Tankhanama: Who is a Khalsa? Do's and Don'ts for a Sikh and consequences faced with these actions

TANKHANAMA BHAI NAND LAL JI - THE CODE OF DISCIPLINE BHAI NAND LAL JI

Image 1: First part of Tankhanama

Questions by Bhai Nand Lal Ji and Answers by Guru Gobind Singh Ji

Note:

Tankha = According to Mahan Kosh by Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha, Tankha means religious punishment given to a Sikh who has violated the rehat given by the Guru. Since Gurgaddi was passed to Guru Granth Sahib Ji, tankha is given by Panj Pyare in the presence of Guru Sahib, where a Sikh or an Amritdhari comes forward and admits his/her mistake done. The Panj Pyare will then collectively give a tankha, for a certain period of time, and the tankha varies from reading extra Bani daily, or doing sewa daily in the Gurdwara etc. The main idea through tankha is to reconnect us with Guru and Sikhi, and to remind us not to repeat the mistake.  

Dohra

Nand Lal asked, ‘O Guru, please tell me,

Which actions are acceptable and which are not appropriate for a Sikh.1.

Nand Lal! Listen to my words; these are the behavior of a Sikh,

Without Naam, charity, mental and physical purity, a Sikh should not savour food.2.

Chaupaee

One who does not go into Satsangat in the early morning, will be penalised.

One who goes into the Satsangat half-heartedly, will not be able to find refuge anywhere.3.

While listening to katha and kirtan, one starts talking, says Gobind Singh, that person goes to hell.

If one comes across a poor person and does not help him/her, that person is a Tankhahi (religious delinquent).4.

One who speaks without the knowledge of Shabad Guru, will gain nothing.

One who does not bow in reverence to Shabad Guru, will not have glimpse of the Primal Being.5.

Dohra

One who distributes Prasadh, but has greed in the mind,

Gives little to some and more to others, that person will always remain in agony.6.

Listen to the method of making Karah Prasaadh (Holy Pudding), take three components (sugar, flour,ghee) in equal quantity.

Sweep and plaster the floor, scrub the floor and wash the utensils.7.

Take a shower and wear clean clothes. Do not say anything apart from Vaheguru.

Take an iron pitcher and fill it with clean water. Gobind Singh says, that body who does as told is blessed.

Once the Karah Prasaadh is ready, place it on a stool. Kirtan should be done and heard from all four directions.8.

Dohra

One who places the seal of the Turks on his head, and places his sword at the feet of the Turks,

Gobind Singh says, O’ Lal Ji, that person will die again and again.9. 

Chaupaee

One who does not go into holy congregation, distributes the sacred pudding(Karah Prasaadh) without any code of conduct,

One who wears red (bright colours) and takes snuff (powdered tobacco), Gobind Singh says, he shall be punished by the Messengers of Death.10.

If women equivalent to mothers and sisters come into Sangat, one looks at them with evil and lustful eyes,

A Sikh who is hot-tempered, who does not bestow his daughter in proper marriage,

One who takes money from daughters and sisters, will be pushed around by the Messengers of Death.11.

A Sikh who walks around without iron arms/weapon, will suffer in the cycle of life and death.

One who takes the possessions of a guest, all his worship and prayers become useless.12.

Sorthaa

Comb your hair twice a day, wear you turban layer by layer.

Brush your teeth daily, and you shall not suffer any pain, Lal Ji.13.

Dohra

One who never gives one-tenth of their earning, and earns a living through falsehood.

Gobind Singh says, O’Lal Ji, that person should never be trusted.14.

Chaupaee

One who does not shower with cold water, and eats before doing Jap Ji Sahib,

Spends the evening without doing Rehraas, and without reciting Sohila, goes to sleep.15.

One who disrupts other’s affairs through gossip, cursed is the life who renounces righteousness.

One who does not fulfill the promises made, that person will not gain honour anywhere.16.

