historyof
sanatanhindusikh
shastarvidiya

From this point on, the 'Farra'-adorning Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa were known as 'Shiv Swaroop'.

Terms such as 'Mahakal' or Mahakali Singh were (and still are) used. In this way the full iconography of the ancient 'Shiv Akhara' was acknowledged in the Akali Guru Hargobind Ranjit Akhara.

The actions of the Tenth Guru, but for some minor distinctions, were in line with the established Hindu traditions. Defensive ascetics of Hindu Akhara had emerged as Muslim invaders began to ravage India. Elgood lists the following in his text:

Anand Akhara (Founded 856)
Niranjani Akhara (F. 904)
Juna Akhara (F. 1106)
Agani Akahra (1482)
Avahan Akhara (F.1547)
Atal Akhara (F.1646)
Nirvani Akahra (1749)

Elgood further states:

“These bands developed their own rituals and fighting methods, which were traced to the Kapalika order, while having a common devotion to Shiva….It was entirely in this tradition that in 1699 the tenth and last of the Sikh gurus instituted the Khalsa…”
('Hindu Arms and Ritual', Arms and Armour from India 1400-1865, Robert Elgood, (Eburon Academic Publishers, 2004), Pa. 44)