Michalgorge: Published a valuable reference.

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Published a valuable reference.

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{{Short description|Sikh triangular flag}}
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[[File: Nishan Sahib.svg|thumb|Basanti Nishan Sahib with Khanda]]{{Sikhism sidebar}}
The '''Nishan Sahib''' ([[Gurmukhi]]: ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨ ਸਾਹਿਬ ''niśāna sāhiba'') is a [[Sikh]] triangular flag made of cotton or silk cloth, with a [[tassel]] at its end. The word, ''Nishan Sahib'' means exalted ensign, and the flag is hoisted on a tall flagpole, outside most [[Gurdwara]]s. The flagpole itself, covered with fabric, ends with a [[Khanda (sword)|Khanda]] on top (In the past an Astbuj, nagani [[Barcha|barsha]] or a teer would be placed on top). The emblem on the flag is known as ''[[Khanda (Sikh symbol)|Khanda]]'', which depicts a double-edged sword called a [[khanda (sword)|khanda]] (Miri te Piri) (☬) in the centre, a [[chakram|chakkar]] which is circular, and flanked by two single-edged swords, or [[kirpan]]s. Almost all Sikh warriors used to wear it in the eighteenth century, and Nihangs of today still do. The Khanda Sahib is not to be confused with the Nihang's [[Aad Chand]] which was the first symbol of the [[Khalsa]]. The Khanda was not introduced by Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji but it was a plain yellow banner.

The Nishan Sahib dates back to 1606, when Sixth Guru Har Gobind raised the first Sikh flag over the Akal Takhat seat of authority in Amritsar, India. At that time, Sikhs called the flag Akal Dhuja (undying banner), or Satguru Nishan (true guru's insignia).

Traditional symbol of the [[Khalsa Panth]] (corps of initiated Sikhs), the Nishan Sahib can be seen from far away, signifying the presence of Khalsa in the neighbourhood. It is taken down every [[Vaisakhi|Baisakhi]] (harvest festival, mid-April in the Gregorian calendar and in Vaisakh month in the [[Nanakshahi calendar]]), and replaced with a fresh flag, and the flagpole refurbished.

== History ==
[[File:Illuminated Guru Granth Sahib folio of a Nishan (flag).jpg|thumb|Illuminated Guru Granth Sahib folio of a Nishan, ca. 1775, with red background, thin gold borders, and central motif of a tulwar sword and dhal shield. Paint on paper, Punjab]]
[[File:Sikh Akali flag.svg|left|thumb|Sikh [[Nihang|Nihang Khalsa Fauj]] Flag, introduced by [[Guru Gobind Singh]]]]
[[File:Kattar Dhal Talwar.jpg|thumb|Flag used during the times of Sikh misls and the Sikh Empire]]
[[File:Sikh flag.jpg|left|thumb|Flag of the Nihang Khalsa Fauj showing weapons like [[Katar (dagger)]], [[Dhal Shield]] and [[Kirpan]]. The standard goes from 'bottom to top' signifying that the armies of the tenth guru are always victorious.]]
[[File:Guru Gobind Singh with followers.jpg|thumb|Guru Gobind Singh with followers carrying Basanti flag with emblems.]]
During the time of [[Guru Hargobind]], the Nishan Sahib was made into a shade of yellow, known as Basanti, to show the spirituality of the Sikhs and their warrior spirit. After the creation of [[Khalsa]], [[Guru Gobind Singh]] introduced Navy Blue (called Surmayee) flag, which is still the colour of the [[Nihang]] flags. The first Sikh flags were plain, but emblems were introduced by [[Guru Gobind Singh]]. The first Sikh emblem, was not the [[Khanda (Sikh symbol)|Khanda]], but the three weapons, the Kattar (dagger), Dhal (shield) and Kirpan (sabre). Later these emblems were also used by the Sikh [[misls]] and the Empire.

[[File:Sikh Empire flag.svg|thumb|Sikh Empire Nishan Sahib flag, introduced by Ranjit Singh]]
When [[Gulab Singh]] asked Maharaja Ranjit Singh to change the Nishan Sahib to saffron or deep orange [[Ranjit Singh|Maharaja Ranjit Singh]] declined but later when he changed the army from traditional Akalis to French-style soldiers he made separate flags to respect Hindu and Muslim ideologies. Later the Battle standards for Muslim regiments was the Lion and the Sun and the Hindu Regiments were various gods and goddesses.

[[File:Sikh Flag.png|thumb|Today's Sikh Nishan Sahib]]
Later during the British Rule it became from Basanti and Surmayee to Kesari.

During the Singh Sabha Movement the Sikhs tried to restore Sikhism to its pristine glory so in the start it became the Flag of the Dal Khalsa but slowly it changed to the today's Nishan Sahib with the Khanda Emblem.

