Log in
-
Akali (red chalk sketch)
The term Akali is derived from the gurbani term Akaal Pururk “The Timeless One”, a term for God, thus an akali is the “Servitor of the Timeless God.” This also reflects the idea of Akalis as the “Immortals” or the timeless warriors. Early Sikh military history is dominated by the Akali Sikh military order particularly for many famous military victories won while often heavily out-numbered. The Akalis have historically been held in great affection and respect by Sikhs due the pivotal role they have played in Sikh history and Sikh military history in particular. The Nihang order is today mostly ceremonial because it is peacetime in India but in times of war, the Akalis have historically spear-headed the attack on the enemies of the Sikh religion. -
Akali Nihang
The order of the Nihangs, a fiercely independent vangaurd of the Khalsa army is said to date back to the time of Guru Arjun and the formation of the Akal Sena. The Nihangs were fierce warriors who fought with little regard for life and limb. They are credited for being in the forefront of many of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's crucial campaigns such as the battles of Kasur, Multan and Naushera at which they took great losses in the service of the Sikh empire. Akali Phula Singh, amongst the most famed of all Akali Nihang leaders, died whilst leading a charge against the Ghazis at Naushera in 1823. A memorial to his courage still stands across the river in Kabul. -
Art of Punjab Gift Cards
-
1705
Baba Ajit Singh – The Khalsa Charge
In the prolonged siege of Anandpur in 1705, Sahibzada Ajit Singh displayed his qualities of courage and steadfastness. An unequal but grim battle commenced on 7 December 1704 in the words of Guru Gobind Singh's Zafarnama, a mere forty defying a hundred thousand. The besieged, after they had exhausted the meagre stock of ammunition and arrows, made sallies in batches of five each to engage the encircling host with sword and spear. Sahibzada Ajit Singh led one of the sallies and laid down his life fighting in the thick of the battle. He was 18 years old at the time of his supreme sacrifice for his faith. -
1753
Baba Deep Singh Shaheed
1682-1753 Baba Deep drew a line with his Khanda and beseeched only those committed to giving their lives in defense of the Sikh faith to step over it. Five thousand Sikhs accompanied him on his journey to free Harimandir Sahib from the Afgan army that had desecrated it. Dressed as bridegrooms in fine clothing and festive ribbons, they joyously readied themselves to wed death. The painting speaks of this blessed journey and the mortal release experienced through their shaheedi spirit, where the spiritual fire upon which they cast their bodies also freed their souls. -
Battle of Chumkaur 1705
Baba Jujhar Singh
At the Battle of Chumkaur, Baba Jujhur Singh watched his brother Baba Ajit Singh attain Shaheedi. He desired to fight in the battlefield as well, though doing so meant certain death. He asked his father, Guru Gobind Singh, "Guru Sahib, permit me, dear father, to go where my brother has gone. Don't say that I am too young. I am your son. I am a Singh, a Lion, of yours. I shall prove worthy of you. I shall die fighting, with my face towards the enemy, with the Naam on my lips and the Guru in my heart." -
Battle of Anandpur 1700
Bachittar Singh – Saint Soldier
Initiated into the Khalsa on the historic first Vaisakhi Day, Bachittar Singh fought alongside Guru Gobind Singh in a number of battles in defense of Anandpur. This scene shows him in the famous single-handed combat with the enraged elephant charging at the Sikh fort of Lohgarh by the joint enemy forces of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and the Hindu Hill Rajas. The Guru gifted Bhai Bachittar with two essential things to defeat the enraged beast, the Nagni spear and the courage to use it. -
1715
Banda Singh Bahadur - Sava Lakh Khalsa
