ਸ੍ਰੀਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂਜੀਕੀਫਤਹ

Sunday 9 August 2009

Akali Baba Sahib Singh Ji Kaladhari

Baba ji, was the last Akali Jathedar of the Akal Takht before the British created SGPC, and sadly used a large group of women to attack the Nihangs. (Nihangs do not attack women or children). Baba Ji's bones were broken, he said to the girl, 'you are like my daughter, but if it pleases you take out your anger out. After this Jhabbar and his neo-Sikh crew made sure that they disposed of Dasam and Sarbloh Granth, and any other traditional Khalsa practices.
Baba Ji was given his name by an earlier Jathedar after seeing his remarkable spiritual powers.

This was written out of by the people in charge of the printing press, but not the oral history of the Khalsa Panth.

Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman: "There is an ancient Indian saying that something lives only as long as the last person who remembers it. My people have come to trust memory over history. Memory, like fire, is radiant and immutable while history serves only those who seek to control it, those who douse the flame of memory in order to put out the dangerous fire of truth. Beware these men for they are dangerous themselves and unwise. Their false history is written in the blood of those who might remember and of those who seek the truth." -spoken by Floyd Westerman

Dhan Dhan Akali Baba Sahib Singh Ji Kaladhari, who made it possible for Singhs to carry a shastar and wear blue, in the dark days of colonialism.

From a forthcoming publication..................

Salok Dumalle Da

An Akali Nihang Singh, with an amazing Dastar, repeats the Bani of the Dumalla, the Salok Dumalle Da. Filmed at Guru Arjan Dev Ji's park, inside the Sri Darbar Sahib complex. Nov 2005. Also see:

http://kamalroopsingh.blogspot.com/2008/12/baba-fateh-singh.html

Saturday 8 August 2009

Akali Baba Santa Singh Santhia Sarbloh Granth Sahib 2 /1 /2004

Akali Baba Santa Singh giving Santhia of Sri Sarbloh Granth Sahib to a young Nihang Singh at Sabo Ki Talwandi Dam Dama Sahib, 2-1-2004 filmed by Nihang Baba Katapa Singh. Baba Santa Singh Ji learnt his Santhia from the Sikh Brahmgiani Akali Baba Mitt Singh Ji, at Mata Sahib DevaChioni/Gurughar at Nanded. This is internal Taksal of Shiromani Panth Khalsa Akali Buddha Dal Panjva Takht. Baba Santa Singh Ji taught may Singhs before he left his body a few years ago, he was around 107 years old.Sarbloh Granth Sahib is also known as Sarbloh Guru Darbar, Sarbloh Parkash, Manglacharan Puran.

Friday 7 August 2009

A true Saint warrior, Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhinderwale

In the last one hundred years of Sikh history, there has been one outstanding Brahmgiani that nearly led the Panth to its former Sovereignity. This was the great martyr, Giani, Saint, warrior, teacher Jarnail Singh Khalsa.
Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa was a great theological scholar on the lineage of Akali Baba Deep Singh, he tried to unite the Panth, to get Sikhs back into Dharam, and able to fight the ideological, political, physical and spiritual struggle against the oppresive forces of the GOI. He along with thousands of Sikhs gave their heads to protect Sri Darbar Sahib, and the Akal Takht from the Indian Army. May we all remember our great Shahid Singhs and Mahapurush! Sat Sri Akal!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holla Mohalla 2009!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!













Thursday 6 August 2009

The Shaheedi of Akali Baba Phoola Singh Nihang 96 Crore Jathedar Shironmani Panth Khalsa Akali Buddha Dal Panjva Takht Chalda Vahir, Vishav


