Akal Sena

Akal Sena
Akal Sena
ਅਕਾਲ ਸੈਨਾ
	Reconstructed Flag of the Akal Sena of a Kattar push-dagger and overlaid Dhal shield as depicted in a mural from Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi in Hadiara, Lahore district showcasing the Akal Dhuja flag of the Akal Sena during the time of Guru Hargobind
Active	15 June 1606 – 13 April 1699
Allegiance	Sikh Gurus
Branch	Akali-Nihang; Pathan regiment; Risaldari (cavalry)
Type	Policing (1606 – 1612); Army (1612 – 1699);
Headquarters	Akal Bunga, Amritsar
Colors	Yellow (during/after the tenure of Guru Hargobind Sahib); Navy (during the tenure of Guru Gobind Singh);
Wars	Early Mughal-Sikh Wars; Mughal–Sikh wars; Mughal war of succession (1658–1659); Ahom–Mughal conflicts; Hill States–Sikh Wars;
Commanders
Gurus	Guru Hargobind (1606 – 1644); Guru Har Rai (1644 – 1661); Guru Har Krishan (1661 – 1664); Guru Tegh Bahadur (1664 – 1675); Guru Gobind Singh (1675 – 1699);
Commanders	Bidhi Chand Chhina; Bhai Gaura; Baba Praga; Bhai Jattu; Bhai Peda; Bhai Langah; Bhai Jati Mall; Bhai Lakhi; Rai Jodh; Baba Gurditta; Painde Khan (later defected to the Mughals);
Successor	Khalsa Fauj
Insignia
Iconography

The Akal Sena (Gurmukhi: ਅਕਾਲ ਸੈਨਾ; meaning 'Army of the Immortal', 'God's Army', or 'Eternal Army'; alternatively transcribed as Akaal Sena)^[1]^[2]^[3] was the Sikh military force established by the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind.^[4]^[5] It was the first standing Sikh army.^[6] It was also known as the Akali Dal (Gurmukhi: ਅਕਾਲੀ ਦਲ, 'Immortal Brigade').^[7]

^ Singh, Harjinder (2014). Reflections on 1984. Akaal Publishers. pp. 16–17. ISBN 978-0-9554587-3-6. OCLC 898056748.
^ "Abstracts of Sikh Studies". Abstracts of Sikh Studies. 3 (3). Chandigarh, India: Institute of Sikh Studies: 54. 2001.
^ Akal Takht Sahib: Timeless Sovereign Throne – State of the Panth, Report 4 (PDF). Sikh Research Institute. March 2019. Akal Takht Sahib became the seat of Sikh power and gave the Sikhs a rallying point as a symbol of Sikh sovereignty. It is from the Akal Takht Sahib that the Guru administered justice like a king in a court, accepted gifts of arms and horses, and awarded honors and punishment. Guru Hargobind Sahib, for example, is noted as having 800 horses in the stables, 300 troopers on horseback, and 60 men with firearms at all times. This tradition was carried forward by Guru Harirai Sahib, the seventh Guru, who maintained an army that consisted of 2,200 mounted soldiers. This army of the Akal Takht Sahib came to be called the Akal Sena (immortal army), and its warriors were honored as the Akalis (the immortals)
^ Malik, Ikram Ali (1970). A Book of Readings on the History of the Punjab: 1799-1947. Vol. 20 of Research Society of Pakistan publication, Research Society of Pakistan. Research Society of Pakistan, University of the Punjab. p. 676.
^ Gopal Singh (1994). Politics of Sikh homeland, 1940-1990. Delhi: Ajanta Publications. p. 323. ISBN 81-202-0419-0. OCLC 32242388.
^ Mitra, Swati (2006). Good Earth Punjab Travel Guide (2nd ed.). Eicher Goodearth Limited. p. 26. ISBN 9789380262178.
^ Singh, Kamalroop (2014). "38. Sikh Martial Art (Gatkā)". In Singh, Pashaura; Fenech, Louis E. (eds.). The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies. Oxford Handbooks Online. Oxford University Press. pp. 459–470. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199699308.013.022.

[1] Singh, Harjinder (2014). Reflections on 1984. Akaal Publishers. pp. 16–17. ISBN 978-0-9554587-3-6. OCLC 898056748.

[:0-2] "Abstracts of Sikh Studies". Abstracts of Sikh Studies. 3 (3). Chandigarh, India: Institute of Sikh Studies: 54. 2001.

[:2-3] Akal Takht Sahib: Timeless Sovereign Throne – State of the Panth, Report 4 (PDF). Sikh Research Institute. March 2019. Akal Takht Sahib became the seat of Sikh power and gave the Sikhs a rallying point as a symbol of Sikh sovereignty. It is from the Akal Takht Sahib that the Guru administered justice like a king in a court, accepted gifts of arms and horses, and awarded honors and punishment. Guru Hargobind Sahib, for example, is noted as having 800 horses in the stables, 300 troopers on horseback, and 60 men with firearms at all times. This tradition was carried forward by Guru Harirai Sahib, the seventh Guru, who maintained an army that consisted of 2,200 mounted soldiers. This army of the Akal Takht Sahib came to be called the Akal Sena (immortal army), and its warriors were honored as the Akalis (the immortals)

[4] Malik, Ikram Ali (1970). A Book of Readings on the History of the Punjab: 1799-1947. Vol. 20 of Research Society of Pakistan publication, Research Society of Pakistan. Research Society of Pakistan, University of the Punjab. p. 676.

[5] Gopal Singh (1994). Politics of Sikh homeland, 1940-1990. Delhi: Ajanta Publications. p. 323. ISBN 81-202-0419-0. OCLC 32242388.

[:1-6] Mitra, Swati (2006). Good Earth Punjab Travel Guide (2nd ed.). Eicher Goodearth Limited. p. 26. ISBN 9789380262178.

[:72-7] Singh, Kamalroop (2014). "38. Sikh Martial Art (Gatkā)". In Singh, Pashaura; Fenech, Louis E. (eds.). The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies. Oxford Handbooks Online. Oxford University Press. pp. 459–470. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199699308.013.022.

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