HISTORY, LEGENDS & MYTHOLOGY

Nihangs carry on Sikhism's martial legacy at Gurudwara Damdama

     Ludhiana: Gurudwara Damdama Sahib in Punjab's Ludhiana district is a symbol of martial traditions of the Sikhs who rose against the tyrannical Mughal rule of the 16th century, which eventually led to the birth of the Khalsa in 1699. Miles away from the hubbub of the cities, and yet conveniently accessible from all over, Gurudwara Damdama Sahib, continues to be an important centre for the Nihang Sikhs, practising the Khalsa lifestyle. Architecturally, a replica of the great Takht, this Gurudwara, is known in Sikh history through its associations with the sixth Sikh guru, Guru Hargobind, who laid the foundations of the `miri' and the `piri' school, here, embracing the sword along with amity and spiritualism. The brilliant legacy of the Gurus, has echoed through the shrine for centuries, and today it draws devotees by the thousands here everyday. All of them come here with only one thing on mind, a sacred determination to follow the hallowed footsteps of the gurus.

     Offering peace of mind and spirit for the king and the pauper, the healthy and the diseased alike, Gurudwara Damdama Sahib has its own place in Sikh history, as it was here that most big decisions, including the declaration of armed warfare against the tyrannical Mughal rule was taken. "After the Mughals sacrificed Guru Arjun Dev, Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru decided to not sit quietly and founded the miri and piri at the Akal Takth. Mughal emperor Jahangir was very cruel and Guru Hargobind fought four wars against him and won all," said a Nihang. The core belief in the doctrine of martial warfare as practised ages before, by the Nihangs - the original army of the Sikhs - is reflected even today.

     Many of the Nihangs reside within the Gurudwara compound and carry it forward, living their lives like the Nihangs of yore. Theirs is a philosophy stemming from a marriage of the spiritual tradition passed on by the gurus down the ages, and the martial prowess instilled by Guru Gobind Singh, and the influence of martyrs like Baba Deep Singh. The Sikh martial arts and gatka, while symbolising Sikh courage and fearlessness, emphasizes the preservation of peace and harmony, and above all, self-discipline through the Guru's teachings. For the nihangs, life is all about living life without fear, without guilt, without attachment, and it's a spirit they have lived with, and one they take pride in carrying on. "There has been no change in the personality of the Nihangs. The world is changing with change in time and those who are the real one, they change the time, and that's what reflects in the Nihang Sikhs. The war today is of your inner elements like lust, anger... and so on and we have to fight that," said the Head Granthi, Gurudwara Damdama Sahib. Though many nihangs have now joined the mainstream, majority remains tied to the old ways - the vow to celibacy, abstention from meat and drink, close conferment to the Sikh holy order - the symbols and diktats of the faith.
-Sept 4, 2005    

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