Khanda (Sikh symbol)

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Not to be confused with Emblem of Iran.
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The khanda (Punjabi: ਖੰਡਾ, khaṇḍā) is the symbol of the Sikh faith which attained its current form around the 1930s during the Ghadar Movement.[1]

The modern Sikh symbol/logo is never written on or in any copy of the Guru Granth Sahib. The main symbol/logo traditionally used in the Guru Granth Sahib and Gurdwaras around the world is "Ek Onkar". Traditionally, it was very common to see "Ek Onkar" above the entrance to a Gurdwara, or on the front page of the Guru Granth Sahib. The other one was the Aad Chand.

It is an amalgam of 3 symbols:[2]

  • A double-edged khanda (sword) in the centre
  • A chakkar (chakram)
  • Two single-edged swords, or kirpan, crossed at the bottom, which sit on either side of the khanda and chakkar. They represent the dual characteristics of Miri-Piri, indicating the integration of both spiritual and temporal sovereignty together and not treating them as two separate and distinct entities.[3] The left sword is called Miri and the right sword is called Piri.[4]

It depicts the Sikh doctrine Deg Tegh Fateh in emblematic form. It consists of three weapons and a circle: the khanda, two kirpans and the chakkar which is a sharp circular . It is the military emblem of the Sikhs. It is also part of the design of the Nishan Sahib. A double-edged khanda (sword) is placed at the top of a Nishan Sahib flag as an ornament or finial.

In recent years, the Khanda has been used to show solidarity within the Sikh community after high-profile shootings in the United States.[5]

Another symbol that may be confused with the Khanda is the aad chand (lit. "half moon") of the Nihang, which consists of a khanda sword in the middle of a crescent, aligned with points upward.[6]

The symbol is encoded in Unicode, at code point U+262C ☬ in the Miscellaneous Symbols range.

References[]

  1. ^ "20th Century - The Modern Design", Nishan Sahib, SikhMuseum.com
  2. ^ Rose, David (1995). Sikhism photopack. Folens limited. p. 10. ISBN 1852767693.
  3. ^ Teece, Geoff. Sikhism. Black Rabbit Books. p. 18. ISBN 1583404694.
  4. ^ "Parts of Khanda Infographic", Khanda Infographic, NitnemSahib.com
  5. ^ Nolan, Bruce. "Sikhs in New Orleans gather for Milwaukee shooting victims", The Times-Picayune, New Orleans, 08 August 2012. Retrieved on 08 May 2014.
  6. ^ "Mistaken Identity - Shiva Crescent Moon", Nishan Sahib, SikhMuseum.com.
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