Article By Rajveer Singh, Head Of Khalsa Diary; funding and conflict none

The second of our Panj Kakars is called a ਕੰਘਾ (Kangha). Physically a Kangha is a wooden comb, used to keep the Kes clean. However, it’s more than just a comb. Every single Kakkar holds a huge ideology behind itself. It’s not just a symbol of cleanliness but a reminder of what’s to come.

Essentially the Kangha is a reminder of one of Gursikhi’s main philosophies outlined by Guru Nanak Sahib in Japji Sahib;

ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲਿ ॥
kiv sachiaaraa hoieeaai kiv kooRai tuTai paal ||
So how can you become truthful? And how can the veil of falsehood be torn away?

ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥
hukam rajaiee chalanaa naanak likhiaa naal ||1||
O Nanak, it is written that you shall obey the Hukam of His Command, and walk in the Way of His Will. ||1||

Let me break it down for you. The entire universe we live in is rich with diversity, whether that’s with humans, plants or animals. However,  nature regulates all which exists despite man’s effort to disrupt its ways. From this, we learn that nature in its many diversities still revolves around one Akaal. This is evident in Sri Akaal Ustat;

ਪ੍ਰਣਵੋ ਆਦਿ ਏਕੰਕਾਰਾ ॥
pranavo aadh eka(n)kaaraa ||
I Salute the One Primal Lord.

ਜਲ ਥਲ ਮਹੀਅਲ ਕੀਓ ਪਸਾਰਾ ॥
jal thal maheeal keeo pasaaraa ||
Who pervades the watery, earthly and heavenly expanse.

So despite the free will of nature, there is still one supreme being who controls everything. He takes things away and brings things into this world, sustains all and thus pervades all, as Bhai Gurdas Ji describes;

ਆਦਿ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਆਦੇਸੁ ਹੈ ਅਬਿਨਾਸੀ ਅਤਿ ਅਛਲ ਅਛੇਉ।
aadh purakh aadhes hai abinaasee at achhal achheau|
Salutations are due to that primal Lord who is indestructible, undeceivable and unending.

Each part of nature is attached to that one Akaal Purakh at its roots, and without fail, all things start and end with ੴ. As each being and each event remains within the hukam of that One, and when those events or beings forget their place in the system of that One, they are removed from this world.

ਲੋਗਾ ਭਰਮਿ ਨ ਭੂਲਹੁ ਭਾਈ ॥
logaa bharam na bhoolahu bhaiee ||
O people, O Siblings of Destiny, do not wander deluded by doubt.

ਖਾਲਿਕੁ ਖਲਕ ਖਲਕ ਮਹਿ ਖਾਲਿਕੁ ਪੂਰਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਸ੍ਰਬ ਠਾਂਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
khaalik khalak khalak meh khaalik poor rahio srab Thaa(n)iee ||1|| rahaau ||
The Creation is in the Creator, and the Creator is in the Creation, totally pervading and permeating all places. ||1||Pause||

In the exact same way, our Kes is attached to roots within our head. The Kangha not only sustains it by keeping it clean but just like Akaal Purakh removes those who refuse to follow his hukam, we lose that hair that has died and is no longer attached to those roots. So remaining in the hukam of Akaal Purakh, our supreme commander, is one of the many ideas behind the Kangha. And as his Fauj, the Khalsa protects and maintains Sarbat Da Bhalla, by removing those who oppose diversity, freedom and human rights from the expansion of the One true Akaal Purakh.

Keeping our hair clean has many benefits both scientific, physical and spiritual. Following Gurmat requires you to be free of all restraints and bonds whilst still living within this world to become the Shabad. As Bhagat Kabir Ji outlines flawlessly;

ਤੇਰਾ ਜਨੁ ਏਕੁ ਆਧੁ ਕੋਈ ॥
teraa jan ek aadh koiee ||
Hardly anyone is a humble servant of Yours, O Lord.

ਕਾਮੁ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਮੋਹੁ ਬਿਬਰਜਿਤ ਹਰਿ ਪਦੁ ਚੀਨੑੈ ਸੋਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
kaam karodh lobh moh bibarajit har padh cheen(h)ai soiee ||1|| rahaau ||
Ignoring sexual desire, anger, greed and attachment, such a person becomes aware of the Lord’s Feet. ||1||Pause||

As we remove the tangles of our hair using the Kangha given to us by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, we aim to live in accordance to Gurbani following the teachings of Guru Ram Das Ji;

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਸਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੁ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਬਣੀਐ ॥
satigur kee baanee sat saroop hai gurbaanee baneeaai ||
The Word of the True Guru’s Bani is the embodiment of Truth; through Gurbani, one becomes perfect.

And by becoming Gurbani, we remove those impurities from our soul which cause us to stray off the path, forget our Guru and ultimately make us lose the true battle.

As we comb through our hair it reminds us of the Khalsa Rules as sovereign beings. As we comb through and remove impurities from our hair, each strand becomes independent and they seem so weak and fragile on their own, and the moment we tie them, together in a ਜੂੜਾ (bun) they become strong. The Khalsa throughout history has ruled the same way, single strands of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s lions came together to form the Panth which wiped Wazir Khan off the map, survived holocausts and inhumane torture, only to create the world’s greatest kingdom.

So as long as the Panth remains singular nothing will be achieved and yet the moment it gathers together and manifests the divine strength given to them by Akaal Purakh, then wherever they stand becomes the pages of history and the sagas of legends.