"Our Heads Will be our Emblem" - Guru Gobind Singh

Written in 1769 by Kesar Singh Chibber, who's family was closely associated with Guru Gobind Singh, this passage outlines the purpose behind the Tenth King's proclamation to keep one's hair.

ਚਾਹਿਆ ਜੋ ਸੰਸਾਰੌਂ ਜੁਦਾ ਕਰਿ ਪੰਥ ਅਪਨਾ ਨਿਖੇੜੀਏ । ਦੁਹਿ ਤੇ ਕਰਿ ਤੀਜਾ ਨਾਲਿ ਤੁਰਕਾਂ ਦੇ ਛੇੜੀਏ ।291।

[The Guru] wished to make his Khalsa distinct and thus separate from the world.

[The Guru] made a third path [panth] next to the existing two paths; That path was placed to irritate the Mughals.

ਤਤਿਆਂ ਖਤਿਆਂ ਤੇ ਕਰਿ ਜੁਦਾ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨੀ ਅਪਨੀ ਕੀਜੀਏ । ਕਰੀਏ ਸੀਸ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨੀ ਅਪਨਾ ਕਰਿ ਲੀਜੀਏ ।

[The Guru said] ‘Let us make our appearance separate from the Mughals and Khatris.

To do this, our heads will be made our emblem.’

ਪਹਿਲੇ ਮੁਣਿਆਦਿ ਪੰਥ ਦੀ ਏਹ ਰਖੀ । ਜੋ ਭੱਦਣ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰਨਾ ਸੋ ਇਹ ਠਹਿਰੀ ਪੱਕੀ ।292।

This was established as the primary foundation of the Khalsa; It was unequivocally affirmed that bhaddan (tonsure rites) must not be performed.

- Bansāvalinama [1769], author: Kesar Singh Chibber