Other Commentaries on Nihung Singhs & Conclusion

In Panth Prakash, Giani Gian Singh write that Nihung Singhs look for battles and keep a large number of metal weapons in their Kamarkassey:
ਪਿਆਰੀ ਔਰੈ ਵਸਤੁ ਨ ਕਾਈ॥
ਇਕ ਸਸਤ੍ਰ ਇਕ ਚਹਤ ਲੜਾਈ॥
ਸਿਰ ਪਰ ਚੱਕ੍ਰ ਕਰਦਾ ਤੋੜੇ॥
ਅਉਰੈ ਸਸਤ੍ਰ ਰਖਤ ਨ ਥੋੜੇ॥
ਪੇਟੀ ਟੋਪ ਸੰਜੋਇ ਚਿਰਾਨੇ॥
ਮਣ ਮਣ ਲੋਹਾ ਰਖਤ ਮਹਾਨੇ॥
After hearing of the actions of Nihung Singhs, Naadir Shah says to Zakariya Khan: I can smell the fragrance of Baadshahi in this Kaum. Given some time, they will become Kings:
ਅਸ਼ੀਂ ਕੌਮੇ, ਸਲਤਨਤ ਬੂਇ ਆਇਦਸ਼॥
While travelling through Punjab for 4-5 months, Qazi Noor Muhammad saw the lifestyles of Nihung Singhs and asked that the Singhs not be referred to as dogs. As they are lions and in the battlefield of masculinity these are even braver than lions. These Nihung Singhs will never attack someone who is unarmed or someone who has fled the battlefield. They are not adulterers either.
ਸਗਾਂ ਰਾ ਮਗੋ, ਸ਼ਗਨ ਕਿ ਹਸਤੰਦ ਸ਼ੇਰ॥
ਬ ਮੈਦਾਨਿ ਮਰਦਾਂ, ਤੂੰ ਸ਼ੇਰਾਂ ਦਲੇਰ॥
ਕਿ ਕਸ਼ਤੰਦ ਨ, ਮਰਦ ਰਾ ਹੇਚ ਗਾਹ॥
ਗੁਰੇਜ਼ੰਦਾ ਰਾਹਮ, ਨ ਗੀਰੰਦ ਰਾਹ॥
ਜਨਾਹਮ ਨ ਬਾਸ਼ਦ, ਮਯਾਲੇ ਸਗਾਂ॥
ਨ ਦੁਜ਼ਦੀ ਬਵਦ, ਕਾਰੇ ਆਹਰਮਨਗਾਂ॥
Qazi Noor Muhammad also writes that they do not make friends with thieves nor do they allow them to be in their company.
ਜਾਨੀ ਓ ਸਾਰਕ ਨ ਦਾਰੰਦ ਦੋਸਤ॥
ਵਗਰ ਫਿਅਲੇ ਸ਼ਾਂ ਜੁਮਲਗੀ ਨਕੋਸਤ॥
Giani Gian Singh write that Puratan Singhs each kept 2 white kachherey, dastaars and hazooriay (made of khadar and chaunsi). They kept a chaadra (type of large heavy cloth) over their shoulder and holsters around their neck.