Maharaja Ranjit Singh talking to the British about the martyrdom of Akali Phoola Singh Ji:
' He fought on foot, was wounded and returned to battle on horse. He was wounded again, then sat on an Elephant. Here he was shot through the lung. He was a brave man, but a villian, he had not fallen I would have imprisoned him, or he would have set fire to your British camps.'
Portrait of Akali Phoola Singh on ivory
A British witness writes:
Vahiguroo Ji that battle cry, is bearing onward still, The wild Akalis onward rush, they struggle up the hill.
Its Phoola Singh who heads the band, but sure I saw him fall, When first he led his heroes on, struck by a musket-ball: Now mounted on an elephant, he leads them on again, But much I fear, five hundred men, will waste their lives in vain.
'Come on Sikhs! Come on once more,' cried out the brave Jathedar Come follow me, and we will change, the fortune of the war.' 'Vahiguroo Ji Ka Khalsa Vahiguroo Ji Ki Fateh' he cried; But not a Khalsa soldier still, to that wild cheer replied.
Their silence, nor their trembling looks, did that fierce chief dismay, But boldy with his gallant band, he rushed into the fray: The Afghans nothing loth came down, the fight grew fiercer still, Yet onward press the gallant few, for that contested hill.
Like hailstones rained the leaden storm, around, above, below, But yet the dauntless lessening band, press onward on the foe. Their leader on his elephant, still forward led the way, His was the guiding spirit still, above the bloody fray.
He watched his time, then gave the word, each man released his steed, adrove him through the Muslim ranks, with fury-winged speed,
Their matchlocks on the ground they threw, and drew the fierce Talvar
, And higher up that bloody hill, they bore the tide of war.
Again the Khalsa troops advance, remembering former fame; They burn to wash in Afghan blood, the morning's marks of shame.
The British administration records:
Phula Singh had, as an Akali (a Sikh ascetic class), great influence with his countrymen. The Maharaja tried for years, with half sincerity to capture him, and the English drove him from place to place, but could never seize him. At this very time, when Partab Singh joined him at Makhowal, the Maharaja had sent the most positive orders for the Philor troops to drive him out of his territories. The garrison was accordingly marched against him, but when they approached, Phula Singh sent to ask them if they would kill their Guru (spiritual teacher.). The Sikhs would not molest him ; and the whole force was kept out some two months to prevent his plundering, marching where he marched, more like a guard of honour than anything else. Numberless stories of the same kind can be told of Phula Singh, who was a very remarkable man. He was a robber and an outlaw, but he was nevertheless a splendid soldier, and a brave, enthusiastic man. He made friends with Ranjit Singh later, and won for him the great battle of Teri, in which he was killed, in 1823.

Akali Baba Santa Singh 96 Crore Jathedar Shironmani Khalsa Panth Akali Buddha Dal Panjva Takht Chalda Vahir, Vishav.











A photograph of Baba Ji in around the 1980's when Baba Ji. In this photograph he is watching shastar-vidiya and wrestling with the Singhs.

Wednesday 5 August 2009

Mesmerised with the world of Nihangs

Manav Ghuman
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 4
Today, some people see Nihangs as a relic, but others recognise them as a colourful and important part of the Punjabi heritage.

Gurbir Singh Brar, a photo artist also feels that there is no colourful subject as compared to Nihangs. Nihangs belong to a martial tradition started by the 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. A photo exhibition by Brar under the theme “The Valiant Ones” was inaugurated today at Dr MS Randhawa Art Gallery, PAU.

Their way of life, style of dress, and weaponry has not changed much over the centuries and this was what capitulated Brar to spend five months with Nihangs around Punjab. During this period, he lived with them, learnt their way of living and captured them in his camera. Brar is all praise to the sense of discipline that prevails among Nihangs.

“They are very hospitable and are strict when it comes to disciple. Watching their practice session was the thing I enjoyed most during my five months stay with them all over Punjab,” adds Brar.

Brar said they are a semi-nomadic people and are organised into armies and live in camps known as cantonments. Men and women both train in horsemanship, swordsmanship, and in the Punjabi martial art known as ‘gatka’. During times of persecution in the past, the Nihangs defended Sikh shrines and the Sikh way of life and become known for their bravery against all odds.

In times of peace, they travel to festivals and fairs throughout India, staging displays of horsemanship and martial skills. The annual Hola Mohalla fair held at Anandpur Sahib on Baisakhi is especially notable for the Nihangs' colourful displays of pageantry.

