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REHATNAMA BHAI DAYA SINGH JI - REHAT OF AKALI NIHUNG

 SRI SATGURU VAACH | SPEECH OF THE TENTH GURU


The Rehatnama below, is a continuation from Rehatnama Bhai Daya Singh Ji, to whom, Guru Gobind Singh Ji explains the Rehat (Code of Conduct) of Akali Nihung. Who are these Akali Nihung? They can be traced back to the time of Guru Gobind Singh Ji's youngest son, Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji. 

Mata Sahib Devan Ji would get Sahibzada ready for the day, lovingly adorning him with beautiful bana, shastars, dastaar and plume. One day, Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji tied an Ucha Bunga, to match the height of his elder brothers so that he too could fight in their mock battles. Sahibzada proceeded to the Darbar Sahib to have the glimpse and meet his father, Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

Guru Sahib upon looking at Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji, walking into the Darbar with an Ucha Bunga, blue attire, and weapon, was very pleased and announced to the sangat, that such a Panth will grow that will be called the Akali Nihung and dress like Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji. This Akali Panth will be fearless, unique to the ways of this world, and is only answerable to Akaal Purakh (The Timeless Being). 

Glossary:
Akali - A + Kaal = Timeless, Immortal
Nihung  - Ni + Hung = Without ego, also means alligator. 
Sahibzada = Prince
Ucha Bunga = Towering Fortress - hair covered with layered pieces of Turban, adorned with small weapons. 

ਸੋ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਰੂਪ ਹੈ ਨੀਲ ਬਸਤ੍ਰ ਧਹਿਰਾਇ  
One who is the form of Akaali (Timeless), adorns blue clothing, 

ਜਪੇ ਜਾਪ ਗੁਰਬਰ ਅਕਾਲ ਸਰਬਲੋਹ ਪਹਿਰਾਇ | 
remembers and repeats the name of Gurbar Akaal (The Timeless Being), and wears pure iron weapons. 

ਸਰਬ ਲੋਹ ਚਕ੍ਰ ਕਰਦ ਛੱਲਾਦਿ  
Keep pure iron chakar (discs) and karad (dagger),

ਬੀਧੇ ਕਾਨ ਨਾ ਨਾਕ ਕੋ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਮ੍ਰਿਜਾਦ | 
and never pierce the ears or nose as this is the True Guru's wish. 

Image: Akali Nihung fully adorned in Khalsa Bana (Attire) and Shastars (Weapons)

Image: The Dastaar Bunga (Towering fortress) of an Akali Nihung, adorned with chakars (discs) and karad ( small dagger) 

ਪੰਜ ਸ਼ਸਤ੍ਰ ਧਰ ਦੇਹ ਪੈ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਨ ਗਾਤਰੇ ਰਾਖ  
Wear 5 weapons on the body, keep a kirpan (sword) in the gatra (shoulder belt), 

ਕਰਦ ਭੇਟ ਬਿਨ ਪਾਨ ਨਹ‌ਿ ਅਕਾਲ ਭਾਵ ਸਤ ਭਾਖ |
do not eat without touching the food with the dagger (signifies The Guru blessing the food), and contemplate on Akaal (The Timeless Being) and Truth. 

Image: Touching the dagger to the food, signifying the Guru accepting and blessing it 


ਸੁਰ੍ਮਾਦਿਕ ਸ਼ਿੰਗਾਰ ਨਹ‌ਿ ਨਹ‌ਿ ਪਰ ਤਰੁਨੀ ਸੰਗ  
Forsake all forms of makeup and jewelries, and relationship with another's wife, 

ਯਥਾਰਥ ਇਸਤਰੀ ਤ੍ਯਾਗ ਨਹ‌ਿੰ ਗੁਰ੍ਕੋ ਧਿਆਨ ਅਭੰਗ | 
but never forsake your own wife, and continuously remain focused on the Guru.

 
ਪਾਤਰ ਸਰਬ ਲੋਹ ਕੇ ਭੁਗਤੇ ਅਸਨ ਸੁਆਦ  
Eat in pure iron utensils and enjoy the food, 

ਲੱਕੜੀ ਕੋ ਭੋਜਨ ਭਖੇ ਨੀਲ ਬਸਤ੍ਰ ਮਿਰਜਾਦ | 
cook food with firewood, while wearing blue attire. 

ਕਛ ਸ੍ਵੇਤ ਔ ਨੀਲ ਪਟ ਜਪ ਅਰ ਜਾਪੁ ਉਚਾਰ  
Wear white kachhera, blue attire, and recites Jap and Jaap,

ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ ਉਸਤਤ ਕਰੇ ਚੰਡੀ ਕੰਠ ਸੁਧਾਰ | 
read Sri Akaal Ustat and memorise Chandi di Vaar. 


ਰੋਮ ਬਸੰ ਤਨ ਮੈਂ ਕ੍ਰਿਯਾ ਪਿੰਡ ਕਰਮ ਕੋ ਤ੍ਯਾਗ  
Forsake cutting body hair, 

ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਮੈਂ ਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਕਰ ਪੰਚ ਜਨਨ ਤੇ ਭਾਗ | 
grow love for Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and run from the 5 vices (Lust, Anger, Greed, Attachment, and Ego).

ਮੜ੍ਹੀ ਦੇਵ ਗੋਰਲ ਤਜੈ ਔਰ ਨ ਪੰਥ ਪੁਜਵਾਇ |
Abandon memorials, graves and Hindu deities, do not worship another Panth (religion/dharam)

ਕਰੇ ਕੇਸ ਕੋ ਕਲਪ ਨਾ ਕਾਮ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਦੈ ਤ੍ਯਾਗ 
Never colour or dye Kesh (hair) and always removes lust and anger,

ਜੁਧ ਕਰੇ ਤ ਸੋਨਹਾਰ ਦੀਨ ਪ੍ਰਤਗਿਯਾ ਲਾਗ | 
Who fights in the war, shines like gold, and with faith in the Guru, shall always succeed.

