Lehal Library

80 The Punjab and the Binh of Sikhism blood and asked for another victim. In this manner five men were taken for a 'sacrifice' into the tent. Then the Guru came out with the five 'victims' (he had slaughtered goats instead) and announced that the panj piyare (five beloved ones) were to be the nucleus of a new community he would raise which was to be called the Khalsa, or the pure. 12 He baptized the five men•~ in a new manner. He mixed sugar in plain water and churned it with a double-edged dagger. to the recitation of hymns, including some of his own compositions. The five who bad until then belonged to different Hindu castes (one was probably a Brahmin, one a Kshatriya, and the remaining three of lesser castes) were made to drink out of one bowl to signify their initiation into the casteless fr.Hernity of the Khalsa. Their Hindu names were changed and they were given one family name 'Singh', 14 for thenceforth their father was Gobind Singh (so renamed after his own baptism), their mother Sahib Devan,"' and their place of birth Anandpur. The baptism 12 The choke of the number five--d1e same as in tlw case of tlte pancii.yaa--is significant. The following Lines are ascribed lO lhe Gum: panco11 men nit barta.L main Mn pane 111ibm so pirii11 fJir Where tltere are five (elected) there am I When lh<' five meet. they art:' the holiest of tlte holy. 13 The names of these men are repeated in the ardiis lit lhe end of every prayer. ll1ey were Daya Ram, Dharam Das, Mohkam Chand, Sahib Chand, and Himmat Rai. 14 Singh is derived from the Sanskrit si111ha, meaning lion. It was (and is) commonly used as a surname by the Rajputs. Gurkhas, and many others belonging to Hindu martial classes. The distinction between Sikh surnames and lhose of others is that whereas all Sikhs are Singhs, all Siltghs are not Sikhs. A Sikh woman lakes the surname Kaur on baptism. Kaur was also a common surname for Rajpul women and means both a princess and lioness. 15 She was the Gum's chird wife. Having no children of her own slle was honoured by Gobind by being made tlte mother of lhe Khalsa. According to Sikh tradition the Guru took her under bis proted1on. but never consummated his relationship with Sahib Devan. Her marriage is described as d1e ltUl•iirii <Joi.ii (virgin wedlock).