Freed

Is it this quote ? ;

'There was talk of such a science of archery and stick fighting only a few years ago in the Punjab that listening of it the English-educated young men will consider it astonishing. In sincerity I believe present day young men might just consider these skills and Shastar Vidiya most likely impossible, because they have not even seen those bows nevermind stringing them. Like this, many sciences and skills after attaining their heights have declined. Before 1857 many quivers full of arrows, matchlocks, flintlock guns, swords, lances, spears, Sang, Katar, Pesh Kabz, pistols, shields etc., weapons, armour and many types of chainmail was found house to house, and all the people in their homes learned and taught Shastar Vidiya and became complete soldiers.

Now no one even speaks of these skills the sons of brave warriors are becoming engrossed in making money, even to us who have employed Shastar Vidiya, it is becoming a dream. In another fifty years or so, this Vidiya would have dried up and people will say it (past skills) were but, all lies'

('Twarikh Guru Khalsa', Giani Gian Singh Nirmala (1899) Vol.1, Pa. 36-37)

I've attached a scan of the relevant pages from the third edition (1993)

Aw Shucks you'll make me blush

This is the only one i have - hope it's of use !

Disturbing Video - Anyone know when the full version is coming out ?? The comment from the SS of Police shows the extent of the problem - (contains 'heavy duty' punjabi swearing - you've been warned !!) - Any info about the film maker / channel / where it will be shown ??

Gurfateh !

Saka Chamkaur

Dhan Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji Maharaj, Panth Ke Waali, Shamsher Pita, Sarbans Daani, Karam Veer, Shah e Shahanshah - ਧੰਨ ਗੁਰੂ ਧੰਨ ਗੁਰੂ ਪਿਆਰੇ

Biwi Agey Bannda Nawab Na Koi ! - The Classic two handed Beard/shoe combination ! hehehe

(from The Cultural Heritage of Punjab 3000 BC - 1947 AD - K C Aryan (Rekha Prakashan) 1983)

Transglobal Underground - The Sikhman and the Rasta

I've changed it

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=32452&id=100000744519233&l=e55e19b336

does this work ?

Gurfateh !

In Celebration, Respect and Praise of Steel .........

Enjoy my collection ....

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=32452&id=100000744519233&l=e55e19b336

Gurfateh!

Thanks for the link 'Chatanga' ji

I love the photograph of Jathedar Sardar Kartar Singh Jhabbar - especially the 'samman vali dang' he is carrying.

Gurfateh !

With Love on Mother's Day .......

Dear Fateh Singh Ji,

(Ashik Ashik Har Koi Kahai, Sir Tedi Pagree Dhar Ke - Kavi Bihari Ji, kavi of Guru Gobind Singh)

Do you have a reference for the 'Tedi Pagree' line - I have been looking for it for a while.

Many Thanks in advance

Ranjit Singh

I'm getting quite a few 'Heerey' - white hairs - in my Dhaara so I will be giving Saint Nick a run for his money pretty soon !

GurFateh Ji !

With all the negative posts of late - I thought I would post this ;

Ustad Lakha Khan on the Sindhi Saranghi - Beautiful - makes your heart glad !

Enjoy !

Freed

Gurfateh !

* From Bhai Nand Lal Granthawali - Ganda Singh PUP 2000 Third Ed. pp 194-204

Freed

Gurfateh !

A beautiful picture of the Nihang 'Dwarapalas' (Door Guardians) at Panja Sahib, Hassan Abdal. Pakistan.

The Panja Sahib Building dates from 1932 and was modelled on the Maharaja Ranjit Singh samadhi in Lahore.

This picture was taken on May 2nd 2009 - Gurdwara Panja Sahib is currently providing shelter to those Hindus and Sikhs forced out by the Taliban in the Swat Valley.

* taken from Sajjad Ali Qureshi's flickr page

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pkjournalist/3506622988/

A 'puppy' from my brother - what more can a brother ask for - that is priceless !

