Category: Sikh Art

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The Turban of Kings – How to Tie Dumalla like Guru Gobind Singh ji

In the puratan Sikh Art Tradition of punjab, we see Guru Hargobind Sahib ji and Guru Gobind Singh ji with a peculiar turban, called Puratan Dumalla. In this video, we will learn about the Puratan Dumalla and we will also learn how to Tie this type of Turban.

The Turban of Kings – How to Tie Dumalla like Guru Gobind Singh ji, Emperor Akbar & Shivaji Maratha

I call it the Puratan Dumalla, to avoid confusion with the modern Nihang Dumalla. It’s a different style of turban.

This is the type of turban India’s greatest kings wore.

Sikh Gurus, Guru Hari Gobind ji to Guru Gobind Singh ji wore this turban.

Emperor Akbar wore this turban.

Shivaji Maratha wore this turban.

Rajput Kings and Kings from different parts of India wore this turban.

It is the turban of Kings.

It was particularly famous in Medieval India from 1400s to 1700s.

This style of turban started dying during the 1800s.

In Rajasthan it transformed into different turban styles.
In Sikh Kingdom it transformed into different turban styles.
In Mughal Empire… well Mughal Empire died out in 1800s.

It died by 1900s during the British Raj. It’s no longer seen today.

No one wears it. No one knows about it. And no one knows how to tie it.

Hindi movies and serials are filled with Mughals and Rajputs wearing cartoony cap-like pseudo dumallas, with their cut hair sticking out the back.

Whereas Punjabi movies and serials don’t have any idea that the Sikhs even wore such a turban in the first place.

So I’m trying to revive his traditional style of dumalla so that our ancestral knowledge is preserved for future generations.

I have been learning how to tie this turban for the past 5 years, and I believe I have finally cracked the code.

I have figured out how to tie it and I will share this knowledge with you guys today.

When I said this turban is no longer seen today, I meant this exact style is no longer seen but many turban styles that we today resemble this old turban.

You may notice hints of Patiala Shahi turban, modern Rajasthani turban, Bhangra turban, and of course the modern Nihang Dumalla.

So to tie this turban, you will need –

1 Turban size 6m x 0.5m.
2nd Turban size 2m x 0.5m.

Keep the first couple wraps nice and loose.

Dumalla refers to that bit that is flaring out of the top. It is also called farla, turla, sirra, it has multiple names. Today we call the Nihang Turban a dumalla, but in old times, it was this fan bit that was called Dumalla.
(Bhai Kahn Singh ji Nabha, Mahan Kosh)

FAQs

Q1. Did Guru Gobind Singh ji actually tie this type of turban?

Yes. This is the type of turban that we see in his portraits from 1600s-1800s.

Q2. Didn’t Guru ji tie the tall, conical Nihang Dastaar?

Nope. If he did, then his portraits would’ve shown that style of turban.

The tall, conical Nihang Dastaar did not exist prior to 1800s. It emerged in Sikh art during mid 1800s.

Even early 1800s art, shows Sikh warriors tying a different turban.

Q3. Did Guru Gobind Singh ji put chakra on his turban?

No. Showing Guru Gobind Singh ji with chakras on his turban is a modern trend started by Sobha Singh. We don’t see it in his portraits before Sobha Singh’s paintings.

The trend of wearing chakras on turban started in 1800s with Nihangs. Though keeping weapons inside a Turban is a much older trend.

In old times, they probably hid a dagger in it, slid it in and out from the back.

Q4. Did Shivaji Maratha tie a turban like this? Didn’t he tie a different conical one?

Yes he tied this one. The conical, coiled one is a modern depiction only. He wore a Puratan Dumalla.

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Baba Deep Singh ji – To Victory [New Painting]

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“Of all religions, the highest religion is to meditate on Hari and perform pure actions.”

– Guru Arjun Dev ji (Guru Granth Sahib, 266)

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Baba Deep Singh ji – To Victory


Artist’s Notes
Bhagat’s painting of Baba Deep Singh ji shows him riding to battle, on horseback, leading a jatha of Singhs, with kesari nishan sahibs waving in the sky. Sikh art prints of Baba Deep Singh ji are perfect for your home, to get inspiration to push further and achieve victory in every aspect of your life.

Baba Deep Singh ji’s Iconography
Baba Deep Singh ji rides a Horse named Bali – Sacrifice. He wields a Khanda named Dharma – Responsibility. He holds the Insignia of Gurmati – Guru’s teachings. He wears the Cummerbund of Jat – Self-Control. He wears the Turban of Surti – Awareness – and the turban’s Farla flares above, showing his Mastery over himself and his craft. Together with the Sadh Sangati – the Holy Congregation – Baba ji rides to Mukti – Liberation from the Cycle of Births and Deaths.

