He gave no sermons on that day. Instead he announced, “My sword asks for a human sacrifice today. Is there any brave one who would offer his head?”
There was a pin drop silence. All appeared to have been stunned and frozen. Guru Sahib repeated his call. At the third call Dayaram Khatri of Lahore came forward and he bent his neck saying, “I offer my head, O Holy Guru. Please accept it.”
Guru held him by his arm and led him into the small tent. Moments later a hacking sound was heard. Then, Guru Gobind emerged from the tent with his sword dripping blood.
“My sword asks for more sacrifice,” he declared and posed, “Is there anyone else who offers his head?”
This time Dharamdas of Delhi came forward. Again Guru Sahib led him into the small tent. The same hacking sound was heard again. Some moments later he emerged with blood smeared sword and demand another sacrifice. Mohkam Chand Dhobi of Dwarka offered his head. The same ritual was gone through again. The fourth call was answered by porter Himmat Rai of Jagannath Puri and the fifth one to offer his head was a barber named Nanak Chand of Bidar.
This time Guru Sahib did not come back to ask for the sixth head as the assemblage waited with baited breath. After some interval Guru emerged from the tent. This time he was not carrying his sword. The surprised gathering saw that the five who were supposed to have been sacrificed were alive and they were stepping behind Guru. The five were wearing saffron turbans. Their faces were glowing and pride reflected in their postures. To many faithfuls they appeared like angels who had just received divine blessings for their incredible spirit of sacrifice.
The frenzied crowd chanted, “Vahe Guru-Vahe Guru!”
Guru Gobind Singh introduced the five brave ones as ‘Panj Pyare’ literally meaning ‘The Five Dear Ones’. He declared that the five will be the top representatives of ‘Khalsa Panth’ the body of the pure ones the members of which would defend the faith like lions. He asked Sikhs to add Singh (lion) to their first names to become the Khalsas.
Then, initiation process were gone through. A large cauldron was already in place near the stage. It was full of clean water. Mata Jeeto was asked to drop a trayful of batashas in it one by one. A Sikh stirred the cauldron with a sword to dissolve the batashas. The priests sang five Sikh prayers namely Japuji Sahib, Japu Sahib, Dus Savaiyye, Chaupai and Anand Sahib to sanctify the potion into nectar (Amrit).
The five dear ones were given the Amrit in their palms to partake five times. This set the tradition of ‘Amrit Chhakana’ (tasting the nectar). Every time Amrit was put on the partakers palm ‘Vahe Guruji da Khalsa-Vahe Guruji Ki Fateh’ was chanted. Guru Sahib would himself sprinkle the potion on their faces and look into their eyes. This followed putting a few drops in their hair and dedicating him to God. This initiation process was to make them committed to Immortal one.
For Khalsas Guru Sahib made five things to keep as their sacred duty namely hair, comb, bracelet, dagger and underwear.
Addressing the five he spoke, “You are sons of Guru Nanak. You are the chosen ones of God. I give you the name ‘Khalsa’. Defending the human faith shall be your duty. You have no possessions. You shall always keep the light within you burning. You shall not worship any stone, idol or tomb. In times of trouble you shall depend on the name of any of our nine Gurus. Those nine names are your charms. You will pray for entire Khalsa. By heart and by body you are my sons.’’
Thus, he unified entire Sikh following into one Khalsa faith where everyone was equal without any discrimination. The devotional commitment was the only qualification. Guru Sahib defined a Khalsa as the one who always stood by the truth, who believed only in God, who did not put faith in any idol or tomb, one who was just, compassionate, disciplined and charitable and in whose heart there was full light of the love of God.
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