Just as the Cross symbolizes Christianity and the Star of David the Jewish faith, so does the Khanda symbolize the Sikh religion. Rooted in Sikh history and theology, it reflects certain fundamental concepts of the faith.

The symbol derives its name from the double-edged sword--the Khanda--at the heart of the logo. The Khanda is a potent metaphor of divine knowledge, its sharp edges cleaving truth from falsehood. The circle around the Khanda is the chakra--a figure with out beginning or end--symbolizing an infinite God. The Sikh is to seek divine knowledge as the path to ultimate union with God, a state as complete and perfect as the circle.

The two Kirpans that flank the chakra symbolize the twin concepts of Miri and Piri--temporal and spiritual responsibility. They occupy a central place in the Sikh theology which places equal emphasis on the spiritual aspiration of the individual to serve society.

The twin Kirpans in the logo thus represent the balance between personal spiritual salvation and the obligation to serve others. Individual action is to be governed by godliness; at eh same time, the practice of religion must revolve around service to the poor, the oppressed and the disadvantaged.

The Kirpan is also worn on the person at all times, as an article of faith, by those Sikhs who aspire to meet the discipline of the Khalsa order. It is not a weapon. It serves as a symbol and a reminder to all Sikhs of the duty to serve the needs of others before their own.