ਦੁਇ ਦੁਇ ਕਛਾਂ ਸਭ ਕੇ ਲਘੂ ਰਹੇ॥
ਖੱਦਰ ਚੌਂਸੀ ਦੇ ਦਸਤਾਰੇ ਸਾਫੇ ਊਭੈ ਹਜ਼ੂਰੀ ਭਾਰੇ॥
ਇਕ ਇਕ ਭੂਰਾ ਗਾਤੀ ਹੇਤੈਂ॥
ਦੂਸਰ ਭੂਰਾ ਸਭ ਕੰਮ ਦੇਤੈਂ॥
ਇਤਕ ਪੁਸ਼ਾਕੀ ਬਾਰਾ ਮਾਸੈਂ॥
ਰਖਤ ਹੁਤੇ ਤਬ ਸਬ ਸਿੰਘ ਖ਼ਾਸੈਂ॥
(ਪੰਥ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼)
Kavi Nihal Singh have praised Nihung Singhs a lot:
ਧਰਮ ਕੇ ਧੁਰੰਧਰ ਉਦਾਰਤਾ ਕੇ ਧਾਰਾਧਾਰ ਭੋਲੇ ਭਾਲੇ ਭਰਾਜਤੇ ਝਕੋਲ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਰੰਗ ਮੈਂ॥
ਸਰਬਲੋਹ ਪ੍ਯਾਰੇ ਅਰਬ ਖਰਬ ਲੌ ਨ ਦਰਬ ਬੰਧ ਨੈਕ ਹੂੰ ਨ ਗਰਬ ਪੁੰਨ ਪਰਬ ਯਾਕੇ ਸੰਗ ਮੈਂ॥
ਸਾਜ ਕੈ ਸੁਬਾਨੋ ਸੂਰ ਗਾਜ ਕੈ ਮ੍ਰਿਗੇਂਦ ਭੂਰਿ ਭਾਜ ਕੈ ਗਨੀਮ ਕੋ ਬਿਦਾਰੈਂ ਜੋਰ ਜੰਗ ਮੈਂ॥
ਮੋਦ ਕੇ ਤਰੰਗ ਮੈਂ ਉਮੰਗ ਕੈ ਉਤੰਗ ਪੰਥ ਲੋਕ ਦੰਗ ਕੈਬੇ ਕੋ ਸੁ ਕੀਨੇ ਏ ਨਿਹੰਗ ਮੈਂ॥
In the Rehitnaamey, Bhai Daya Singh have explained the word Nihung and their maryada as something like this:
ਪਾਤ੍ਰ ਸਰਬਲੋਹ ਕੇ, ਭੁਗਤੇ ਅਸਨ ਸੁਆਦਿ॥ ਲੱਕੜੀ ਕੋ ਭੋਜਨ ਭਖੇ, ਨੀਲ ਬਸਤ੍ਰ ਸਿਰਜਾਦਿ॥
ਕੱਛ ਸ੍ਰੋਤ ਔਰ ਨੀਲ ਪਟ, ਜਪੁ ਅਰੁ ਜਾਪੁ ਉਚਾਰ॥ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ ਉਸਤਤਿ ਕਰੇ, ਚੰਡੀ ਕੰਨ ਸੁਧਾਰਿ ॥ ਊਚਾ ਬੁੰਗਾ ਜੋ ਸਜੈ, ਨਾਮ ਨਿਹੰਗ ਸੁਜਾਨ ॥ ਕਰਮ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਸਮ ਕਰੇ, ਸੁਨਹੁ ਸਿਖ ਧਰ ਕਾਨ॥
ਤਥਾ ਸੋ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਰੂਪ ਹੈ ਨੀਲ ਬਸਤ੍ਰ ਪਹਿਨਾਇ॥ ਜਪੈ ਜਾਪੁ ਗੁਰਬਰ ਅਕਾਲ, ਸਰਬਲੋਹ ਪਹਿਨਾਇ॥
Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha have written about the Akaal-Worshipping Nihung Singh in Mahaan Kosh:
ਕਮਲ ਜਯੋਂ ਮਾਯਾ ਜਲ ਵਿਚ ਹੈ ਅਲੇਪ ਸਦਾ, ਸਭ ਦਾ ਸਨੇਹੀ ਚਾਲ ਤੋਂ ਨਿਰਾਲੀ ਹੈ।
ਸਭ ਕਰਕੇ ਕਮਾਈ ਖਾਵੇ, ਮੰਗਣਾ ਹਰਾਮ ਜਾਣੇ, ਭਾਣੇ ਵਿਚ ਵਿਪਦਾ ਨੂੰ, ਮੰਨੇ ਖੁਸ਼ਹਾਲੀ ਹੈ।
ਸ੍ਵਾਰਥ ਤੋਂ ਬਿਨਾ, ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਿਆ ਦਾ ਚੌਕੀਦਾਰ, ਧਰਮ ਦੇ ਜੰਗ ਲਈ, ਚੜੇ ਮੁਖ ਲਾਲੀ ਹੈ।
ਪੂਜੇ ਨ ਅਕਾਲ ਬਿਨਾ, ਹੋਰ ਕੋਈ ਦੇਵੀ ਦੇਵ, ਸਿਖ ਦਸਮੇਸ ਦਾ ਸੋ ਕਹੀਏ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਹੈ।
In Sri Gurmukh Prakaash Granth, Sant Giani Gurbachan Singh write the following about Nihung Singhs:
ਬਾਬਾ ਫਤੇ ਸਿੰਘ, ਸਾਹਿਬਜ਼ਾਦੇ ਦਸਮੇਸ਼ ਜੀ ਕੇ
ਪਹਿਰ ਅਕਾਲ ਬਾਣਾ ਆਏ ਗੁਰ ਤੀਰ ਹੈ॥
ਕੇਸਗੜ ਬੈਠੇ ਗੁਰ ਪੇਖ ਪ੍ਰਸੰਨ ਭਏ
ਪੰਥ ਸੁਤ ਚਲੇ ਤੇਰਾ ਜੰਗੀ ਬਲਬੀਰ ਹੈ।
ਫੌਜ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਹੋਹਿ ਨਿਹੰਗ ਸਿੰਘ ਪੰਥੁ ਸੋਹਿ
ਚੱਕਰ ਦੁਮਾਲੇ ਲੋਹਿ ਗੱਜੈ ਰਣਧੀਰ ਹੈ
ਫਰਰੇ ਸਜਾਵੈ, ਖੂਬ ਸੁਖੇ ਦੇਗ ਡਲੇ ਛਕੈ
ਬਾਣੀ ਗੱਜ ਗੱਜ ਪੜ੍ਹੇ ਦੁਸਟਾਂ ਕੋ ਚੀਰ ਹੈ।
Punjabi folktales explain that those who are fully disciplined in the lifestyle of Nihung Singhs were welcomed into homes (versus closing the doors which were done in fear of Pathans)
