Nihang (Punjabi: ਨਿਹੰਗ) is an armed Sikh order. Early Sikh military history is dominated by the Akali Nihang military order, particularly for many famous military victories won while often heavily outnumbered. The Akali Nihang have historically been held in great affection and respect by Sikhs due the pivotal role they have played in Sikh military history. The Nihang order is mostly ceremonial in peacetime but during times of war, they have historically spear-headed the attack on the enemies of the Sikh religion.

The Nihang Singhs venerate three Granths: The Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Sri Dasam Granth and the Sri Sarbloh Granth. The "saintly way" is enshrined in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The warrior spirit is enshrined in the Sri Dasam Granth and Sri Sarbloh Granth.

Etymology

The word nihang means crocodile and was introduced into the Panjabi language from Persian. The term owes its origin to the Mughal historians who noticed that these brave armed-monks fought ferociously like crocodiles. Traditionally known for their bravery and ruthlessness in the battlefield, the Nihang once formed the guerilla squads of the armed forces of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

The Nihang were also known as Akali. This term is said to be derived from the Akaal Purukh in Punjabi - "the Timeless One", a term for God. Thus Akali translates as "Servitor of the Timeless God". This also symbolises the Akali as the immortals or the timeless warriors. The Akal Sena was originally started by Guru HarGobind Sahib. The Khalsa expanded on the Akal Sena.

Leadership of the Nihang Singhs

The Nihang Singh Khalsa also known as the Akali (or Immortals) were the traditional leaders of the Khalsa Panth. The leadership was broken by the British colonial created SGPC. The lineage of the leaders of the Akal Takht (highest Sikh throne) and the Khalsa army was as follows:

#Akali Baba Binod Singh Nihang #Akali Baba Darbara Singh Nihang #Akali Nawab Kapur Singh Nihang #Akali Jassa Singh Ahuluwalia Nihang #Akali Naina Singh Nihang #Akali Phoola Singh Nihang #Akali Hanuman Singh Nihang #Akali Prahlad Singh Nihang #Akali Gian Singh Nihang #Akali Teja Singh Nihang #Akali Sahib Singh Kaladhari #Akali Chet Singh Nihang #Akali Santa Singh Nihang #Akali Baba Joginder Singh Nihang

Akal Takht Jathedar

(Harmandir Sahib)]] Previously the Akal Takht Jathedar was selected by the previous Jathedar. Now the SGPC a committee system created by the British Administration chooses the Jathedar. This is against the Sikh tradition. To the extent that the leader of the Panth, Joginder Singh Vedanti was 'sacked' by Parkash Singh Badal. This was unknown in Sikh history. This new lineage of leadership started at the time of 11. Akali Sahib Singh Kaladhari. This new leadership is not acknowledged as authentic by the Nihang Sikhs or other traditional Sikhs.

The SGPC has previously tried to interfere with the selection process of the Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa, in the form of one of its members: Balbir Singh. They have voted him in as the SGPC appointed Buddha Dal leader of the whole Nihang Singhs. The Nihang Sikhs do not acknowledge this and accept Akali baba Joginder Singh as the leader of the Khalsa Nihang Akali Dal (Army) and as a matter of fact, the traditional leader of all Sikhs.

Attire

The Nihang differ essentially from all other Sikh orders in being a militaristic organization but they are similar in some areas, in that, they are and belong to the Khalsa, created by Guru Gobind Singh. The Nihang wear checkered dresses of electric blue, bangles or bracelets of steel round their wrists (kara), and quoits of steel (chakra) in their lofty conical blue turbans, together with daggers, knives and swords of varying sizes (kirpan), and an iron chain.

General Banda Bahadur, the famous disciple of Guru Gobind Singh, went from being a Hindu to a Sikh and adapted to wearing this attire.

Many non-Nihang Sikhs will often also wear the same dress of the Nihang at ceremonies or at a gurdwara (Sikh temple). This trend of wearing Nihang dress is mainly prevalent in Sikhs belonging either to the Akhand Kirtani Jatha or the Damdami Taksal.

