Nihang
Sign in to saveThe 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
Article
22 sectionsContents
- 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
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 armed forces of the Sikh Empire, the Sikh Khalsa Army.
== 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.