Amritdhari Sikhs and Sahajdhari Sikhs
A Sikh who has been initiated into the Khalsa. are individuals who have gone through the The rite of initiation into the Khalsa (Sikhs who commit themselves to a daily discipline). initiation ceremony. These Sikhs belong to the The Sikh community, literally 'the community of the pure'. Refers particularly to initiated Sikhs.. They wear the Five articles which identify a Sikh who has been initiated into the Khalsa., pay The Sikh practice in the giving of money (a tenth of one's income) in the name of the Guru to help those who are poorer / less well off. and follow the other rules of the Alternate spelling: Rehat Maryada. The Sikh Code of Conduct., which is the Sikh code of conduct.
Many people who belong to the Congregation in a Sikh gurdwara. are not Amritdhari Sikhs. It is not a requirement of the sangat to be a Khalsa Sikh. Anyone who is part of a Sikh family can be part of the sangat, regardless of whether they have been through the Amrit Sanskar ceremony. Sahajdhari Sikhs are individuals who believe in the The spiritual teachers in Sikhism, from Guru Nanak (1469–1539) to Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708). and worship the The Guru Granth Sahib is the most important Sikh holy book. It is a collection of songs, prayers and hymns from the Sikh Gurus and other holy men, as well as teachings from other faiths. It is treated as a living Guru. but have not been initiated into the Khalsa. These Sikhs are just as much a part of the sangat as Khalsa Sikhs.
The five Ks
Amritdhari Sikhs must follow the rules of the Alternate spelling: Rehat Maryada. The Sikh Code of Conduct.. One of the rules Amridhari Sikhs must follow is to wear the five Ks at all times. The five Ks are a daily reminder of the Sikh faith. They are used to help Sikhs remember their responsibility as a member of the Khalsa and focus on their daily actions.
However, many Sahajdahri Sikhs often wear some or all of the five Ks too.
The five Ks are:
| Kesh | Uncut hair | Sikhs believe that the hair is a gift from God. They believe it was intended to be worn naturally and so it must not be cut. Sikhs often wear a turban to keep it clean. However, the turban is not one of the five Ks. |
| Kanga | Wooden comb | Sikhs carry this around to help them keep themselves tidy. It also helps them to remember that they must keep themselves in a clean and tidy state both physically and mentally. |
| Kara | Steel bracelet | Because it is a circle, the kara represents the eternal nature of God. It reminds Sikhs of the unbreakable relationship they have with God. It is a reminder that they must do the work of Waheguru at all times and avoid the vices (pride, greed, lust, anger and attachment to material possessions). |
| Kaccha | Cotton underwear | This plain, comfortable underwear is a reminder that Sikhs must show self-control and chastity, which means they cannot undertake sexual activity unless they are married. It also reminds them not to commit adultery. |
| Kirpan | Small sword | Sikhs carry around this small sword to represent their duty to protect and defend their faith. It reminds Sikhs to always fight for justice and protect the weak. It must never be used in anger. |
| Kesh |
| Uncut hair |
| Sikhs believe that the hair is a gift from God. They believe it was intended to be worn naturally and so it must not be cut. Sikhs often wear a turban to keep it clean. However, the turban is not one of the five Ks. |
| Kanga |
| Wooden comb |
| Sikhs carry this around to help them keep themselves tidy. It also helps them to remember that they must keep themselves in a clean and tidy state both physically and mentally. |
| Kara |
| Steel bracelet |
| Because it is a circle, the kara represents the eternal nature of God. It reminds Sikhs of the unbreakable relationship they have with God. It is a reminder that they must do the work of Waheguru at all times and avoid the vices (pride, greed, lust, anger and attachment to material possessions). |
| Kaccha |
| Cotton underwear |
| This plain, comfortable underwear is a reminder that Sikhs must show self-control and chastity, which means they cannot undertake sexual activity unless they are married. It also reminds them not to commit adultery. |
| Kirpan |
| Small sword |
| Sikhs carry around this small sword to represent their duty to protect and defend their faith. It reminds Sikhs to always fight for justice and protect the weak. It must never be used in anger. |
