historyof
sanatanhindusikh
shastarvidiya

In northern India, in order to defend the Sanatan Hindu Dharam in the Punjab, in accordance with the need of the times, emerged Akali Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469-1539) to stand up to 'Turk' tyranny.

Sanatan Hindu Sikh tradition holds that on his fifth attempt before his conquest of India, Babur, a murderer of Hindus, had sought out the first Sikh Akali Guru Nanak (1469-1539) the 'Pir' of 'Hind' (Hindu India) and had got his blessing to over throw the sultanate of Delhi. In return he had pledged he would from now on treat all Hindus and Muslims justly. Giani Gian Singh recounts Baburs exploits:

Babur gloated in Tojk Baburi:
“In order to celebrate the auspiciousness of my victory I rejoice in setting the villages and towns of the Hindu infidels on fire. They who are caught, I have them killed in front of me near the tent and I am hopeful of a place in heaven. One time so many Hindus were killed that I had to change the tent three times.
('Twarikh Guru Khalsa', Gian Singh, 1:51).

The general oral tradition of the Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa 96 Crore Buddha Dal states that Shastar Vidiya was established by the sixth Sikh warrior Guru, Akali Guru Hargobind Sahib (1595-1644). The late Sanatan Hindu Sikh Shastar Vidiya 'Gurdev', Nihang Baba Ram Singh, inline with the more accurate oral tradition of the actual practitioners of the art, in an interview stated that this combat art form was introduced into the Sikh world by the first Sikh Guru, Akali Guru Nanak Dev Ji:.

'This 'Vidiya' (knowledge of Shastar Vidiya) was started amongst the Sikhs by Guru Hargobind. Guru Hargobind was taught this Vidiya by Baba Buddha Ji. The master of all the vidiya (Knowledge) of the Guru's house was Baba Buddha Ji. He had attained the vidiya from Guru Nanak. He [Baba Buddha Ji], taught the vidiya because the Muslims and Brahmins done such an evil deed that they martyred Guru Arjan Dev [fifth Sikh Guru] by making him sit on a hot metal sheet. That is why, with the blessing of Baba Buddha Ji, Guru Hargobind was born [to destroy evil]. He [Baba Buddha Ji], had all the spiritual knowledge, and all other knowledge of Mantra Vidiya, Tantra Vidiya, this Chatka Gatka Vidiya* the giver of all knowledge was Baba Buddha Ji.'
(Nihang Baba Ram Singh, transcript of interview, 16th April 1998)