Speaking about the vicious,ever-ready Akali Nihang
Khalsa, Rattan Singh Bhangoo speaks of Akali Guru Nanak and his
disciples thus:
'Nanak who was holiest of holy, whoever grasped
the feet of holy Nanak, he attained such power. He made
sparrows hunt hawks, lambs slay tigers. They who have
hundred of thousands of horses and many thousand cannons, they
who rule sitting on thrones, his [Guru Nanak's] servants do
destroy. The nugdha of cannabis, uttering the name [of
the enemy] at who's head his [Nanak's] servants cast, he remains
no longer capable of resisting and is destroyed right away.'
('Panth Prakash', Expurgated by Vir Singh, Pa.21)
Salotardhari
An old painting of two Akali Nihang Singhs carrying 'Salotars' (heavy
wooden clubs)
often used both as weapons, and to grind 'Shaheedi Degh'. The residue
left after making
Shaheedi Degh is known as the 'Nugdha' which is thrown at enemies
of the Khalsa in defiance
When Rev. Joseph Wolff spoke of how Akali Nihang Guru
Gobind Singh added to the religion of Akali Guru Nanak, he spoke
not of the establishment of the Khalsa order but of the Akali order.
In the past, both were synonymous with one another:
'Goroo Govende Singh added to Baba Nanak's
book a military code, in which he laid down rules for carrying
on war; and he formed a complete military knighthood, entirely
similar to the order of the Knights at Malta. For just as the
Order of the Knights was established for the purpose of pulling
down the Muhammadan power, so did Goroo Govende Singh establish
his order, for pulling down the Muhammadan Mogul Empire in Delhi.
The members of that Military Order are the Akalees,
which means "immortals". They are clad in
blue, with bracelets of steel; they relinquish the world, and
are bound to spend their lives for the benefit of the Sikhs.'
('Travels and Adventures of the Rev. Joseph Wolff, D.D.,LL.D.',
1861, Chapter XXI )
hen Baron Erich Von Schonberg spoke of the fierce
Akali Nihangs, he spoke of them as 'fanatical warriors, called ‘Kalsas':
'One meets in the Punjaub, particularly in the
neighbourhood of Lahore and Amrit Sir, a race of fanatical warriors,
called Kalsas. They are very ferocious looking,
and they seem fond of producing that impression. One of these
men riding through a mountain-pass, with a tall blue
turban on his head, and enormous weapon like the two-handed
sword of the middle ages in his hand, produces a very
strange impression. These Kalsas are privileged persons, and
often take advantage of the distinction afforded them by the
fanatical prejudices of the people. They oppress both
great and little; and the prince [Maharaja Ranjit Singh] himself
dares not bring them to justice. They sometimes carry
their intolerance so far as to forbid any traveller to pass
their encampments. I must, however say that, though I often
passed their barracks, I was never molested.'
('Travels in India & Kashmir by The Baron Erich Von Schonberg,
1853, Vol.1 Pa.328)
Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa
An old painting of an Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa carrying a 'tegha'
(heavy curved sword) and a 'salotar' (heavy wooden club) tied to
the saddle