ਆਏ ਨੀ ਨਿਹੰਗ, ਬੂਹਾ ਖੋਲਦੇ ਨਿਸੰਗ॥
Nihung Singhs face every trouble and battle with strong conviction and fighting spirit. They exemplified this in the times of Abdali, Naadir Shah, Taimur, Mir Mannu, etc. Nihung Singhs have faced a lot of pain inflicted on their bodies during these rough times. From 1735 CE (Zakariya Khan’s malpractice) until 1858/Bikrami 1901 (the beginning of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s reign), Nihung Singhs faced these struggles. In these times, Nihung Singhs went through hunger, thirst, and poverty. In Sri Nanak Prakash, Kavi Santokh narrate the moment when Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj commanded Bhai Mardaanaa Ji to stay with them for a long term. At that time Satguru Nanak Dev Ji stated: “If you want poverty and scarcity from Sansaar then stay with me. If you want hunger and scarcity from Nirankaar’s Dar then go home. With Me, you will have to put up with the pain of hunger and scarcity while living in the jungles.
ਦੋਹਰਾ॥
ਛੁਧਾ, ਨਗਨਤਾ ਜਾਨੀਏ, ਪੁਨ ਰਹਿਨੇ ਉਦਿਆਨ॥
ਸੰਗ ਰਹਨਿ ਮਮ ਤੌ ਬਨੈ, ਕਰਿਯੇ ਉਰ ਪਰਵਾਨ॥੫੨॥
(ਪੂਰਬਾਰਧ ਅਧਿਆਇ ੩੪)
Even Nihung Singhs faced hunger, thirst, and all sorts of difficulties like Bhai Mardaanaa Ji. Nihung Singhs accepted this but never left the Door of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Giani Gian Singh Ji write the reason for this (Panth Prakash’s 5vi Jild, page 2807):
One time Kalgidhar Maharaj Ji gave a Tuladaan (Giving a donation in parallel body weight) to a Brahmin. When the Brahmin received the donation from Maharaj and walked away, a Nihung Singh was sitting in the doorway and asked him: “What are you taking away with you?”. The Pandit said bringing Kalgidhar Maharaj Ji’s ‘Sir-Vaarnaaa’. The Nihung Singh misunderstood that the pandit meant that he is carrying The Head of Guru Maharaj. The Singh beat him up then confiscated his reward. When Kalgidhar Maharaj found out that the Nihung Singhs took the donation from the Pandit then Satguru Sahib stated that Nihung Singhs gave this Pandit poverty and hunger but you are bringing this inflicting this same pain towards your own home.
