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| '''Nihang''' |
'''Nihang''' is an armed Sikh order. Sikh military history is dominated by the Nihangs. They are known for military victories in which they've been heavily outnumbered. The Nihangs spearhead. <ref>{{cite book | last=Cunningham | first=JD| year=1918 | title= History of the Sikhs | publisher=OUP | location=| isbn =8120609506 }} </ref> | ||
| The word Nihang means 'without fear'. They formed the guerilla squads of the armed forces of Ranjit Sukkarchak. The Nihang were also known as Nihali or Akali - ''the eternal'' and were part of the Akal Sena started by Hargobind. The ] is an expansion of the Akal Sena.<ref>{{cite book | last=Gordon | first=John | year=1904 | title=The Sikhs | publisher=W. Blackwood and Sons | location= | isbn = | page=}}</ref> | |||
| == Etymology == | |||
| The word ''Nihang'' comes from the Persian word for a mythical sea creature ({{lang-fa|نهنگ}}).<ref>{{cite book | last=Taba| first= David| year=2011| title= Iranian Character of The Armenian Language | page=9}}</ref> The term owes its origin to ] historians, who compared the ferocity of the Sikh warrior-mendicants with that of crocodiles.<ref>{{cite book | last=Singh | first=Khushwant | year=1999 | title=A History of the Sikhs Voghzlume I:1469-1839 | publisher=Oxford University Press | location=India | isbn = 0-19-562643-5 | page=215}}</ref> | |||
| The Nihang wear attire of blue and bracelets of iron round their wrists and quoits of steel in their lofty conical blue turbans together with daggers, knives and swords of varying size and an iron chain. Nihangs gather at Anandpur on the occasion of the festival of Hola Mohalla and display their martial skills. Their fighting style in its modern form as a competitive sport is known as gatka. <ref>{{cite book | last=Mcleod | first=WH| coauthors= | year=1989 | title= The Sikhs: History, Religion, and Society - Lecture Notes on the History of Religions, No 14 | publisher=Columbia University Press | location= | isbn = 9780231068154 | page=}}</ref> | |||
| == Arms and attire == | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| The Nihang wear full attire of superelectric blue,<ref>{{cite book | last=Collins | first=Larry | coauthors= Lapierre, Dominique | year=1997 | title=Freedom at Midnight| publisher=Vikas Publishing House Pvt. Ltd. | location=India | isbn = 81-259-0480-8 | page=393}}</ref> edged bracelets of iron round their wrists ('']'') and quoits of steel ('']'') tiered in their lofty conical blue turbans, together with the traditional knife carried by all baptised Sikhs (''kirpan''). When fully armed a Nihang will also bear one or two swords (either the curved ] or the straight ]) on his right hip, a dagger ('']'') on his left hip, a buckler made from buffalo-hide (''dhala'') on his back, a large ] around his neck, and an iron chain. In times of war, arms worn on the Nihang's person would generally be reserved until the warrior lost the weapon he held, often a bow or spear (''barcha''). | |||
| ⚫ | Some Nihang groups consume cannabis to help in meditation.<ref>{{cite book | ||
| The Nihang were particularly famous for their high turbans and their extensive use of the ] or war-quoit. Their turbans were often pointed at the top and outfitted with a ] or trident which could be used for stabbing in close-quarters. Other times, the turbans would be armed with one or several ] to slice at an opponent's eyes. These steel-reinforced turbans, it was said, afforded enough protection so that there was no need for any other form of headgear. Armour consisted of ''sanjo'' or iron chainmail worn under an iron breastplate (''char aina''). Nihang war-shoes (''jangi mojeh'') were constructed of iron at the toe, making their pointed toes capable of inflicting cuts and stab wounds. | |||
| | last = Richard Beck | |||
| ⚫ | | first = David Worden | ||
| == Nihang today == | |||
| ⚫ | | authorlink = | ||
| ] | |||
| ⚫ | | title = Gcse Religious Studies for Aqa | ||