One who eats meat from the hands of Turks, who utters words other than GurShabad,

One who listens to Triya Raag, Listen, O’Lal, that person will go to hell.17.

One who commences a task without doing Ardaas (supplication), eats without offering first,

One who takes unwanted belongings, and bring another’s wife to his bed.18.

One who sees a guest coming, but does not offer anything to them, will not be honoured in the court of Vaheguru.

One who does not listen to kirtan and katha whole heartedly, speaks rudely to a Saint or a Sikh.19.

One who indulges in slandering, gambling and takes other’s belongings forcefully, that person will suffer the pain of death.

Do not listen to the slander of your Guru, take your kirpan and cut the head of the slanderer.20.

Dohra

One who does not keep a charity cashbox (keeping one-tenth of your earning aside for Guru) and indulges in deceitful trade,

Gobind Singh says, O’Lal Ji, that person will suffer in thousands of hell.21.

A Sikh who eats without uttering Vaheguru first,  who goes to the house of a prostitute,

Who has love affair with another’s wife, Gobind Singh says, he is not my Sikh.22.

One who has affair with the wife of the Guru, and is deceitful, that person is a great sinner.

One who forsakes the Guru and begs from others, and sleeps at night with no clothes.23.

One who indulges in sexual activity naked, or while naked, takes a shower,

One who walks around naked, who eats bare headed,

Who distributes sacred pudding bare-headed, that person is a sinner.24.

Savaiyaa

One who forsakes the teachings of the Guru, listens and follows other’s teachings,

There is no place for that person in this world and hereafter, that person will suffer in hell.

That person will suffer in the hands of death, day and night that person will go through pain.

That person will go through cycle of life and death, and get beaten by the Messenger of Death.25.

Dohra

Know that all the creation belong to the Creator, and never offend the creation.

If the creation is in pain, Nand Lal, then the Creator will be offended.26.

Chaupaee

Khalsa is the one who forsakes slander. Khalsa is the one who fights at the forefront.

Khalsa is the one who destroys the five evil. Khalsa is the one who destroys doubt.27.

Khalsa is the one who forsakes ego. Khalsa is the one who stays far from another’s wife.

Khalsa is the one who forsakes another’s teachings. Khalsa is the one who is coloured in Naam.28.

Khalsa is the one who loves Gurbani. Khalsa is the one who eats in steel.

Khalsa is the one who protects the poor. Khalsa is the one who destroys enemies.29.

Khalsa is the one who recites and remembers Naam. Khalsa is the one who fights the sinners.

Khalsa is the one who connects others to Naam. Khalsa is the one who breaks all worldly attachments.30.

Khalsa is the one who rides on horses. Khalsa is the one who constantly fights the evil.

Khalsa is the one who adorns weapons. Khalsa is the one who destroys enemies.31.

Dohra

Everyone exclaims to the Timeless Being, no one cares about the slanderes.

The forest and mountains in all three worlds will remember the Timeless Being.32.

Chaupaee

Listen Nand Lal! This is the truth. I will reveal my reign in this world

I will bring all the four caste into one and get everyone to remember Vaheguru.33.

The Sikhs will ride horses and fly falcons. Seeing this, the Turks will run away in fear.

I will make one Khalsa fight a hundred and twenty five thousand enemies, and these Singhs will be liberated.34.

Spears will be waved and elephants will be decorated. Drums will be beaten at each and every door.

When a hundred and twenty-five thousands candles are lighted, know that the Khalsa has attained victory.35.

Dohra

Khalsa will rule, and there will be no enemies left.

All will be joined under one banner, and those who come into the sanctuary of the Guru will be saved.36.

This is the instruction of the Guru, if the son of a Sikh shaves his head, his lineage will be ruined.If a shaven one becomes a Sikh, his lineage will prosper.

-THIS MARKS THE COMPLETION OF THE CODE OF DISCIPLINE-

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Images 2-5: Tankhanama Bhai Nand Lal Ji as compiled by Piara Singh Padam

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