Khalsa
/ˈkɑːl.sə/noun
The initiated Sikh community established by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699, whose members follow the Khalsa code of conduct.
Did you know?In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh formally founded the Khalsa through an initiation ceremony called amrit sanchar, giving the community a distinct spiritual and martial identity.
Etymological Timeline
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
ḵāliṣa
“A pure or exclusive thing; also private property or revenue reserved for a ruler”
Medieval Persian
Persian
khālsa
“Land or revenue directly controlled by the sovereign, rather than assigned to a subordinate”
16th–17th Century
Persianate usage
khālsa
“A term associated with direct royal possession or exclusive ownership”
1699
Punjabi
Khālsā
“The community initiated by Guru Gobind Singh and dedicated to a distinct Sikh discipline”
Modern English
English
Khalsa
“The initiated Sikh community, often rendered in English as “the Pure””