| Today, Nihang are accorded great respect and affection among the Sikh community worldwide. While the order is primarily ceremonial, they are duty-bound to defend their people and faith in times of war. On the festival of ], Nihang gather in their thousands at ] where they display their martial skills. Their fighting style, although formally called ''shastar vidiya'', is more commonly known as ]. In 2011, Nidar Singh claimed to be the only living master of pre-gatka shaster vidiya.<ref>The only living master of a dying martial art http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15480741</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | | publisher = | ||
| ⚫ | | series = | ||
| ==Use of hemp== | |||
| ⚫ | | year = | ||
| ], India.]] | |||
| | doi = | |||
| ⚫ | Some Nihang groups consume cannabis |
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|pages= 64 | ||
| ⚫ | | isbn = 0-435-30692-8}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | | first = David Worden | ||
| ⚫ | == References == | ||
| ⚫ | | authorlink = | ||
| ⚫ | | title = Gcse Religious Studies for Aqa | ||
| ⚫ | | publisher = | ||
| ⚫ | | series = | ||
| ⚫ | | year = | ||
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| |pages= 64 | |||
| ⚫ | | isbn = 0-435-30692-8}}</ref> | ||
| <ref>,</ref><ref></ref> ''Sukha'' ({{lang|pa|ਸੁੱਖਾ ਪ੍ਰਰਸਾਦ}}), "peace-giver", is the term Nihang use to refer to it. It was traditionally crushed and taken as a liquid, or baked into cookies ({{lang|pa|ਪਕੌੜਾ}}) and eaten, especially during festivals like ]. It is never smoked, as this practice is forbidden in Sikhism.<ref></ref> | |||
| In 2001, Baba Santa Singh, the ] of Budha Dal, along with 20 chiefs of Nihang sects, refused to accept the ban on consumption of ''bhang'' by the apex Sikh clergy.<ref>. ]. March 26, 2001.</ref> Baba Santa Singh was ] for helping the Indian ] government rebuild the ] in ]<ref>{{cite book|last=Bhargava|first=Gopal|title=Land and People of Indian States and Union Territories: In 36 Volumes. Punjab, Volume 22|year=2006|publisher=Gyan Publishing House|isbn=9788178353784|page=405}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Siṅgh|first=Kirapāla|title=Giānī Kirpāl Siṅgh's eye-witness account of Operation Blue Star: mighty murderous army attack on the Golden Temple complex|year=1999|publisher=B. Chattar Siṅgh Jīwan Siṅgh|isbn=9788176013185|page=91}}</ref> he was replaced with Baba Balbir Singh, who shunned the consumption of ''bhang''.<ref>. ]. March 10, 2001.</ref> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| == Notes == | |||
| {{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
| ⚫ | {{Sikhism}} | ||
| ⚫ | == References == | ||
| * '''',The Dasam Granth website | |||
| * '' | |||
| * "Tribes and Castes of Punjab and N.W. Frontier Province" by H.A. Rose (1892) | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| == External links == | |||
| * Images of Nihangs by photographer Charles Meacham | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| * ] | |||
| * | |||
| ⚫ | {{Sikhism}} | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
Revision as of 15:09, 18 August 2013
Nihang is an armed Sikh order. Sikh military history is dominated by the Nihangs. They are known for military victories in which they've been heavily outnumbered. The Nihangs spearhead.
The word Nihang means 'without fear'. They formed the guerilla squads of the armed forces of Ranjit Sukkarchak. The Nihang were also known as Nihali or Akali - the eternal and were part of the Akal Sena started by Hargobind. The Khalsa is an expansion of the Akal Sena.
The Nihang wear attire of blue and bracelets of iron round their wrists and quoits of steel in their lofty conical blue turbans together with daggers, knives and swords of varying size and an iron chain. Nihangs gather at Anandpur on the occasion of the festival of Hola Mohalla and display their martial skills. Their fighting style in its modern form as a competitive sport is known as gatka.
Some Nihang groups consume cannabis to help in meditation.
References
- Cunningham, JD (1918). History of the Sikhs. OUP. ISBN 8120609506.
- Gordon, John (1904). The Sikhs. W. Blackwood and Sons.
- Mcleod, WH (1989). The Sikhs: History, Religion, and Society - Lecture Notes on the History of Religions, No 14. Columbia University Press. ISBN 9780231068154.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - Richard Beck, David Worden. Gcse Religious Studies for Aqa. p. 64. ISBN 0-435-30692-8.
