Original Khalsa

Did the Guru literally behead them, or is the story symbolic?
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I really did want an answer to this question -- anybody care to answer?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-sikhi-sikhism/20099-original-khalsa.html

Otherwise I'll just google it.

googled it:

World Religions: An Introduction for ... - Google Book Search

Caroline ji

Did you get your answer? I just logged on. No he didn't behead them. At that moment it was a test of faith and loyalty. After that the story becomes emblematic of what is expected of us.

Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=20099
You will read or hear the statement -- The Guru still wants our heads. It is a reference to this story. The Guru wants us to give up egotism and cleverness of mind and open ourselves to gur prasaad - to the grace of the Guru and by the Grace of the Guru.

Hope I am not sounding like a fanatic. But that is what is going on.

Guru still wants our heads -- I found this source. Guru Gobind Singh was reaching back into the teachings of the first Guru, Naanak.

"In Sikhism, Guru Nanak in the very beginning of his famous hymn 'Japu Ji', while rejecting the paths of ascetic one point meditation or withdrawal, emphatically prescribes carrying out or living according to the Will of God as the goal of man. "How to become the atuode of truth and how to demolish the wall of falsehood?" he asks, and then proceeds to answer, "Through following His Will." He then defines the will to be the 'Ocean of Virtues' or Altruistic. The Gurus' trasic perception of this Will is that it is Loving or Love. It is in this context that Guru Nanak proclaims that life is a 'game of love', and gives a call to humanity to follow this path. He says: "Shouldst thou seek to engage in the game of Love, step into my street with thy head placed on thy palm: While stepping on to this street, ungrudgingly sacrifice your head" (G.G.S., p. 1412), Repeated emphasis is laid on this goal of following the Will of God, Who is directing the universe."
Sikh Martyrs

I had forgotten.

actually, there is disagreement on what happened. some say he DID behead them and then brought them back to life. Sant Bhindranwale taught this viewpoint.

the fact is, only Guru Sahib and the Panj know what happened. all we can do is speculate. for those of us who belive that God can do ANYTHING, bringing the dead to life is not such a stretch.

The concept of martyrdom was laid down by Guru Nanak. In fact, his was an open challenge and a call. His hymn calling life ‘a game of love’ is of profoundest significance in Sikh thought and theology. It has five clear facets. It expresses in clear words the Guru’s spiritual experience of God. While he repeatedly calls Him unknowable, his own experience, he states, is that He is All Love. Second, He is Benevolent and Gracious towards man and the world. Third, since He expresses His Love in the world, the same, by implication, becomes real and meaningful.

Further, the Guru by giving this call clearly proclaims both the goal and the methodology of religious life in Sikhism. The goal is to live a life of love which is in line with His expression of Love and Grace in the world. Simultaneously, the methodology of whole-life activity and commitment for the goal is emphasized. The significant fact is that in the entire Guru Granth Sahib it is these principles of the Sikh way of life that are repeatedly emphasized. There are innumerable hymns endorsing one or the other of the above principles of Sikh theology. It is this couplet of Guru Nanak that forms the base of martyrdom in Sikhism. For, the commitment desired is total, and once on that Path the seeker has to have no wavering in laying down his life for the cause. In his hymn Guru Nanak has defined and stressed that the institution of martyrdom is an essential ingredient of the Path he was laying down for man.

Aad Ji, the verse by Guru Nanak which is being referred to - street is not the corect word - Marag (Marag means Path). Here's the extract from Sri Granth :



ਜਉ ਤਉ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਖੇਲਣ ਕਾ ਚਾਉ ॥
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=20099
जउ तउ प्रेम खेलण का चाउ ॥
Ja­o ṯa­o parėm kẖėlaṇ kā cẖā­o.
If you desire to play this game of love with Me,

ਸਿਰੁ ਧਰਿ ਤਲੀ ਗਲੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਆਉ ॥
सिरु धरि तली गली मेरी आउ ॥
Sir ḏẖar ṯalī galī mėrī ā­o.
then step onto My Path with your head in hand.

ਇਤੁ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਪੈਰੁ ਧਰੀਜੈ ॥
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=20099
इतु मारगि पैरु धरीजै ॥
Iṯ mārag pair ḏẖarījai.
When you place your feet on this Path,

ਸਿਰੁ ਦੀਜੈ ਕਾਣਿ ਨ ਕੀਜੈ ॥੨੦॥
सिरु दीजै काणि न कीजै ॥२०॥
Sir ḏījai kāṇ na kījai. ||20||
give Me your head, and do not pay any attention to public opinion. ||20||

This Game of Love... such a beautiful way of looking at life.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=20099

I wish I'd found Sikhi when I was young and had all these years to learn the great lessons of these amazing Gurus!