Guru Gobind Singh ji called for a large gathering at Anandpur Sahib on the Basakhi Day of 1699. From all corners of Punjab, Sikhs rushed forth with great zeal and devotion. There was a gathering of about 80,000 followers of Guru ji.

After the morning kirtan durbar, the Guru in all his glory and superhuman splendour stood up on his platform. His eyes shone like fire and his face was flushed with the might of his mission. His whole body was transformed like that of a warrior stepping forth into a battle field. With a naked sword in his hand he called upon his disciples."Is there anyone here who would lay down his life under my steel? I need the head of a Sikh, who will offer it?"

This caused some consternation in the assembly and there was dead silence. Guru ji repeated the call and Bhai Daya Ram, a Khatri of Lahore aged thirty stood up and said, "Master! This head is thine forever." The Guru took him into the tent that was pitched in an enclosure. A blow and a thud was heard and a stream of blood gushed out.

The Guru came out with his sword dripping with blood. He called for another head and Dharam Das, a Jat of Hariana offered his head. He was also taken into the tent and the same was repeated. The Guru made three more calls and Mohkam Chand, a resident of Dwarka, Himmat Chand of Jagan Nath Puri(Orissa) and Sahib Chand of Bidar offered their heads respectively. For the last time the Guru stayed longer in the tent. Then he came out with his sword sheathed and his face beaming with joy and satisfaction . He brought with him the Five Beloved Ones, 'Panj Pyare' dressed in their new robes, radiant with a new vitality of dedication to God. They had offered their heads to the Guru and the Guru had given them himself and his glory.

The Guru then addressed the assembly : "My dear Sikhs, now I feel certain that the true religion will flourish and my Sikhs will ever be foremost among the winners of our country's freedom. They would be defenders of this new faith and the oppressed one's."

The Guru then prepared the sacred Amrit in a steel vessel. Each of the five Beloved Ones, by turn, kneeling upon his left knee looked up to the Master to receive his Eternal Light. The master gazed into the eyes of the disciple and showered Amrit on his face. He was asked to say, "Waheguru ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki Fateh." At the same time the Keshas (hair) of each disciple was anointed by him with showers of Amrit. He then asked them to take deep draughts of the Amrit from the same steel vessel. They were transformed into the Guru's pattern and knotted together in unbreakable bonds of brotherly love. He gave the surname of Singh and instructed them to wear the five K's : 1. Keshas (hair) 2. Kara (the steel bangle) 3. Kashaira (breeches reaching upto the knees) 4. Kanga (a comb) 5. Kirpan (a sword).

Thus the dying soul of man was given a new life with a very practical and aspiring mission.

The Khalsa Brotherhood

From the spirit of the Great Guru Gobind Singh a new man called the Khalsa was born. His fraternity was aimed to be global. His soul was inspired to help the oppressed at any cost. He was a soldier with undaunted courage. His enthusiasm for service was to light and to shine without any boundaries. The Light of Truth was to guide him at all times-in thick and thin. The flash of Guru ji's sword had revived the dying soul of India. A soul, saturated with the holy mission of helping mankind was born.

Defining the Khalsa with his own pen Guru Gobind Singh ji writes : He whose mind dwells, night & day, on the ever-effulgent light and who gives not a moment's thought to ought, but the One, who wears Perfect Love, with faith, and believes not even mistakenly in fasting, tombs, crematoriums and hermitages, nor in pilgrimage, nor customary charities, nor a set code of self-discipline, and believes in the One alone and not another : And when God's Light illumines perfectly his heart, then he is known a Khalsa, purest of the pure ! The Khalsa was infused with the spirit of caring for the welfare of the whole universe and desiring nothing in return, except His love.

The Tenth Master further writes with his pen :

"He who keeps the Light of the Divine Life,

The Torch of Truth,

Burning for all the twenty-four hours,

In the Shrine of his heart,

He alone is to be deemed,

As the pure Khalsa."

Sir Dr. Gokal Chand Narang writes : "The creation of Khalsa is the culmination of Guru Nanak's genius. The harvest which ripened in the time of Guru Gobind Singh ji was sown by Guru Nanak Dev ji and watered by his successors. The sword which carved the Khalsa's way to glory was undoubtedly forged by Gobind, but the steel had been provided by Nanak.

"A universal man of God belonging to one class, caste, colour and creed was created by Amrit of the Tenth Master. The Khalsa exuberates with the glories, virtues and powers of the infinite. He was completely transmuted and transformed by the Amrit irrespective of his caste, creed or beliefs. The Khalsa does not strike any fear in another, nor does he fear any : The path of truth is always full of thorns, and it is the path laid by the Guru for his Khalsa. He told them never to shirk or waver following this arduous path. Good deeds always demand sacrifices, but the Khalsa would follow it undaunted and unswerving.

To the astonishment of everyone the Guru seated the Beloved five on his throne and requested them to initiate him as a member of the, "Khalsa Brotherhood."

It is a unique event in the history of mankind when a Prophet or Avtar has implored his own disciples for grant of spiritual gift.

The Beloved five sat in a group and prepared Amrit in the same manner as the Master had done. With clasped hands the Master begged for the Amrit of the Guru and conformed upon him the same discipline and way of living. His name was changed from Gobind Rai to Gobind Singh. Thus writes Bhai Gurdas ji : Wonderful is Guru Gobind Singh, himself the Master and himself the disciple. The Master and the disciple became one."