<Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> Khalsa (Punjabi: ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ "the pure") refers to both a special group of initiated Sikh warriors, as well as a community that considers Sikhism as its faith . The Khalsa tradition was initiated in 1699 by the last living Guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh . Its formation was a key event in the history of Sikhism . The founding of Khalsa is celebrated by Sikhs during the festival of Vaisakhi . </P> <P> Guru Gobind Singh started the Khalsa tradition after his father had been beheaded for resisting the religious persecution of non-Muslims (mainly Kashmiri Hindus) during the rule of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb . Guru Gobind Singh created and initiated the Khalsa as a warrior with a duty to protect the innocent from any form of religious persecution . The Khalsa redefined the Sikh tradition from the start . It formulated an initiation ceremony (amrit pahul, nectar ceremony) and rules of conduct for the Khalsa warriors . It created a new institution for the temporal leadership of the Sikhs, replacing the masands system maintained by the earlier Gurus of Sikhism . Additionally, the Khalsa provided a political and religious vision for the Sikh community . </P> <P> Upon initiation, a Khalsa Sikh was given the titles of Singh (male) and Kaur (female). The rules of life, included behavioral code (Rahit, such as no tobacco, no alcohol, no meat), and a dress code (Five Ks). In contrast to the Khalsa Sikh, a Sahajdhari Sikh is one who reveres the teachings of Sikh gurus, but has not undergone the initiation . Sahajdhari Sikhs do not accept some or all elements of the dress and behavioral codes of the Khalsa Sikhs . The Khalsa has been predominantly a male institution in Sikh history, with Khalsa authority with the male leaders . In the contemporary era, it has become open to women but its authority remains with Sikh men . </P>

What was the original purpose of the khalsa