Importance of Siropa, Hazooria, Kamarkasa in Sikhism

• Siropa

It is the clothe of honor, Scarf or cloth of appreciation or honor.
Anyone who does something good, must be thanked and appreciated in one form or other. In the sikh world, hight appreciation is by presenting a Siropa, the clothe of honor, a length of cloth put across (placed over) the neck. It is usually of the saffron color. Though the color code is not essential. White or sky-blue are also common. The cloth may be any material, cotton, mixed or silk. Silk or woolen shawls are also given.

• Hazooria

It is a length of cloth placed across the neck as a sign of humility. It is used when a person is in the service of Guru Granth Sahib. A man in Tabia (sitting behind Guru Granth Sahib), one who works the wisp over the holy Guru Granth, Ragi (devotional singer), Kathakar (preacher, a sermon giver), Ardasia (one who leads invocation) etc. Use it.

• Kamarkasa

Kamarkasa is a sash bound around waist to hold weapons a essential part of Nihang dress. It is also called cumberband or Belt or waist sash or waistband.

What Are the Five K's (Kakars) of Sikhism?

Kakar refers to any or all of the five articles of the Sikh faith. Because the name of each one of the five articles begins with the letter (or sound of) K, they are commonly referred to as the five K's of Sikhism:

• Kachhera
• Kanga
• Kara
• Kes
• Kirpan

An Amritdhari, or initiated Sikh is required to wear all of the 5 K's during the Sikh baptism, or initiation ceremony of Amrit, and thereafter. The five articles of faith or 5 K's are to be kept on or with the person at all times. The kakar each have a practical function.


Kachhera - Kakar - Sikh Undergarment

The kachhera is a modest personal undergarment. The Sikhism dress-code mandates kachhera to be worn by every Sikh. The Kachhera may be worn openly with traditional attire or under modern clothing.
Kachhera are also one of five kakar, the five articles of faith, required to be worn on the body at all times by the Amritdhari, a Sikh who has been initiated into the order of Khalsa in the Amritsanchar ceremony. The kachhera is worn sleeping or awake during every activity by the Amritdhari remaining on at least one leg and removed only after bathing, or swimming. The wet kachhera remains on one ankle or foot while stepping out into into a clean dry kachera with the other foot. The kachhera may be washed by hand and hung to dry, or washed and dried by machine. The Amritdhari ought to have at minimum two kachhera.

The required kachhera:

• May be from one to three yards in width but is not to fall below the knee to where it touches the shin.
• May be sewn from any fabric but is most commonly white cotton or poly blend.
• Is cut and stitched along the bias to make it stretchy.
• Is tied with the nala, a drawstring fastening.

Kanga - Kakar - Sikh Comb

Kanga is a wooden comb and is one of five kakar, articles of faith, required for the Amritdhari, a Sikh who has been initiated into the order of Khalsa in the Amritsanchar ceremony.

• The kanga is commonly carved from rose wood or sandal wood anywhere between 2-6 inches in size.
• The kanga is worn in the joora, the topknot of unshorn hair of the Amritdhari.
• The kanga is used twice daily to comb and to clean the kes, the hair.
• The kanga is worn in the hair under under turban or keski a kind of under turban, and is kept on the person of the Amritdhari at all times.

Kara - Kakar - Sikh Bangle

The kara is a steel or iron bangle worn on the wrist and is one of five kakar, the articles of faith required to be worn by the Amritdhari Sikh, a Sikh who has been initiated into the order of Khalsa.

• The kara is a bracelet made of pure steel or iron.
• The kara originated as a protective ring to guard the sword arm of the Khalsa warrior. Some Sikhs consider the kara as a reminder having a similar significance to a wedding ring, or a slave bracelet, which serves as an unbreakable bond binding them to the service of the Guru.
• The kara is to be worn on the body by the Amritdhari at all times.

Kes - Kakar - Unshorn Hair

Kes is the Sikh word for hair. Kes refers unshorn hair or unaltered intact hair and includes all hair on the head, face and entire body.