Achievements
In his early years, Baba Deep Singh ji spent much of his time learning swordsmanship, getting disciplined, horse riding, and studying Sikh Scriptures.

At 20 years of age, he got married and settled down for a while. A few years later, he helped to make copies of Adi Granth, with Bhai Mani Singh ji. This was back when copies of documents had to be penned down by hand.

At 27 years of age, Baba ji was already fighting under Banda Singh ji Bahadur, in his campaigns against the Mughal government, who had persecuted its people and murdered the small children of Guru Gobind Singh ji.

At age 51, Baba ji served under Nawab Kapur Singh ji. At age 66, he was given leadership of Shaheed Misl, after the 65 squads of Dal Khalsa army were reorganized into 12 Misls.

At age 75, Baba Deep Singh ji was still going on missions, to protect his people, and to save his country from invaders who sought to steal its treasures, kill off the men and enslave its women and children.

Martyrdom
Ahmad Shah Durrani had attacked India multiple times, and Baba Deep Singh ji interrupted his fourth raid. Durrani suffered huge losses and decided to weed out the Sikhs. He demolished Shri Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple) and filled its surrounding pool with slaughtered cows.

When Baba ji heard of this, he gathered an army of 500 men at Damdama Sahib, Bathinda, and by the time he reached Taran Taaran, the number of men with him had grown to 5000. He then lead the men to Amritsar and fought Timur Shah, the son of Durrani.

It is said that during the battle, the opposing commander decapitated Baba Deep Singh ji and his head fell to the ground. Baba ji picked up his fallen head and continued to fight, his body radiating with both fury and the chanting of Hari. Carrying his head in one hand and his Khanda in the other, he fought until him and his men defeated Timur Shah’s army and dealt a severe blow to Durrani.

Baba Deep Singh ji had vowed to give his life, his head for Amritsar so after the battle ended, he reached the Harimandir Sahib, Golden Temple. He walked over to the edge of the pool, he put down his head, he bowed and attained liberation.

Benefits of Meditation on Baba Deep Singh ji
Baba Deep Singh ji is the son of Hari, the protector of Saints and the vanquisher of Evil. Those who meditate on Baba ji become proficient in martial arts and in their studies. Those who meditate on Baba ji radiate with energy and vitality. Those who meditate on Baba ji forget the distractions and become focused on their goals and achieving them. Those who meditate on Baba ji become masters of their skills and masters of their body and mind. Those who meditate on Baba ji attain Hari, the Master of the Universe himself. They do not have to meditate on anything else, those who meditate on Baba Deep Singh ji.

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New Painting – Bhai Taru Singh ji

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“I am blind, you are my walking stick, Hari; your name is Supporter of Saints. I am poor and meek, your name is my support.”

– Sant Nam Dev ji (Guru Granth Sahib, 727)

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Bhai Taru Singh ji

The traditional sikh art of Punjab, has always depicted Bhai Taru Singh ji having his scalp removed but it has always missed the key aspect of this story – Bhai Sahib’s internal state. Bhagat’s painting zooms in specifically on Bhai Sahib’s inner state to highlight the importance of meditation. Buy prints of Bhai Taru Singh ji if you are looking for daily inspiration to meditate.


Artist’s Notes

My painting of Bhai Taru Singh ji shows him meditating after his scalp was removed by the Mughal executioner. Admist the darkness, Bhai Sahib reclines back as a beacon of light and shows us that the path to enlightenment is to uphold Dharma.

Who was Bhai Taru Singh ji?

In his early 20s, Bhai Taru Singh ji chose to have his scalp removed rather than give up his religious traditions. He was born 12 years after the passing of Guru Gobind Singh ji and was initiated in to the tradition of the Ten Gurus, through Bhai Mani Singh ji.

In 1700s, Sikhs were being persecuted by Zakariya Khan, who ruled Punjab under the Mughal Empire. Bhai Taru Singh ji and his family would support and provide food for Sikh rebels who wished to take him down.

During this rebellion, Bhai Taru Singh ji was arrested by Zakriya Khan’s police and was tortured. The executioner used a chisel to remove his scalp, however Bhai Taru Singh ji remained absorbed in meditation.

Bhai Taru Singh ji lived after his torture, and continued to meditate and sing the praises of the Lord. He left his body immediately after the death of Zakariya Khan.

Painting Taru Singh ji

I worked on Baba Ajit Singh ji’s painting when I was his age when he sacrificed himself in the Battle of Chamkaur. Then I did Bhai Taru Singh ji’s portrait when I was his age, when he sacrificed himself for the Sikh panth.

It gives me new insights into the mindset of our warrior saints and into my own mind, to paint them at that same point in my life when they made their sacrifices.

I think about what they did at my age and what I am doing. I think about where they were headed at my age and where I am heading. In this way I align my moral compass to the Truth North and follow it.

