Miri Piri

Miri Piri (Gurmukhi: ਮੀਰੀ-ਪੀਰੀ; mīrī pīrī) is a concept[1] that has been practiced in Sikh religion since the seventeenth century.

Miri is believed to have originated from the Perso-Arabic “Amir” or “Emir”, intended to signal political power, while Piri is believed to have originated from the Perso-Arabic “Pir”, meant to signal spiritual power.

[2] The concept of "The Mir and the Pir" (temporal power and spiritual authority) was introduced by the sixth Sikh Guru, Hargobind.

After his father's death, Guru Hargobind introduced the two swords of Miri and Piri symbolizing both worldly (political) and spiritual authority.

This, in combination with the chakram, displays the Sikh concept of Degh Tegh Fateh.

Miri-Piri, the twin Nishan Sahib flags of the Golden Temple complex, Amritsar, Punjab
Detail from a miniature painting of Guru Hargobind with an attendant. The Guru holding a staff in one hand and mala prayer beads in another representz the Sikh concept of miri-piri , with the staff representing temporality and the beads representing spirituality