Khalsa Fauj

Khalsa Fauj
Khalsa Fauj
Active	13 April 1699 – 29 March 1748
Country	First Sikh State
Allegiance	Khalsa
Branch	Akali-Nihang
Type	Army (1699–1716); Militia (1716–1748);
Headquarters	Anandpur (1699–1704); Lohgarh (Bilaspur) (1709–1716)
Wars	Mughal-Sikh Wars; Hill States-Sikh Wars;
Commanders
Leaders	Guru Gobind Singh (founder; 1699–1708); Banda Singh Bahadur (1708–1716); Mata Sahib Kaur (1708–1747); Mata Sundar Kaur (1708–1747); Panj Pyare (group of five baptized Sikhs);
Commanders	Daya Singh; Dharam Singh; Himmat Singh; Mohkam Singh; Sahib Singh; Mata Bhag Kaur; Binod Singh; Fateh Singh;
Notable warriors	Sahibzada Ajit Singh; Sahibzada Jujhar Singh; Sahibzada Zorawar Singh; Sahibzada Fateh Singh;
Predecessor	Akal Sena
Successor	Dal Khalsa
Insignia
Iconography

The Khalsa Fauj (lit. 'Army of the Pure') were the military forces of the Khalsa order of the Sikhs, established by the tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh, in 1699.^[1]^[2] It replaced the Akal Sena that had been established by the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind.^[1]^[3]

^ ^a ^b Sethi, Chitleen K. (2020-04-14). "Who are Nihang Sikhs? 'Guru di laadli fauj' warrior sect in news for chopping off cop's hand". ThePrint. Retrieved 2023-03-08. The Nihangs trace their origins to the founding of the Khalsa Panth by the 10th Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh, around 1699. Many claim the sect to be "guru di laadli fauj" (the guru's favourite army). The armed sect is believed to have emerged from the Akaal Sena, a band of soldiers of Guru Hargobind, the sixth guru. Later, the Akaal Sena metamorphosed into the 'Khalsa Fauj' of the 10th guru.
^ Jawandha, Nahar Singh (2010). Glimpses of Sikhism. New Delhi. ISBN 978-93-80213-25-5. OCLC 895111680. Guru Gobind Singh was blessed by God to take up arms against the cruel rulers by creating the Khalsa Brotherhood and the Khalsa Fauj (army).{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ Singh, Nidr (1998). The Fighting Traditions and Fighting Arts of the Traditional Sikh Warriors the Beloved of Guru Gobind Singh Ji the Akali Nihangs (PDF) (2nd ed.). Budha Dal and Tarna Dal. pp. 8–9.