Banda Singh Bahadur was handed the mantle of leadership from Guru Gobind Singh Ji himself. Born into the Hindu faith as Lachhman Dev, he encountered the Guru at Nander and immediately declared, “I am your Banda (slave).” Thus the Guru gave him the name Banda Singh Bahadur upon his initiation into the order of the Khalsa. After receiving the Guru’s blessing, Banda Bahadur became the first general of the Sikh panth. He amassed a force large enough to threaten the Mughal Empire and change the social, political and religious landscape of Punjab.“I will tell you, whenever men become so corrupt and wicked as to relinquish the path of equity and to abandon themselves to all kinds of excesses, then the Providence never fails to raise up a scourge like me to chastise a race so depraved; When the tyrants oppress their subjects to the limit, then God sends men like me on this earth to mete out his punishment to them.” – Banda Singh Bahadur
-
Battle of Anandpur 1700
Bhai Bachittar Singh (Tonal)
Initiated into the Khalsa on the historic first Vaisakhi Day, Bachittar Singh fought alongside Guru Gobind Singh in a number of battles in defense of Anandpur. This scene shows him in the famous single-handed combat with the enraged elephant charging at the Sikh fort of Lohgarh by the joint enemy forces of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and the Hindu Hill Rajas. -
1705
Chhotey Sahibzadey
Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh were the youngest of Guru Gobind Singh's sons, aged only 7 and 5 when they and their grandmother Mata Gujri were imprisoned by the tyrant Wazir Khan in Sirhind. Wazir Khab offered them safety if they converted to Islam or death if they refused. Though they were only young children physically, their spirit had been prepared for this moment since birth. The painting conveys their internal strength, honed as sons of Guru Gobind Singh and grandsons to Guru Tegh Bahadur, who also attained saheedi for refusing to give up the Sikh faith. Even though they are the ones being confined to darkness, they alone are the source of all radiance and light. That's why the painting shows the outside world painted in dark blood red like an open wound. The high walls of the fortress also question who is really imprisoned and who is really free. This painting Chhotey Sahibzadey reflects on their pure spirit which is prepared to embrace death and fears no one. -
1675
Gobind Rai’s Legacy
1666-1708 Nine-year old Gobind Rai (later Guru Gobind Singh), having newly succeeded his father as the Tenth Master, embraces his responsibility of leading the community upon news of his father’s execution in Delhi. -
1708
Gurgaddi Siri Guru Granth Sahib
Guru Gobind Singh ji passed the Guruship to the Guru Granth Sahib ji, our eternal Guru. The event was witnessed by a loyal retinue of Sikhs who had accompanied him south to Nanded. This closely knit sangat, said to be composed of roughly three hundred Khalsa soldiers including Mai Bhago, devout Sikhs and the few remaining members of the Guru’s own family, had endured much tragedy and hardship to remain by his side in those difficult times. In 1708, on the banks of the river Godavari, on a spot chosen by the Guru, they assembled and bore witness this sublime moment that defined Sikhism forever after. Guru Gobind Singh instructed them to follow the Guru Granth Sahib just as if it were a living, breathing Guru. -
Adi Granth 1604
Guru Arjan Dev Ji - Birth of the Adi Granth
Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth in the line of Guru Nanak, began the compilation of the Guru Granth Sahib, which he called the Adi Granth – the “primal knot” which would forever secure the sanctity of the Sikh faith. The Guru sent out a call to all Sikhs far and wide to bring forth the poetry composed by the four Gurus. When all the volumes had been collected, he sat down with his scribe Bhai Gurdas and carefully selected the genuine works into the Holy Granth. With the completion of this momentous work, the Guru gave the world a gift so pure and essential, that it could transcend the boundaries of time and religion and exist beyond personality and human form. -
1699
Guru Gobind Singh Maharaj
