Photo by Sabkushtera – Wikimedia Commons.
What is a “Soldier-Saint?”
Sant Sipahi can be translated as “Spiritual Warrior.” Sikhs are encouraged to learn and practice martial arts to help them conquer their fear and become non-violent in the truest sense of the word: without fear and without anger (nirbhao, nirvair).
The principle of true “ahimsa” (non-violence) is to actively prevent violence, not to simply stand by idly while violence is being done. To that end, a Sikh assumes the responsibility for preventing violence and for protecting a defenseless person.
That is done with the minimum force required. Most often, words can resolve the problem because of a Sikh’s forceful projection. If a Sikh is forced to fight, it is always in self-defense or defense of another person, never in aggression.
The spiritual practice of martial arts originated in the Orient and has more recently spread to the West. A fundamental tenet of martial arts training is that a martial artist never initiates violence, but redirects violent energy directed against him in order to neutralize a destructive attack.
In the time of Guru Gobind Singh, Sikhs were under frequent attack by chieftains and emperors who were only interested in earthly power and material gain. The Guru’s army was often victorious in the face of almost incredible odds, and was always kind and compassionate to wounded enemies, and to the families of enemies killed in battle.
Guru Gobind Singh himself dealt with his opponents with grace, compassion, wisdom and strength. To the spiritual warrior, the true enemies are fear, ignorance, hatred, and the illusion of separateness.
Sikhs continue to practice Gatka, a Sikh martial art form originating in North India, to this day.
Listening to or reciting Guru Gobind Singh’s bani is a powerful way to connect to the energy of Sant Sipahi.
Click Here to Listen to the Bani of Guru Gobind Singh Ji (Dasam Bani) on YouTube
The Sikh Kirpan
The Kirpan, or sacred sword, is one of the five Sikh articles of faith, commonly referred to as the “5K’s.” It is an emblem of dignity, power and self-respect. It is not just a “sword,” but a combination of “kirpa” (kindness) and “aan” (dignity).The symbol of the sword (kirpan) reminds Sikhs to cut through the illusion of separation and fight injustice with courage, clarity and strength.
Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru, explained that while the sword is used in anger or to take revenge, the kirpan is only used in grace and dignity to protect the honor of oneself or of those who cannot protect themselves. As a symbol, it inspires respect for weapons and the highest sense of responsibility to God, Guru and humanity.
A Sikh’s kirpan is used only as a last resort, when all other efforts towards achieving peace and right actions have been exhausted. Each Sikh is a saint first, but when one’s sainthood is attacked, one must be a soldier. Currently, in situations in which it is illegal to carry a sword, Sikhs carry a small symbolic kirpan.
How and Why did the Sikh Martial Tradition Develop?
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
In 1594, Baba Buddha, a revered and holy Sikh, prophesied the coming of the change in the Sikh community to Mata Ganga, the wife of Guru Arjan, the fifth Sikh Guru. Mata Ganga had come to ask Baba Buddha to bless her so that she could have a child. Baba Buddha gave her his blessings, and as he blessed her, he spoke of the coming need for the Sikhs to take up arms.
Mata Ganga soon bore a son. The child was named “Hargobind,” and it was this child’s destiny to bring about the great transformation of the Sikhs. When Hargobind was old enough, his father told him that he was to become the next Guru, and that he must break with certain traditions of his predecessors that would no longer serve the Sikhs. He must sit on the throne fully armed, and maintain a standing army. The time came that Hargobind was to be installed as the next Sikh Guru.
Obeying his father’s words, Hargobind asked during the ceremony to be invested with a sword. Baba Buddha, who was unfamiliar with military ways, mistakenly placed the weapon on the right side. Hargobind kept it there, however, and asked that another sword be brought to hang upon his left. These two swords came to signify mastery over the earthly and the heavenly realms. Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru, became known as “Miri Piri Da Malik”— King of the temporal and spiritual realms.
Guru Hargobind explained the sword on his left, which he called “Miri” (earth), represented earthly power, worldly leadership, and guidance; while the sword on his right was named “Piri” (heaven) and symbolized spiritual authority and power.
His purpose was not to mix religion with politics, but to defend the rights of the exploited people against the oppression of the rulers. Bringing religion into politics enabled the Mughals to persecute people. History has many examples of ruling classes oppressing people from behind the shield of religion.
With the two swords, he demonstrated we must live consciously in the physical world, although the spiritual realm is our real home.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Sikh Guru, strengthened the military tradition begun by Guru Hargobind. He created the “soldier-saint,” forging his Sikhs into an army of the “Khalsa,” or “pure ones,” free of caste, gender and prejudice. His measures were necessitated by the great oppression his Sikhs were suffering under the Mughal rule led by Emperor Aurangzeb. Much of his life was spent battling tyranny. Under his reign the Sikhs became known for their extraordinary powers in battle. One Sikh soldier, it was said, was worth 1.25 Lakh, or 125,000 of any other soldiery.
How can Sikhs Revere Life and yet Use Weapons of Death?
The martial tradition was not a part of the Sikh religion until the time of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind. The Mughals of his day were mercilessly persecuting the Hindus, Sikhs, and other peoples for practicing the religion of their choice. To counterbalance this persecution, the Sikhs were then taught and trained to fight for freedom of religion, for freedom from oppression, and for the rights of all those who are defenseless. The Tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, stated that the sword should only be used in honorable situations, and then only when all other methods have been tried and have failed.
How Can We Apply “Miri Piri” in Our Daily Lives?
In this video SS Sukhdev Kaur Khalsa teaches a workshop on “In Reality with Royalty: Guru Hargobind’s Concept of Miri Piri Applied to our Contemporary Lives,” defining the concept of Miri Piri, sharing the history of this concept and teaching how this beautiful concept can be applied in our daily lives.
~Resources: Living Reality (1994) by Bibiji Inderjit Kaur Khalsa, “Gatka” (Sikh Dharma International), “Guru Hargobind: Soldier-Saint” (Sikh Dharma International), “The 5K’s” (Sikh Dharma 101) and “The Path of the Soldier Saint” (Sikh Dharma International).