== Weapons and ornaments ==
The original Nishan Sahib carried by Guru Gobind Singh ji in the [[Katar (dagger)|Kattar]], Dhal, [[Kirpan]] format had either a Ashtabhuja Duja, Nangini Barcha or Karpa Barcha used as a spear on top. The Nagni Barcha or snake like sword was created by Guru Gobind Singh ji and famously used by [[Bachittar Singh|Bhai Bachittar Singh]] to pierce the trunk of a drunken, armored elephant in the [[Battle of Nirmohgarh (1702)|Battle of Nimolgarh]]. The [[Ashtabhuja (Weapon)|Ashtabhuja]] is a spear with three crescents stuck to an iron rod with two spears coming out on top. The Ashtabhuja was mainly used as the Battle Stadered of the Tenth Guru and is highly recommended. Guru Gobind Singh Ji's ashtabhuja was found in Chamkaur sahib the place where his two sons were martyred and other two captured with his mother. The flag is simply wrapped around the top of the spear with two strings of fabric coming out of the tip.

While today's Nishan Sahib has a Khanda in a dagger form on top of the flag and the fabric covering the spear till the top. The Khanda symbol is also relatively new and was made in the early 19th century.

==Overview==
The Nishan Sahib is placed outside Sikh Gurdwaras and is supported by a pole.

The [[Khanda (religious symbol)|Khanda]], a Sikh symbol, today, is rendered in navy [[blue]] on the saffron background while the original was basanti (bright yellow) and surrmai neela (Royal blue). The khanda is placed high up on a flagpole as a sign for all Sikhs and indeed any other people that they can come and pray in this building. Great respect is shown to this flag<ref name="ColeSambhi1998">{{cite book|author1=William Owen Cole|author2=Piara Singh Sambhi|title=The Sikhs: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zIC_MgJ5RMUC&pg=PA58|accessdate=30 December 2012|year=1998|publisher=Sussex Academic Press|isbn=978-1-898723-13-4|page=58}}{{Dead link|bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and the flag is considered [[sacred]] and washed using milk and water every year<ref name="Nesbitt2004">{{cite book|author=Eleanor M. Nesbitt|title=Intercultural Education: Ethnographic and Religious Approaches|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VJLYHmecoMIC&pg=PA77|accessdate=30 December 2012|year=2004|publisher=Sussex Academic Press|isbn=978-1-84519-033-0|page=77}}</ref> in April at the festival of [[Vaisakhi]]. The Nishan Sahib is changed once the saffron color has faded.

The Sikh Rehat Maryada clearly states that the Nishan Sahib hoisted outside every [[Gurdwara|Gurudwara]] should be [[yellow|xanthic]] (Basanti in [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]) or greyish blue (modern day [[Navy blue]]) (Surmaaee in [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]) color.<ref>Sikh Rehat Maryada: [https://old.sgpc.net/rehat_maryada/section_three_chap_four.htm Section Three, Chapter IV, Article V, r.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318143340/https://old.sgpc.net/rehat_maryada/section_three_chap_four.htm }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sikhmuseum.com/nishan/ |title=Nishan Sahib (Sikh Museum) |access-date=2023-05-31 |archive-date=2022-04-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420090813/http://www.sikhmuseum.com/nishan/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Illustrated folio of a Nishan Sahib (Sikh religious flag) from a Guru Granth Sahib manuscript housed at Takht Keshgarh Sahib, Anandpur and dated to 1771 B.S. (1714 C.E.).jpg|Illustrated folio of a Nishan Sahib from a [[Guru Granth Sahib]] manuscript housed at [[Takht Kesgarh Sahib|Takht Keshgarh Sahib]], Anandpur and dated to 1714
File:Nishan of Harmandir Sahib, ca. 1840.jpg|Nishan of Harmandir Sahib, ca. 1840
File:Khanda.png|[[Khanda (Sikh symbol)|Khanda]]
File:Nishan sahib golden temple.jpg|Nishan sahib [[Golden Temple]]
File:Nishan Sahib ,Sikh religion flag.jpg|A Nihang Singh changing cloth of Nishan Sahib, [[Gurdwara]] [[Singh Shaheedan]], [[Sohana]], [[Mohali]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[India]]
File:Nishan Sahib in blue, at Baba Phoola Singh di Burj in Amritsar.jpg|Nishan Sahib in blue, at [[Akali Phula Singh|Akali Phoola Singh]] di Burj in [[Amritsar]]
File:Puratan Nishan Sahib.svg|Puratan Nishan Sahib
File:Real Nishan Sahib.png|Basanti Nishan Sahib, as introduced by SGPC
File:Mural depicting Guru Gobind Singh on horseback with his retinue from within the Golden Temple shrine.jpg|ca.1820 fresco from Harmandir Sahib showing ''Nishan'' with [[Katar (dagger)]], [[Dhal Shield|Dhal (shield)]], and [[Kirpan|Kirpan (sword)]]
File:Sikh Basanti.svg|Sikh Basanti (yellow) [[Nishan Sahib]] (flag) as introduced by Guru Hargobind

</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.sikhmuseum.com/nishan/index.html SikhMuseum.com Nishan Sahib Exhibit]

{{Sikhism}}

[[Category:Gurdwaras]]
[[Category:Sikh terminology]]
[[Category:Religious flags]]
[[Category:Flags of India]]

Nishan Sahib - Revision history

Michalgorge: Published a valuable reference.