SABD GURU ON SWORD/ਖੜਗੁ

ABSTRACT

A Sikh should wear a sword/kirpan of spiritual wisdom. Kirpan’s size has come down from 42 

inches to 4 to 6 inches. Its ancient use as a defensive weapon is out of date in view of the present 

technologically of superior weapons. Should one have to protect self or some one; a more sophisticated

 weapon can do the job. During my life time I have not seen it being used as a defensive weapon to 

save some one but is definitely been used often in Gurudwara fights leading to legal consequences and 

dragging the name of Sikhs in media down the drain. Emotionally wearing it for show of spirituality 

it can be a few inches long and preferably stitched in. When flying now a days they willingly 

surrender it to authorities during the flight, otherwise walking or riding a horse will take them years to 

reach the west.

Why it cannot be worn as a small symbol in a chain around the neck or some where else since it cannot

 be used for defensive purposes in the present context? Using it as a small symbol in a comb or necklace

 can fulfill the emotional and religious needs of the Sikhs as I did in my youth. 

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The word sword/double edged sword has been used in Sabd Guru for Virtue, Spiritual wisdom, Spiritual path, Name of the God. Here few references;

ਤਰਕਸ ਤੀਰ ਕਮਾਣ ਸਾਂਗ ਤੇਗਬੰਦ ਗੁਣ ਧਾਤੁ ॥

ਵਾਜਾ ਨੇਜਾ ਪਤਿ ਸਿਉ ਪਰਗਟੁ ਕਰਮੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਮੇਰੀ ਜਾਤਿ ॥੩॥

Ŧarkas ṯīr kamāṇ sāʼng ṯėgbanḏ guṇ ḏẖāṯ. vājā nejā paṯ si▫o pargat karam ṯerā merī jāṯ. ||3||

The pursuit of virtue is my bow and arrow, my quiver, sword and scabbard. To be distinguished with honor is my drum and banner. Your Mercy is my social status.-----Guru Nanak, Siri Raag, AGGS, Page, 16-17

ਕਾਮੁ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੁ ਨਿਵਾਰੇ ॥

ਤਸਕਰ ਪੰਚ ਸਬਦਿ ਸੰਘਾਰੇ ॥

ਗਿਆਨ ਖੜਗੁ ਲੈ ਮਨ ਸਿਉ ਲੂਝੈ ਮਨਸਾ ਮਨਹਿ ਸਮਾਈ ਹੇ ॥

Kām kroḏẖ ahaʼnkār nivāre.Ŧaskar pancẖ sabaḏ sangẖāre. Gi-aan Kharhag Lai Man Si-o Loojhai Mansaa Maneh Samaa-ee Hay.

Eradicating sexual desire, anger, egotism, one destroys the five thieves through the Word of the Sabd. With sword of spiritual wisdom gained through Guru’s teachings one can curb false worldly desires, vicious thoughts in the mind.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Maru, AGGS, Page, 1022-13

ਖੰਡੇ ਧਾਰ ਗਲੀ ਅਤਿ ਭੀੜੀ ॥

ਲੇਖਾ ਲੀਜੈ ਤਿਲ ਜਿਉ ਪੀੜੀ ॥

Kẖandė ḏẖār galī aṯ bẖīṛī. Lėkẖā lījai ṯil ji­o pīṛī.

The spiritual path is very narrow, like the sharp edge of a sword. When his account is read, he shall be crushed like the sesame seed in the mill.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Maru, AGGS, Page,1028-7

ਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਅਤਿ ਖੜਗੁ ਕਰਾਰਾ ॥

ਦੂਜਾ ਭ੍ਰਮੁ ਗੜੁ ਕਟਿਆ ਮੋਹੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਅਹੰਕਾਰਾ ॥

Gur Tay Gi-aan Paa-i-aa At Kharhag Karaaraa. Ḏūjā bẖaram gaṛ kati­ā moh lobẖ ahaʼnkārā.