Pyaar Bhari Sat Sri Akaal !!

Gurfateh !

For N30 Bhai Sahib and all our Non UK members I have added the article here ;

http://www.sikhawareness.com//index.php?sh...amp;#entry97522

Enjoy,

Freed.

* from Martial Arts Illustrated Sept 2004 Vol 17 No. 4

Gurfateh !

For N30 Bhai Sahib and all our Non UK members here is the article ( I've also added the 2004 article as well)

Enjoy

Freed.

* From Martial Arts Illustrated May 2009 Vol. 21 No. 12

Gurfateh !

Trust you are all well - I have received some messages asking if I am still 'alive' as I haven't posted for a while - Thank you for your concern !, I am in rude health ! just been really busy at work and have a backlog of new books and pics to sort through (enjoying 'In The Masters Presence' at the moment !!).

However I am not so busy that I can't bring to your attention this Wonderful set of images.

Taken from 'photosbymonicamichele' flickr collection they show the ruins of a Gurdwara and Samadh in Fateh Khan (District Dera Ghazni Khan - Punjab Pakistan)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosbymonic...57612422631501/

Taking this picture as a starting point

I have figured out it must be The Gurudwara Kot Bhai Than Singh, Distt Attock that is described here;

http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/gurudwaras-in...stt-attock.html

This means the Gurdwara , Samaadh and frescoes must date from the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Baba Than Singh was an influential figure among 'Potohar' Sikhs , If my memory serves me well I think there is a 'Baba Than Singh Chowk' in Ludhiana City (?? ). As always any input from respected members and readers most welcome and much appreciated.

I'll get to the bit you want to see now - the pictures ! - I've cherry picked a few of my favourites - I particularly like the fresco of Guru Hargobind Sahib with Bidhi Chand and the fresco of Guru Gobind Singh with the Panj Piarey - the Piarey with beautiful Dumaley, decorated with Chakars and Shasters. Bhai Mokham Singh is shown as an Akali Nihang with Farla. There are lots of pictures so DO visit the Flickr page as the pictures are amazing - if particularly upsetting because of the graffiti and disfiguring of faces - however the higher up frescoes are mostly intact. Enjoy !

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosbymonic...57612422631501/

Enjoy these wonderful images - please post any information you have - Waheguru Bless photographers like these they are doing a sterling job !!

GurFateh

Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Waheguru Ji Ka Khaalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh !

In eternal honour and respect to the Chaar Sahibzadaay and Shaheeds of Chamkaur Sahib.

*From Sri Gur Panth Prakash. Rattan Singh Bhangoo. Translated by Kulwant Singh.IOSS. 2006. Vol 1 page 124-5.

Best Wishes to all the Cyber Sangatan at this special time - May Guru Sahib shower you all with blessings this coming New Year !

Gurfateh !

Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Are you a closet Goth / Indie Kid / Skanky Student Sodhi ? Snake Bite & Black and a student feast of a pack of crisps with a bag of nuts mixed in :wink:

Big Thank you to all for the information !

- I don't know how I stumbled across that video - it instantly caught my eye - but I must confess it was more because of the 'sticks' used.

In her major study of Punjabi folk instruments, Dr Alka Pande has talked about those sticks and how she was unable to find any, she has classed them as 'vanishing instruments'. She has also made some interesting points regarding their use and origin; Muslims using one stick and banging it on 'Karas' and non muslims using two

here are some excerpts;

Dr Alka Pande - http://www.alkapande.com/paper.htm

Suthra Shahi:

It is an order of Sikh devotees. There was a faqir by the name suthra who was famous for his attitude of ridiculing life. According to Bhai Kahan Singh [Mahaan Kosh, p-159], Suthra Shah was born in Samvat 1672 at Barampur near Baramullah in the house Nanda the Khatri.

