KHALSA MAHIMA

KHALSA MAHIMA, literally praise of the Khalsa, is a short poem by Guru Gobind Singh inserted at the end of the thirty-three Savaiyyc in the Dasam Granth. The language is Braj Bhasa, i.e. medieval Hindi of the Mathura Agra region. The setting is provided by an incident which occurred during a Divali feast Guru Gobind Singh gave at Anandpur. On that occasion the high caste Pandit Kesho was inivited to eat after the Khalsa had feasted.

Kesho fell slighted for, as a Brahman, lieshould have taken precedence over all others. Guru Gobind Singh uttered this hymn exalting the Khalsa: I have won my battles through the favour of my Sikhs; Through their favour have I been able to dispense largesse.Through their favour my troubles have receded, And through their favour my prosperity expanded. It is through their favour that I acquired knowledge.

Through their favour I subdued my enemies, Through their favour am I exalted, There are, else, millions of such humble persons as me. Let my body, my mind, my head, my wealth, and all that is mine Be dedicated to their service. As in the hukamndmds, in this poem also we see the deep fellow feeling that existed between Guru Gobind Singh and his Khalsa.

References :

1. Ashta, DharamPal, The Poetic of the Dnsam Grnntli. Delhi, 1959