Vaisakhi 1699             Guru Nanak had started a movement to create a casteless society in which no one was considered high or low just because of what caste they were born in. All of the other Guru’s also put effort into destroying the caste system. While the Muslim religion would not give any rights to women and the Hindu religion would not allow people from low castes to come to the temples, the Gurus embraced people from all castes and genders.               Guru Gobind Singh Ji was to finish the mission that Guru Nanak had started. All of the Sikh Gurus let their hair and beards grow naturally. However, many people claimed to be Sikhs, but were not keeping their hair and were still following some of the false rituals that Guru Nanak had condemned. The Guru wanted to give the Sikh religion started by Guru Nanak a formal identity with set rules to follow.               At the Beginning of the year 1699 A.D., the Guru sent out a message telling the Sikhs from all areas to come to Anandpur for a special ceremony on Vaisakhi day. As the day came near, many Sikhs started to come and gather at Anandpur. It is estimated that close to 80,000 Sikhs had gathered there.               A stage was set up and the congregation waited for the Guru to come. Guru Gobind Rai came out and raised his sword in the air and shouted, “My dear Sikhs, today I need a head. This sword of mine wants to taste the blood of a Sikh. Is there any among you who is ready to offer his head for me?”               The crowd listened and wondered why the Guru was asking for a head. Soon, Bhai Daya Ram, a khatri from Lahore stood up and came up to the Guru. He bowed to the Guru and then said, “O true king, my head is at your service.”              Some people say that the Guru took Bhai Daya Ram in the tent, but according to an authentic letter written to King Aurangzeb by one of his spies (Abul Trani) who was present at the ceremony, the Guru did not take him in the tent. In the letter it says that the Guru swung his sword and beheaded Bhai Daya Singh in front of the entire crowd.             With his sword all bloody, the Guru again asked for another head. Bhai Dharm Das,  a Jatt from Delhi came up to the Guru and offered his head. The Guru again swung his sword and beheaded Bhai Dharm Das.             The Guru asked for three more heads. The next three Sikhs to give their heads were:                                     Bhai Mohkam Chand – A washerman of Dwarka                                     Bhai Himmat Rai – A water-carrier from Jagannath                                     Bhai Saheb Chand – A barber from Bidar              Now there were five bodies and five heads lying on the stage. The Guru had the stage washed because it was full of blood. Then he asked for a pot of water which he placed on the Stage, Mata Saheb Kaur mixed some sugar puffs into the water. The Guru recited the sacred hymns of Japji Saheb, Jaap Saheb, Tvu Prasad Svaiye, Beinti Chaupi Saheb, and Anand Saheb while stirring the water with a double-edged sword.             Next, the Guru took one of the bodies lying on the floor and one of the heads. He put them back together and put the nectar that was created in to the mouth of the dead body, then he put it into the eyes and hair. The Guru then said in a loud voice, “Speak – Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!”             The dead body stood up and answered, “Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!”             One by one, all five bodies stood up. The Guru then gave them saffron robes to wear and told them from this day your last name will be singh. From that day their names were:              Bhai Daya Singh              Bhai Dharm Singh              Bhai Himmat Singh             Bhai Mokham Singh             Bhai Saheb Singh             The Guru then introduced them to the sangat as his five beloved ones. Then he did something that no one has ever done before, he went up to his disciples and asked them to prepare the nectar the same way he did and to baptize him.             The Guru took amrit and his name was changed from Guru Gobind Rai to Guru Gobind Singh. After this event, many Sikhs started to take amrit (baptism).          Back to Main Page   | Gurmat Studies Foundation | Guru Nanak Academy | Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Gatka Akhara | Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!