Contribution to Sikhi of the Phulkian misls

[amardeep]

Gurfateh
let us have a discussion on the contribution of the Phulkian misls and their kingdoms to the spread and Growth of Sikhi during the 200 years these kingdoms lasted (1760s - 1950s)

What Gurdwaras and institutions did they build?
What scholars, poets, painters etc. did they patron?
How did they contribute to the spread of Sikhi in Punjab and outside Punjab?

Important: Lets leave aside their treachery to the Khalsa Panth and Lahore Darbar as this is well known. Let’s focus on their positive contributions only.

 

Edited August 5, 2015 by amardeep

[amardeep]

Quick inputs:
 

The Daughter of Raja Ala Singh is said to have patroned a Nirmala sadhu in the 1770s who read out the Mahabharat for her and the sangats.

During the late 1700s many Bunge were established around Harimandir Sahib. Im not sure if these were educational or mainly for pilgrims to stay at.

During the 1820s-1840s the smaller Phulkian state of Kaithal patroned Kavi Santokh Singh who authored the Garab Ganjani Teeka and Suraj Prakash Granth

During the 1830s there was a scholar poet at the Patiala Darbar named Bhai Vir Singh Bal that wrote two granths on Sikh history

During the 1860s Maharaja Narinder Singh patroned the Nirmale by establishing their main central Akhara where Pandit Tara Singh Narotam used to Work from. From this akhara Giani Gian Singh and others also worked.

During the 1880s the Raja of Faridkot patroned the massive Faridkot Teeka

During the 1880s the Raja of Jind is said to have commisioned the  translation of the Suraj Prakash Granth into urdu

After 1900 the Patiala government patroned the publishing of the Mahankosh (and probably also other writings of Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha)

 

Edited August 5, 2015 by amardeep

[amardeep]

@tonyhp32 can you elaborate on the increase of Sikh populations in Faridkot and Patiala. What did the rulers/parcharaks do to convert people? And was it mostly converts from hindu backgrouns or also from Muslim backgrounds?

[amardeep]

During the 1860s Maharaja Narinder Singh patroned many writings to be copied and scribed - amongst these many Janam sakhis but also Mahabharat, Gita etc.

[Crystal]

Karam Singh was a dog who helped the British attack the Nihang chauni in Patiala they attacked baba hanuman Singh

[amardeep]

Yeah I know. But lets look into how they contributed to the growth of Sikhi and Sikh heritage.