The Multifarious Faces of Sikhism
throughout Sikh History
Page 2 of 2
Akali
Nihangs
During the establishment of the Sanatan Sikh
kingdom, right into British Raj times, the custodians
of Sach Khand Patna Sahib, like Akal Takht,
Kesgarh Sahib, Dam Dam Sahib and Hazoor Sahib
were also the Akali Nihangs of Budha Dal. In
regards Patna Sahib, L. S. S. O’Malley
observed:
‘Patna city was the
birth-place of Guru Govind Singh, ----.
The temple is one of the 4 great sacred
places (takhts or darbars) of the Sikhs,
who visit it on pilgrimage. The pilgrims
are bound to appear before the Guru Granth
Saheb, or Bara Saheb as it is also called,
on the first day of entering the town, and
after ardas or kara parshad, ie, sweetmeats
specially prepared for the purpose. The
Mahanth of this temple must be an Akali
pardeshi, ie. , he must belong to the puritanical
sect of Akalis mentioned below, and not
be a native of Patna,----. ’
‘Bengal District
Gazetters, ‘Patna’, By L. S.
S. O’malley, 1907
Akal Takht
Painting of the Akal Takht Sahib by Moritmer
Menpes, which was once occupied by the Akali
Nihang Singh Khalsa the rightful guardians of
the Sikh Shrines, circa 1903
Another British observer earlier had noted
regards Patna Sahib:
‘The temple dedicated
to the tenth Guru Govind, at Patna, was
rebuilt by Ranjit Sinh about forty years
ago. I found it, after some trouble, in
a side street, hidden from view and approached
by a gateway, over which were the images
of the first nine Guru’s, with Nanak
in the centre. The shrine is open on the
one side. Its guardian had a high-peaked
turban encircled by steel rings (cakra),
used as weapons. He was evidently an Akali
or ‘worshipper of the timeless God’-
a term applied to a particular class of
Sikh zealots who believe themselves justified
in putting every opponent of their religion
to the sword.’ ‘Religious
Thought And Life In India’, By Monier
Williams, M. A., C. I. E., Part I. Vedism,
Brahmanism, And Hinduism. 1883
Takht Sri Patna Sahib
Birthplace of Akali Nihang Guru Gobind Singh
Ji Maharaj in the state of Bihar
Hari Ram Gupta, drawing upon the work of George
Forster who traveled through the Punjab in 1782-83,
commented:
‘The ecclesiastical
affairs were managed by Akalis who were
in charge of the Golden Temple and Tank
of Amritsar. This “society
of religieuse” did not interfere in
the temporal authority of the Sikh chiefs.’ ‘History
of the Sikhs’, Vol. IV, by Hari Ram
Gupta, Pa. 362
Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa
96 Crore Jathedar Akali Nihang Baba Santa Singh
Ji (standing right) with (seated from left
to right) Akali Nihang Baba Bishan Singh Ji,
Akali Nihang Baba Sohan Singh Ji Bidhi Chandia,
Akali
Nihang Baba Kundan Singh, and Akali Nihang Baba
Nihal Singh at the Akal Takht, Amritsar during
Vaisakhi 1974
For more information on Akali Nihangs, please
click here.
