In 1606, Sixth Guru Har Govind, raised the first Sikh flag (Akal Dhuja , or Satguru Nishan) over the Akal Takhat seat of authority in Amritsar, Punjab. In 1771, Jhanda Singh raised a second flag at the top of Gurdwara Harmandir Sahib of the golden temple complex in Amritsar, where two illustrious Nishan Sahibs still fly proudly.

"Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh" in Punjabi script (Victory of God) was inscribed on the Nishan Sahib of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

• During Sikh Empire of Lahore under the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's times words "Akal Sahai" in Punjabi script were unscribed on the Nishan Sahib. Free to practice their religion without persecution for the first time, this era represented the pinnacle of Sikh artistic expression. During this era the Nishan Sahib banner flew from every corner of a growing Empire.

• On the death of Guru Gobind Singh in 1708 and the final destruction of Darbar Sahib in 1764, Sikhs faced one of the darkest periods of their history.

  • Over 30,000 Sikh men, women and children were massacred by Ahmed Shah Abdali on February 5, 1862.
  • With the eventual establishment of rule over Punjab by the Sikh Misls (twelve sovereign groups of the Sikh Confederacy), the period from the 1760’s to the early 1800’s represented a time where Sikhs could now begin to  turn their focus from basic survival to reflections on their history. It was during this time period that we find the first Sikh paintings and beautiful illustrated manuscripts with paintings of the Gurus.
  • The Nishan Sahib banners from this era reveal a triangular flag, either a solid color or patterned, often with a border along its edges.
  • During times Sikh Misals, "Nishan Walia" Misal used to provide Sikhs for carrying Nishan Sahib to all the Misals during battles.

Mandated by the Sikh Code of Conduct and Conventions, every Gurdwara is required to fly the Nishan Sahib.