The Significance of "Sarbloh"
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A photograph of a Sarbloh Baata (Bowl) and Sarbloh Khanda (Double-Edged Sword), ready to be used for Amrit Sanchar (Khalsa initiation ceremony). |
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ਸਾਵਣ ੨੩ (August 7): The Significance of "Sarbloh"
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Introduction
Normally on this blog I have only posted on historical days, and shared verses from the "Suraj Prakash" or "Panth Prakash" relating to the historical events on the aforementioned 'days'; but this time I'm considering doing something different from what I usually post. I think this blog shouldn't primarily use translations of Sikh scriptures as its main method of spreading knowledge, but also act as a portal for people with general questions regarding Sikhi and its customs. Recently I was approached by a person online (which isn't an uncommon occurrence.) Normally, people message me online to ask questions about Sikhi and history (and I answer them), but this time it was different. I was recently asked "What is the meaning behind Sarbloh?" "Why was it specifically mentioned by our Guru?" This question is way deeper than you may think, so I decided to make a full post on the Significance of Sarbloh within the Sikh/Khalsa tradition.
What Exactly is Sarbloh?For those reading that are unaware of this, "ਸਰਬਲੋਹ" ("Sarbloh", pronounced: sarablō) is a unique metal; specifically a high-carbon iron alloy that held (and still holds) great significance in Sikhi, its "Maryada" (code of conduct) and its history. Some sources translate Sarbloh to "All-Iron", while some sources describe it as "Wrought Iron". Although these are both viable translations, There isn't really an exact name for Sarbloh in English, as it's very different from most iron alloys found outside of India.
History of Sarbloh
Although the origin of Sarbloh is unknown, some sources state that the metal is believed to have been first produced in India along the Indus River. However, Sarbloh in Sikhi is historicized differently. The metal "Sarbloh" found its way into Sikhi when it began to be used for weapons and armor, which could have happened as early as the times of the sixth Nanak; Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji. This is when Sikh militancy initially began, so it is most likely the origin of Sarbloh being used in Sikhi (unless different metals were used at the time). However, in those times, Sarbloh didn't hold any specific purpose within Sikhi itself ; since at the time, Sarbloh was a very common material, meaning it was easier to obtain. This signifies that it would have been an obvious choice for producing weaponry and other items. Although the use of Sarbloh (in Sikhi) may have started as early as the times of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji (Like I previously mentioned) it is formally only recognized to have become a prominent part of Sikhi in the times of the tenth master, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Of course Sarbloh was used for weapons, but it was also used for armour, turban ornaments (Chand Tora, small Kirpans, Chakrams, etc.), and eating utensils. By this time Sarbloh was the main metal used by the Sikhs, so much so that even the birth of the Khalsa itself (metaphorically and symbolically) happened out of the Sarbloh "Baata" (bowl). It was on that same day that the newly formed Khalsa was also given the orders to wear a Sarbloh "Kara" (bracelet) and a Sarbloh "Kirpan" (sword). Alas, looking at Sikh history only tells us HOW important Sarbloh was, but not WHY it was important.
So, What is the Significance of Sarbloh?
It may seem absurd that Sarbloh was (and still is) very common used in Sikhi, but a lot of us have lost the meaning on why we use it. In reality, this is just the result of "time". Over time things seem to lose their purpose, which is what seemed to have happened with "Sarbloh". Considering how popular Sarbloh was among Sikhs, it makes sense to how we began to start "taking it for granted". Even now, so many Sikhs blindly follow the "Rehit" (conduct) of using Sarbloh that we never really think about why its used, or what it means. For example, a similar thing has happened to the occasions of "Diwali" or "Vaisakhi", where a lot of people only regard these events as seasonal celebrations, and we fail to recognize their significance within Sikhi. Getting back to the topic, its important to acknowledge that the Guru doesn't just tell us to pursue something without a valid reason. Everything in Sikhi has a deeper meaning, which is why I resorted to both Science and Gurbani to present the Sangat with answers. From this I found out that there isn't just one specific reason for using Sarbloh, but there are several.
Spiritual Symbolism
Sarbloh is very significant to Sikhi in a spiritual sense. It is recognized as a gift by the Almighty to this Earthy plane. In fact, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji has even mentioned the supremacy of Sarbloh in his composition "Akal Ustat" which is present in the "Sri Dasam Granth Sahib". The following are verses from this Bani in the Dasam Granth containing references to Sarbloh:
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ਅਕਾਲ ਪੁਰਖ ਕੀ ਰਛਾ ਹਮਨੈ ॥"The non-temporal Purusha (All-Pervading Lord) is my Protector."
ਸਰਬ ਲੋਹ ਦੀ ਰਛਿਆ ਹਮਨੈ ॥
"The All-Iron Lord is my Protector."
ਸਰਬ ਕਾਲ ਜੀ ਦੀ ਰਛਿਆ ਹਮਨੈ ॥
"The All-Destroying Lord is my Protector."
ਸਰਬ ਲੋਹ ਜੀ ਦੀ ਸਦਾ ਰਛਿਆ ਹਮਨੈ ॥
"The All-Iron Lord is ever my Protector."
