SIKH MIRROR

Sikhism is one of the youngest of the worlds religion,barely 500 years old.it was founded by sri Guru Nanak Dev ji in1469 who laid the basic principles of sikhism. it offered the people a simple religion teaching "oneness of god", whose name is TRUTH. nine gurus followed him and all of them reinforced and added to what was taught by the first guru.after which in 1708,the holy book of sikhs, the "GURU GRANTH SAHIB JI" was proclaimed to be the only guru by the last guru,siri guru gobind singh ji.this holy book embodies the philosophy and fundamentals of sikhism it is the only book of a major religion which was writen and authenticated by its founders.

Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the last guru gave the sikhs a distinct uniform and appearance so that they were easily recoganised. so in 1699 on the day of vasakhi april 13, he assemled his sikhs and baptized five beloved who were brave and obidient to his orders and called this brothrhood -The Khalsa. he also gave them a new name "SINGH" {LION} to be added to their first names. he gave them the five symbols and five basic prayers..the women were given equal status with men as the new brotherhood had no distinctions of caste,creed,colour,gender.The women were to add "kaur" {Princess} to there names and were to be always protected.

The five symbols are necessary for the strength and unity of the religionand also for the value each had. all sikhs were to have kesh or unshorn hair,a kanga or the comb to keep hair neet and clean.kaccha or underwaer worn as a symbol of agility and readiness for action, kirpan or sword which is an emblem of courage and adventure to be used for defensive purposes and lastly, Kara or the steel bracelet to remind the sikh of his bond to the god.

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