Executive Briefing: The Saint-Soldier Brotherhood
At Vaisakhi 1699 at Anandpur Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh initiated the Khalsa through the Amrit ceremony, giving all men the surname Singh (Lion) and women Kaur (Princess), destroying caste lineages and establishing the ideal of the Saint-Soldier (*Sant-Sipahi*).
1. The Panj Kakaar: The Five Articles of Faith
Kesh (uncut hair), Kangha (wooden comb), Kara (steel bangle), Kachera (cotton undergarment), and Kirpan (ceremonial sword for protecting the oppressed) function as active moral covenants of dignity, readiness, and justice.
2. References
- Singh, P., & Fenech, L. E. (2014). The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies. Oxford University Press.