ਨੰਗ ਭੁਖ ਦਾਰਦ ਛਨਿੱਛਰ ਗ੍ਰਹਿ ਦਸਾ ਮੰਦ ਜਾਨਿ
ਹਮ ਨਿਜ ਘਰੋਂ ਥੀ ਨਿਕਾਲੀ ਹੈ। ਸਮਝ ਸਬਰ ਬਿਨੁ ਜਬਰਨ ਰਾਖੀ ਇਨੈ
ਰੈਹੈ ਅਬਿ ਇਨ ਹੀ ਮੈਂ ਸਦਾ ਏਹੁ ਚਾਲੀ ਹੈ।
The difficulties faced under Mughal rule were also faced during British rule. The 22 states of Hindustan were captured, 21 of them were easily captured but when the tyrannical British government came to Punjab, Maharaja Ranjeet Singh had the Akaali Fauj with Their Power. They did not let the British pass the Satluj River. The British government established a camp in Ludhiana and it was here where General David Ochterloney and Captain Murray wrote the history of Nihung Singhs through Bhai Rattan Singh Bhangu. This is what we now know today as Pracheen Panth Prakash.
Over time, Maharaja Ranjeet Singh and the British came to good terms. Maharaja Ranjeet Singh was going to install a British officer in Their Army and then Akaali Phoolaa Singh pulled a sword from the scabbard and challenged the decision: Oh (KaaNiaa) blind-eyed (referring to one blind eye of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh)! Don’t Let this Billa enter (male-cat; probably in reference to Singhs being lions, so the British being inferior), hold darbar outside in a tent. Seeing Akaali Phoolaa Singh’s Bibek & Fearless, the British officer figured that Nihung Singhs would be a hindrance in their plans. Living among Nihung Singhs, they started to collect reconnaissance information (spying). The British thought the political strategy and strength of Nihung Singhs came from their Books, Just like Giani Balkar Singh Ji Marriwal researched English books and found a lot of information. For example, Colonel Steinbach stayed among Nihung Singhs for 8-9 years in Maharaja Ranjeet Singh Darbar and wrote a book called Brief Account of The Country of The Sikhs in 1846 stating:
“They are, without exception, the most insolent and worthless race of people under the sun. They move about constantly armed to the teeth and intoxicated on cannabis. Insulting everybody they meet, particularly European. They are quite uncontrollable and the only way to deal with them is to exterminate them”
The British also obtained information about the Granths of Nihung Singhs. Divisiveness was created for every Granth which gave Nihung Singhs warrior spirit. There is a controversy on Dasam Granth, then Mangal Prakaash and Sau Saakhi disappeared, then doubts were placed on the Rehatnaamey developed in the Guru's Hazuri, then the dates of Roop Deep Pingal were questioned, then doubt formed around Sarbloh Granth, among these were many other plots to foil the future of Sikhi.
The British went about slandering Nihung Singhs. To the point that a British writer wrote that Nihung Singhs are demons. They referred to Nihung Singhs practice of Daatun-Kurla (Daatan used as toothbrush and Kurla means rinsing mouths) as demons eating wood. After playing these types of tricks, the British failed to defame Nihung Singhs. The British Government then commanded a shoot-on-sight order after the fight of Chillian as per Nihung Singh Giani Kartar Singh Mota Akhar.
Giani Sohan Singh Ji Seetal have written that in 1849 CE, under the command of Raja Sher Singh, the Akaali Fauj of Nihung Singhs were attacked at the Chillian area (in modern-day Pakistan) which the Nihung Singhs retaliated with full force. In the Calcutta Review of 1849 CE (page 286) it is written: “Out of all of the British’s battles in Bharat, the Chillianwale Battle was the scariest”. English writer Sir Laypin Griffin has written that the Chillianwala Battle was parallel to the Afghanistan massacre.
In this battle, the British’s 22 Major European Officers, 16 Desi Officers, 561 Sepoys died. 67 British Officers, 27 Desi Officers, and 1547 sepoys were injured, and 98 were reported missing.
The British’s 6 Large Cannons, 12 small cannons were captured by Nihung Singhs among their rations and battle standards.
Seeing the bravery of the Nihung Singhs, the shoot-on-sight order was written against Blue Akaali Baana. From this danger, many average Sikhs left the Blue Akaali Baana then took up British uniform and wore the Nok-Daar turban.
The Faithful Singhs who were without fear of death did not fear the government and till this date kept Blue Baana and maintain the Guru’s Maryada.
So the Akaali-Baana of Guru Gobind Singh and the Nihung Singhs are the same. An example of this is still available today. Whenever someone does seva in the Punj-Piaare, they wear the Akaali Baana of the Nihung Singhs. There is one undoubted truth: Nihung Singhs are the real Akaali Fauj organized by Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj.