In a brilliant move of strategy and leadership, Guru Gobind Singh initiated the ceremony of Amrit and transformed the Sikhs into the fearless and united body of the Khalsa. The Khalsa became a brave and moral fighting force against the tyrannical Mughal ruler that occupied the Punjab. The Khalsa lives in the image and light of Guru Gobind Singh, dedicated to upholding righteousness, freedom, and the dignity of mankind. That is the Khalsa way. -
Formation of the Khalsa 1699
Guru Gobind Singh – Master and Disciple
The first Vaisakhi (April 13, 1699) saw the initiation of the first five Khalsa. Following their investiture, Guru Gobind Rai knelt before the Five Beloved Ones and asked to be initiated in turn as the sixth ‘saint-soldier’. The Amrit ceremony marked his transformation into Gobind Singh. Thenceforth, he was hailed: “Behold the Man non-pareil! Himself the Teacher, Himself the Disciple!” -
1705
Guru Gobind Singh – The Siege of Chamkaur
The Battle of Chamkaur took place in 1705. Guru Gobind Singh ji, his two elder sons, Baba Ajit Singh and Baba Jujhar Singh alongside a small band of loyal Sikhs, defended the small fort of Chamkaur against a large Mughal force pursuing them. After a long day of Battle, in which many Sikhs including the elder Sahibzadey were martyred, the remaining Sikhs issued Guru Sahib with a Hukam (command) to leave the fort. Guru Sahib did not leave quietly. Instead he stood on high ground and clapped his hands three times, saying, ‘Peer-e-Hind-rwad’ (The ‘Peer’ of India is leaving’). -
1644
Guru Har Rai – Jyot The Divine Light
Guru Har Rai the seventh in the line of Guru Nanak, was the embodiment of gentleness and kindness. He respected the Jyot (Waheguru’s light) in every living creature and nurtured the health of even those who opposed the Sikhs. Through his actions, the Guru taught that doing Simran and entering the Tenth Gate (Dasam Dwaar) allows Waheguru’s light to be seen in everyone and every living thing, thus, eliminating the distinction between friend and foe. -
1663 - 1984
Guru Hargobind – Lord of Miri Piri
Guru Hargobind the sixth in the line of Guru Nanak, became the Guru of the Sikhs at the age of eleven after his father Guru Arjan was martyered on the orders of the mughal emperor. The Guru wore two swords representing Miri and Piri, to declare his temporal and spiritual authority. Guru Hargobind began construction of the Akal Takhat in 1663 with his own hands, and only Baba Buddha and Bhai Gurdas assisted him in this task. The Guru built the Akal Takhat to serve the panth for eternity and as the seat of the sovereignty of the Sikh nation it has withstood the assaults of many would-be rulers of the subcontinent who have come and gone. -
1500 - 1524
Guru Nanak and His Companions (tonal)
“Far from wife and son am I, far from land and wealth and other notions of that kind. I am the Witness, the Eternal, the Inner Self.” - Guru Nanak
Guru Nanak Dev Ji founded the Sikh faith in rural Punjab during the mid 15th century. Discontent with the elusive values and hollow rituals of the Brahamanic Hindu tradition, he set forth on many journeys throughout his life to achieve a true union with God. The Guru’s travels are known to us as Udasis, in which he sought to spread the divine message of the Almighty and bring healing to a world stricken by the fires of Kalyug. He was accompanied by a Muslim bard named Mardana and a Hindu named Bhai Bala. It is recorded that four great Udasis were undertaken by Guru Nanak and his companions throughout the Guru’s life. He traveled throughout India, conversing with religious sages of the age and visited innumerable centers of Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Jain, Sufi, Yogi and Sidh learning. His mission knew no boundaries or borders and he even completed the Muslim Hajj by traveling to Mecca. -
First Guru 1469 - 1539
Guru Nanak at Kartarpur
