The Multifarious Faces of Sikhism
throughout Sikh History
Page 2 of 2
Gangu
Shahieh cont'd
Right up to late 19th century the mausoleum
of Gangu was considered a place of great miraculous
powers.
Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa
Fresco from the walls of Baba Atal Gurdwara,
Amritsar depicting Akali Nihang Singhs
dressed in full combat gear armed with matchlocks,
'Katar' (punch daggers), 'Salotar' (heavy clubs
used as weapons and for grinding 'Sukha'), 'Chakars'
(quoits), 'Kara' (war bracelets) and 'Talwar'
(swords)
In time one Jwahar Singh came
to be a very famous custodian of the lineage
of Gangu. He was believed to have many ‘Sidhia’
(miraculous powers). Large parts of the mountainous
region of Punjab became his ‘Sikhs’
(disciples).
In the late eighteenth century Sunder
Singh became Gangu’s successor.
Johrsar, Panjor and Digsai villagers plus the
Sikh kings of Nahan paid homage to Sunder Singh.
Nirmala Pundit Ganesha Singh wrote:
‘All that come are
given food to eat [at mausoleum].
There is no consideration of whether one
as taken Amrit [become Khalsa] or remains
Mona [cut hair and clean shaven] only believing
in lineage [of Gangu] is considered Sikhism.
Because Gangu was chief preacher they are
known as Gangu Shahieh. ’ ‘Bharat Mat Darpan’,
by Pundit Ganesha Singh Nirmala 1926, Pa.
129
Baba Atal Rai
Song of the sixth Sikh Guru who utilized his
'Sidhia' (miraculous powers) to revive his
friend Mohan who had died. As a consequence
of using his 'Sidhia', Baba Atal had to give
up his
life. A 'Samadh' (mausoleum) known as 'Baba
Atal Sahib' was built at the place of his ascension
to heaven