Brar has also formed an organisation “Sava Lakh Foundation” with the help of Nihangs. With the active involvement of Akal College Council Gursagar Mastuana Sahib and ace horseman Maghar Singh, a training programme in traditional horsemanship and martial arts has been initiated at Mastuana Sahib.

“In today's competitive world, Sava Lakh Foundation exhorts the younger generation to live up to the ideals of the Gurus. The endeavour is to instil pride and enthusiasm in the present day youth, a youth morbidly impressed by the wrong influences and drawn towards drugs and wallowing in mediocrity,” he adds.

Monday 3 August 2009

The black and white sing of you

ਫਰਾਂਸੀ ਫਿਰੰਗੀ ਫਰਾਂਸੀਸ ਕੇ ਦੁਰੰਗੀ ਮਕਰਾਨ ਕੇ ਮ੍ਰਿਦੰਗੀ ਤੇਰੇ ਗੀਤ ਗਾਈਅਤੁ ਹੈ ॥फरांसी फिरंगी फरांसीस के दुरंगी मकरान के म्रिदंगी तेरे गीत गाईअतु है ॥
The Persians and the residents of Firangistan and France, people of two different colours (black and white) and the Mridangis (inhabitants) of Makran sing the songs of Thy Praise.
ਭਖਰੀ ਕੰਧਾਰੀ ਗੋਰ ਗਖਰੀ ਗਰਦੇਜਾ ਚਾਰੀ ਪਉਨ ਕੇ ਅਹਾਰੀ ਤੇਰੇ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਈਅਤੁ ਹੈ ॥भखरी कंधारी गोर गखरी गरदेजा चारी पउन के अहारी तेरे नामु धिआईअतु है ॥
The people of Bhakkhar, Kandhar, Gakkhar and Arabia and others living only on air remember Thy Name.
ਪੂਰਬ ਪਲਾਊਂ ਕਾਮ ਰੂਪ ਔ ਕਮਾਊਂ ਸਰਬ ਠਉਰ ਮੈ ਬਿਰਾਜੈ ਜਹਾਂ ਜਹਂਾ ਜਾਈਅਤੁ ਹੈ ॥पूरब पलाऊं काम रूप औ कमाऊं सरब ठउर मै बिराजै जहां जहंा जाईअतु है ॥
At all the places including Palayu in the East, Kamrup and Kumayun, wherever we go, Thou art there.
ਪੂਰਨ ਪਰਤਾਪੀ ਜੰਤ੍ਰ ਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਤੇ ਅਤਾਪੀ ਨਾਥ ਕੀਰਿਤ ਤਿਹਾਰੀ ਕੋ ਨ ਪਾਰ ਪਾਈਅਤੁ ਹੈ ॥੧੪॥੨੬੬॥पूरन परतापी जंत्र मंत्र ते अतापी नाथ कीरित तिहारी को न पार पाईअतु है ॥१४॥२६६॥
Thou art perfectly Glorious, without any impact of Yantras and mantras, O Lord ! The limits of Thy Praise cannot be known.14.266.



Saturday 1 August 2009

The Court of Guru Gobind Singh




The Guru had fifty-two full-time poets in his court. The Guru was very fond of them all. He paid them handsomely for their efforts. They translated many Persian and Sanskrit works into Punjabi and Braj Bhasha. The court poets praised Guru Gobind Singh in their various compositions. An extract is translated below.

Amrit Rai:
Some say you are the most virtuous, and the silent sage adorned with jewels of knowledge;
Some say you are the greatest of all givers and the eradicator of pain.
One says that you have the way of the most wisest being;
One says your glorious beauty is the greatest ever known.
One says you are the greatest warrior and the greatest helper;
One says you are loaded with Dharma that all people sing of.
You are the vehicle of humility Sri Gobind Singh! The King of today;
mankind in the universe, obtains all of the above from you!

translated by Das Kamalroop Singh