Page:The Sikhs (Gordon).djvu/233

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THE 'GRANTH.'
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read to him. He is then asked if he consents to be of the faith of Govind; on the reply, "I do consent," he is addressed, "The Guru is thy holy teacher and thou art his Sikh," and a solemn promise demanded from him to abide by the canons of the faith for the rest of his life. Then follows the ceremony already described in the chapter relating to Guru Govind Singh, of sprinkling a mixture of sugar-and-water, called amrit (water of life), on his head and face, and of drinking some of it out of the iron dish, exclaiming, "Wah, Guru ji ka Khalsa! Wah, Guru ji ka fatteh!"—Hail, Guru of the Khalsa! Hail, victory to the Guru! The warrior designation of "Singh" is then added to his name. He is now a Govindhi Sikh, and is commanded to wear always about him certain outward signs of the brotherhood, and directed how to keep and care for his kes, the long hair worn by Sikhs, how to knot it into the jurah knot on the top of the head, and which has to be taken down and combed out twice a-day. He is

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