Nishan Sahib

Nishan Sahib (Modern version)
	Nishan Sahib (Modern version)
Design	Triangular orange or saffron flag with Khanda symbol placed on center of flag.

The Nishan Sahib (Punjabi: ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨ ਸਾਹਿਬ, romanized: niśān sāhib, lit. 'respected ensign') in Sikhism is a triangular flag made of cotton or silk cloth, with a tassel at its end. The current form of the Nishan Sahib that is in use throughout Gurdwaras around the world has an orange (saffron) background color that has the Khanda symbol in the center of the flag. It is commonly hoisted on a tall flagpole outside Gurdwaras.^[1]

^ Singh, Pashaura (2019). A Dictionary of Sikh Studies. Oxford Quick Reference. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780192508430. Mostly, it is triangular in shape and saffron in colour. Nihangs usually have dark-blue-coloured flags in their gurdwaras. The mast is always draped in cloth of the same colour, called chola. The Khalsa emblem of Khanda is embroidered or printed on the flag, and a steel spear, a two-edged sword, or another Khanda surmounts it. The tradition of mounting a 'white flag' (dhaval dhuja) at the Sikh centre on the bank of the Beas River began at Goindval during the period of Guru Amar Das (GGS 1393). It gave the message of peace and welfare of all. After Guru Arjan's martyrdom the colour of the flag became saffron, symbolizing sacrifice. Guru Hargobind put the symbols of two swords of temporal (miri) and spiritual (piri) authority on the flag he mounted in front of the newly built Akal Takhat. The protest march (chaunki charhni) established by Baba Buddha and Bhai Gurdas from the Akal Takhat to the Gwalior fort during the imprisonment of the sixth Guru had the Sikh flag carried in front by a standard-bearer (nishanchi) alongside a torchbearer (mishalchi). After the creation of the Khalsa in 1699, the imprints of 'cooking vessel or cauldron' (deg) and 'sword' (teg) were put on the flag to highlight the Khalsa ideal of providing food and justice to all. During the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, each regiment of the Khalsa army had its own particular flag. The modern standard form of Nishan Sahib came about as the result of Singh Sabha reforms.

[:0-1] Singh, Pashaura (2019). A Dictionary of Sikh Studies. Oxford Quick Reference. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780192508430. Mostly, it is triangular in shape and saffron in colour. Nihangs usually have dark-blue-coloured flags in their gurdwaras. The mast is always draped in cloth of the same colour, called chola. The Khalsa emblem of Khanda is embroidered or printed on the flag, and a steel spear, a two-edged sword, or another Khanda surmounts it. The tradition of mounting a 'white flag' (dhaval dhuja) at the Sikh centre on the bank of the Beas River began at Goindval during the period of Guru Amar Das (GGS 1393). It gave the message of peace and welfare of all. After Guru Arjan's martyrdom the colour of the flag became saffron, symbolizing sacrifice. Guru Hargobind put the symbols of two swords of temporal (miri) and spiritual (piri) authority on the flag he mounted in front of the newly built Akal Takhat. The protest march (chaunki charhni) established by Baba Buddha and Bhai Gurdas from the Akal Takhat to the Gwalior fort during the imprisonment of the sixth Guru had the Sikh flag carried in front by a standard-bearer (nishanchi) alongside a torchbearer (mishalchi). After the creation of the Khalsa in 1699, the imprints of 'cooking vessel or cauldron' (deg) and 'sword' (teg) were put on the flag to highlight the Khalsa ideal of providing food and justice to all. During the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, each regiment of the Khalsa army had its own particular flag. The modern standard form of Nishan Sahib came about as the result of Singh Sabha reforms.

[1]

Nishan Sahib

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · View on Wikipedia