Ardas – Raj Karegaa Khalsaa
“Ageaa bhaee Akaal kee ……, Raj karae gaa Khalsaa ….. etc.”
Most of the people think that this piece of poetry belongs to the Tenth Master Guru Gobind Singh. It is not so. It was composed by Giani Gian Singh and is given in his book Panth-Parkash (Bhasha Vibhag Punjab, 1987), at its page 353. Later, some others added to it the lines like “Raj karae gaa Khalsaa” etc. Satbir Singh, historian, in his Sada Itihas, gives a different source of it (as well, additions by others).
In most of the historical Gurdwaras, such as Harimandir Sahib, Amritsar, this piece of poetry is not sung after Ardas. A Gurdwara is for everyone from any faith and many avoid singing it lest someone feels hurt. It is another thing, that some may translate Khalsa as the “pure-ones,” but in fact Khalsa means property of the King (Guru) i.e. those who have faith in the Guru (Gurmukhs – devotees). But apparently, it is taken by the most as, “The Sikhs will rule,” although it may not mean this and the real rule is of the spiritual domain. In fact the term Khalsa is used for an Amritdhari Sikh, the one properly inducted into the Sikh faith by drinking Amrit.
To sing the above ‘Dohra’ (type of poetry) is not essential, but if some need to sing something after Ardas, suitable Hymns or quotes may be selected from Gurbani rather than singing a composition by anyone other than the Guru. There is no shortage of such a material in Guru Granth Sahib, and in the Bani of Guru Gobind Singh. An example is –
Gagan dmamaa baajeou pareou neesaanaae ghaaou
Khaetu ju maandeo suurmaa abb joojhan ko daao
Sooraa so pahechaa-nee-aae ju larae deen kae haet
Purjaa purjaa katt maraae kabhoo naa chhadaae khaet.u Kabir-1105-4