Baisakhi

Baisakhi or vaisakhi is a harvest festival celebrated all over India under regional names with gaiety and fervor to welcome rabbi crops home. Though vaisakhi is celebrated by people of all religions in Punjab but for Sikhs it has special significance. The founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak dreamed of an ideal man who will be truthful (Sachiar) and work for the welfare of humanity by imbibing the virtues of equality (sanjhiwalta), brotherhood (bratheribhav), democracy (lokraj), independence (azadi) and work (kirat karni – to earn one’s own living), and share with the needy ( wand shakna). His ideal person was to be brave but at the same the time humble and full of humility because to become ideal his ego need to be surrendered. His powerful and energetic personality, his power of speech and dialogue, his bold criticism of the ruling class and religious heads was enough to show a winning path to the downtrodden masses of this country. His followership started increasing and people loved his ways of search for truth. He knew that to attain this supreme ideal man from ordinary masses that were not only downtrodden but had no rights of education and knowledge was not an easy task in his life time so he left the legacy of Gurus who will follow his ideals. His light (enlightenment) was thus passed from him to all next Gurus and each one of them proved that they strictly maintained his order. The social and political conditions in the country became even worse after Nanak because the Moguls who had established themselves as rulers became more and more tyrannical and planned Islamization of this country as they had already done in Iran, Iraq and many Middle East countries. This was not an easy task as the majority of population lived in lakhs of villages. The lack of unity amongst Indians was an asset for the Islamic rulers because religious and political control was in the hands of Brahmin and Hindu rulers. All his life Guru Nanak reprimanded these rulers and the religious heads to unite and fight the tyranny of foreign rulers by accepting equality of human race but instead of doing that majority of the Hill chieftains forged alliance with the Moguls and fought to retain their caste superiority. Guru Arjunji had foreseen the obstacles coming in the way of Sikh Panth and gave directions to his son Guru Hargobindji to fight the tyranny physically. The tradition of Miri- Piri was established and a new direction was given to Sikhs to- be prepared to fight human rights with the power of sword. This increased the fear of Hill chieftains even more because on one hand equality was preached and on the other hand sword was given in the hands of non kshatriyas on who they depended for their livelihood and luxurious life and benefitted from the ignorant people of their Kingdoms and to retain that position they were paying revenue to the Mogul rulers. The dignity and independence of their people and country was not important to them. Everything revolved only around their luxurious life and their upper caste status. The tenth master Guru Gobind ji not only inherited all the goodness of Sikh doctrines but also inherited the struggles of the panth. He received very good education in martial arts and literature, philosophy and Sikh ethics. He was still a child of ten years when his father was martyred in Delhi fighting for the freedom rights of humanity and Hinduism. The people of Delhi were so fearful of the Moguls that they didn’t come forward to pick up the body and head of Guru Teg Bahadurji. The tender age Guru took a vow to create a martial race who will never be afraid of any tyrant and who will follow the supreme ideals of Guru Nanak. This race will be pure of any malice, hatred and all the negative and evil propensities of human kind. This race will be taking the enemy of mankind full on their chest and never leave the battlefield because they will be born new by abandoning all their previous status and standing and they will directly be under the command of Akal Purakh (Almighty). Thus the Order of Khalsa (the pure and God’s own) was established. For this unique ceremony the day of vaisakhi of 1699 was chosen after months of preparations and by sending messages to Sikh Sangat all over the country to come and celebrate the vaisakhi at Anandpur. To continue…….