KHANDAY DI PAHUL
Khanday Di Pahul is the Sikh (or Khalsa) initiation rite. Literally, it means, “Water tempered with Khanda”.
The word Pahul has its root in the word “panæu” (pwxu) which means: to strengthen, to make hard and strong, to brighten etc; thus Pahul is an agent which brightens and strengthens the potentialities of a given object.
Khanday Di Pahul is prepared by filling an iron bowl with clean water and by stirring it with Khanda (a double-edged sword). It was a ceremony started by Guru Gobind Singh on 29 March 1698 (some books give this date as 29 March 1699).
Later, during the time of Brahmanic-Nirmala priests‟ occupation of Darbar Sahib Amritsar (and other Gurdwaras) during the period of Sikh rule (1765-1849), Patasas (sugar bubbles) were added to this water (and a story was concocted that it was Guru Gobind Singh‟s wife who had added Patasas when the Guru was preparing it for the first time); and, they had also concocted interpretation and significance of this act of sweetening the Pahul water.
Any one, of any age, who is mature enough to understand its significance, can be given Khanday Di Pahul. As per the Rahitmaryada (code of conduct) framed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the ceremony of initiation has to be held at a place, which should not be a thoroughfare. Guru Granth Sahib must be installed there with full respect. After reading Hukam (a hymn) from Guru Granth Sahib, ceremony of preparing Khanday Di Pahul (tempering water with Khanda) is started by the Punj Piaray, while they recite five hymns (Japji, Jaap, Swayyay, Chaupai and Anand) while sitting in Bir Aasan (posture of a soldier ready for battle).
The five hymns were prescribed by the Brahmanic-Nirmala priests because three of these (Jaap, Swayyay, Chaupai) were written after 1780s (these are from ‘Bachitra Naatak’ book, to which they have renamed as dasamgranth); and, because the Brahmanic-Nirmala priests had been in control of Darbar Sahib, they were able to introduce at Darbar Sahib, and, because most of the priests had been the students of these Brahmanic-Nirmala priests, this became a practice in all the Gurdwaras. Old sources mention that only five Pauris of Anand Sahib were recited while performing ceremony of Khanday-di-Pahul.
When this Pahul is ready, each one of the candidates comes to Punj Piaray, kneels in Bir Aasan, takes Pahul in cupped hands and drinks it. The Punj Piaray also spray Pahul on the eyes and hair of the candidate (the Nirmala priests did not realize that pouring or sprinkling this ‘sweetened’ water on the hair and in the eyes is dangerous). When every candidate has taken Pahul, all the candidates drink the remaining Amrit sip by sip till it is finished.
After this, every one recites first stanza of Japji (this practice too was added by the Brahmanic-Nirmala priests, because this is an invocation and they have given it the name „mool mantra‟).
When this ceremony is completed, the priests explain the Rahits (the discipline that a Pahuliya must keep) and the Kurahits (prohibitions). To conclude an Ardaas (prayer) is offered and the ceremony is over after Vaak (reading of one hymn, at random, from Guru Granth Sahib) and distribution of Karhaah Parshaad (the blessed food).
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)