The Sikh Rehat Maryada presents the Five Ks (Panj Kakkaar) as binding, ever-present articles of faith for the initiated Sikh, the Amritdhari or member of the Khalsa. From the moment of initiation, these five external forms are not treated as optional symbols but as essential markers of identity and discipline that must be maintained at all times, not merely during ceremonies. The code specifies Kesh (unshorn hair), Kangha (wooden comb), Kara (iron or steel bracelet), Kachera (a particular cotton undergarment), and Kirpan (sword or dagger) as the definitive articles that together shape the visible form of the Khalsa Sikh. Their observance is continuous and comprehensive, touching both appearance and daily conduct.

Within this framework, each of the Five Ks carries a clear, practical directive. Kesh is to remain uncut and unshorn, and the Rehat Maryada links this to ongoing maintenance, including the use of the Kangha to keep the hair clean and ordered. The Kara is to be worn on the wrist, and the Kachera is described as a specific undergarment that is to be regularly worn, not substituted with other forms of clothing. The Kirpan is to be carried as an actual sword or dagger, worn as an article of faith and a symbol of protection, rather than as a merely decorative or symbolic token. Across these instructions, the code emphasizes that these articles are to be kept on the body consistently, with care and respect.

The Rehat Maryada also frames neglect or removal of any of these articles as a serious breach of discipline for the initiated Sikh. Because the Five Ks are woven into the very definition of Khalsa identity, their abandonment or disregard is treated not simply as a lapse in dress but as a violation that calls for repentance and, in some cases, re-initiation. In this way, the code underlines that the Five Ks function as a lived covenant: outward forms that continually remind the Sikh of an inner commitment. The discipline of wearing and maintaining them becomes a daily spiritual practice, binding the individual to the collective discipline and ethos of the Khalsa Panth.