Q: What do the large circles and swords in front of the alter represent?

A: Those are weapon and they are kept in front of the alter as symbol of the duty of the Sikh to stand up for justice. Sikhs are known as spiritual people and warriors. These are the two different aspects that represent a Sikh. A Sikh’s meditation raises his spiritual level and he understands this world better and clearer. On the warrior side, a good Sikh will never raise his hand for injustice. A good Sikh will never fire the first shot.

The rule is never to threaten anyone and not to be threatened by anyone. Sikhs have learned the hard way. When the Muslims were converting Sikhs and Hindus to Islam by force (during the Mugal occupation of India), Sikhs learned that they have to be strong. Since Muslims would kill anyone who would not accept Islam as their religion, Sikhs began to fight back and raised their voices against injustice. This is why the Sikhs were ordered to take up arms against tyranny. The fact that the weapons are lying lower than the scripture level tells one more important thing. All the weapons and the warrior part of Sikh takes the secondary position. Sikhs are spiritual first and then to defend the faith Sikhs are warrior.


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