A great man once said that we don’t get to choose whether we sacrifice or not, we only get to pick what we sacrifice. Sikh Saints followed in the footsteps of the Ten Gurus and sacrificed themselves to uphold Dharma.

So to see our warrior saints side with their Duty, over their own lives, is very inspiring, and fills me up with a fearless spirit.

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New Painting – Mai Bhago ji

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“She is the most beautiful among women who loves the Guru and wears this jewel on her forehead.”

– Guru Nanak Dev ji (Guru Granth Sahib, 54)

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Mai Bhago ji – New Edition

Sikh paintings rarely show women that are dressed in 1700s clothing, however Bhagat’s sikh art shows authentic historical clothing. Buy prints of Mai Bhago ji for inspiration to achieve your goals, to serve the Guru, and to meditate.


Artist’s Notes

Mai Bhago ji, Mother Bhago, sought after Guru Gobind Singh ji’s blessings to have a son. But while travelling to Guru ji, she was distressed to hear that a group of 40 Singhs had deserted him during the Battle of Anandpur.

She rode to their gathering, made them realize their mistake and then set off along with them to find Guru Sahib, who was still being followed by the Mughals. They reached Khidrana, where a battle took place between the two armies.

In this battle, those 40 Singhs were all slain, Guru Sahib forgave them and they came to be known as the Chali Muktay, the liberated ones, and Khidrana came to be known as Muktsar.

Tragically, Mai Bhago ji’s husband and brothers were killed in this battle and so she dedicated her life to meditation and attained liberation.

After attaining liberation, Mata ji became detached from the physical world and its customs and traditions. She started to live her life free of all attachment to objects and any desire to do anything.

Kavi Santokh Singh ji explains that her spiritual state reached a point where she became even detached from basic things such as wearing of clothes.

This is when Guru Gobind Singh ji intervened and suggested to Mata ji that in order to preserve the honour of her family, she should cover her head and wrap herself with a shawl.

Mata ji obeyed Guru Sahib and continued to meditate on God until her last breath.

The Daughter turned Wife turned Warrior turned Saint, Mai Bhago ji’s story is very inspirational to those who are on the Path of the Saints.

For me Mai Bhago ji has been a constant inspiration to take action, to take charge, and make things happen. When I heard about the latter part of her life, she then also became an immense inspiration for me to meditate and to cultivate strong states of detachment.

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Meditations on the Martyrdom of Guru Arjun Dev ji – 2

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We have no idea what strength it takes to be able to play the game of life at such a high level, where you are organizing free kitchens, holding congregations, and generating such influence by your ability to speak the Truth, that the Emperor of the whole of India, finds you threatening and decides to shut you down and torture you.

We have no idea of what practice it takes to constantly access high states of being, where you able to write such beautiful hymns that resonate in the hearts of the Indian people, not just during your time but 500 years after that.

Guru Arjun Dev ji – Martyrdom


My painting shows Guru Arjun Dev ji peacefully meditating while being tortured.

The Mughal executioners lit a fire and created hell under Guru Arjun Dev ji and yet he remained present with it.

Gurudev was forced to sit on a hot plate and had hot sand poured over his head and body. Even though he was put through immense pain, he was in profound peace with it, with the pain he was experiencing.

Guru ji did not pull back from what was happening to him. He did not recoil and shrivel up. He felt the pain to his core, and hugged his suffering to death.

It is the highest act of bravery to able to face the worst pain imaginable, and look it in the eyes and shake hands with it, until your body crumbles to dust.

Guru Sahib voluntarily accepted his pain.

That’s what we can learn from Guru ji’s example – to voluntarily accept the pain in our lives as a gift.

When we do that correctly, we get a new perspective on life and paradoxically, we become strong enough to face harder challenges and play the game of life at a higher level.

Guru Arjun Dev ji – Meditating

Guru Arjun Dev ji’s heavenly poetry in Guru Granth Sahib, his efforts to write down and compile the hymns of Vaishnav saints from all over India to preserve their legacy, the building of Harimandir Sahib, his influence all over northern India, which led to his martyrdom, and then his martyrdom itself. All his efforts during his life till the very end, fill me up with inspiration and appreciation to this day.

Guru Sahib’s spirit lives on in his hymns in Guru Granth Sahib and he continues to inspire millions who recite his hymns and meditate on him.

As I sit here writing this, I, once again, feel rejuvenated by his spirit.

ਜਪ੍ਯਉ ਜਿਨ੍ ਅਰਜੁਨ ਦੇਵ ਗੁਰੂ ਫਿਰਿ ਸੰਕਟ ਜੋਨਿ ਗਰਭ ਨ ਆਯਉ ॥੬॥
Those who meditate on Guru Arjun Dev ji will never have to suffer again.

– Kavi Mathura ji (Guru Granth Sahib, 1409)