ਆਗੈ ਲਿਖਾਰੀ ਕੇ ਦਸਤਖਤ ॥ ਤ੍ਵ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਚਉਪਈ ॥
"Then the signatures of the Author (Guru Gobind Singh). BY THY GRACE QUATRAIN (CHAUPAI)"
- Sri Dasam Granth Sahib; Akal Ustat, Page 11
Author: Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji (English Translation: Sikhi To The Max)
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In these verses, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji uses a number of phrases to describe "Waheguru". Upon reading the verses in Gurmukhi, we learn Guru Sahib uses "ਸਰਬ ਲੋਹ" ("Sarb Loh") in a verse that is intended to be describing "Waheguru" (Roughly: "Almighty God"). The Guru is actually using Sarbloh as a synonym for Waheguru itself. This tells us that the Guru respected Sarbloh so much, that they consider Sarbloh to be a form of God. Out of all the reasons for the significance of Sarbloh, the most prominent reason would have to be the spiritual value it retains not just in Sikhi, but in other Dharmas as well. The Sarbloh metal is a natural conductor but along with that it has a supernatural ability to retain vibrations. To those unfamiliar with Spirituality, meditation is all about vibrations. When you meditate, you aim to preserve your spiritual energy within your body and your mind (specifically your pineal gland, as stated in ancient yogic practises). When this energy is preserved it induces spiritual "vibrations". The vibrations in Sarbloh are believed to be a representation of this. Using Sarbloh supposedly promotes a higher state of mind, which is to be obtained through constant meditation upon the name of Waheguru. in Sikhi we call this higher state of mind "Chardi Kala". The vibration ability of Sarbloh is symbolic to spirituality in this sense. Sikhs ate in Sarbloh utensils because Sarbloh is supposed to symbolize what a true Sikh should strive to be. A true Sikh should be attached to Waheguru the same way that Sarbloh attaches to a magnet. A lot of Sikhs have a firm belief that ancient yogic meditation practises hold no place in Sikhi as these are traditions started by ancient schools of thought within Buddhism and Hinduism. However, we can't deny that Sikhi contains a lot of concepts that may have originated from other faiths such as Hinduism and Islam. This doesn't mean that Sikhi is built up from these faiths. Spirituality and meditation have always been a part of Sikhi ; ever since it was started by Satguru Nanak Sahib Ji. We must remind ourselves that Sikhi is the full embodiment of the truth. Other religions may have had small fragments of this truth ; But when Satguru Nanak came to this earthly plane, their motive was to share the rest of this truth that we call Sikhi. When a Hindu meditates he might meditate on the name of Brahma, on Vishnu, on Shiva, on Ram or any of the millions of deities whom are thought to be separate entities that manifest the qualities of God. However in Sikhi our goal is to just meditate on the name of the singular, complete, and inseparable lord - Waheguru. The goal of meditation in Sikhi is not just to believe in God, but to become one with God; and Sarbloh symbolizes this with its spiritual qualities.
Poetic Significance
One other significant reason that Sarbloh is important to Sikhs is the sentimental value it holds to the Khalsa. As I mentioned earlier, the very birth of the Khalsa happened through the use of the Sarbloh "Baata" (bowl), as the "Khande Di Pahul" ("Ambrosial Nectar") used to initiate the Khalsa, was prepared in a Sarbloh "Baata" while being stirred by a "Khanda" ("Double-Edged Sword") which was also made from Sarbloh. What eating in Sarbloh represents for many Sikhs is "eating from the same metal they were born out of". To put this into a bigger perspective, on the day the Khalsa was created, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji gave the Khalsa the order to always have the "5 Kakaars" upon them. However, when the thousands of Sikhs were initiated into the Khalsa on that day, there wasn't a set of "5 Kakaars" presented to each and every one of them. The Kakaars - Kes (Uncut Hair), Kara (Bracelet), Kanga (Comb), Kachhera (Shorts), and Kirpan (Sword) were already things common within the Sikhs at that time. The initiation of the Khalsa only made these Kakaars official emblems of the Khalsa identity. The idea behind the Khalsa was to create an "official order", primarily so the Sikhs could be given a distinct identity, free from caste, race, etc. Khalsa is all about order. Practicing the use of Sarbloh among Sikhs makes us distinct from other faiths; it is something that defines the Khalsa identity. Another good reason to support the use of Sarbloh is because it promotes humility. According to the principles of Sikhi, wearing expensive metals like gold and silver is a sign of "materialism". One usually wears gold or silver to show status, because of its value. Since Sikhi is above all of this, wearing Karas made from simple metals like Sarbloh or Steel is superior to wearing Karas made from Gold or Silver, because Sarbloh helps a Sikh stay humble and not indulge into the 5 vices (Lust, Anger, Greed, Attachment, and Ego).
