Everything is You Maharaj: Spears, Tridents, Axes, Quivers, Arrows, Punch Daggers, other small blades, and Kirpaan. The Khalsa Warrior sees Vaheguru in all components of the Battlefield. To live and die in remembrance of Vaheguru. When the spear flies, the axes spins, the arrow pierces the air, the daggers are unsheathed... all Maharaj's Shakti/Power interacting.
Listen to this classic rendition of a chhand from Chandee Charithar describing the chaotic battlefield. Maharaj is pervading in each and every part of it!A Trisool/Trident motif found in multiple different Sikh Empire coins
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ਤੁਹੀ ਸੂਲ/Thuhee Sool...
Mehron Steek (similar definitions in Pandit Narayan Singh Steek, Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi Steek, Giani Bishan Singh Steek)
ਨੇਜਾ ਜਾਂ ਤ੍ਰਿਸੂਲ: Neja (Spear) or Thrisool (Trident)
Mahaan Kosh (also referred to by Giani Harbhajan Singh Dhudhike)
ਕੁਹਾੜਾ. ਛਵੀ. Kuharra. Chhavee. Various names for an axe
Mahaan Kosh
Farsi origin. ਛਵੀ. ਲੰਮਾ ਅਤੇ ਬਹੁਤ ਤੇਜ਼ ਗੰਡਾਸਾ Chavee. A long and really sharp Gandaasaa (Axe)
Axes play a role in multiple different spiritual traditions. In pre-Christian Indigenous Europe, the Axe of Deity Perun became popularized as a amulet. This includes Eastern Europe, Baltic region, and certain Scandinavian peoples. This axe was worn in devotion/worship. Learn more about Perun here: https://youtu.be/RIuuh9jQ4i4
Here is a 10th-12 century Axe of Perun amuletUnderstanding Karams through the example of bow and arrows, must listen!
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ਤੂ ਨਿਖੰਗ ਅਰੁ ਬਾਨ/Thoo Nikha[n]g Ar[u] Baan
Mehron Steek (similar definition in Giani Bishan Singh Steek, Pandit Narayan Singh Steek, Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi)
ਤੂੰ ਹੀ ਤੀਰ ਭਰਕੇ ਰਖਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਨਿਖੰਘ (ਭੱਥਾ) ਹੈਂ
ਅਤੇ ਤੁਹੀ ਭੱਥੇ ਵਿਚ ਪਾਕੇ ਰਖਣ ਵਾਲਾ (ਬਾਣ) ਹੈਂ
[Only] You are the One who keeps Arrows in the Form of a Quiver; And [Only] You are the One who is placed in a Quiver in the Form of Arrows
Mahaan Kosh
ਨਿਖੰਗ, ਸੰਗ੍ਯਾ- ਜਿਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਚੰਗੀ ਤਰਾਂ ਤੀਰ ਲਗਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ, ਭੱਥਾ Nikhang, meaning- that which Arrows are properly placed within, a Quiver
The Puratan Panj Shastars include the following as mentioned in Aarti-Aarta: ਤੀਰੋ ਤੁਫੰਗੋ ਬਡੋ ਰਾਮਜੰਗੋ ਧਮਕ ਧਾਰ ਅਣੀਆਰ ਕਮੰਦ ਕੋਰੜਾ ਪੰਜ ਸਸਤ੍ਰ ਪਰਵਾਨ॥ 1) ਤੀਰ-ਕਮਾਨ Teer Kamaan - Bow and Arrow 2) ਤੁਫੰਗ-ਬੰਦੂਕ ਜਾਂ ਰਾਮ-ਜੰਗ Tufang-Bandhook Jaa RaamJung - Loud Blasting Pistol 3) ਅਣੀਆਰ Aneeaar - Sharp edged barchha (spear) 4) ਕਮੰਦ Kamandh - Noose 5) ਕੋਰੜਾ Korarrha - Whip
The Bow/Arrow is the first of these 5 Shastars!
More information about another set of Punj Shastar can be read about in the translation of Giani Gurwinder Singh Ji's Twarikh Nihung Singhaa here
Kataar is a part of the Puratan Nishaan Sahib (the weapon at the bottom)
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ਤੁਹੀ ਕਟਾਰੀ/Thuhee Kataaree
Mehron Steek (Similar definition in Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi Steek, Pandit Narayan Singh Steek)
ਜਮਰਾਜ ਦਾ ਜਮਧੜ (ਕਟਾਰੀ) ਰੂਪ ਹੈ.
ਭਾਵ-ਤੁਹੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਕਟਾਰੀ ਹੈਂ King of Death/Jamraaj/Azraaeel/Grim Reaper’s Molar of Death = Kataari Form. Meaning : Only You are my KaTaar... You are my Everything, You are my Blade/Kirpaan.
