EXPLAINING THE KIRPAAN TO NON-SIKHS

[sher_panjabi]

EXPLAINING WHAT THE KIRPAN IS TO A NON-SIKH

by Manvir Singh Khalsa

WHAT IS A KIRPAN (pronounced Kir-paan)?

• It is a small sword held by a material strap which goes across the body.
  
• It is not an offensive weapon but a protective tool
  
• Kirpan means ‘hand of kindness/mercy’, which highlights how the Kirpan is not to be used to attack anyone but merely to defend oneself or another as a last resort.
  

WHO CARRIES A KIRPAN?

Initiated Sikh men and women, irrespective of age.

WHY CARRY A KIRPAN?

It is part of the Sikh uniform which consists of 5 articles:

1. Kes: uncut hair (tied up and the head and crowned with a turban)

- The Kes is an identity of a Sikh and also has spiritual significance.

- The Kes is a stamp or seal that a Sikh¡'s head is God's.

2. Kanga: small wooden comb (placed in the hair knot under the turban)

- The Kanga is used to keep the hair clean.

- Just a Sikh combs their hair daily; he or she should also comb their mind with the Guru's wisdom.

3. Kara: Iron bangle (worn on the wrist)

- The Kara is a gift of a Guru which acts as a reminder to do the right action (with our hands).

- The Kara is made of iron which symbolises how a Sikh should have strength and courage.

4. Kirpan: small sword (made of steal/iron)

- The Kirpan is to be used to upkeep righteousness

- The Kirpan represents sovereignty and kingship bestowed upon the Sikhs by their Guru.

- The Kirpan exemplifies the warrior character of a Sikh.

5. Kachhera

: Long undergarment (which is above the knees, and worn as an undergarment)

- The Kachhera is worn to be respectable and dignified at all times.

- The Kachhera reminds a Sikh to practice self-control and to have a high moral character.

The 5 articles have the same value as the uniform of a policeman or a soldier and something more subtle than that. This means equality, uniformity, unity and identity of the wearers. Every member of a team is required to put on a certain prescribed uniform for this very purpose. In the same way a Sikh has to wear the 5 Articles (known commonly as the 5 Ks) as part of being a "Warrior-Saint", a 'Khalsa'.

IS IT OPTIONAL TO WEAR A KIRPAN?

No! It is mandatory for initiated Sikhs to carry a Kirpan (this is recognised by the British Law).

WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF THE KIRPAN?

• Defence (as a last resort, to upkeep righteousness and justice)
  
• Used to bless Sikh Holy Communion, called 'karhaah parshaad', at the end of religious functions.
  

WHAT ARE OFFENSIVE OR MISLEADING SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THE KIRPAN?

• To suggest that is a 'dagger', 'knife' or 'offensive weapon'.
  
• To suggest it is a merely cultural symbol.
  
• To suggest that the Kirpan can be replaced by wearing a miniature or replica Kirpan.
  

IS IT LEGAL TO CARRY A KIRPAN IN BRITAIN?

Yes it is! Under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (section 139) and Criminal Justice 1996 (section 3 and 4) allows anyone to carry a blade exceeding the length of 3 inches for religious, cultural or work related reasons. The Criminal Justice Act and the 2003 Religious Discrimination Act safeguards the Sikhs to carry the Kirpan.

manvir_singh_khalsa@yahoo.co.uk

[sher_panjabi]

Adapted Extract from www.sikhcoalition.org

...The Kirpan is an article of faith that was revealed to the last Sikh prophet, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, and made mandatory by him for all initiated Sikhs on March 29, 1699. Attempts to change the nature of the Kirpan or to restrict it from the Sikh uniform have always been resisted by Sikhs in the past, just as impositions against wearing of the Cross are likely to be resisted by baptised Christians. A Sikh upon his or her initiation into the Sikh faith agrees to follow the Sikh Rehat Maryada, the Sikh code of conduct. The code of conduct calls to wear a "strapped Kirpan" that is suspended near one's waist. The original language of this document is in Punjabi. An English translation of the requirement in Article XXIV, (d) states:

". . . The person to be baptized must have taken a bath and washed his or her hair and must wear all five K's - Kes (unshorn hair), strapped Kirpan (sword), Kachhehra (prescribed shorts), Kanga (Comb tucked in the tied up hair), Karha (Steel bracelet) . . ."

The original Punjabi version of this requirement is explicit. It states that the Kirpan is to be worn using a ‘gatra’ (a strap that enables a Kirpan to be suspended near one's waist or tucked inside one's belt). The implication of this explicit requirement is that the Kirpan cannot be worn as a symbol. To neglect to wear one or more of the Five Ks represents a serious lapse in the Sikh religion.

The nature or the definition of

Kirpan cannot be changed and Sikh organisations have successfully challenged all such attempts. The British Law recognises the importance of the Sikh Kirpan and allows Sikhs to wear the Kirpan. Under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (section 139) and Criminal Justice 1996 (section 3 and 4) allows anyone to carry a blade exceeding the length of 3 inches for religious, cultural or work related reasons. The Criminal Justice Act and the 2003 Religious Discrimination Act safeguards the Sikhs to carry the Kirpan...

[Khalsa_starr]

thanks for the advice, i'll take it into thought...

...if i could only find how to get it!!

[sher_panjabi]

[Khalsa_starr]

i coudn'tsee the pic! What are you saying?

[jagsinrags]

Well let me try ..

I think Manveer Singh Khalsa means the following image

[jagsinrags]

ohh ... it doesnt work

but if you copy paste the following url in ur browser address bar, it will show u the right pic

http://www.freewebs.com/religiouseducation...ikhism/5Ks2.jpg

Guru Fateh !!

[jagsinrags]

http://

www.freewebs.com/

religiouseducation/

pics/

sikhism/

5Ks2.jpg

I broke it down into different parts, jus copy them and combine them in the IE address bar

:wub:

[1699]

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa!

Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

veera there is a movie i saw onces its more like a clip to help a chirstian understand sikhism u may wanna check it out its pretty good, only like 3 min but gets rite to the point.

http://allaboutsikhs.com/gurudwaras/gt06.htm

here is the linj veero. clip one is the one i was talking about the rest are pretty good to.

hope it helps bro.

[Surrey Singh]

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa!

Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

One thing i think is awesome to say is: "THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BE AFRAID OF THE KIRPAN ARE MURDERERS, RAPISTS, AND ANYONE TRYING TO HARM SOMEBODY INNOCENT"