Nihang

The Nihang (also spelt as Nihung lit. "Crocodiles") or Akali (lit. "Immortals"), also known as Dal Khalsa, is an armed Sikh warrior order originating in the Indian subcontinent. Nihangs are believed to have originated either from Fateh Singh and the attire he wore or from the "Akal Sena" (lit. Army of the Immortal) started by Guru Hargobind. Early Sikh military history was dominated by the Nihang, known for their victories where they were heavily outnumbered. Traditionally known for their bravery and ruthlessness in the battlefield, the Nihang once formed the irregular guerrilla squads of the

Key facts

Religious group.group: Akali-Nihang
Religious group.founder: Disputed
Religious group.religions: Sikhism
Religious group.regions: Punjab
Religious group.scriptures: Guru Granth Sahib • Dasam Granth • Sarbloh Granth
Religious group.languages: Punjabi • Sant Bhasha • Khalsa bole
Religious group.flag: Blue Nishan Sahib.svg
Religious group.flag_caption: Nihang version of the Sikh flag

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Show 1 more fact

Commons category: Nihang

via Wikidata · CC0

~20 min read

Article

22 sections

Contents

Etymology
History
Origins
Pre-colonial period
British rule
Post-independence
Arms and attire
Organisation and leadership
Use of intoxicants
Deras and gurdwaras
Nishan Sahib
Scriptures
Festivals
Nihang women
Dialect
Relationship to other Sikhs
Popular culture
See also
Notes
References
Sources
External links

== Etymology == The word Nihang may come from the Persian word for a mythical sea creature (). The term owes its origin to Mughal historians, who compared the ferocity of the Akāli with that of crocodiles. The meaning of Akali in Sikhism however, is the immortal army of Akāl (God). According to Harjinder Singh Dilgeer, tracing the term Nihang to the Persian word for a crocodile is a misinterpretation and instead it refers to a "fearless person". Dilgeer states that the term Nihang is also used in gurbani, where it refers to someone who is carefree.