaries. An important part of the Sikh discipline
was the dedication of one’s all — body, soul and belongings (Tan,
Man, Dhan) — to the Guru or God. “By dedicating body, mind and
possessions to the Guru and abiding by His Will does one reach God.” 18
This ideal demanded extreme self-sacrifice. The Guru said, “As the
elephant suffers the goad, and the anvil the stoke of the smith, so
should one surrender one’s body and mind to the service (of God).” 19
When Banda expressed his desire to become a disciple of Guru Gobind