This painting of Guru Nanak at Kartarpur is an artistic attempt to express the divine light manifested by Guru ji in his old age when he attracted many followers to sit alongside him in the wheat fields of Kartarpur. Looking at this art piece, we dwell upon the last days of Guru ji on this earth as he planted the core tenants of Sikhism in the hearts of a community of the faithful who gathered about him. He casts a royal blue shadow, which takes the shape of a warrior wearing a Dastaar and Kalgi. This foreshadows the transformation of their jyot into Guru Gobind Singh ji who would create the Khalsa panth, born out of the soil of Punjab from the seeds Guru Nanak planted generations before. To the left of Guru Nanak, we see the field of golden wheat but to the right it subtly transforms into a landscape of arrows and fire. This is an analogy for the turbulent and transformative times ahead for the land of Punjab, hardships which would engender the spiritual and bodily transformation of the Sikh community into the Khalsa panth. The tree is a metaphor for this community; it grew from the body of the Gurus into five powerful trunks (the panj pyare) and then beyond into countless more spirit born souls, stretching into the eternity of boundless time and the infinite cosmos. -
Guru Nanak's Travels 1500 - 1524
Guru Nanak’s Udasis
Guru Nanak Dev Ji founded the Sikh faith in rural Punjab during the mid 15th century. Discontent with the elusive values and hollow rituals of the Brahamanic Hindu tradition, he set forth on many journeys throughout his life to achieve a true union with God. He sought to spread the divine message of the Almighty and bring healing to a world stricken by the fires of Kalyug. The Guru's travels were accompanied by Mardana and Bhai Bala. He traveled throughout India, conversing with religious sages of the age and visited innumerable centers of Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Jain, Sufi, Yogi and Sidh learning. His mission knew no boundaries or borders and he even completed the Muslim Hajj by traveling to Mecca. -
1665
Guru Tegh Bahadur - The Protector
Guru Tegh Bahadur the ninth in the line of Guru Nanak, laid down his life in order to protect religious freedom for all of India which was under the oppressive rule of Mughal emperor Aurunzeb, who wished to convert the entire land to Islam. According to the Guru, living a truly spiritual life meant that one should neither oppress nor allow others to be oppressed. Sikh teachings have emphasized the basic human rights of equality, justice, freedom and the right to one's own religion. Under the inspiring guidance of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the Sikhs regained their confidence and continued to grow in numbers and resources. -
1675
Guru Tegh Bahadur’s Time
Guru Tegh Bahadur the ninth in the line of Guru Nanak, laid down his life in order to protect religious freedom for all of India which was under the oppressive rule of Mughal emperor Aurunzeb, who wished to convert the entire land to Islam. According to the Guru, living a truly spiritual life meant that one should neither oppress nor allow others to be oppressed. Sikh teachings have emphasized the basic human rights of equality, justice, freedom and the right to one's own religion. Under the inspiring guidance of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the Sikhs regained their confidence and continued to grow in numbers and resources. -
1995
Jaswant Singh Khalra – The Witness
This painting chronicles the life's work of human rights activist Shaheed Jaswant Singh Khalra and the events of the bloody decade (1984 -1995) in Punjab. It depicts how government forces operated with complete impunity to end the Khalistan movement, and in doing so, carried out the secret murders of thousands of its' own citizens, many of them complete innocents. This portrait of Jaswant Singh Khalra and the state of Punjab speaks to the loss of humanity when power is asserted through terror and violence. In those desperate times, the Guru inspires great souls who act as our protectors, saving us from being engulfed by total darkness. In an inspirational speech, which was to be his last, Jaswant Singh Khalra declared: I challenge the darkness, if nothing else, then at least around myself, I will not let it settle. Around myself I will establish light."
