THE KIRPAN

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THE KIRPAN
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The Kirpan

• An emblem of courage and self-defense
• Symbolizes dignity and self-reliance - the
  capacity and readiness to always defend the weak
  and the oppressed
• Helps sustain one's martial spirit and the
  determination to sacrifice oneself in order to
  defend truth, oppression and moral values
• Initiated Sikhs wear a strapped kirpan as
  mandated by Sikh Rehat Maryada

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Etymology

• 'KIRPA' 'AAN'. 'Kirpa' means an act of
  kindness, a favor and 'aan' means honor,
  respect, self-respect.
• To call it a dagger or knife is rather insulting
  to this article of faith, which functions quite
  differently from the other two.

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Historical Overview

• Made a mandatory article of faith for all
  initiated Sikhs on March 29, 1699 by Guru Gobind
  Singh, the tenth and the last Sikh prophet. The
  Sikh Gurus uplifted the downtrodden and
  impoverished masses which represented the low
  castes and were brutally victimized by higher
  castes.
• Sikhs carried kirpans as an assertion of their
  identity in defiance to the state ordinance
  imposed by authorities who once ruled South Asia
  and opposed the Sikh articles of faith. Since
  they were sentenced to death if caught, only
  those who had strong convictions dared to become
  Sikhs.
• Kirpan legalized by the British and exempted from
  Arms Act in July 1911
• Judge Painter in Ohio, concurring in a judicial
  opinion in 1996 wrote, To be a Sikh is to wear a
  kirpan--it is that simple. (http//www.sikhcoalit
  ion.org/LegalUS6.asp)

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Significance

• Represents transcendental knowledge that cuts
  through ignorance, as described in the Sikh
  scripture, Guru Granth Sahib
• "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. The Name of the
  Lord abides within my mind I contemplate the
  Word of the Guru's hymns." (Guru Ram Das, Maru,
  pg. 1087)
• Acts as a constant reminder to its bearer that a
  Sikh must protect the weak and fight against all
  forms of injustice
• Makes up part of a Sikhs religious uniform or
  body - without it, a Sikh feels handicapped

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Mandatory Article of Faith

• Mandated by religion, all initiated Sikhs must
  carry the five articles of faith, which include
  the kirpan.
• Have, on your person, all the time, the five
  Ks 
• the Keshas (unshorn hair)
• the Kirpan (sheathed sword) --The length of the
  sword to be worn cannot be limited
• the Kachhehra -- drawers like garment may be made
  from any cloth, but its legs should not reach
  down to below the shins
• the Kanga (comb) 
• the Karha (steel bracelet)."
• -- The Sikh Rehit Maryada (Code of
  Conduct)

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Facts on Kirpan

• US, Canadian and British courts have always
  upheld Sikhs right to wear the Kirpan as an
  article of faith
• Sikhs have won all known Kirpan cases that have
  gone to court in the United States and Canada
  some cases have been dismissed by the courts that
  have recognized it as an article of faith
• According to the Sikh code of conduct, the kirpan
  is to be worn using a gatra (a strap that enables
  a kirpan to be suspended near one's waist or
  tucked inside one's belt).  The implication of
  this explicit requirement is that the kirpan
  can't be worn as a symbol.  To neglect to wear
  one or more of the Five Ks represents a serious
  lapse in the Sikh religion.