Khalsa was not created by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. He was instrumental in bringing the spirit of khalsa on the surface (Pargatiyiaa). The Khalsa was in creation since Guru Nanak Sahib and was helped to flourish on the teachings of all the Gurus, Bhagats, Mahapurakhs, Gurmukhs.

On Vaisakhi day Guru Gobind Singh Ji dedicated the Khalsa to Waheguru with a note of optimism: “Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh”.

In Sikhi, the Vaisakhi marks the beginning of a renewed Saroop of a Sikh (Khalsa Panth) and a daily commitment to Nit-nem above other social and cultural activities. Wishing all the members a “Happy Vaisakhi”.

On the occasion of Vaisakhi, I like to share with you the source of strength of Guru Gobind Singh who having lost his father, sons, family members and numerous Sikhs still remained in ‘Chardi Kalla’ (Optimistic). There is a message in his experiences for of us to deal with hurdles in life. Guru Ji’s spiritual and physical strength was on account of his total surrender with devotion to Waheguru as given in the following verse of his in Dasam Granth:-

ਸਗਲ ਦੁਆਰ ਕਉ ਛਾਡਿ ਕੈ ਗਹਯੋ ਤੁਹਾਰੋ ਦੁਆਰ ॥ ਬਾਂਹਿ ਗਹੇ ਕੀ ਲਾਜ ਅਸਿ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਦਾਸ ਤੁਹਾਰ ॥੮੬੪॥ (Dasam Granth page 642-14).
O Lord ! I have forsaken all other doors and have caught hold of only Thy door. O Lord ! Thou has caught hold of my arm; I, Govind, am Thy serf, kindly take (care of me and) protect my honor.

The Sikh slogan ‘Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh’ sums up his personality. He himself was a Khalsa and he attributed every victory in life to Waheguru. “Nischay kar apni jeet karo” – was not his egoistic claim but out of his confidence of living under the Divine shelter of ONLY Waheguru (binse dooja).

Gurbani advices and guides us about Guru Gobind Singh Ji:-

ਜਿਨ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਜਾਤਾ ਸੁ ਸੋਭਾਵੰਤ ॥ ਸਗਲ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ਉਧਰੈ ਤਿਨ ਮੰਤ ॥ (Raag Gauri M. 5, GGS. 28-22).
Jin Prabh Jaathaa S Sobhaavanth || Sagal Sansaar Oudhharai Thin Manth ||
Those who know God are glorious. The whole world is redeemed by their teachings.

Since Guru Gobind Singh Ji knew God/Waheguru, so his message is worth emulating as well. However, while in doubt about the Authorship of Dasam Granth, Jaap Sahib, Savaiye Patshahi 10 and Kabiovach Benti Chaupai (of Dasam Granth) be kept aside just like bulk of other Gurbani and Bhagat Bani for additional reading and contemplation as Sadharan Paath Sahib.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji as a “Sarbans Dani”, demonstrates that he was fully merged with Waheguru to enjoy Divine Strength being IK-MIK with Waheguru.

ਕਿ ਜਾਹਿਰ ਜਹੂਰ ਹੈਂ ॥ ਕਿ ਹਾਜਿਰ ਹਜੂਰ ਹੈਂ ॥ (Jaap Sahib, Dasam Granth, page 150-1).
Ki Jaahri Jahoora Hain ॥ Ki Haajri Hajoora Hain ॥
That Thou art visible illumination ! That Thou art All-Prevading!……

ਕਿ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦਿਮਾਗ ਹੈਂ ॥ ਕਿ ਹੁਸਨੁਲ ਚਰਾਗ ਹੈਂ ॥
Ki Saahib Dimaaga Hain ॥ Ki Husnula Charaaga Hain ॥
You are the guiding Intelligence and light in my body.

Guru Gobind Singh speaks of unity of Humanity in the light of ONENESS of God as:-

-ਹਿੰਦੂ ਤੁਰਕ ਕੋਊ ਰਾਫਜੀ ਇਮਾਮ ਸਾਫੀ ਮਾਨਸ ਕੀ ਜਾਤ ਸਬੈ ਏਕੈ ਪਹਿਚਾਨਬੋ ॥ (Guru Gobind Singh, Dasam Granth, 50-14).
Someone is Hindu and someone a Muslim, then someone is Shia, and someone a Sunni, but all the human beings, as a species, are recognized as one and the same.

