The terms ‘Shromani’
and ‘Akali’ are
originally Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa Budha Dal
designations to denote their status within the
cosmos. The ‘Shromani’
position, presently held by the S.G.P.C. at
the Akal Takht, was originally held by the Akali
Nihangs of the Budha Dal. This high status of
the Akali Nihangs of the Budha Dal as being
the ‘Panjvah Takht’
(fifth seat of power within the Sikh world)
was never disputed by anyone prior to the arrival
of the British Raj. The Akali Nihangs of the
Budha Dal were considered the Guru-ordained
custodians of Sikhism.
96 Crore Singh Sahib Jathedar Akali Nihang Baba
Chet Singh
The head of the Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa and
the Akal Takht
before 96 Crore Singh Sahib Jathedar Akali Nihang
Baba Santa Singh took command
Even to this day, at Sach Khand Hazoor Sahib,
one will find the ancient Akali Nihang traditions
being practiced. As in the past, even today,
the majority of these traditions are also practiced
at Patna Sahib in Bihar. With regards to Patna
Sahib, L.S.S.O’Malley
early last century observed:
‘Patna city was the
birthplace 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 orkara 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
Patna Sahib
The birthplace of Akali Nihang Guru Gobind Singh
Ji in Bihar
Another British observer had noted earlier:
‘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: Part I. Vedism, Brahmanism,
And Hinduism’, by Monier Williams,
M.A., C.I.E., 1883
Even prominent Tat Khalsa Singh Sabhia-sanctioned
writers such as Bhai Khan Singh Nabha
acknowledged the fact that after the
Sikh Gurus, it was the Akali Nihangs of Budha
Dal who took care of Sikh shrines. Bhai Kahn
Singh testifies to this truth, and while commenting
on the maintenance of Sikh temples (under the
term ‘Gurdwara’),
he states:
‘In the times of the
Sikh Gurus and Budha Dal special care was
taken of Sikh temples ----.’ ‘Mahan
Kosh’, by Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha, 1930
Another noted historian, the Samparda Bhindra-educated
Giani Kirpal Singh, who became the S.G.P.C.-elected
‘Jathedar’ of the
Akal Takht Jathedar who had once edited Giani
Gian Singh’s ‘Panth Prakash’,
was also fully aware of the stance of the Budha
Dal with regards to Sikh shrines. Even he conceded
that it was the Budha Dal that were and still
is the rightful heir to the Akal Takht. In a
book published after his death in 1993, he stated:
‘At the Akal Takht,
Takht Sahib Siri Kesgarh Sahib and Takht
Dam Dama Sahib the priests dressed in the
Nihang manner. From this it is known
that the it was the Budha Dal Jathedar that
used to control the organisation of the
Takhts. Because it was Budha Dal
which looked after all the religious traditions
of historical Gurdwaras in the Punjab. Initiating
Khalsa and preaching Dharma it did also.’ ‘Siri
Akal Takht Sahib Ateh Jathedar Sahiban’,
by Giani Kirpal Singh, 1999, Pa.57
Akal Takht Sahib
An early photograph of the Akal Takht where
the Budha Dal was traditionally based, circa
1880