Sikhs honor the intention of the creator by keeping their hair unshorn and unaltered in its natural state. Kes is not to be dishonored in any way. All methods of hair removal, or alteration, are against the tenets of the Sikh faith and considered to be taboo for the kes. Hair is to be kept clean and combed, and kes ought never to be cut, colored, or curled. Shaving, plucking, tweezing, waxing, bleaching, using depilatories, or otherwise altering the hair by any means, dishonors the kes and the inherent intention of the creator.

Kes is essential to Sikhism as belief the guidelines of the gurus teachings and initiation according to tenth Guru Gobind Singh is part of what defines a Sikh. Kes is to be maintained and kept intact from birth throughout the entire life until death. A Sikh who maintains kes, keeping all hair unshorn and intact, is known as a Kesadari (Unaltered hair and beard) or Kesdhari possesor of unaltered hair). Any baptized Sikh who has accepted initiation to become a Khalsa Sikh, or Amritdhari, is required to keep the kes intact or face chastisement.

Sikhs use a wooden comb called a kanga to keep the Kes free from tangles. The Kes is kept up and covered with a length of turban to protect it. Many Sikhs wear a small turban called a keski for this purpose.

Pronunciation: Kes sounds like case.

Also Known As: Kesh

Alternate Spellings: Kesh, Romanized phonetic transliteration - Kaes

Examples:

The gurus' gave examples of how keeping hair intact has the capability of subduing the effects of ego.

Siri Chand, the son of First Guru Nanak, asked Fourth Guru Raam Daas why he kept his long beard intact. The guru replied, "To dust your feet."

His son, Fifth Guru Arjun wrote:

"Gur kae charan kaes sang jhaarae ||1||

The Guru's feet I dust with my hair." ||1|| SGGS||387

"Kaes sang daas pag jhaaro ehai manorath mor||1||

With my hair, I clean the feet of Your slave this is my life objective." ||1||SGGS||500

"Kaesaa kaa kar beejanaa sant chour ddhulaavo ||

Making of my hair a fan, over the Saint I wave it." SGGS||745

Kirpan - Kakar - Sikh Ceremonial Short Sword

A Kirpan is a Sikh ceremonial short sword. The kirpan is one of five kakar, or articles of faith, required to be worn by an initiated Sikh known as Amritdhari, who has been baptised into the order of Khalsa in the ceremony of Amritsanchar.

• The kirpan may be made of either steel or of iron.
• The kirpan has no stipulated length. It is commonly between 3 - 9 inches is curved and has a single cutting edge which may be either blunt or sharpened.

The kirpan is to be worn on the body by the Amritdhari at all times. The kirpan is worn in a sheath hung on a gatra, or strap, and slung over one shoulder. When performing isnaan, bathing, or participating in water sports, the kirpan is commonly secured by the gatra to the turban, or at the waist when an alternate method is required.

The kirpan historically was used for defense in battle and may be used in as a weapon only for self defense or to defend another innocent person from harm. Symbolically the kirpan is a reminder to the spiritual devotee to slay the ego. Ceremonial use of the kirpan involves it's being touched to karah prashad as a blessing during ardas, the Sikh prayer to impart the properties of steadfast strength which occur in steel to the soul.

Sewa in Gurudwara Sahib (Sikhism)

Sewa or Seva – Selfless i.e. voluntary service.

Sewa is selfless service and it is very important in the Sikh World. Serving fresh, clean drinking water, cleaning used utensils in Langar (Gurdwara kitchen) and shoes of Sangat in Gurdwara, are some out of top Sewas.

Help to clean Gurdwara including its rest rooms, cooking Langar (food) and serving it, and maintaining Gurdwara premises are usual Sewas. Still, an important service in India is serving fresh, clean, drinking water to the people and even to the animals. Water dispensing stand or stall is called a Chhabil. The people render selfless service while reciting the Name of God.

Voluntary service is offered at hospitals or at institutions serving orphans, handicapped and sick. First-aid is provided, the poor and needy are helped, and medicines are distributed. Clothes and blankets are provided free and free food stand are run.

