Vaisakhi in Sikh Tradition: Scriptural Roots and Historical Transformations

Vaisakhi occupies a distinctive and evolving position within Sikh religious history, theology, and collective identity. While popularly associated with the formation of the Khalsa in 1699 under Guru Gobind Singh, Vaisakhi’s significance predates this event and is deeply rooted in Guru Nanak's teachings. The earliest scriptural reference to Vaisakhi appears in the Aad Guru Granth Sahib, where Guru Nanak reinterprets the seasonal festival as an inner spiritual awakening grounded in divine consciousness and the Shabad. This article examines the layered evolution of Vaisakhi through three pivotal Sikh Gurus: Guru Nanak, Guru Amar Das, and Guru Gobind Singh, highlighting its transformation from a spiritual metaphor to an institutional milestone and, finally, a revolutionary milestone. Using textual analysis of Gurbani and a historical examination of Sikh institutions, such as the Masand system, the study demonstrates how Vaisakhi served as a unifying mechanism for spiritual instruction, social cohesion, and ethical reform. The article further explores the theological distinction between Guru Nanak’s birth in Vaisakh and his Prakash Purab in Katak, emphasizing the Sikh tradition’s prioritization of spiritual commissioning over biological birth. By situating Vaisakhi within scriptural, institutional, and political contexts, the article argues that Vaisakhi represents a continuous process of Sikh self-definition rather than a single historical event.