chatkain
sanatanhindusikh
shastarvidiya

As the British Raj established itself in the Punjab in 1849, the position held by Akali Nihang warriors, was taken over by pacifist 'Nirmalas' (intellectuals).

The 'Nirmalas' became the 'new' Khalsa (for more information on 'Nirmala' Sikhs visit www.sarbloh.info). Traditionally, the Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa was the religious authority within Sanatan Sikhi.

It was with this drastic change to the hierarchy within the Sanatan Sikh religious orders that vegetarianism became so prominent in large sections of Khalsa Sikh community for first time in Sikh history.

As mentioned previously, the prescribed method of slaughtering an animal for food in Sanatan Hindu Sikh world is 'Chatka'.

As vegetarianism established itself amongst Nirmala-influenced vegetarian Khalsa Sikhs, the word 'Chatka' amongst these people became a taboo word. Hence today one will find 'Gatka' practitioners hostile to the term 'Chatka'.

Conversely, in traditional Hindu Sikh fighting, the word 'Chatka' is employed to describe the central fighting concept of quick and instantaneous killing.