Mahaan Kosh
ਕਟਾਰੀ; ਛੋਟਾ ਕੱਟਾਰ Kataaree = Small Kataar
ਕਟਾਰ, ਸੰਗ੍ਯਾ- ਇੱਕ ਦੁਧਾਰਾ ਛੋਟਾ ਸ਼ਸਤੂ, ਜੋ ਕਮਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਰੱਖੀਦਾ ਹੈ. Kataar, meaning - a small double-edged shastar, that which is kept in the Kamarkassa
Dhan Dhan Guru Nanak Dev Ji bless us with a humbling bachan for the horseback warriors: ਕਮਰਿ ਕਟਾਰਾ ਬੰਕੁੜਾ ਬੰਕੇ ਕਾ ਅਸਵਾਰੁ॥ Kamar[i] Kataaraa Ba[n]kurraa Ba[n]kae Kaa Asvaar[u] Having a Kataar by your waist, riding a beautiful horse ਗਰਬੁ ਨ ਕੀਜੈ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਮਤੁ ਸਿਰਿ ਆਵੈ ਭਾਰੁ॥੩॥ Garab[u] n Keejai Naanakaa Math[u] Sir[i] Aavai Bhaar[u] Dhan Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji: Don't be proud, you may fall on your head (Ang 956)
The Khalsa has to be aware of the ego that forms within the warrior. Realizing that the Glory does not belong to the individual but to Guru Sahib bestowed to the Khalsa. Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji.
Ottawa Valley Indigenous Copper Spearhead (6100 BCE, Canadian Museum of History)Jathedar Sant Baba Avtar Singh Ji 12ve Jaanasheen of Dal Baba Bidhi Chand wielding a spear
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ਸੇਲ ਸਭ/Sael Sabh
Mehron Steek (Similar definition in Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi Steek, Pandit Narayan Singh Steek, Giani Bishan Singh Steek)
ਤੁਹੀ ਸੇਲ (ਬਰਛਾ) Only You are Seyl (Spear)...
ਭਾਵ-ਮੇਰਾ ਬ੍ਰਛਾ ਹੈਂ ਮੇਰਾ ਸਭ ਕੁਝ Meaning : Only You are My Spear...
Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha refer to a Salok by Bhagat Kabeer Ji that features the Sael: ਕਬੀਰ ਚੋਟ ਸੁਹੇਲੀ ਸੇਲ ਕੀ ਲਾਗਤ ਲੇਇ ਉਸਾਸ॥ Kabeer Chot Suhaelee Sael Kee Laagath Lae-e[i] Ousaas Bhagat Kabeer Ji: the wound from a Sael is easy to bear... as it takes away the breath, ਚੋਟ ਸਹਾਰੈ ਸਬਦ ਕੀ ਤਾਸੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਮੈ ਦਾਸ॥੧੮੩॥ Chot Sahaarai Sabadh Kee Thaas[u] Guroo Mai Dhaas [but] that who can endure the wound from the Shabad [which destroys the Ego]... Guru Sahib [can endure] and I am Guru's Slave. (Ang 1374)
It is easier to be physically wounded than to destroy the ego. Is there such a warrior out there that can take such a wound in this world?
Small Peshkabz found in Angeetta Sahib of Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji Maharaj seated on the Takht at Sri Hazur Sahib, said to be Maharaj's Kesi Shastar (The context can be heard about here)
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ਤੁਮਹੀ ਕਰਦ/Thumhee Karadh
Mehron Steek (similar definition by Pandit Narayan Singh, Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi)
ਤੂੰ ਕਰਦ … ਹੈਂ
[Only You] are the Karadh
Mahaan Kosh
ਕਰਦ; ... ੨. ਹੱਥ ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲਾ, ਸਹਾਰਾ ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲਾ। ... ੫. ਫਾ, ਕਾਰਦ, ਛੁਰੀ, ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਣ। Karadh, 2) The One who gives Hand, Giving-Support, 5) Farsi: Kaaradh, Dagger, KirpaaN
A Kardh generally refers to a dagger or smaller sized blade. This includes fancy daggers to every-day-carry pocket knives that are more popular in modern times.
Kirpaan of Baba Bidhi Chand Ji, Seva by Dal Baba Bidhi Chand (during Sangat tour of UK)
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ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਨ/Kripaan/Kirpaan
Mahaan Kosh (similar definition provided by Bhai Vir Singh in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Kosh)
ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਯਨ. ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਦਾ ਘਰ, ਦਯਾ ਦਾ ਨਿਵਾਸ। The home of blessing/grace; where compassion resides ਤਲਵਾਰ/ਸ੍ਰੀ ਸਾਹਿਬ/ਸ਼ਮਸ਼ੀਰ: Talwaar, Sri Sahib, Shamshir; References Bhai Nand Lal Ji’s Q&A ਕੱਛ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਨ ਨ ਕਬਹੂ ਤ੍ਯਾਗੈ। Kachh Kripaan n Kabahoo Tyaagai Never let go of the Kirpan or Kachheraa ਸਨਮੁਖ ਲਰੈ ਨ ਰਣ ਤੇ ਭਾਗੈ Sanmukh Larai n RaN Thae Bhaagai They fight facing the battle and never run from away from it
(ਪ੍ਰਸਨੈੱਤਰ ਭਾਈ ਨੰਦ ਲਾਲ)
None of the steeks nor kathas mention Kirpaan, perhaps due to the name being common knowledge
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-- Please forgive any mistakes & please send suggestions for illustrations/photographs. Guru Panth Da daas, Aaeenaa
