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Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Nishan Sahib.....


I came across some blog where the Nishan Sahib was a multi colored cloth (White and Green if I remember correct). I am putting this article up from sikh.net that describes the Nishan Sahib.

The Nishan Sahib, or the flag is made of cotton or silk cloth and triangular in shape, symbolizes sovereignty. When we study the verses of the bards that form an integral part of Guru Granth Sahib - the scripture of the Sikhs - we learn that there was a practice of hoisting of flag during the divine ministry of Guru Amar Das, Guru Ram Das and Guru Arjan Dev. The color of Nishan Sahib during this phase of the Sikh history was white. Its color underwent a change, from white to saffron, in the hands of Guru Harigobind and it was first time hoisted at Akal Takhat Sahib in the year 1609 A.D.

The Nishan Sahib, that is in use today, is supported by a pole of timber or metal having Khanda - a double-edged sword fixed at its top. The flag has also an emblem put on it consisting of :-

Two swords, symbolizing temporal and spiritual powers;
Khanda or disintegrator - a double-edged sword representing uprooting of an illiusion and ignorance;
A circular ring symbolizing cyclic order of the universe.


Actually, the whole emblem is refered to as "Khanda" as well.

This Nishan Sahib, as a matter of religious injunction, must hoist at each and every building of the Gurdwara. It is this Nishan Sahib that is referred to in the daily prayer of the Sikhs asking for its immortality.

PS. Viewer, please donot confuse the "Khanda" emblem on the Nishan Sahib with the sign on the Iranian national Flag.

8 Comments:

  • Waheguru Ji!

    I think what you saw was probably this "nishan sahib": http://www.satgurudarshandham.org/nishansahib.asp

    Not the Sikh Nishan Sahib, as you've described in the article.

    Don't know much about these people or this group, but defintely seems like a distortion of Sikhi and doesn't seem right to me at all.

    By Blogger Rimmi, at 3/15/2006 3:30 PM  

  • The Nishan Sahib I saw was similar to what is in the picture posted by Prabhu Singh on his blog.
    prabhukhalsa.blogspot.com
    It was a Blog of some south american Sikh.

    By Blogger Sifar, at 3/15/2006 3:55 PM  

  • Waheguru.

    Green? Nishan Sahib should never have green or red on it. I wonder how someone added the color green?

    By Blogger Otpreka Singh, at 3/16/2006 1:35 PM  

  • This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    By Blogger SikhsRus, at 3/17/2006 1:50 PM  

  • Sorry Sarvjeet! I had to delete my comment above. My afterthought told me that my comment may be taken as criticism than a question.

    By Blogger SikhsRus, at 3/18/2006 11:45 AM  

  • Sikhsrus...

    The point that you (and I) raised about Nishan Shaib are valid. If it leads to some controversy, so be it. I would have not taken off any valid comment just thinking it may lead to some bitter feelings with a certain group. It is for the first time that I have seen a Nishan Sahib in a color other than Saffron. Today, some sikh organization changed the color of Nishan Sahib, tomorrow, another sect with come up with another color. This way we are showing the world of division between the Sikhs not unity.... Plus Sikhs are Sikhs, white, or black or brown or SGPC or 3HO or DSGPC or PSGPC or what ever organization they are affiliated with, so they should have the same Nishan Sahib under which they all should be united....

    By Blogger Sifar, at 3/18/2006 3:04 PM  

  • It was more of a curiosity. Like ss said, there are other important things to worry about. After all, my thinking is that if all the Sikh Jathedars are okay with it, who are you and I to even question it.

    By Blogger SikhsRus, at 3/20/2006 2:31 AM  

  • Manjit jee...

    Who will police the police... I mean if paanth de Jaathedar do something that is not right, is it not the time the paanth remind them of their duties. (Here I'm talking in general, not specifically in terms of Nishan Sahib).

    If someone says that there are bigger things to worry about than Nishan Sahib, I believe they dont understand the gravity of the situation. I will give you an example of "Army Medical Core". When ever in battle field, they have the Red Cross on a white background flag flying outside their make shift hospitals, that identifies them as a non-combat unit treating the injured. If they didnot had a particular pattern that all the medical Units over the world follow, then it would be a catastrophe when the enemy would bombard the area where injured are being taken care of. I hope you get my point. The Saffron Nishan Sahib identifies a Gurdwara that people can spot from far. A white and yellow, or another color Flag doesnot identify a Gurdwara. And, its triangular shape, and color has some significance form the time of our Guru Sahiban. I dont think that we shold be dealing with it as a matter that dont need any attention.

    By Blogger Sifar, at 3/20/2006 1:21 PM  

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