The word "Khalsa" means "pure", Khalsa's are Sikhs which have undergone the sacred Amrit Ceremony initiated by the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.

The Khalsa baptism ceremony involves drinking of Amrit (sugar water stirred with a dagger) in the presence of 5 Khalsa Sikhs as well as the Guru Granth Sahib. The initiate is instructed in the following;

(a) You shall never remove any hair from any part of thy body, (b) You shall not use tobacco, alcohol or any other intoxicants, (c) You shall not eat the meat of an animal slaughtered the Muslim way, (d) You shall not commit adultery. The initiate is required to wear the physical symbols of a Khalsa at all times as well as follow the Khalsa Code of Conduct.

Bhai Nand Lal, a contemporary of Guru Gobind Singh, wrote the following description of the Khalsa:

Khalsa is one who fights in the front ranks.

Khalsa is one who conquers the five evils [lust, anger, pride, greed, ego]; Khalsa is one who destroys doubt. Khalsa is one who gives up ego;

Khalsa is one who does not stray from his spouse; Khalsa is one who looks upon all as his own;

Khalsa is one who attunes himself with God.