Sarbloh Bibek
Expanding from the previous paragraph, I wanted to mention that the practice of Sarbloh has actually been officialized in the form of "Sarbloh Bibek" (Roughly: "Sarbloh Wisdom"). Sarbloh Bibek is a part of the official "Rehit Maryada" (Code of Conduct) for being a Khalsa. Although this conduct should be practiced by all Sikhs, it is only strictly followed by the "Akali/Nihang" order. Following Sarbloh Bibek simply means to only prepare and eat food in Sarbloh. If you visit a Gurdwara, you
Langar Hall, there is a chance that the eating utensils might also be made from Sarbloh. Unfortunately a lot of Gurdwaras are starting to let go of Sarbloh Maryada and starting to use utensils made from stainless steel or other materials (which is understandable since stainless steel is much more common nowadays). The Akali-Nihangs however, have been preserving Puratan-Sikh Maryada for generations and haven't forgotten any ancient Sikh tradition, including Sarbloh Bibek. The Akali Nihangs seem to follow a lot of their Maryada according to the "Bhai Daya Singh Rehitnama". As many of you may know, Bhai Daya Singh was one of the original Panj Pyare, from 1699 AD. It is known that Bhai Daya Singh Ji once asked Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji questions regarding the Code of Conduct for a Sikh. The Answers that Guru Sahib spoke were recorded in what we now know as the Bhai Daya Singh Rehitnama. Sarbloh is mentioned 4 times in this Rehitmana. Here are the lines from the Rehitnama regarding Sarbloh:
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ਸੋ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਰੂਪ ਹੈ ਨੀਲ ਬਸਤ੍ਰ ਧਹਿਰਾਇ
"Thus is the Akaali’s form, he wears blue clothes."
ਜਪੇ ਜਾਪ ਗੁਰਬਰ ਅਕਾਲ ਸਰਬਲੋਹ ਪਹਿਰਾਇ |
"Contemplating the Gurbar Akaal, keeping of iron weapons."
ਸਰਬ ਲੋਹ ਚਕ੍ਰ ਕਰਦ ਛੱਲਾਦਿ
"He keeps all iron chakars (discs) and karads (daggers)."
ਪਾਤਰ ਸਰਬ ਲੋਹ ਕੇ ਭੁਗਤੇ ਅਸਨ ਸੁਆਦ
"In dishes of all iron he should eat with pleasure."
ਲੋਹ ਪਾਤਰ ਮੈਂ ਛਕੈ ਨੀਲ ਪੀਤ ਧਾਰੇ ਬਸਤ੍ਰ
"He eats out of all iron dishes, wearing clothes of blue and yellow."
- Rehitnamay; Chapter 5 (Rehitnama Bhai Daya Singh)
Author: Piara Singh Padam (English Translation: https://sarbattkhalsa.weebly.com)
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Although this might be slightly irrelevant to the real reason Sikhs might have utilized this metal in Puratan times, Sarbloh is medically known to be the metal with the least health defects. Sarbloh utensils are very healthy to eat in as it is a very natural substance. Sarbloh largely consists of Iron, and as many people already know, Iron is one of the few metals that are actually present in the human body, as it helps our red blood cells carry oxygen from our lungs throughout the rest of our body. Many people may now ask, what does this have to do with eating in iron utensils? Well, when you cook and serve food in Sarbloh utensils, the food reacts with the metal surface (since iron is very reactant). This results in some of the iron mixing in with your food, so when you eat it, you are getting extra iron; making your food more nutritious and healthy. I mentioned earlier that Sarbloh is a very natural substance, and this could actually be a good reason as to why it's significant in Sikhi, since Sikhi is all about purity, and admiring nature ; Which could explain why Sikhs preferred Sarbloh over man-made (artificial) metals like steel.
Technological Significance
One of the possible reasons that the Khalsa was given Sarbloh weapons to fight with is that the Guru wanted his Khalsa to use the best technology available at that time. Having efficient/durable weaponry is undeniably very crucial for an army to have the upper hand in battles. In the times of the Gurus, more durable metals like steel were very expensive and rare compared to present day, where metals like steel are fairly cheap and easily obtainable. Although Sarbloh wasn't the absolute greatest metal you could find in those days, it was the best bet for the Khalsa since it was extremely durable and also very easily obtainable for the time. Nowadays we have developed new ways to make sharper, stronger weaponry. We have access to metals that are much stronger than Sarbloh. The guru would still want his Khalsa to be using the best weapons available to them, so it's okay to use stronger metals for our Kirpans. However we must never lose the tradition of Sarbloh Bibek, because it is unique to who we are and what some of us strive to be...............Khalsa.
Conclusion
After considering the points made in this post, there is no doubt that Sarbloh holds a very important place not just in Khalsa traditions, but also in Sikhi within a spiritual sense. Sarbloh signifies the birth of the Khalsa; it signifies humility. Sarbloh in Sikhi signifies spirituality and discipline which helps us lead a simpler lifestyle. Sarbloh is the metal that our ancestors used to fight injustice so we can have access to the knowledge of Sikhi that we have today. I shall now conclude this post, hoping that my readers attain new knowledge upon reading it. May Waheguru keep you all in Chardi-Kala.
ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕਾ ਖਾਲਸਾ, ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫ਼ਤਿਹ!
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