Fig 1. Akali Nihang in Lahore: Armed to the teethThe following description narrates the salient features of the Akalis, including their contribution to the Anglo-Sikh wars. Many modern historians forget to mention, the heavy losses undertaken by the Akali Nihangs.The author writing in 1869 describes the attire of…
Char-aina or literally the four mirrors. Four plates worn over a shirt of mail in Persia, India and Central Asia. Usually they are rectangular and the two worn on the breast and back are considerably larger than those worn at the sides. There are several famous breastplates including the…
Model of Akali Phula Singh at Gurudwara Mehtiana Sahib, JagroanJoseph Wolff (1795 -1862), was a Christian missionary, was born in Germany. He published several journals of his expeditions, especially Travels and Adventures of Joseph Wolff (2 vols, London, 1860).When in India he visited the Punjab and described the Sikhs…
Sign at Gurdwara Sis Ganj, the site where Guru Tegh Bahadur met his martyrdom. The Gurdwara was built by Baba Baghel Singh, conqueror of Delhi. The following account reveals the response given by Guru Gobind Singh after Guru Tegh Bahadur's shaheedi (martyrdom).The departure of Guru Tegh Bahadur gave a…
Jay Singh Sohal with Gurinder Singh MannThe book Saragarhi by Jay Singh-Sohal was launched on 21 November 2013. It was held at the great British institution, Sandhurst. It was a packed event with a spotlight on Sikh recruits in the British Army. These recruits gave insights on…
ਸੁਣੀ ਪੁਕਾਰਿ ਦਾਤਾਰ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਗ ਮਾਹਿ ਪਠਾਇਆ || ਚਰਨ ਧੋਇ ਰਹਰਾਸਿ ਕਰਿ ਚਰਣਾਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਪੀਲਾਇਆ ||ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਪੂਰਨ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਕਲਿਜੁਗ ਅੰਦਰ ਇਕ ਦਿਖਾਇਆ || ਚਾਰੇ ਪੈਰ ਧਰਮ ਦੇ ਚਾਰਿ ਵਰਨ ਇਕ ਵਰਨੁ ਕਰਾਇਆ ||ਰਾਣਾ ਰੰਕ ਬਰਾਬਰੀ ਪੈਰੀ ਪਵਣਾ ਜਗਿ ਵਰਤਾਇਆ | ਉਲਟਾ ਖੇਲੁ ਪਿਰੰਮ ਦਾ ਪੈਰਾਂ ਉਪਰਿ…
Photo: Opening lines of the ArdasLocation: private collection."...Tenth Master. First remember the Divine Might, and then meditate on Guru Nanak. Then pray to Guru Angad, Amardas and Ram Das for support. Remember Arjan, Hargobind and Holy Har Rai. Meditate on Sri Harkrishan, seeing whom all suffering vanish. Remember…
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Panorama, Amritsar depicting the Koh-i-Noor being given to Maharaja Ranjit Singh.Shah Shuja Durrani was Ruler of Afghanistan in the early period of the 1800’s. He was later deposed and became a captive the Panjab territories. In order to aid Shah Shuja back to the throne,…
Ranjit Singh the Maharajah of Panjab had full faith in both Scriptures: Guru Granth Sahib and Sri Dasam Granth Sahib. He undertook Vak from Guru Granth Sahib before undertaking his military expeditions. He also commissioned manuscript copies of the Sikh Granths by artisans in his court and beyond.…
Advice to the Guru’s followers: Bhai Mahan Nand and Bidhi ChandImage: RAJASTHAN, EARLY 19TH CENTURY : Devanagari inscription: Private collection: Bhai Mahan Nand and Bidhi Chand came to Guru Ji, prostrated and surrendered themselves with the request that Guru ji may kindly sever their cycle of life and death.…