I'm curious about the Khanda and its symbolic meaning and history. One thing that I couldn't help but notice was that it look strikingly similar to a Tibetan Dorge with two Kirpans of course. Any thoughts on the history and meaning of the Khanda would be much appreciated.

Frank ji

There are several threads in the forum, going back a few months that may shed light.

Start here

Khanda
The Sikhism Home Page: Religious Emblems

The Khanda is the symbol of the Sikhs, as the Cross is to Christians or the Star of David is to Jews. It reflects some of the fundamental concepts of Sikhism. The symbol derives its name from the double-edged sword (also called a Khanda) which appears at the center of the logo. This double-edged sword is a metaphor of Divine Knowledge, its sharp edges cleaving Truth from Falsehood. The circle around the Khanda is the Chakar. The Chakar being a circle without a beginning or and end symbolizes the perfection of God who is eternal. The Chakar is surrounded by two curved swords called Kirpans. These two swords symbolize the twin concepts of Meeri and Peeri - Temporal and Spiritual authority introduced by Guru Hargobind. They emphasize the equal emphasis that a Sikh must place on spiritual aspirations as well as obligations to society.

Then go to Google and search on khanda and you find more references to continue on with. Sikhipedia must also have some information about this.

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ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਗੁਰ ਗੋਵਿੰਦੁ ਸਮਾਲਿ ॥ man karehalaa gur govindh samaal O camel-like mind, dwell upon the Guru and the Lord of the Universe.