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Encyclopedia of Religion entry forAkalisA fanatical order of Sikh ascetics. The name Akali means " immortal." After the death of Guru Govind, Balragi Banda introduced innovations, which were resisted stoutly by some of the Sikhs. This section became the Akalis. " They constituted at once the most unruly and the bravest portion of the very unruly and brave Sikh army. Their headquarters were at Amritsar, where they constituted themselves the guardians of the faith and assumed the right to convoke synods. They levied offerings by force and were the terror of the Sikh chiefs. Their good qualiites were, however, well appreciated by the Maharaja, and when there were specially fierce foes to meet, such as the Pathan beyond the Indus, the Akalis were always to the front " (Sir E. Maclagan, quoted by Russell and HIra Lal). See R. V. Russell. citations: Encyc. of Rel., Canney
article created 2006-04-12 , last updated 2006-04-12 |
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