Many people see Bhai Mani Singh as a scholar, and martyr, the earliest accounts of his life also narrate that he was a Nihang Singh, as were his sons. Kavi Seva Singh in 1800 AD records:ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰੇ ਆਲਸ ਕੋ ਤਿਆਗੈ।
[Bhai Mani Singh] Doing Seva he renounced lazyness.
ਸੇਵਾ ਪਹਿਰ ਨਿਸ ਰਹਿੰਦੀ ਜਾਗੈ।
Everyday he would wake up at a quarter watch.
ਕਰ ਇਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਜਪੈ ਜਪੁ ਜਾਪੁ ।
Waking up he would bath and read Jap and Jaap sahib [Nitnem]
ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਕਾ ਬਢ ਪ੍ਰਤਾਪ।
He shone greatly with the light of Gurbani.
ਸਾਜ ਦੁਮਾਲਾ ਸ਼ਸਤ੍ਰ ਪਹਿਰੈ।
He would tie a Dumalla [High Turban] and wear Weapons.
ਨੀਲੰਬਰ ਗਜ ਸਵਾ ਕਛਹਿਰੈ।
Wearing blue and a Sava Gajh Kechera [A Nihang tradition].
ਪਕੜ ਦੁਤਾਰਾ ਗਾਵੈ ਬਾਣੀ ।
Holding onto the Double-edged sword he would sing Bani.
ਆਸਾ ਵਾਰ ਸੁਖਾਂ ਦੀ ਖਾਣੀ।
Asa di Var the treasure of happyness.
ਤੀਜੇ ਪਹਿਰ ਸ਼ਹੀਦੀ ਦੇਗ।
At the third watch he would take Shaheedi Degh [Parshad of Martyrs]
ਜਗ ਮੇਂ ਚਲੇ ਦੇਗ ਔ ਤੇਗ।
In this world the Guru gave the order of the Degh and Tegh.
ਸੇਵਾ ਹਰੀ ਸਿੰਘ ਕੀ ਕਰਨੀ।
He would serve the good Singhs.
ਏਕ ਜਿਹਵਾ ਸੇ ਜਾਇ ਨ ਬਰਨੀ।੧੮੫।
With one tongue his life-style cannot be said.
The son of Bhai Mani Singh clearly a Nihang Singh and a Shahid Singh, his fresco is present at Gurdwara Baba Atal Rai, Sri Darbar sahib complex, Sri Amritsar.