ਕਛ ਅਢਾਈ ਗਜ ਮਾਨ ਸਾਫਾ ਭੀ ਤੁਲ ਤਾਸ  
The kachhera should be 2 and 1/2 Gaj (2.275 metres) and always wear a safa/kamar kassa (waist belt).

ਤੀਨ ਕਾਲ ਮੇਂ ਨਾਮ ਜਪ ਜਨਮ ਮਰਨ ਕੱਟ ਫਾਸ | 
Always recite and meditate on Naam, and your cycle of transmigration will be cut.

ਊਚਾ ਬੁੰਗਾ ਜੋ ਸਜੈ ਨਾਮ ਨਿਹੰਗ ਸੁਜਾਨ  
One who wears the Ucha Bunga (the Towering Fortress), is called a Nihung, 

ਕਰਮ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਸਮ ਕਰੇ ਸੁਨਹੁ ਸਿਖ ਧਰ ਕਾਨ |   
and performs actions such of an Akaali, Listen! O’ Sikhs,.

ਸ਼ਸਤ੍ਰ ਤਨ ਮੈਂ ਧਾਰੇ ਬਿਨਾ ਮਯਾਨ ਤੇ ਤੇਗ ਹਾਥ ਮੈਂ ਰਾਖੈ   
Carry the weapons on your body and without a sheath, carry the sword in hand.

ਭੇਸ ਸ਼ਤਰੂ ਕਾਰਨ ਕਰੇ ਮਰਨ ਜਨਮ ਕਾ ਭੈ ਨ ਹੋਇ |  
Dress up this way for your enemies and have no fear of cycle of life and death. 

ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਨ ਸੀਸ ਪੈ ਰਾਖ ਕੈ ਬੁੰਗਾ ਊਚਾ ਧਾਰ  
Keep a kirpan (dagger) on your head and wear a tall turban, 

ਧਰੀ ਸੁ ਕਲਗੀ ਪੰਥ ਸਿਰ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਹੋਇ ਦਯਾਰ |  
Placing the plume on the head of the Panth, the Satguru becomes merciful on them. 

ਲੋਹ ਪਾਤਰ ਮੈਂ ਛਕੈ ਨੀਲ ਪੀਤ ਧਾਰੇ ਬਸਤ੍ਰ     
Eat in pure iron utensils, wear clothes of blue and yellow.


ਭੂਸ਼ਨ ਲੋਹ ਕੇ ਧਾਰੇ ਕੋੱਟ ਗੰਗਾ ਸਮ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ ਸਮਝੇ   
Decorate yourself in iron, and understand that  Amrtisar Sahib to be equal to a million Ganges rivers,

ਫੌਜ ਮੁਸੱਦੀ ਵਜ਼ੀਰ ਦੀਵਾਨ ਸਭ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਰਖਣੇ ਧਰਮ ਬਢੈਗਾ |     
The Armies, Secretary, Ministers and Treasurers should all be Khalsa, and thus the Dharam (religion) will grow.

ਭੇਟ ਕਰਦ ਬਿਨ ਨਹਿ ਭਖੈ ਤਯਾਗੀ ਨਾ ਗ੍ਰਹਨਾਇ       
Do not eat without touching the dagger to your food, do not abandon your home.

ਬਿਨ ਬਿਵਾਹੀ ਨ ਸੇਜ ਰਮ ਤਿਸ ਸਦ ਧਰਮ ਸਹਾਇ |   
Without marriage, he does not take a women to bed and he is always be faithful to his wife.

ਫੂਕ ਨ ਬੂਈਏ ਦੀਨ ਕੌ ਗੁਰ ਸੋ ਕਪੱਟ ਨ ਕੀਨ       
Do not put out a light with your breath and never be deceitful to the Guru.

ਅਗਨਿ ਨਾ ਬੁਝਈ ਜੂਠ ਜਲ ਤੋ ਸੁਖ ਜਗ ਮੈ ਲੀਨ |     
Do not put out a fire with jooth jal (contaminated water), you shall get comfort in this world.

ਵੈਸਾਖੀ ਦੀਪਮਾਲਾ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ ਕਰੇ ਹੋਲਾ ਅਨੰਦਪੁਰ ਕਰੇ  
Celebrate Vaisakhi and Deepmala (Divali) in Amritsar, celebrate Hola (Mohalla) at Anandpur,

Image: Nihung Singhs celebrating Divali (Deepmala) in Sri Akaal Takhat, Amritsar Sahib

Image: Hola Mahalla Celebration 

ਅਬਚਲ ਨਗਰ ਜਾਇ ਕੁਲ ਸੰਬੂਹ ਤਰੇ |   
by going to Abchal Nagar (Sri Hazoor Sahib), your lineage will be saved. 

Image: Sikhs in Abchal Nagar Sri Hazoor Sahib, celebrating Dushera

ਰਹਿਤ ਰਹਤ ਸਮ ਸਿਖ ਜੋ ਸੋ ਮੇਰੋ ਰੂਪਾਇ    
The Sikh who lives according the the code of conduct is my very form, 

ਵਾ ਮੈ ਮੋ ਮੈਂ ਭੇਦ ਨਹਿ ਮਮ ਸਰੂਪ ਹੁਇ ਜਾਇ |    
Between the Sikh and Myself, there is no difference, the Sikh has become my form.



-THE END- 

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