From the Guru, I have obtained the supremely powerful sword of spiritual wisdom. I have cut down the fortress of duality and doubt, attachment, greed and egotism.-----Guru Amar Das, Raag Maru, AGGS, Page, 1087-4

ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਵਡਭਾਗੀਆ ਤੂੰ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਰਤਨੁ ਸਮਾਲਿ ॥

ਗੁਰ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਖੜਗੁ ਹਥਿ ਧਾਰਿਆ ਜਮੁ ਮਾਰਿਅੜਾ ਜਮਕਾਲਿ ॥

Man karhalā vadbẖāgī▫ā ṯūʼn gi▫ān raṯan samāl Gur Gi-aan Kharhag Hath Dhaari-aa Jam Maari-arhaa Jamkaal.

O camel-like mind, you are so very fortunate; dwell upon the jewel of spiritual wisdom. You hold in your hands the sword of the Guru's spiritual wisdom the destroyer of death, kill the Messenger of Death. -----Guru Amar Das, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 235-4

ਲਬੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੁ ਤਜਿ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਬੋਲਣਾ ॥

ਖੰਨਿਅਹੁ ਤਿਖੀ ਵਾਲਹੁ ਨਿਕੀ ਏਤੁ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਜਾਣਾ ॥

Lab lobẖ ahaʼnkār ṯaj ṯarisnā bahuṯ nāhī bolṇā.Kẖanni­ahu ṯikẖī vālahu nikī ėṯ mārag jāṇā.

Devotees renounce greed, avarice, egotism and desire; they do not talk too much. The path they take is sharper than a two-edged sword, and finer than a hair.-----Guru Amar Das, Raag Ramkali, AGGS, Page, 918-19

ਗਿਆਨ ਖੜਗ ਪੰਚ ਦੂਤ ਸੰਘਾਰੇ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਜਾਗੈ ਸੋਇ ॥

ਨਾਮ ਰਤਨੁ ਪਰਗਾਸਿਆ ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਹੋਇ ॥

Gi­ān kẖaṛag pancẖ ḏūṯ sangẖārė gurmaṯ jāgai so­ė. Nām raṯan pargāsi▫ā man ṯan nirmal ho▫e.

With the sword of spiritual wisdom, kill the five demons. Remain awake and aware to the Guru's Teachings. The Jewel of the Naam is revealed, and the mind and body are purified.-----Guru Amar Das, Raag Sloke Varan To Vadheek, AGGS, Page, 1414-6

ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਨੋ ਅਪੜਿ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਸਕਈ ਜਿਸੁ ਵਲਿ ਸਿਰਜਣਹਾਰਿਆ ॥

ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਕਾ ਖੜਗੁ ਸੰਜੋਉ ਹਰਿ ਭਗਤਿ ਹੈ ਜਿਤੁ ਕਾਲੁ ਕੰਟਕੁ ਮਾਰਿ ਵਿਡਾਰਿਆ ॥

Saṯgurū no apaṛ ko▫e na sak▫ī jis val sirjaṇhāri▫ā.Saṯgurū kā kẖaṛag sanjo­o har bẖagaṯ hai jiṯ kāl kantak mār vidāri­ā.

No one can equal the True Guru; the Creator is on His side. Devotional worship of God is the sword and armor of the True Guru; he  has killed and cast out Death, the torturer.-----Guru Ram Das, Raag, AGGS, Page, 312-13

ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਿਨੀ ਆਰਾਧਿਆ ਤਿਨ ਕੇ ਦੁਖ ਪਾਪ ਨਿਵਾਰੇ ॥

ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਗਿਆਨ ਖੜਗੁ ਹਥਿ ਦੀਨਾ ਜਮਕੰਕਰ ਮਾਰਿ ਬਿਦਾਰੇ ॥

Har har nām jinī ārāḏẖi▫ā ṯin ke ḏukẖ pāp nivāre.Saṯgur gi­ān kẖaṛag hath ḏīnā jamkankar mār biḏārė.

