Every artist has his/her interpretation of a subject and the Sikh Gurus have been painted by artists from from various religious backgrounds, no wonder the sometimes extremely strange depictions – just like the one of Guru Gobind Singh Ji below. The overly exagerated kalgi, green clothing and seating posture comes as a completely different image of the Guru that we are relatively accustomed to. Nevertheless, the painting is indeed beautiful. Because Sikh Gurus never encouraged the painting of the their portraits during their lifetime, admirers and devotees were left to put to canvas the image conjured through years of folk-lore, imagination and fond stories. That’s why almost all artists depict the Sikh Gurus differently – they painted them with what appeased their imaginations. At least through their interpretations, we get a glimpse of just how our Gurus may have looked like, though the images do not necessarily depict the exact picture – no one can actually paint the true ambiance of the Guru for that can only be done in the conscience of the true admirer and devotee. And the conscience can never be put to words or pictures, it can only be experienced by the blessed individual.
The Inner Journey II 
Puneet Kaur said,
September 26, 2006 at 11:59 am
GurFateh Veerji,
Here comes another beautiful piece of art from your collection!Its just so beautiful, even though quite different from the paintings one usually comes across.i agree with what you said, “And the conscience can never be put to words or pictures, it can only be experienced by the blessed individual.”
In this painting and in thousands of others, an artist does put down his/her imagination,feelings and so much more & all we do is wonder at such works of love,devotion and perhaps ‘vairaag’!
Sobha Singh is one such artist who’s beautiful works on the Sikh Gurus adorns every house.especially his paintings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Thank you for sharing!
sanjit said,
October 2, 2006 at 6:51 am
veerji cant see the picture ,plz check the same waheguru
http://gurmatsms.googlepages.com
http://akalpurakh.googlepages.com
gurufateh
daas said,
October 3, 2006 at 3:59 am
i honestly do not think it is an over exaggerated kalgi
there is a kalgi at a gurdwara sahib in BC (canada) of guru gobind singh ji’s
and it looks very beautiful like this one
lakhvir said,
October 3, 2006 at 6:22 am
Daas Ji,
My apologies for my ignorance. It’s just that all the paintings I have seen, the Kalgis depicted are comparativelly smaller and found this painting to be ‘outside’ the already accepted norm. I do sincerely believe that the kalgi in this painting could indeed be a variation of the types the Guru wore. Any possibility of getting an image of the kalgi you mentioned?
SikhSpeak said,
October 4, 2006 at 8:32 am
We all need to see this Kalgi!!!
Bhaji (Lakhvir SIngh) the magazine is ready just awaiting any articles you may wish to send 🙂
rajwant singh kalsi said,
October 14, 2006 at 2:21 pm
Bhai Sahib,
The painting shows Guru ji during His young age.
Really good painting.
Avail the opportunity to ask you the reason to use so bold letters on your blog ?
sanjit said,
October 30, 2006 at 11:47 am
veerji why arnt u posting more on this site plz do it we all like ur posts waheguru
tavindra singh narula said,
August 6, 2007 at 8:15 am
veerji cant see the picture ,plz check the same waheguru ji ka khalsa waheguru ji ki fateh
Jeevandeep Singh said,
October 9, 2007 at 11:06 am
WJKK WJKF
The Kalgi with the turban ornaments can be seen at Takht Sri Hazoor Sahib. The images of the same are on my webshots gallery “jeevandeep”
Jot Singh Khalsa said,
January 4, 2008 at 5:10 pm
satnam
I’m working at designing a kalgi for the 300 year celebration later this year-could you please email me a link or some images/paintings of any unusual and particularly interesting kalgis- thanks Jot Singh
satvinder said,
May 24, 2008 at 1:35 am
Interesting article. I stumbled upon a cool site for Sikh art http://artofpunjab.com/ It’s hard to find good art depicting the Gurus and Sikh history and this stuff is really inspiring.
