In this episode, we examine the 1873 clash at Takht Sri Hazur Sahib between the Nihang and the Nirmala.

The confrontation arose over the observance of the Five Ks and competing claims about religious authority at the shrine. The Nihangs and Hazuri Akalis challenged the Nirmalas’ assertion that their tradition was ancient and integral to Sikh practice, arguing instead that Khalsa discipline must remain central.

As tensions escalated, the dispute turned into a physical clash, reflecting broader struggles over Sikh identity, Khalsa tradition, and control of Sikh institutions in the nineteenth century. This episode explores the background, the conflict itself, and what it reveals about debates within the Sikh Panth during this period.