In Sikh history

, a performance art, here being performed by a Nihang Singh]]

=== Phula Singh === The career of the Akali, Phula Singh, illustrates both their defects and their abilities. Phula Singh - born 1761 - first came into notice as the leader who led the attack on Thomas Metcalfe's escort at Amritsar in 1809. He was then employed by Sardar Ranjit Singh, as a leader in the Indus valley. Finally, Phula Singh and his Akali contributed to, or rather virtually won for Ranjit Singh, the great Sikh victory over the Yusufzai Pashtuns at Teri in 1823. In this battle, Phula Singh met with a heroic death, and his tomb at Nowshera is now an object of pilgrimage to Sikhs. Under Phula Singh's leadership, and perhaps before his rise, the Akali had become a terror to friends and foes alike, and the Sikh chiefs, from whom they often levied taxes (Raakhi), dreaded them by force. Sardar Ranjit Singh was highly pleased by the battles the Nihang would win.

During the time of the Sikh Empire, the Akali were almost completely autonomous and did what they felt was best for the protection of Sikhs and Sikhi. Only Emperor Ranjit Singh could control them and their leader General Akali Phula Singh, after much gentle persuasion.

When Akali Phula Singh died in 1823 on the battle field at Teri, Sikh scholars and historians record that the emperor himself cried at the loss and the entire Sikh Khalsa Army, including all the generals, officers and soldiers were deeply affected with the loss. Maharaja Ranjit Singh ordered the immediate construction of a monument on the site where Akali Phula Singh fell, to commemorate this Sikh icon. While he was alive, Akali Phula Singh would argue with the emperor, but they had a deep friendship and respect for each other.

It is widely known that Ranjit Singh respected him greatly. He was unafraid of the emperor and punished him for disrespecting a Nāc dancing girl. The Emperor dared not disobey Akali Phula Singh and paid reparations when his guilt was proved.

Akali Nihang today

in blue, at Baba Phoola Singh di Burj in Amritsar, a Nihang Gurudwara.]]

The Akali headquarters was the Akal Bunga at Amritsar, where they assumed the lead in directing religious ceremonies and convoking the Gurmat; indeed, they laid claim to exercise a general leadership of the whole Sikh community. Since Ranjit Singh's time Anandpur has been their real headquarters, but their influence is still being felt in the world today.

Today, Nihang gather in their thousands at Anandpur, on the occasion of the festival of Hola Mohalla and display their martial skills. This tradition has been in place since the time of Guru Gobind Singh. Their fighting style is referred to as shastar vidiya, which in its modern form as a competitive sport is known as gatka. The compositions from the Sri Dasam Granth are used in unison with the battle maneuvers.

Use of hemp

Nihang consume cannabis or bhang (ਭੰਗ) to help in meditation. Sukha ( ਸੁੱਖਾ ਪ੍ਰਰਸਾਦ ), or "peace-giver" is the term Nihang use when they it. It was traditionally crushed and taken as a liquid, or baked into cookies (ਪਕੌੜਾ) and eaten, especially during festivals like Hola Mohalla. It is never smoked, however, as this practice is forbidden in Sikhism.

The tradition of bhang probably developed due to the tough circumstances the Nihang faced due to the intense historical struggle they have been through. Bhang is common in India, several sects of Hindu yogis count this intoxicant as a necessary meditative ingredient. According to a legend, even the god Shiva was fond of bhang.

In 2001, Baba Santa Singh, the Jathedar of Budha Dal, along with 20 chiefs of Nihang sects refused to accept the ban on consumption of bhang by the apex Sikh clergy. Baba Santa Singh was excommunicated and replaced with Baba Balbir Singh, who agreed to shun the consumption of bhang.

Bothati

Bothati (ਬੋਥਾਟੀ) is an equestrian sport used as training for spear-fighting on horseback. Conceptually similar to jousting, bothati was practiced by the Nihang in the Punjab as part of their gatka regimen. The lance, also known as a bothati, is aimed at a pile of stones, and is usually covered with a ball of cloth for safety, which is dipped in paint so that hits may easily be confirmed.