Those who contemplate the Name of the God, got  rid of their suffering and sins. True Guru has placed the sword of spiritual wisdom in my hands; I have overcome and slain the Messenger of Death.-----Guru Ram Das, Raag Vadhans, AGGS, Page, 574-14

ਮਾਨ ਮੋਹ ਮੇਰ ਤੇਰ ਬਿਬਰਜਿਤ ਏਹੁ ਮਾਰਗੁ ਖੰਡੇ ਧਾਰ ॥

ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਤਿਨਿ ਭਵਜਲੁ ਤਰੀਅਲੇ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਸੰਤ ਸੰਗਾਰ ॥੪॥੧॥੩੧॥

Mān moh mėr ṯėr bibarjiṯ ėhu mārag kẖandė ḏẖār. Kaho Nānak ṯin bẖavjal ṯarī▫ale parabẖ kirpā sanṯ sangār. ||4||1||31||

To forsake pride, emotional attachment, and the sense of 'mine and yours', is the path of the double-edged sword. Says Nanak, they alone swim across the terrifying world-ocean, who, by God's Grace, join the Society of the Saints. ||4||1||31||-----Guru Arjan, Raag Devgandhari, AGGS, Page, 534-13

ਗਰੀਬੀ ਗਦਾ ਹਮਾਰੀ ॥

ਖੰਨਾ ਸਗਲ ਰੇਨ ਛਾਰੀ ॥

ਇਸੁ ਆਗੈ ਕੋ ਨ ਟਿਕੈ ਵੇਕਾਰੀ ॥

ਗੁਰ ਪੂਰੇ ਏਹ ਗਲ ਸਾਰੀ ॥

Gareebee Gadda Hamaree, Khanna Sagal Rayn Chaari, Iss Aagai Ko Na Tikai Vaykaaree,Gur Pooray Ayh Gal Saaree.

Humility is my mace, and being the dust of all men’s feet is my two edged sword, which no evildoer can withstand. The matter has been arranged by the perfect Guru.-----Guru Arjan, Raag Sorath, AGGS, Page, 628-13

ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਕੋਟਿ ਲਖ ਬਾਹਾ ॥

ਹਰਿ ਜਸੁ ਕੀਰਤਨੁ ਸੰਗਿ ਧਨੁ ਤਾਹਾ ॥

ਗਿਆਨ ਖੜਗੁ ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਦੀਨਾ ਦੂਤ ਮਾਰੇ ਕਰਿ ਧਾਈ ਹੇ ॥

Har kā nām kot lakẖ bāhā.Har jas kīrṯan sang ḏẖan ṯāhāGi-aan Kharhag Kar Kirpaa Deenaa Doot Maaray Kar Dhaa-ee Hay.

One who has the Name of the God has hundreds of thousands and millions of arms. The wealth of singing of the God's Praises is with him. In Its Mercy, God has blessed me with the sword of spiritual wisdom; I have attacked and killed the demons.-----Guru Arjan, Maru Sohlay, AGGS, Page, 1072-2

ਵਾਟ ਹਮਾਰੀ ਖਰੀ ਉਡੀਣੀ ॥

ਖੰਨਿਅਹੁ ਤਿਖੀ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਪਿਈਣੀ ॥

vāt hamārī kẖarī udīṇī. Kẖanni­ahu ṯikẖī bahuṯ pi­īṇī.

The righteous spiritual path is very arduous and difficult as it is sharp and narrow like a two edged sword.-----Sheikh Farid, Raag Suhi, AGGS, Page, 794-15

Conclusion:

IMHO a Sikh should wear a sword of spiritual wisdom or a small symbol consistent with local laws fulfilling the religious feelings.

Question arises that how come Sikhs can take their 5 K's with them after death (Of course not-two different standards) while a Brahmin could not take his sacred thread with him after death says Guru Nanak after death;

ਸਿਖਾ ਕੰਨਿ ਚੜਾਈਆ ਗੁਰੁ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣੁ ਥਿਆ ॥

ਓਹੁ ਮੁਆ ਓਹੁ ਝੜਿ ਪਇਆ ਵੇਤਗਾ ਗਇਆ ॥

Sikẖā kann cẖaṛā▫ī▫ā gur barāhmaṇ thi▫ā.Oh mu▫ā oh jẖaṛ pa▫i▫ā veṯgā ga▫i▫ā.

Whispering instructions into others' ears, the Brahmin becomes a guru. Brahman dies, and the sacred thread falls away, and the soul departs without it.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 471-5 

ਵੇਤਗਾ ਆਪੇ ਵਤੈ ॥

ਵਟਿ ਧਾਗੇ ਅਵਰਾ ਘਤੈ ॥

veṯgā āpe vaṯai. vat ḏẖāge avrā gẖaṯai.

The Brahmin himself goes to the world hereafter without a sacred thread. Twisting the threads, he puts them on others.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 471-10