Turn of the century, the year 1699
the Vaisakhi festival was coming
Special arrangements were ordered
Anandpur was ready and humming
Sangats were invited from afar
to join this special occasion
a sea of humanity came flooding in
it was like a Sikh invasion
Huge crowds of Sikhs had gathered
anxious,something was in the air
Bhai Mani Ram started the prayers
the great Guru Gobind was there
In the glorious robes of a General
advanced the Guru and on the dias stood
unsheathing his sword, he raised it
there was a stir, no one understood
The master spoke, pathos in his voice
“I want a head, yes a gallant head
the sacrifice of a life is needed
for the great cause that lies ahead”
Silence fell on those assembled
the Sikh sangats were stunned
the weaker ones were scared and left
Guru’s voice rose above everyone
Daya Ram from Lahore made a move
he stood tall in the gathering’s eye
” take my head, my Lord”, he said
” by thy sword , I shall gladly die”
The Guru lead Daya Ram to a tent
a thud was heard and as they eyed
The Guru’s sword was steeped in blood
“I need another head”, he cried
More Sikhs left the gathering
and only the brave ones stayed
the lot were in the midst of a shock
as Dharam Dass got up and obeyed
Once again, they entered the tent
a thud and the Guru emerged repeating
yet another brave son is needed
it was hotting up in the meeting
Mokkam, Himmat and Sahib Chand
offered themselves for the cause
each in turn was lead to the tent
but after Sahib Chand came a pause
This time, the Guru and the five
they all emerged ,neatly attired
the Sikh sangat jumped with joy
thrilled at what transpired
There they stood those gallant men
in saffron robes and turbans blue
the sangat looked admiringly
and relished the precious view
Guru Gobind now thanked the men
praising their courage and devotion
the men stood bowed in humility
the air was charged with emotion
“Panj Pyaras” or the beloved five
declared the Guru,loud and clear
shall belong to an order of “Khalsa”
who shall be true and free from fear
The Khalsa was in the making
a task assigned by God to the Guru
who prayed now for God’s blessings
to imbue the Khalsa with virtues true
Guru Gobind devised the Amrit
an elixir to baptise the true
to impart valour, caring love
and bestow the grace of the Guru
Amrit was made in an iron urn
wherein pure water was poured
sugar was added to sweeten it
stirring it with a double edged sword
Hymns were recited all through
sugar added on Mata Jeet’s behest
as the Guru himself wanted to blend
sweet female virtues with the rest
In a ceremony that followed
which the Guru himself devised
the beloved five went through
and were with Amrit baptised
Holding swords in their hands
and on their left knee poised
Like soldiers in a combat pose
the five were now baptised
Palmfuls of Amrit were passed
given to each one in turn
they sipped it whilst they uttered
these blessed words in unison
“Waheguru ji ka Khalsa”, they said
and then, “Waheguru ji ki Fateh”
to wondrous God belongs the Khalsa
so does with Him the victory stay
They sipped palmfuls of Amrit
and Amrit was sprinkled on their face
their hair and body were anointed
with Amrit concluded the final grace
They drank from the common urn
which was passed around in turn
Khalsa brotherhood was fostered
and thus the new values were won
The Guru got himself baptised
the five assisted as they were told
and thereafter others were invited
to partake and join the Khalsa fold
Thousands of Sikhs on that day
were baptised into the Khalsa fold
the order of Khalsa was ready
an order of the kind and the bold
by Jaswinder Singh Chadha