 Sword Of The Khalsa  |
Sword Of The Khalsa
S.S. Jot Singh Khalsa
Millis MA, U.S.A.
It was December, 1997, at our Winter Solstice celebration in Florida that the Siri Singh Sahib Yogi Bhajan first began talking to me about a long, curved sword he wanted me to make. In March, 1998, the Siri Singh Sahib came to teach at our ashram in Millis, Massachusetts. During his stay, the details of the sword I would be making began to emerge. The Siri Singh Sahib explained that this must be a very royal and special sword to honor the Tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, and the 300th anniversary of the birth of the Khalsa, and that it must have the entire bani (daily prayer) Jaap Sahib engraved on its scabbard, which is the sheath of the sword.
I enlisted the help of several artisan colleagues with the needed craftsmanship, and we also enlisted the help of the sangat around the world to contribute time and money. Not surprisingly, all the resources needed for this special sword were made available. I endeavored to remain mindful of the privilege and blessing I was participating in by creating this special sword.
Over the next six months, I forged the pattern-welded nickel Damascus steel blade. It is the largest sword I have ever made, with a full 36" blade. A craftsman from Arizona cut stylized panels into the blade, and then we inlaid 24K gold design work around these panels. At the Siri Singh Sahib's direction, we laser engraved several phrases, including "Sovereign Spiritual Khalsa Nation," "Sikh Dharma - Western Hemisphere," "Great, Great, Great, Great Guru Gobind Singh - Father of the Nation," "Mata Sahib Deva Kaur - Mother of the Khalsa," the names of the Five Beloved Ones (those who gave their heads to Guru Gobind Singh on Baisakhi 1699), and the names of the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh.
The white gold handle design, which is studded with diamond, amethyst, and peridot gem stones, is graced with a falcon head, with large rhodolite garnet eyes, at the back end of the handle. Jade panels are on the handle in front of the falcon head, and next are two 18K gold portraits of Guru Gobind Singh, one on horseback, and one a portrait, encircled by diamonds.
The Siri Singh Sahib further directed that six scenes from the life of Guru Gobind Singh would be on the scabbard in detailed sculpted and hand-engraved oval panels cast in 18K yellow gold that are set in white gold frames. In between these scenes is the entire Jaap Sahib, as the Siri Singh Sahib had directed, laser-engraved in yellow-gold.
This holy sword will be held in a box made of a beautiful wood called flame birch. This particular wood was growing in North America in 1699, the year Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa in Anandpur Sahib, India. This flame birch wood was submerged in Lake Superior, one of the Great Lakes of the northern United States, for over 150 years. On the lid of this special box will be a panel engraved with the names of all those who have contributed to the making of this sword.
The last thing needed to properly convey this honorable sword to Anandpur Sahib for the 300th anniversary was a palki sahib, and we received a donation for this purpose. This noble "Sword of the Khalsa" will be carried in a historical procession to its home at Keshgar Sahib Gurdwara in Anandpur Sahib. The Siri Singh Sahib said that "this kirpan shall be our identity leader, and we shall follow as a sangat, just as the universe follows Adi Shakti."
For me, making this sword has been a personal meditation for 18 months, and funding this sword has been an international effort. As we have experienced, the Khalsa has been Guru's meditation for over 300 years, carried on a palki of courage and sacrifice. In gratitude for this heritage of grace, royalty, and sacrifice, and by Guru's grace, it will be our great honor to offer this "Sword of the Khalsa" to the home of Guru Gobind Singh in Anandpur Sahib in April, 1999. There, where Sikhs of all nations will be coming to answer the call of the "Master of Unity," may we pray together that Guru will continue to bless the Panth Khalsa with grace and nobility.