Khanda (religious symbol)
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The Khanda (khaṇḍā) is one of most important symbols of Sikhism alongside the Ik Onkar. Guru Gobind Singh wrote in Var Sri Bhagautiji Ki that God first created the double-edged sword (Khanda) and then created this world. He prescribed the emblem of the double-edged sword, Khanda, on the Sikh flag.[1] It is an amalgam of three symbols[2] , represented by three different weapons. It is commonly found on the Nishan sahib or flag of the Sikhs, anywhere in a Gurudwara.
There are three different weapons used in a Khanda, which also have a symbolic meaning[2]:
- A double-edged sword called a Khanda in the centre
- A Chakkar which is a circular weapon
- Two single-edged swords, or kirpans, are crossed at the bottom and sit on either side of the Khanda and Chakkar. They represent the dual nature/duties of the Gurus, Miri and Piri.
The Khanda represents knowledge of God, the Chakkar represents the eternal nature of God and oneness of humanity, the two swords represent Miri (political sovereignty) and Piri (spiritual sovereignty).[3]
The symbol is encoded in Unicode, in the Miscellaneous Symbols range, at codepoint U+262C (☬).
[edit] References
- ^ Gupta, Hari Ram (2000). History of The Sikhs; The Sikh Gurus, 1469-1708. New Delhi: Munshilal Manoharlal Publishers (P) Ltd., 332. ISBN 8121502764.
- ^ a b Rose, David (1995). Sikhism photopack. Folens limited, 10. ISBN 1852767693.
- ^ Teece, Geoff. Sikhism. Black Rabbit Books, 18. ISBN 1583404694.
