History
The stories of
one's ancestors make the children good children. They accept what is
pleasing to the Will of the True Guru, and act accordingly. Go and
consult the Simritees, the Shaastras, the writings of Vyaas, Suk Dayv,
Naarad, and all those who preach to the world. Those, whom the True
Lord attaches, are attached to the Truth; they contemplate the True
Name forever. O Nanak, their coming into the world is approved; they
redeem all their ancestors. ||1|| (Sri Guru Amar Das Ji: Adi Sri Guru
Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 951)
This section begins by exploring the mythological origins of the Nihangs which traces their birth to the golden age of Satyug. These mythological origins derive from the writings of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, early Sikh historiographers and from oral history. A brief overview is then given of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji who was the bringer of the Sikh faith into the Iron age of Kalyug and is credited as being founder of the Sikh religion. The history of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib (6th Guru) and Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji (10th Guru) are also discussed as it was during the reign of these Gurus that significant developments occurred for the Sikh military. Should the history of the other divine Sikh Gurus be discussed then this section will become too large. Ample resources are available in various languages narrating the history of the Sikh Gurus whose lives provide inspiration, guidance and enlightened teachings to readers of all backgrounds.
Following the bestowal of Guru-ship upon Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the Khalsa Panth, the Khalsa proceeded in uprooting tyrannical rulers across the Mughal Empire such as Wazir Khan who had bricked alive the younger princes of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji, aged 9 and 7 respectively. Following from several major successes the Khalsa suffered various setbacks including the Tat Khalsa and Bandai Khalsa divide, and the two holocausts upon the Sikh nation inflicted by the armies of Ahmed Shah Abdali. Towards the end of the 18th Century the Sikhs managed to solidify themselves in Northern India and begin establishing their territorial integrity. Of the most famous of the Sikh rulers was one Maharaja Runjeet Singh who owed some of his most famous and astonishing victories to the Nihang Singhs lead by the great warrior Akali Phoola Singh. The Nihang Singhs assumed the role of maintainers of the Sikh principles and supreme chieftains of the Sikh religion, and did not seek to rule over any lands as other Sikh leaders had done.
Having fought for their survival throughout the entire length of the 18th Century, the 19th Century brought a new challenge to the Nihang Singhs - the British, whose deliberate impact on the Sikh tradition continues to have significant consequences for the Nihang Singhs today. The obnoxious attitudes of the Nihang Singhs towards the British is well documented in European accounts of the time, as is their major participation in the Anglo Sikh Wars which is also looked at in this section. The British rule in Punjab brought tough times for Nihang Singhs which lead to their reduced numbers migrating to the Southern India where they also suffered great hardships.
Upon returning to the Punjab a dozen years later after the Great Mutiny of 1857, the main body of Nihang Singhs, the Budha Dal lead by Baba Giana Singh, sought to re-establish the traditional role of the Nihang Singhs and resurrect the Sikh spirit amongst the Punjab populace which had been greatly reformed under British rule. Having failed to subdue to the Nihang Singhs through bribery, the British did much to remove them of their dominance in the Sikh tradition and establish an alternative hierarchy. This section will conclude by looking at the contemporary roles Nihang Singhs play in the modern Sikh religion whose current theocracy does much to project them as an out of date cult - seeking to undermine their historical and philosophical legitimacy as the governing body and supreme leaders of the Sikh tradition.
'Now I narrate the saga of the Singhs, as my own elders narrated to me, and as I have heard from other ancient Sikhs, the old Sikhs had many virtues.' (Rattan Singh Bhangu, Pracchin Panth Parkash, Part 1, Page 8)
This section begins by exploring the mythological origins of the Nihangs which traces their birth to the golden age of Satyug. These mythological origins derive from the writings of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, early Sikh historiographers and from oral history. A brief overview is then given of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji who was the bringer of the Sikh faith into the Iron age of Kalyug and is credited as being founder of the Sikh religion. The history of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib (6th Guru) and Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji (10th Guru) are also discussed as it was during the reign of these Gurus that significant developments occurred for the Sikh military. Should the history of the other divine Sikh Gurus be discussed then this section will become too large. Ample resources are available in various languages narrating the history of the Sikh Gurus whose lives provide inspiration, guidance and enlightened teachings to readers of all backgrounds.
Following the bestowal of Guru-ship upon Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the Khalsa Panth, the Khalsa proceeded in uprooting tyrannical rulers across the Mughal Empire such as Wazir Khan who had bricked alive the younger princes of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji, aged 9 and 7 respectively. Following from several major successes the Khalsa suffered various setbacks including the Tat Khalsa and Bandai Khalsa divide, and the two holocausts upon the Sikh nation inflicted by the armies of Ahmed Shah Abdali. Towards the end of the 18th Century the Sikhs managed to solidify themselves in Northern India and begin establishing their territorial integrity. Of the most famous of the Sikh rulers was one Maharaja Runjeet Singh who owed some of his most famous and astonishing victories to the Nihang Singhs lead by the great warrior Akali Phoola Singh. The Nihang Singhs assumed the role of maintainers of the Sikh principles and supreme chieftains of the Sikh religion, and did not seek to rule over any lands as other Sikh leaders had done.
Having fought for their survival throughout the entire length of the 18th Century, the 19th Century brought a new challenge to the Nihang Singhs - the British, whose deliberate impact on the Sikh tradition continues to have significant consequences for the Nihang Singhs today. The obnoxious attitudes of the Nihang Singhs towards the British is well documented in European accounts of the time, as is their major participation in the Anglo Sikh Wars which is also looked at in this section. The British rule in Punjab brought tough times for Nihang Singhs which lead to their reduced numbers migrating to the Southern India where they also suffered great hardships.
Upon returning to the Punjab a dozen years later after the Great Mutiny of 1857, the main body of Nihang Singhs, the Budha Dal lead by Baba Giana Singh, sought to re-establish the traditional role of the Nihang Singhs and resurrect the Sikh spirit amongst the Punjab populace which had been greatly reformed under British rule. Having failed to subdue to the Nihang Singhs through bribery, the British did much to remove them of their dominance in the Sikh tradition and establish an alternative hierarchy. This section will conclude by looking at the contemporary roles Nihang Singhs play in the modern Sikh religion whose current theocracy does much to project them as an out of date cult - seeking to undermine their historical and philosophical legitimacy as the governing body and supreme leaders of the Sikh tradition.
'Now I narrate the saga of the Singhs, as my own elders narrated to me, and as I have heard from other ancient Sikhs, the old Sikhs had many virtues.' (Rattan Singh Bhangu, Pracchin Panth Parkash, Part 1, Page 8)