Sikh state

There was a prevailing Sikh belief in the mid-16th century that Guru Nanak was the master of both spirituality and temporality (din and dunia) but that he allowed Babur to have stewardship over political affairs.

[3] The bards Satta Doom and Balvand Rai state the following in the Guru Granth Sahib regarding Guru Nanak establishing a raj (governance or rule):[4] Nanak established the Dominion by raisingthe fort of Truth on firm foundations …With might and bravery of One’s wisdom-sword,Perfection bestowed the gift of life …The Light and the method were same,the Sovereign only changed the body.Impeccable Divine canopy waves,the Throne of Guru-ship is occupied.The Sikh concept of miri-piri emphasizes that spirituality and temporality are intrinsically linked to one another, legitimizing Sikh aims to establish their own sovereignty.

[4] Guru Gobind Singh taught the principles of Raj Karega Khalsa as forming the basis for Sikh-rule.

(60)When a hundred and twenty-five thousand guns will discharge,Then the Khalsa will be victorious from wherever the sun shines and sets.

[5] The first Sikh polity, albeit a short-lived one, was founded by Banda Singh Bahadur in 1710, after his forces captured Sirhind and issued silver rupee coinage from the Mukhlisgarh Fort based at the Shivalik range.

[6] Between the period of 1726–1733, Zakaria Khan, the Mughal viceroy of Lahore province, enacted a genocidal policy against the Sikhs.

[7] Thus, the former anti-Sikh genocidal policies of the Mughals was put in-place again and the Sikhs once again had to disperse to places of safe haven, such as the Lakhi Jungle.

[7] With the invasion of India by Nadir Shah between January–May 1739 and the total destruction of the Mughal administration in the Punjab as a result, the Sikhs saw an opportunity for themselves and pillaged and sought revenge on their enemies.

[14] A breakthrough was achieved when the Sikhs successfully took-over Delhi in the early 1780's, which allowed them to construct gurdwaras in the area.

[14] Whilst in main areas during the Mughal-period the zabt method was predominant, during Sikh-rule it was the ghallabakhshi and kankut that were dominant.

[14] However, the most dominant systems of assessment and collection during Sikh-rule were the batai and kankut, however the zabt method was employed in some areas.

[14] A key difference however was the proportion of revenue alienated by the way of jagir was much smaller during Sikh-rule in-comparison to Mughal-rule.