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Shromani Panth Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa
Page 13 of 13

 

The Akali Nihang Khalsa, were the warriors par-excellence who stood to fight like their Akali Guru all forms of religious fundamentalism unleashed by bigots and fanatics like Aurangzeb. Seva Das Udasin (a historian), spoke of how Akali Nihang Guru Gobind Singh admonished the religiously fanatical Moghal emperor Aurangzeb thus:

‘And if you think I am firm in my religious code and because of this I will be forgiven this pride of yours is false. Like you, people of all other religions are also firm in their religious codes. All religious codes of different religions are similar. Out of ignorance one thinks one is superior to others. If only such codes could grant salvation then who would worship God. Without worship of the Master and without pleasing His devotees if you desire salvation then such a claim of yours is false.’
(‘Episodes From Lives Of The Gurus ‘, Parchian Sewadas, 1708, Pa.157-158)


The Akali
An early photograph of an Akali Nihang Singh
adorned with a variety of weapons and weaing a
'Gajgah' (elaborate embelishment worn on the turban)

The Akali Guru Guru like all his predecessors expounded and lived by the philosophy of oneness of God and all mankind. However, if it required that the alongside the rosary beads of meditation, a sword was required to defend oneself or the (innocent) weaker sections of society against tyranny, then so be it. As Guru Gobind Singh himself wrote:

‘When all other means have failed it is righteous to put your hand on the hilt of your sword.’
(‘Dasam Guru Durbar’, Jafar Nama)


The 'Salotardhari' Akali Nihang
An early photograph of a 'Salotardhari' (heavy club-carrying)
Akali Nihang Singh wearing the traditional battle 'baana' (uniform)

Yet irrespective of the great battles that took place, Guru Gobind Singh still expounded the same universal message of Guru Nanak. The great warrior Guru wrote:

‘All mankind is but one, yet misunderstandings are of many types. Demigods, demons, Yash, Gandrb [The last two are creatures of Indian mythology], Muslims and Hindus appear different for this is the influence of different countries and environments they live in.
All have same eyes, ears, bodies and physical shapes, and from the same earth, wind, fire and water are all made. That Allah [Muslim name for God] who is beyond understanding they call him Apekh [Hindu name for God], He of whom the Purans [Hindu religious texts] speak it is He who is also in the Koran.
All are one form, the One made them all.
As from the earth many dust particles arise but eventually fall back onto the earth. As from one ocean many waves arise but the waves born of water still call themselves water.
In similar manner, from the form of all the world [Va-eh Guru] has all living beings come, and in Him shall they all re-merge.’
(‘Dasam Guru Durbar’, Akal Ustat)


The Akali
A pencil sketch of a one Akali Bnodh Singh seen here
wearing a'chakar' (quoit) and a 'Sher mukhia' (lion-claw) on his
'Dastar Boongha' (towering conical-shaped turban of the Akali Nihang Singhs)

Also, see section on Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa under 'Sanatan Sikhs'.

For more information on the origins, history, traditions and the role of the Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa during the events leading up to and beyond the massacres of 1984 please visit:
www.nihang.com (coming soon)

For more information on the martial heritage and Shastar Vidiya (the traditional Indian Sikh battlefield combat arts of the Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa) please visit:
www.shastarvidiya.org
www.sanjamkiriya.org (coming soon)


Sanatan Sikh Shastar Vidiya
Sanatan Sikh Shastar Vidiya Gurdev (master),
Nihang Niddar Singh (right) demonstrating a lethal
combat technique using a spead on one of his 'Shagirds' (students)

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