giriraj said,
November 24, 2008 at 3:02 pm
DASAM PITA JI WALLE NANDED
VITHE KITTE 52 HUKAM
1) KIRAT DHARM DI KARNI ||
2) DASWANDH DENA ||
3) GURBANI KANTH KARNI ||
4) AMRIT WELE JAGNA ||
5) PIYAAR NAAL GURSIKHA DI SEWA KARNI ||
6) GURSIKHA PASSO GURBANI ARATH SAMAJHNE ||
7) PUNJ KAKARAAN DI RAHIT DRIDH RAKHNI ||
8) SHABAD DA ABHIAAS KARNA ||
9) DHIYAAN SAT — SAROOP SATGUR DA KARNA ||
10) SATGUR SRI GURU GRANTH SAHEB JI NU MANNANA ||
11) SABH KARJAAN DE ARAMBH WELE ARDAAS KARNI ||
12) JAMMAN, MARAN, VIYAAH, ANAND AADI SAME JAP DA PAATH KARKE ,
KADAAH PRASAAD TIYAAR KARKE ANAND SAHEB DA PAATH ,
ARDAAS KARKE , PUNJA PIYAARIYA ATTE HAZURI GRANTHI SINGHA DA
WARTAARA WARTA KE RAKH UPRANT SANGTA NU WARTA DENA ||
13) JAD TAK KADAAH PRASAD WARATDA RAHE . SAARI SANGAT ADDOL BATHI RAHE ||
14) VIYAAH ANAND BINA GRAHISTH NAHI KARNA ||
15) PAR —- ISTARI MAA , BHAIN , DHI KAR JAANANI ||
16) ISTARI DA MUH NAHI FITHKAARNA ||
17) JAGAT, JHUT, TUMAAKU, BIKHIYAAN DA TIYAAG KARNA ||
18) RAHITWAAN TE NAAM JAPPAN WALIYA GURSIKHAAN DI SANGAT KARNI ||
19) JITNE KAMM AAPNE KARAN DE HON, UNHA DE KARAN VICH AALAS NAHI KARNA ||
20) GURBANI DA KIRTAN TE KATHA ROZ SUNANAA TE KARNA ||
21) KISE DI NINDA, CHUGLI TE IRTHA NAHI KARNI ||
22) DHAN, JAWANI, KUL—- JAAT DA MAAN NAHI KARNA ||
23) MAT UNCHI TE SUCCHI RAKHNI ||
24) SHUBH KARM KARDE RAHINA ||
25) BUDH BAL DA DAATA WAHEGURU NU JANNA ||
26) KASAM, SAHUM CHUKAN WALE TE AITBAAR NAHI KARNA ||
27) SUTANTAR VICHARNA ||
28) RAAJNITI VI PADNI ||
29) SHATRU NAAL SAAM, DAAM, BHEDH AADIKH UPAU WARATNE USTO BAAD DHARM HAI YUDH KARNA ||
30) SHASTAR VIDYA TE GHAOD SAWARI DA ABHIAAS KARNA ||
31) DUSRE MATAA DIYA PUSTAKA PADNI PAR BHAROSA DRIDH GURBANI, AKAAL PURAKH UTTE HI RAKHNA ||
32) GUR UPDESH DHARAN KARNE ||
33) RAHIRAAS DA PAATH KARKE KHADO KE ARDAAS KARNI ||
34) SONN SAMAY SAHILE DA PAATH KARNA ||
35) KES NANGE NAHI RAKHNE ||
36) SINGHA DA PURA NAAM LE KE BULAUNA ADHA NAHI ||
37) SHARAB NAHI SEWNI ||
38) BHADNI (SEER MUNNE ) NU KANYA NAHI DENI US GHAR DEVNI JITHE AKAAL PURAKH DI SIKHI HOVE ||
39) SABH KAARAJ SRI GURU GRANTH SAHEB JI DI TABIYA TE GURBANI ANUSAAR KARNE ||
40) CHUGLI KARKE KISE DA KAAM NAHI WIGAADNA ||
41) KODA BACHAN KARKE KISE DA HIRDA NAHI DUKHAONA ||
42) DARSHAN YATRA GURUDWARE DE KARNI ||
43) BACHAN KARKE PAALNA ||
44) ATHITI, PARDESI, LODMAND, DUKHI, APANG, MANUKHDI, YATHASKAT SEWA KARNI ||
45) DHI DI KAMAI / DHAN BHIKH KAR JAANNA ||
46) DIKHAWE DE SIKH NAHI BANNA ||
47) SIKHI KESA SUASA SANG NIBAHUNI / KESA NU GUR SAMAAN ADAB KARNA ||
48) CHORI, YAARI, THAGI, DHOKA, DAGA NAHI KARNA ||
49) GUR SIKHA DA AITBAAR KARNA ||
50) JHUTI GAWAHI NAHI DENI ||
51) JHUT NAHI KAHINA / BOLNA ||
52) LANGER PRASAD IK RAS WARTAUNA ||
CHEYAANWE KARODI KHALSA
Satinder said,
July 2, 2009 at 2:38 am
Gurfateh,
The Kalgi of Guru Gobind Singh Ji has now reached in India. The process to bring this back was started in 1999 by Sant Darshan Singh Khalsa of Dhakki Sahib Maksudra, who heads Intenational Shiromani Sant Khalsa Foundation. Kamaljit singh boparai was following the corresponence on the foundation’s behalf.
Let’s try to bring all the heritage related toSikh Guru’s in India and get guru’s blessings.
Dhan Waheguru!
m said,
September 12, 2009 at 4:14 am
this was made by my greatgrandfather and i m really proud of it
bogus kalgi said,
February 18, 2010 at 2:45 am
It is not the actual Kalgi worn by Honourable Guruji and just a stunt to collect money by religious sentiments. We must beware of such tactics and such wrong persons, who are playing with our sentiments and those too related with our Most beloved Guruji. chhinderpal singh punjab
chhinderpal singh said,
February 18, 2010 at 2:46 am
in the space “name” I wrongly posted the subject. sorry for that.