Shastar Vidiya

Shastar Vidiya was used the by Nihang Singh sikhs of the Akali Nihang Khalsa army during warfare. It is said that Guru Nanak passed the knowledge onto Baba Buddha, who then trained Guru Hargobind in this art.

See also

Akali

Shastar Vidiya

Gatka

Notes

References

Sri Dasam Granth ,The Sri Dasam Granth Sahib website

''Book review of the Nihang book The Beloved Forces of the Guru

"Tribes and Castes of Punjab and N.W. Frontier Province" by H.A. Rose (1892)

Bhai Sahib Amrit Pal Singh 'Amrit' has presented well-researched articles on Nihangs on his website

www.Budhadal.com

External links

Sikh Photography Images of Nihangs by photographer Charles Meacham

Sarbloh.info

Nihangsingh.org

Nihang SGPC

Photography of the daily lives of the Nihang Singhs of Punjab by photographer Nick Fleming

Category:Sikh groups and sects Category:Punjabi words and phrases

Bhai Mehtab Singh was the greatest of the Sikh warriors. He was born to Hara Singh, a Jat of Bhangu clan of the village of Mirankot near Amritsar.

Sikh Persecution

Punjab had gone through an era of Sikh persecution under the Mughal governor of Lahore Zakriya Khan from 1726 to 1745 A.D. The Sikhs of Punjab had taken refuge in the deserts of the Rajputana. Mehtab Singh Bhangoo had taken up employment under the ruler of Bikaner .

Desecration of Harmandir Sahib

In 1740, the governor of Lahore put Massa Ranghar or Musalul Khan, a Chaudhury of Mandiala as the incharge of the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple). Sikhs were not allowed to visit the Harmandir Sahib or to take a dip in the holy waters of its tank (sarovar). Massa Ranghar persecuted the Sikhs and looted the shops and home of Hindus. He watched the dancing girls perform, drank alcohol and smoked hookah inside the Harminder Sahib.

News from Amritsar

Two residents of Amritsar Tej Ram, a Hindu and Bulaka Singh took this news to a band of Khalsa in the deserts of Bikaner under the leadership of Sardar Sham Singh. Tej Ram and Bulaka Singh nararted their stories to the congregation of Sikhs. After listening Sardar Mehtab Singh volunteered to bring Massa Ranghar's head back to Bikaner. Another Sikh, Sardar Sukha Singh of Mari Kamboki also stood up and asked to accompany Mehtab Singh.

Both of the Sikhs disguised themselves as landlords (Chaudhries) bringing revenue to Amritsar. They rode across the desert and reached Damdama Sahib at Talwandi Sabo near Bathinda. They filled up bags of broken pottery pieces and made them look as if they are full of coins.

Revenge at Harmandir Sahib

On August 11, 1740 A.D. they dressed up as landlords from Patti and entered the city of Amritsar. They reached the Harmandir Sahib and them tied their horses to the berry tree and went inside the Harmandir Sahib carrying the bags. Massa Ranghar was smoking the hukkah and watching the dancing girls. The Sikhs threw the bags under Massa's bed and said that they had come to pay the revenue. Massa bent downwards to have a look at the bags. Mehtab Singh immediately took his sword and slashed it at Massa's neck and instantly severed his head. Sukha Singh finished off the guards of Massa Ranghar. They put Massa's head in a bag and rode their horses back to Talwandi Sabo the same evening. The next day they reached Bikaner and presented Massa Ranghar's head on a spear to the congregation (Dal) of Sikhs.

Martyrdom of Bhai Mehtab Singh

In 1745 A.D. Bhai Mehtab Singh heard the news of the arrest and torture of Bhai Taru Singh . He decided to surrender himself voluntarily to die aside Bhai Taru Singh. In June 1745 A.D. Bhai Mehtab Singh was ordered by the governor of Lahore, to be tortured until death and was martyred on the rotating wheels of nails.

See also

Sukha Singh

Rattan Singh Bhangu

Harmandir Sahib

Udham Singh

References

Category:Jat people Category:Sikh warriors