Jaswant Singh Khalra was murdered at the age of 42, giving his life to the preservation of human rights in Punjab. To commemorate the incredible impact of his life, 42 rare Artist signed canvas prints will be released. All proceeds will go to Ensaaf, a charity dedicated to carrying forward his mission to end impunity and give voice to the disappeared. -
Kirtani Jatha
Kirtan is the devotional singing of praise as expressed in the hymns and compositions of Sikh scripture. Adoration expressed in song is considered by Sikhs to be the highest form of devotion, unsurpassed as the way to overcome the effect of ego and escape mortality. -
Battle of Muktsar 1705
Mai Bhago and the Chaali Muktey
Mai Bhag Kaur (Mai Bhago) was the inspiration behind the bravery of the martyrs known as the Chaali Muktey (the Liberated Forty) who died in the 1705 Battle of Muktsar. When the siege went on for months, in hunger and despair, 40 Sikhs from Mai Bhago’s village of Jhabal lost heart and renounced their loyalty to the Guru in writing and deserted him. News of the betrayal quickly reached Jhabal and the ears of Mai Bhago. Boiling with rage, she went around the village and exhorted the women folk not to receive the deserters into their homes unless the made amends for the disgrace they had brought home with them. Mai Bhago rode out and intercepted the forty deserters as they neared the boundaries of the village. She challenged them to return to the service of the Guru and brought these men back to the path of devotion and sacrifice. -
Vaisakhi 1699
Mata Sahib Kaur - Mother of the Khalsa
Just as Guru Gobind Singh Sahib is considered the father of the Sikh nation, Mata Sahib Devan Kaur is considered its mother. A remarkable young woman, Mata Sahib Kaur was a born leader who took her role as symbolic mother of the Sikhs very seriously. When a Sikh takes Amrit from the 5 Beloved, they are born into the royal house of Nanak. To create an egalitarian society, all Sikhs consider Anandpur Sahib their birthplace and Mata Sahib Kaur their mother. -
1705
Mittar Pyare Nu
Guru Gobind Singh ji finally rested in the Machhivara jungle after many days of battle at Chamkaur, in 1705. It looks as though Guru ji might be asleep with his eyes closed and his body in a state of deep repose, but all around him we see that the world is alive with flowing energy, with the play of light and shadow, trees moving in the wind and a storm moving by. The storm of battle is passing and the clouds are clearing. In this moment of rest and repose, Guru Ji is fully aware of and completely connected to his surroundings, and the viewer is transported into the swirling motion of nature, while at the "eye of the hurricane" the Master lies, in the deep peace that surpasses all understanding. He rests, not upon a rock, but in the comforting arms of the eternal, Waheguru. -
Pillar of Peace
The Harimandir Sahib is the heart of the Sikh Panth. It was conceived by Guru Ram Das ji when he built the sarovar on the site of a holy pool of water in the city of Amritsar, which he also founded. The next master, Guru Arjun completed the Harimandir sahib and installed the Adi Granth, the primal Sikh scriptures, within its walls. Harimandir sahib, in the time of the Gurus was not yet covered in gold but was already revered as the centre of Sikh spiritual life and the seat of the Gurus. Guru Hargobind would have looked across at its’ wondrous forms as he built the Akal Takhat to give Sikhs a place to settle all political and temporal affairs. Later Guru Teg Bahadur ji would sit upon the opposite edge of the sarovar and looked upon its’ four entrances with a pilgrim‘s longing when he was denied entry by the disloyal mahants. Nonetheless, the Sikh sangat of Amritsar still embraced their Guru within its’ view and today a small shrine marks that place on the sarovar in remembrance of their faith. Harimandir sahib has and will forever remain a vision of sanctity and peace within the hearts of every Sikh who lays eyes upon it. -
18th century Punjab
Sarbat Khalsa
During the turbulent 18th century, with the gradual collapse of the Mughal Empire and constant incursions by Afghan invaders into India, Sikhs became the de facto defenders of Punjab. During this period, Sikhs would congregate twice a year on Vaisakhi and Diwali at the Harminder Sahib. There, they would make important military and leadership decisions to help the Panth survive these difficult times. This system of collective governance allowed Sikhs to survive the tumultuous 18th century which included the greater and lesser Gulugara (Sikh Holocausts). This consensus based approach to leadership lasted throughout the Sikh Misl period and allowed them to become a collective force and the unquestioned rulers of the Punjab. The Sikhs served as the leaders and protectors of the region and through their courage and consciousness were able to lead the people through the extreme challenges of that time. -
Sikhism 1469
Siri Guru Granth Sahib - The Abode of Nanak
The Siri Guru Granth Sahib is the embodiment of the spiritual revolution which was first ignited by Guru Nanak dev ji and the life breath of eight more Nanaks nurtured and fed this flame. Then in 1699 Guru Gobind Singh ji, the tenth Sikh Guru, transformed that flame into a wildfire of spiritual liberation through the creation of the Khalsa panth.
