In one of his poems, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib defines the Khalsa :
- “He who repeats night and day the name of Him,
- Who has full love and confidence in God,
- Who bestows not a thought on anv but one God,
- Whose enduring light is inextinguishable,
- Who puts no faith in fasting and worshipping cemeteries and monasteries,
- Who only recognises the one God and makes no fetish, Of pilgrimages,
- alms, charities and austerities:
He is recognised as a true member of theKhalsa,
In whose heart the light of the Perfect One shines.”
Guru Gobind Singh Sahib laid down the following duties for the Khalsa :
- The Khalsa is to worship one God and read Nitname (Five Banis) and daily meditate on the Name.
- He is to keep the symbols (Panj Kakar) and to lead his life according to the Guru’s teaching. Gurmantra is Waheguru and the Basic creed is Mool-manlra.
- He has no caste after joining the brother-hood ; he has to repudiate non-Sikh rites and ceremonies, and follow only Sikh practices.
- He is not to commit ‘any of the four misdeeds (Kurahat) namely, the shaving or cutting of hair, eating Halal meat, adultery and the use of tobacco or any other intoxi-cant.
- He is not to commit any of the social offences (Tankhah), such as giving dowry, using liquors and intoxicants, raising monuments over graves and associating with apostates.
- He must contribute one-tenth {daswand) of his income for religious purposes.
- He is to serve the sangat in all ways
- He must practice arms and be ready defend the weak.