223.227.124.177 at 07:29, 5 July 2021

2021-07-05T07:29:20Z

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A '''kara''' ({{lang-pa|ਕੜਾ ([[Gurmukhi]]), {{Nastaliq|کڑا}} ([[Shahmukhi]]) कड़ा ([[Devanagari]])}}) is a steel or cast iron (''sarb loh'') bangle worn by [[Sikhism|Sikhs]] who have been initiated into the [[Khalsa]]. It is one of the five [[kakars]] or five Ks — external articles of faith — that identify a Sikh as dedicated to [[Hukam|their religious order]]. The kara was instituted by the tenth [[Sikh Gurus|Sikh guru]] [[Guru Gobind Singh|Gobind Singh]] at the [[Baisakhi]] [[Amrit Sanchar]] in 1699. Guru Gobind Singh Ji explained:

{{quote|He does not recognize anyone else except me, not even the bestowal of charities, performance of merciful acts, austerities and restraint on pilgrim-stations; the perfect light of the Lord illuminates his heart, then consider him as the immaculate Khalsa.|Siri Guru Gobind Singh Ji<ref>in the [[Dasam Granth]], page 1350</ref>}}
The Kara is a symbol of unbreakable attachment and commitment to God.<ref>http://www.sikhnet.com/oldsikhnet/SikhEducation/5K's.pdf</ref> As the Sikhs' [[holy text]] the [[Guru Granth Sahib]] says "In the tenth month, you were made into a human being, O my merchant friend, and you were given your allotted time to perform good deeds."<ref>Guru Granth Sahib, page 76</ref> Similarly, Bhagat [[Kabir]] reminds the Sikh to always keep one's consciousness with [[God in Sikhism|God]]: "With your hands and feet, do all your work, but let your consciousness remain with the Immaculate Lord."<ref>||213|| - Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, page 1376</ref> The kara is also worn by many ethnic [[Punjabi people|Punjabis]] and other non-Punjabi Indian families across the states in the North, North-West and West of India (such as [[Gujarat]], [[Rajasthan]], and even [[Maharashtra]]) by [[Hindu]]s;<ref name="Punjabis">{{cite book|title=Where are you from?: middle-class migrants in the modern world|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HXsAbWxzZSIC&pg=PA63&dq=Kara+Punjabi+Symbol&hl=en&ei=TiYVToCSBYfJgQfcs6Ud&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CFUQ6AEwCTgU#v=onepage&q&f=false|quote=Individual Sikhs and Hindus share symbols and practices of body inscription (such as wearing a ''kara'' and women keeping their hair long).|author=Dhooleka Sarhadi Raj|date=25 August 2003|publisher=[[University of California Press]]|accessdate=17 December 2011}}</ref> moreover, the use of the kara by non-Sikhs is encouraged as it represents the "totality of God."<ref name="Promotion">{{cite web|title=FAQ|url=https://www.sikhkaras.com/faqs/|quote=Is it okay for Non-Sikhs to wear a Sikh Kara? Yes, definitely it is. The Kara is a universal symbol of the totality of God; free for everybody to use. Any Sikh who will see the Sikh Kara on you will be happy and proud that you choose to wear it.|publisher=Sikh Karas|accessdate=17 December 2011}}</ref>

The basic kara is a simple unadorned iron bracelet, but other forms exist. The kara originated as a protective ring to guard the sword arm of the Khalsa warriors during battle when fighting armed with swords. The person who wears kara has to keep it clean, and not to remove it until it is an extreme requirement.

It was also historically used like a [[knuckle-duster]] for hand-to-hand combat. Battlefield variations include kara with spikes or sharp edges. Sikh soldiers of the British Indian army would settle disputes by competing in a form of boxing known as ''loh-muthi'' (lit. iron fist) with a kara on one hand.<ref>{{Citation|last=Sanatan Shastarvidiya|title=Sanatan Shastar Vidiya - LohMushti [Iron Fist Figh|date=2011-10-03|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUeB-RlRX9o|accessdate=2018-04-06}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Kara (jewellery)]]

==References==
{{commons category}}
{{Reflist}}
{{5Ks}}

[[Category:Punjabi words and phrases]]
[[Category:Sikh religious clothing]]
[[Category:Sikh terminology]]

Kara (Sikhism) - Revision history

223.227.124.177 at 07:29, 5 July 2021