Though the most aggressive and uncompromising features of Sikhism are due to the innovations of Govind, he was so far from being a theological bigot that he worshipped Durga and was even said to have offered human sacrifices.  But the aim of all his ordinances was to make his followers an independent body of fighting men.  They were to return the salutation of no Hindu and to put to death every Mohammedan.  The community was called Khalsa:[677] within it there was perfect equality:  every man was to carry a sword and wear long hair but short trousers.  Converts, or recruits, came chiefly from the fighting tribes of the Jats, but in theory admission was free.  The initiatory ceremony, which resembled baptism, was performed with sugar and water stirred with a sword, and the neophyte vowed not to worship idols, to bow to none except a Sikh Guru, and never to turn his back on the enemy.  To give these institutions better religious sanction, Govind composed a supplement to the Granth, called Dasama Padshah ka Granth or book of the tenth prince.  It consists of four parts, all in verse, and is said to inculcate war as persistently as Nanak had inculcated meekness and peace.  To give his institutions greater permanence and prevent future alterations Govind refused to appoint any human successor and bade the Sikhs consider the Granth as their Guru.  “Whatsoever ye shall ask of it, it will show you” he said, and in obedience to his command the book is still invested with a kind of personality and known as Granth Sahib.

Govind spent most of his time in wars with Aurungzeb marked by indomitable perseverance rather than success.  Towards the end of his life he retired into Malwa and resided at a place called Damdama.  The accounts of his latter days are somewhat divergent.  According to one story he made his peace with the Mughals and accepted a military command under the successor of Aurungzeb but it is more commonly asserted that he was assassinated by a private enemy.  Even more troublous were the days of his successor Banda.  Since Govind had abolished the Guruship, he could not claim to be more than a temporal chief, but what he lacked in spiritual authority he made amends for in fanaticism.  The eight years of his leadership were spent in a war of mutual extermination waged with the Moslims of the Panjab and diversified only by internal dissensions.  At last he was captured and the sect was nearly annihilated by the Emperor Farukhsiyar.  According to the ordinary account this victory was followed by an orgy of torture and Banda was barbarously executed after witnessing during seven days the torments of his followers and kinsmen.  We read with pleasure but incredulity that one division of the Sikhs believe that he escaped and promulgated his peculiar doctrines in Sind.  Asiatics do not relish the idea that the chosen of God can suffer violent death.