220- SKETCH OF THE- 'SIEHS: 



* The disciples of Govind were required to devote themselves to arms,' 

 always to have steel about them in some shape or other, to wear a blu^ 

 di-ess, to allow their hair to g-row, to exclaim when they met each other 

 Wdl Giiruji kdkhdlsah! Wdl Gumji ki futteh! which means, success to 

 the state of the Guril! victory attend the Gdrdf^ The intention of some 

 of these institutions is obvioL?s ; such as that principle of devotion to steel,. 

 by which all vvere made soldiers, and that exclamation which made the 

 success of their priest, and that of the Gommonwealth, the objeft of theif 

 hourly prayer. It became, in fa(5l, the watch-word which was continu- 

 ally to revive, in the minds of the Sikk disciple, the obligations he owed; 

 to thM community of which he had become a member, and to that faith) 

 which he had adopted, ^ J.i-.-Z g. >.. .. ; ..-,: . i 



' Of" the causes which led Govind to enjoin his followers to regard it as 

 Irtipious to cut the hair of their heads, or shave their beards, very different 

 accounts are given. Several Muharhmedan authors state, that both this 

 ordination, and the one which dire6led his followers to wear hlue clotheSj, 

 was given in consequence of his gratitude to some Afghan mountaineers, 

 who aided his escape from a fort, in which he was besieged, -Joy cloathing 

 him in a chequered blue dress, and causing him to allow his hair to groWj 

 in order to pass him for one of their own Pirs, or. holy fathers; in 

 which they succeeded. This account, however, is not supported by any 

 Sikh writer ; and one of the most respe6lable and best informed authors 

 of thatse61, states, that when Gu'ru' Govind irst went to Anandpur 

 MdVhavdl, which was also called Cesgher, or the house of hair, he spent 

 much of his time in adoration, at a temple of Durga Bhavani, the god- 

 dess of courage, hy whom he was diredted to unloose his hair and draw 



Spiritual leader. 



