Lehal Library

86 The Puajab and the Birth of Sikhism day after the Hindu festival of Holi in spring was to be celebrated with mock battles between parties of Sikhs.27 The complexion of the Sikh community also underwent a radical change. Up until that time the leadership had remained in the hands of the non-militant urban Khatris211 from whom the masands had been drawn. They had been quite wiUing to pay lip service to the ideal of a casteless society preached by Nanak, but they were not willing to soil their lips by drinking amrit out of the same bowl, as Gobind wanted them to do. Few of them accepted conversion to the new faith. They remained just Sikhs, better known as Sahajdhiiris (those-who-take-time-to-adopt), and separated from the kesadhari (hirsute) Khalsa. The bulk of the converts were Jat peasants of the central districts of the Punjab who were technically low in the caste hierarchy. They took over the leadership from the Khatris. The rise of militant Sikhism became the rise of Jat power in the Punjab. Sikh chronicles maintain that the baptism of twenty thousand Sikhs at Anandpur was followed by mass baptisms all over northern India. The Guru had dinned into the timid peasantry of the Punjab that they must 'take the broom of divine knowledge and sweep away the filth of timidity.' Thus did Gobind 'train the sparrow to hunt the hawk and one man to fight a legion.' Wtthin a few months a new people were born-bearded, beturbanned, fully armed, and with a crusader's zeal to build a new commonwealth. They implicitly believed that The Khalsa shall rule. Their enemies will be scattered. Only they that seek refuge will be saved. 211 The eruption of this large and aggressive community in their midst made the hill chiefs, particularly the Raja of Bilaspur, 27 The day after Holi is known as Hola Mohalla. The Nihaogs foregather in their thousands at Anandpur to participate in mock battles. 28 In the Punjab I.he term is used for both Kshatriyas and Vaishyas. 29 The lines RaJ Kare gii Khalsa are not found in the Dasam Gra11lh bt11 are by tradition ascribed to Guru Gobind Singh. They are repeated every time after the supplicatory prayer, the ardas.