We look to Siri Guru Granth Sahib as our guide to connect with the One internally, see the One in all and fight inequality and injustice in every sphere of our lives as the Gurus themselves did. The image of Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple) reflects the other half of the spiritual revolution because it represents the innumerable gurudwaras and abodes of Nanak which we create to enable the sadh sangat to come together, remember Guru Nanak’s message and carry on his revolution.
-
1609 - present
Sri Akal Takhat Sahib – Throne of the Almighty
This painting illustrates what Sri Akal Takhat sahib, the central legacy of Guru Hargobind sahib our sixth Guru, means to the Sikh quam. The artwork weaves the stories and imagery we relate to Guru Hargobind sahib, such as Bandhi Chhor and Miri Piri (spiritual and temporal balance) to capture the essential nature of our eternal bond to the Akal Takhat as central institution of Sikhism. In this painting, the visualization of blood transforming into flower petals is a reminder that liberation can be found through sacrifice, when the cause is just. Countless shaheeds throughout our history teach us, that with the grace of the Guru and the willingness to bow ones heads in sacrifice, a transformation in the very depths of our being can be experienced. This perfect union of Miri Piri, the inseparable connection between Sri Harimandir Sahib and Sri Akal Takhat sahib is shown in the painting as two interwoven energies. Within their merger we see the khanda and the bata which represents the formation of the Khalsa panth and creation of a new type of being, the saint soldier. -
First World War
1914 - 1918
Stand on Guard for Thee
To commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Sikhs contribution to World War One, this painting represents a foray into the contemporary period of Sikh Military history. It deals with the role of Sikh men and women of various nationalities who lived through this epic confrontation of Nations. The title of the painting, taken from the Canadian National Anthem, reflects upon the willingness of Sikhs to fight against oppression throughout history. It is a testament to the spirit of Guru Gobind Singh, which forever emboldens the Khalsa to strive towards a greatness that surpasses humble beginnings. -
1708
The Eternal Guru
In 1708, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, having consciously witnessed the sacrifice of the lives of all his four sons, handed over the legacy of the Guruship to the Siri Guru Granth Sahib ji, our Eternal Guru. He understood that the age of lineage was over, and so he consciously left no heirs. The unique beauty of this is that the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, our present Guru, can neither be altered nor changed in any way. It is a touchstone for all humanity that exists beyond the limitations of time and space, now and in the future. -
Eighth Guru 1664
The Guru’s Grace – Sri Guru Har Krishan
Guru Har Krishan the eighth in the line of Guru Nanak, became Guru at the age of five. Despite the tenderness of his age, Guru Sahib continued the message of Shabad Guru to free humanity from the cycle of reincarnation. He demonstrated that regardless of age, anyone can become one with Waheguru through Simran. This painting of Guru Har Krishan Sahib is a meditation upon the words in our daily Ardas which ask us to reflect upon him. “Think of Guru Har Krishan, that sight dispels all sorrow.” -
Vaisakhi 1699
Vaisakhi 1699 Birth of the Khalsa
Bhai Daya Ram of Lahore, Punjab, is the first to raise his hand when Guru Gobind Rai asks for a volunteer willing to give his life in service of humanity. Mata Sahib Kaur looks on at the crowd of thousands that has gathered from across the land in response to the Gurus call. Transformed through Amrit into Daya Singh, he became one of the first 5 Khalsa, the Punj Pyaarey (the beloved five).
