Nihang Khan

Nihang Khan (Gurmukhi: ਨਿਹੰਗ ਖ਼ਾਨ, Shahmukhi: نهنگ خاں) was the zamindar ruler of a small principality called Kotla Nihang Khan near Ropar in Punjab, India.^[1] He was a friend and follower of the tenth and final Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. The Guru and his associates frequently stayed with Nihang Khan, who often sheltered and provided succor to them in the period when they were facing persecution by Mughal forces. By way of faith and ethnicity, Nihang Khan was a Muslim Pathan.^[2][3]

Guru Gobind Singh and Nihang Khan first met on the Amavas of the month of Maghar in Vikram Samvat year 1745 (corresponding to 1688 CE).^[1] Nihang Khan was so impressed that he declared that he would "dedicate his all in the cause of the Guru."^[1] To honor him, Sikh religious literature often refers to him as Bhai Nihang Khan.^[4] One of Nihang Khan's sons was Bhai Alam Khan, whose wedding the Guru also attended on May 3, 1694.^[5]

See also

• Guru Gobind Singh
• Kotla Nihang Khan

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Surjit Singh Gandhi, History of Sikh Gurus Retold: 1606-1708 C, Atlantic Publishers & Distributors, 2007, ISBN 9788126908585, http://books.google.com/books?id=vZFBp89UInUC, "... the Guru met Nihang Khan, the Zamindar of Kotla Nihang Khan, a place in proximity to present-day Ropar city. Nihang Khan was so moved that he decided to dedicate his all in the cause of the Guru. This happened on the Amavas or Maghar 1745 Bk 1688 ..." 
2. ^ N. Hanif, Biographical encyclopedia of Sufis: Volume 3, Sarup & Sons, 2000, ISBN 9788176250870, http://books.google.com/books?id=O3GXOqPa67MC, "... Guru Gobind Singh, the reigning Sikh Guru, had a large number of followers among the Muslims like Pir Budhu Shah, Nihang Khan, Ghani Khan, Nabi Khan and others ..." 
3. ^ Parvinder Kaur, Virbhan Singh, Kar sewa of historical gurudwaras, Sapra Publications, 1996, ISBN 9788186686003, http://books.google.com/books?id=QnPkAAAAMAAJ, "... While proceeding to Chamkaur Sahib after crossing the Sarsa river Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji had put out the kiln here with his horse's hoofs. The local Pathaan Nihang Khan, without caring for the risk, served Guruji and ..." 
4. ^ Harjinder Singh Dilagir, Who are the Sikhs?, Sikh Educational Trust, 2000, http://books.google.com/books?id=uQNuAAAAMAAJ, "... 6.12.1705 Guru Gobind Singh Sahib reached residence of Bhai Nihang Khan at Kotla Nihang ..." 
5. ^ Harjinder Singh Dilagir, The Sikh reference book, Sikh Educational Trust for Sikh University Centre, Denmark, 1997, ISBN 9780969596424, http://books.google.com/books?id=mRpuAAAAMAAJ, "... On May 3, 1694, Guru Sahib attended the betrothal ceremony of Bhai Aalam Khan (second), the son of Bhai Nihang Khan ..."