ਕਰਤਾ ਕਰੀਮ ਸੋਈ ਰਾਜਕ ਰਹੀਮ ਓਈ ਦੂਸਰੋ ਨ ਭੇਦ ਕੋਦੀ ਭੂਲ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਮਾਨਬੋ ॥
Karta (The Creator) and Karim (Merciful) is the same Lord, Razak (The Sustainer) and Rahim (Compassionate) is the same Lord, there is no other second, therefore consider this verbal distinguishing feature of Hindusim and Islam as an error and an illusion.

ਏਕ ਹੀ ਕੀ ਸੇਵ ਸਭ ਹੀ ਕੋ ਗੁਰਦੇਵ ਏਕ ਏਕ ਹੀ ਸਰੂਪ ਸਬੈ ਏਕੈ ਜੋਤ ਜਾਨਬੋ ॥੧੫॥੮੫॥
Thus worship the ONE LORD, who is the common enlightener of all; all have been created in His Image and amongst all comprehend the same ONE LIGHT.

ਦੇਹਰਾ ਮਸੀਤ ਸੋਈ ਪੂਜਾ ਔ ਨਿਵਾਜ ਓਈ ਮਾਨਸ ਸਬੈ ਏਕ ਪੈ ਅਨੇਕ ਕੋ ਭਰਮਾਉ ਹੈ ॥
The temple and the mosque are the same, there is no difference between a Hindu worship and Muslim prayer; all the human beings are the same, but the illusion is of various types.

ਦੇਵਤਾ ਅਦੇਵ ਜੱਛ ਗੰਧ੍ਰਬ ਤੁਰਕ ਹਿੱਦੂ ਨਿਆਰੇ ਨਿਆਰੇ ਦੇਸਨ ਕੇ ਭੇਸ ਕੋ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਉ ਹੈ ॥
The gods, demons, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Turks and Hindus… all these are due to the differences of the various garbs of different countries.
………………………………………………….
ਅਲਹ ਅਭੇਖ ਸੋਈ ਪੁਰਾਨ ਔ ਕੁਰਾਨ ਓਈ ਏਕ ਹੀ ਸਰੂਪ ਸਭੈ ਏਕ ਹੀ ਬਨਾਉ ਹੈ ॥੧੬॥੮੬॥
Allah of Muslims and Abhekh (Guiseless) of Hindus are the same, the Puranas of Hindus and the holy Quran of the Muslims depict the same reality; all have been created in the image of the same Lord and have the same formation.

The similar stance was propagated after experiencing by other Sikh Gurus before Guru Gobind Singh Ji:

ਦੂਜਾ ਨਾਹੀ ਕੋਇ ਜਿਸੁ ਆਗੈ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਜਾਇ ਕਹਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ (Raag Dhanaasree M. 1, GGS. 660-8).
There is no other, O Beloved, to whom I can go and speak. ||1||Pause||

ਜਿਉ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਨਾਲਿ ਨ ਹਾਰੀਐ ਤੇਵੇਹਾ ਪਾਸਾ ਢਾਲੀਐ ॥ (Raag Asa M. 2, GGS. 474-8).
So throw the dice in such a way, that you shall not lose with your Lord and Master. on your side

ਆਪੁ ਛੋਡਹਿ ਤਾਂ ਸਹੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਸਚਾ ਏਹੁ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ (Salok Vaaraan and Vadheek: Guru Amar Das, GGS. 1420-18).
Give up your selfishness, and then you shall meet your Husband Lord. Consider this Truth.

ਜਿਚਰੁ ਦੂਜਾ ਭਰਮੁ ਸਾ ਅੰਮਾਲੀ ਤਿਚਰੁ ਮੈ ਜਾਣਿਆ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਦੂਰੇ ॥(Raag Vadhans M. 5, GGS. 564-13).
As long as I suffered from duality and doubt, O my friend, I thought God was far away.

Guru Nanak Sahib clearly guides us to access a Gurmat recipe to gain a spirit of CHARDI KALA (OPTIMISM):-

ਆਪੁ ਗਵਾਈਐ ਤਾ ਸਹੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਅਉਰੁ ਕੈਸੀ ਚਤੁਰਾਈ ॥ (Raag Tilang M. 1, GGS. 722-13).
Give up your selfhood, and so obtain your Husband Lord; what other clever tricks are of any use?

