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Concept
Amrit Sanskar
Summary
Amrit Sanskar (ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਸੰਸਕਾਰ, pronunciation: ãːmɾɦɪt̪ sә̃nskäːɚ, lit. ‘nectar ceremony’; also called Amrit Parchar, Amrit Sanchar, Khande di Pahul, or Khande Batte di Pahul (ਖੰਡੇ ਬਾਟੇ ਦੀ ਪਾਹੁਲ)) is one of the four Sikh Sanskaars. The Amrit Sanskar is the initiation rite introduced by Guru Gobind Singh when he founded the Khalsa in 1699.
A Sikh who has been initiated into the Khalsa ('pure'; the Sikh brotherhood) is considered to be Amritdhari (baptised) (amrit taker) or Khalsa ('pure'). Those who undergo initiation are expected to dedicate themselves to Waheguru (Almighty God) and work toward the establishment of the Khalsa Raj.
The original Sikh initiation ceremony, ever since the guruship period of Guru Nanak, was known as Charan-Pahul (ਚਰਨ-ਪਾਹੁਲ), Pagpahul, or Charan Amrit (ਚਰਨਾਮ੍ਰਿਤ). It involved pouring water over the toes of the Sikh guru and the initiates drinking that water. If the guru was not present in a certain area, water would be poured over the toes of the masand or sangatia responsible for the area of that particular manji (early Sikh religious administrative unit) and the initiates would drink that water instead. If neither the guru or a local religious head is present, such as in a distant or tiny community of Sikhs, then the initiate would dip their toe in water and the local congregation would drink it. This initiation ceremony finds mention in the Vaaran authored by Bhai Gurdas. The ceremony was a way of showing the humbleness of initiates to the faith. This practice continued until 1699, when it was replaced by Guru Gobind Singh's innovation.
Amrit Sanchar was formally initiated in 1699 when Gobind Singh established the order of the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib. The day is now celebrated as Vaisakhi. This tradition had come to replace the prior Sikh initiation ceremony, in which the initiate would drink water that the Guru or a masand (designated official representing the Guru) had dipped his foot in.
Guru Gobind Singh addressed the congregation from the entryway of a tent pitched on a hill (now called Kesgarh Sahib).
Official source
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