Sant Baba Kartar Singh Ji Mota Akhar have written that Nihung Singhs are often seen as only a part of the Sikh Panth but Nihung Singhs are not a Samparda, a separate Kaum, stream, or offshoot. They are the real panth arranged by Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. In Panth Prakash, Bhai Rattan Singh Bhangu have written that Kalgidhar Maharaj had created Nihung Singhs by blessing with Khandey-Baatey da Amrit.
ਪੀਯੋ ਪਾਹੁਲ ਗੁਰ ਬਚਨ ਨਿਵਾਰੀ॥
ਭਯੋ ਖਾਲਸੇ ਵਡ ਕਲਧਾਰੀ॥
ਨਿਹੰਗ ਭੁਜੰਗ ਬਡ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਬਿਦੇਹ॥
ਬਿਜਾਨ ਸਿਪਾਹੀ ਸਿੰਘ ਪੰਥ ਭਵੇਹਿ॥
Some Nihung Singh Panth accept Baba Fateh Singh as their first leader, some accept Baba Maan Singh, and some Baba Naina Singh. There are many Sakhis that retell different narratives, such as Baba Fateh Singh coming to Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj then Guru Sahib gave a boon to start the Nihung Singh Panth.
ਫਤੇ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਾਹਿਬਜ਼ਾਦਾ ਬਾਲਕੇ ਲੈ ਸੰਗ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾ
ਹੋਲੀਓਂ ਮੈ ਸ੍ਵਾਗ ਸਾਦਾ ਗੁਰੂ ਪਾਸ ਆਇਓ ਹੈ।
ਜੀਰਣ ਸੀ ਲਕ ਕੱਛ ਦਸਤਾਰ ਊਚ ਅੱਛ
ਸੋਟਾ ਮੋਟਾ ਕਾਧੇ ਸ੍ਰਛ ਬਸਨ ਸਜਾਯੋ ਹੈ॥
ਬੋਲੇ ਹੈਂ ਅਕਾਲ ਤੇ ਅਕਾਲ ਤੇਗ ਢਾਲ ਧਾਰੇ
ਦੇਖ ਕੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਹੱਸ ਬਚਨ ਅਲਾਯੋ ਹੈ॥
ਖਾਰੋ ਪੰਥ ਚਲੈਗੋ ਬਿਸਾਲੈ ਜੰਗ ਆਲੇ ਪਾ ਲੈ
ਸਿਦਕ ਅਕਾਲੈ ਕੋ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਬਿਧਤਾਯੋ ਹੈ॥
Those who accept Baba Maan Singh as their first leader, state that Kalgidhar Maharaj came to Dilvaan village and took off their robes (Cholaa) then cremated them where a strip of cloth remained. Baba Maan Singh took that strip and adorned it on their head. This is their belief as to how the Nihung Singhs were created.
Some accept that Baba Deep Singh Ji’s Students and Budha Dal’s Jathedar Baba Naina Singh Ji began the Nihung Singh Panth.
In these modern times, most scholars develop their own narratives and logic without understanding the context of Nihung Singh code words, traditions, and history. They write their own thoughts/opinions.
In Kalgidhar Maharaj Ji’s Khalsa Panth, there are two types of Singhs. Firstly, those who adorn farrarey (farley) and secondly, those who simply adorn Gurmukhi Dumaaley.
In the beginning, Farley-adorning Singhs were referred to as Nihung Singhs and Gurmukhi Dumaale-adorning Singhs were referred to simply as “Singh”. However in today’s time, whoever has a kamarkassa tied to their waist, adorns a chola, has a kirpan in their gatra, keeps a barchha, etc. are referred to as Nihung Singhs. Whether adorning a Gurmukhi Dumalla or also adorning a farra, the average population refers to them all as Nihung Singhs.
Without knowing the implicit details about Nihung Singhs, modern scholars incorrectly refer to Nihung Singhs as a separate offshoot, kaum, or school of thought. From Baba Fateh Singh and Baba Maan Singh, the Farrarey-adorning Nihung Singhs started and in the time of Baba Naina Singh Ji, there was more parchaar and spread of Farrarey-adorning Nihung Singhs. However, this was not all of the Blue-Adorning Panth Khalsa. This is why it should be understood that the Blue-Adorning Panth Khalsa was architectured and created by Kalgidhar Maharaj Ji. This is the True Panth, which is commonly referred to with the collective name: “Nihung Singhs”.