On “ਸਹੁ ਪਾਈਐ” – strength of an individual is replaced by Waheguru’s strength. (Taan bhu keha karrha jeo?).

Oneness of God is also expressed by Bhagat Kabir Ji, Guru Ram Das Ji:-

• ਅਵਲਿ ਅਲਹ ਨੂਰੁ ਉਪਾਇਆ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਕੇ ਸਭ ਬੰਦੇ ॥ ਏਕ ਨੂਰ ਤੇ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਉਪਜਿਆ ਕਉਨ ਭਲੇ ਕੋ ਮੰਦੇ ॥੧॥ (Raag Parbhati, Bhagat Kabir, GGS. 1349-19).
  First, Allah created the Light; then, by His Creative Power, He made all mortal beings. From the One Light, the entire universe welled up. So who is good, and who is bad? ||1||
• ਖਾਲਿਕੁ ਖਲਕ ਖਲਕ ਮਹਿ ਖਾਲਿਕੁ ਪੂਰਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਸ੍ਰਬ ਠਾਂਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ (Raag Parbhati, Bhagat Kabir, GGS. 1350-1).
  The Creation is in the Creator, and the Creator is in the Creation, totally pervading and permeating all places. ||1||Pause||
• ਤੂੰ ਘਟ ਘਟ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸਰਬ ਨਿਰੰਤਰਿ ਜੀ ਹਰਿ ਏਕੋ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਸਮਾਣਾ ॥ ((Raag Asa, M. 4, GGS. 11-1).
  You are constant in each and every heart, and in all things. O Dear Lord, you are the One.

Guru Nanak goes further and asserts the Unity of various Holy Books in meeting the One God:-

4. ਚਾਰੇ ਵੇਦ ਹੋਏ ਸਚਿਆਰ ॥ (Raag Asa, M. 1, GGS. 470-8).
   The four Vedas each claim to be true.

ਪੜਹਿ ਗੁਣਹਿ ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਚਾਰ ਵੀਚਾਰ ॥
Reading and studying them, four doctrines are found.

1.ਭਾਉ 2.ਭਗਤਿ ਕਰਿ 4.ਨੀਚੁ ਸਦਾਏ ॥
With loving devotional worship, abiding in humility,

ਤਉ ਨਾਨਕ 4.ਮੋਖੰਤਰੁ ਪਾਏ ॥੨॥
When translated in simple words it reads:-

i). Love for God/Waheguru ii). devotional worship with iii). total loss of one’s ego/houmai/duality (abiding in humility) and the above three steps lead to the final state of attaining iv) Salvation.

Where does One God/Waheguru exist as per Gurbani?

ਬਲਿਹਾਰੀ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਵਸਿਆ ॥ ਤੇਰਾ ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ਲਖਿਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ (Raag Asa, M. 1, GGS. 469-10).
I am a sacrifice to Your almighty creative power which is pervading everywhere. Your limits cannot be known. ||1||Pause|I

Guru Nanak Sahib and Guru Amardas Ji are unequivocal in defining Sikhi (the spiritual path for a Sikh) in the light of Gurbani: that one who contemplates on teaching of Gur (revealed to the Sikh Gurus by their Gur that is ‘Waheguru’). The start of reciting and contemplation on Gurbani actually amounts to as receiving the Divine grace to progress on the path of Sikhi:-

ਸਿਖੀ ਸਿਖਿਆ ਗੁਰ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ॥ ਨਦਰੀ ਕਰਮਿ ਲਘਾਏ ਪਾਰਿ ॥ (Raag Asa M. 1, GGS. 465-11).
Sikhee Sikhiaa Gur Veechaar ||Nadharee Karam Laghaaeae Paar ||

ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਸਾਚੀ ਸਾਚਾ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ (Raag Dhanaasree, M. 3, GGS. 666-2).
Guramath Saachee Saachaa Veechaar ||
True are the Guru’s Teachings, and True is contemplative meditation.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji, guides us by indicating – “Guru Maneo Granth” in order to find God/Waheguru:-

ਪੋਥੀ ਪਰਮੇਸਰ ਕਾ ਥਾਨੁ ॥ (Raag Sarang, M. 5, GGS. 1226-3).
The Holy Book is the home of the Transcendent Lord God.

Enjoy Vaisakhi Day with Gurbani – the backbone of Khalsa!