historyof
sanatanhindusikh
shastarvidiya

The Tenth Guru further reinforced the 'Shiv Swaroop' amongst his Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa.

He instructed his Akali Nihang warriors:

“If you take the refuge of Mahakal, he will save you. If you make the worship of 'Asket' (battle standard with 'Assu'/'Kharag' upon it - the re-interpreted 'Ardhanarishvara' symbol of androgynous 'Shiv'/'Mahakaal' the Khanda) your daily practice. Then placing his hand upon you, 'Asdhuj' (ie, 'Asket') will save you.”
('Treh Charittar 404', Akali Nihang Guru Gobind Singh, Dasam Guru Durbar, Verse 366-367)

The Guru had this created warriors as 'Shiv Saroop' – the very form of 'Mahakaal' (Shiva). The 'Shiv Saroop' 'Mahakali Singh' Hindu warriors of the 'Ranjit Akhara', and its various off-shoots (eg, Akali Nihang Baba Darbara Singh Sanatan Suraj Bansia Shastar Vidiya Shiv Akhara) became established in accordance with Akali Nihang Guru Gobind Singh's mission.

In the coming years, they would fight a life and death struggle against Mughal, Persian and Afghan 'Turk' invaders. During a brief period after the Tenth Guru's passing, the Akali Nihang Singhs, many of whom still being ascetics, joined up with 'Vaishanva' (devotees of Vishnu) warriors led by Banda Bahadur in order to fight the Turks (and their Hindu allies).