1 Guru Govind Singh. 35
2 cause. There was no higher duty for a Sikh thanx ^.[
3 to die fighting in defence of his faith ; and some
4 years later, when engaged in a fierce battle against <//i^
5 Muhammadan troops, Govind promised mulct, or \uS*&
6 exemption from transmigration, to any of his
7 followers who should fall. The carrying of arms ' njl ^
8 was commanded as a daily duty ; and the spirit of
9 brotherhood was still further emphasized by the
10 institution of a distinctive dress and the wearing
11 of the five " k's " — namely, the kes or uncut hair
12 and beard, the khanda or dagger, the kanga or » j it
13 comb, the kuchh or short drawers ending at the
14 knees, and the kara or iron bangle. Female in- ; •
15 fanticide, a custom prevalent then and for many r\i&
16 years after in the Punjab, was strictly forbidden,
17 as was also the practice of sati ; and rules and
18 regulations were enjoined relating to daily worship, •
19 marriage, the law of inheritance, and other matters
20 in which the Sikhs had hitherto conformed to Hindu . \
21 law. Govind Singh had intended that his own W
22 doctrines should form an addition to the Granth $**
23 Sahib ; but finding that his idea was regarded with V^
24 disfavour by the keepers of the holy book, lie wisely yjf^
25 abandoned it, and his writings were compiled into a
26 separate volume. This work is known as the Daswin
27 padshah kd Granth, or the Granth of the TenthJ£>&'
28 Guru ; and though it lacks the sanctity and authority y^ &Vu
29 of the older book, it still holds its place as a recog-
30 nized portion of the Sikh scriptures.
31 One of the most important results of Govind
32 Singh's activity was the large increase in the number
33 of his followers. The newcomers were mostly of