Some give free academic or religious education. Surgeon, specialists, general doctors, engineers, architects, advocates and other help individuals or institutions. Anyone can render Sewa as per individual choice, capacity and ability. There is no end to it. Sewa is part and parcel of the Sikh life.
You may come across a container with the label Sewa it is a Can to put in trash, a Sewa – service.
Especially in the overseas countries, disposable plastic-ware has mostly eradicated selfless service of cleaning utensils, or has pushed it to the background. But still, it is of much use. One can transform it into Sewa of any other kind. Electric fans and air-conditioning has taken away Sewa of manually fanning Sangat (gathering). Still, many avenues of Sewa remain open.

Sewa and Simran (Selfless service and Naam-Jaap) go together. Sewa includes a help to the needy, sharing boons. Selfless or voluntary service is one and the same thing. The words like selfless and voluntary differentiate a devotional from the other (compensated) services.

Sewa should be rendered with smile, humility and sweetness. If one serves, grudges, shows bad temper, feels irritated, it is no Sewa.

Proud to be a Sikh

Akhaa Sikh Diya Baniya Nahi Jhukan De Layi,

Eh Ta Baniya Ne Saheedi Khumariya Layi,

Do Galla Layi Sikh Da Sir Baneya,

Aareya Layi Ja Sardariya Layi !

Importance of Amrit in Sikhism

Amrit is the top institution of the Sikh faith. It is “Abae-Hayat” the water bestowing eternal life – eternity and immortality.

They become immortal by drinking Amrit of the Lord (Naam-Jaap), and vices lure them no more.

“ਅਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਹਰਿ ਪੀਵਤੇ ਸਦਾ ਥਿਰੁ ਥੀਵਤੇ ਬਿਖੈ ਬਨੁ ਫੀਕਾ ਜਾਨਿਆ” || ੫-੮੧-੧

Amrit has spiritual as well as, physical aspects. Spiritually speaking, Amrit is the Name of God and its recitation. Physically, it is a special drink, meant for the spiritual growth. The aim o recitation of the Name of God and of taking Amrit, is the same. Amrit is meant to put a fellow to Gurbani and Naam- Jaap (reading Scriptures and reciting His Name) – the path leading to God.

Taking “Amrit” is the cherished desire common both to the Guru and his Sikh. The Guru desires the disciple to take it, and one fully oriented to the faith, becomes keen to do so. Taking Amrit is the Sikh way of getting inducted into this faith. Drinking Amrit is a vow to live an elevated life and to do Naam-Jaap – recite God’s name.

ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕਾ ਖਾਲਸਾ,
ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫ਼ਤਿਹ !!

Proud On Sikhs & Indian Sikh Army – Inspiring Real Story

It is a real story of Indian army proud Sikhs. As usual those Sikhs soldier were sent to remote area of the India, whole army known that Sikhs are extraordinary brave people, because they have a heart squeezing and blood-spattered background. The history of Sikhs is blocked with sacrifices, pain and agony. The Sikh soldiers are supposed to be greatest ones. The always sent in first units while war.

It’s about 5-6 Sikh soldiers, ordered to bake the chapattis (breads) on tavi (Big round pan). They had started to bake breads on hot surface. One of the Sikhs has turned sad looking at that hot surface. He talks about Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji who sacrificed his life for truth and religion of “One God”.

He was crying by hiding his face in his knees. Suddenly one of the officer reached to them while they discussing about Sikhism and Guru Arjan Dev Ji. He was an arrogant, Hindu officer. He stopped over them and start listening there talks.

He speak suddenly, “How could it be?” No one can sit on this hot pan by just saying one time to save his religion. And you also were saying that your Guru was muttering the name of God still. There was none who can sit on hot fire happily.”

“Sir, Our Guru Sahib sat on extremely hot tavi, its true,” Sikhs replied. Hindu said, “I don’t believe you all, the Sardars. How could he sit on red hot iron tavi?”

One Sikh, who was crying, got up and sits on red hot tavi on which they were backing breads, rapidly. And said this is how my Guru sits on hot tavi. He was in his loose dress, with bare legs. Remaining Sikhs shouted loudly and pulled him away from the red hot tavi. His legs were burned seriously.