Mohammadan suthras carry a danda [staff] with which they strike their iron bracelets [churis]. It is believed that non-Mohammadan suthras have two dandas out of which one danda was given by Guru Hargobind Sahib and the other smaller one by Durga Devi. The Mohammadans do not worship the Devi and thus have only one danda with which they strike their metal kadas or bracelets.

****

The Vanishing Instruments

As part of the field studies I identified some vanishing instruments through information transferred by word of mouth, and through references in the field and found that there are some instruments which are not even available for placing in the museums.........

3. Suthra Shahi Danda – Kadae: Used by Sufis. It comprises the wearing of four to six or even more kadae or metallic rings on the arm of the player. These rings are periodically struck with a metal staff or danda carried in the palm of the same hand that is wearing the kadae. The tone may vary depending on the material and diameter of the kadae.

*********************

Here is the Mahan Kosh entry for SuthreShahis

ਸੁਥਰੇਸ਼ਾਹੀ

ਸੰਮਤ ੧੬੭੨ ਵਿੱਚ ਬਾਰਾਂਮੂਲੇ ਪਾਸ ਬਰਾਮਪੁਰ ਪਿੰਡ ਨਿਵਾਸੀ ਨੰਦੇ ਖਤਰੀ ਦੇ ਘਰ ਇੱਕ ਬਾਲਕ ਦੰਦਾਂ ਸਮੇਤ ਜਨਮਿਆ, ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਜੋਤਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਕਹੇ ਵਿਘਨਕਾਰੀ ਜਾਣਕੇ ਬਾਹਰ ਸਿੱਟ ਦਿੱਤਾ. ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਾਹਿਬ, ਜੋ ਕਸ਼ਮੀਰ ਤੋਂ ਵਾਪਿਸ ਆ ਰਹੇ ਸਨ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਨਜ਼ਰ ਇਹ ਬਾਲਕ ਪਿਆ. ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਨੇ ਦਯਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਬਾਲਕ ਉਠਵਾ ਲਿਆ ਅਤੇ ਵਡੇ ਯਤਨ ਨਾਲ ਪਾਲਿਆ ਅਰ ਨਾਉਂ "ਸੁਥਰਾ" ਰੱਖਿਆ. ਇਹ ਗੁਰੂਘਰ ਦਾ ਵਡਾ ਪ੍ਰੇਮੀ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ ਅਰ ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿਰਾਇ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਭੀ ਹਾਜ਼ਿਰ ਰਿਹਾ. ਸੁਥਰੇਸ਼ਾਹ ਵਡਾ ਵਿਲਾਸੀ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ. ਇਸ ਦੀ ਹਾਸ੍ਯਰਸ ਪੂਰਿਤ ਅਨੇਕ ਕਹਾਣੀਆਂ ਜਗਤ ਪ੍ਰਸਿੱਧ ਹਨ. ਦਿੱਲੀ ਦੇ ਹਾਕਮਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਇਸ ਨੇ ਪੈਸਾ ਹੱਟੀ ਉਗਰਾਹੁਣ ਦਾ ਹੁਕਮ ਪਰਪਾਤ ਕੀਤਾ. ਇਸ ਦੇ ਪੰਥ ਦਾ ਨਾਉਂ ਸੁਥਰੇਸ਼ਾਹੀ ਹੈ. ਹੁਣ ਬਹੁਤ ਸੁਥਰੇ ਸਿੱਖਧਰਮ ਦੇ ਨਿਯਮਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਭੁਲਾ ਬੈਠੇ ਹਨ. ਡੰਡੇ ਬਜਾਕੇ ਹੱਟੀਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਮੰਗਦੇ ਹਨ. ਕਦੇ ਬੇਨਵਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਤਰਾਂ ਦੁਰਵਚਨ ਬੋਲਦੇ ਹਨ. ਕਈ ਮੂੰਹ ਕਾਲਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਧਰਨਾ ਮਾਰ ਬੈਠਦੇ ਹਨ.

Thanks !

Freed