THE NAMDHARIS Not all Sikhs share the same

  • Slides: 7
Download presentation
THE NAMDHARIS

THE NAMDHARIS

 • Not all Sikhs share the same beliefs and practices • Some do

• Not all Sikhs share the same beliefs and practices • Some do not attribute Guru status to Adi Granth, continue tradition of living Gurus – Namdharis • Namdhari: “one who has the Name of God imbued in the heart” • Punjabi community • Viewed as heretics by many • Indian Independence • Also known as ‘Kukas’ “to shriek” – in lament of Guru Ram Singh

 • Membership from number of castes – majority from ramgharia, then jats and

• Membership from number of castes – majority from ramgharia, then jats and aroras • Inter-caste marriages, especially between ramgharias and jats take place • Deny that Guru Gobind Singh uttered “Guru Maniyo Granth”, • Guru Gobind Singh did not die at Nander in 1708 CE • Explicitly on par their Gurus with ten Sikh Gurus of mainstream Panth, therefore 11 th, 12 th Sikh Gurus, etc

 • Guru Gobind Singh died in 1812, living his later life as Ajapal

• Guru Gobind Singh died in 1812, living his later life as Ajapal Singh – merely acting out his death: WHY? • Those who sought him would find him – there for “true” believers • Before his death in 1812 chose an arora – Balak Singh – 11 th Guru, not Adi Granth • No hint or glimpse in Sikh literature to say “Guru Maniyo Granth” • Balak Singh interim Guru between Guru Gobind Singh and Guru Ram Singh, Guru Gobind Singh reborn as Guru Ram Singh • Important Guru of the Namdharis is the 12 th – Guru Ram Singh – most important of all the Namdhari Gurus (contradiction of divine light/wholeness? ) • Both Balak Singh and Ram Singh watched very closely by British authorities in India at the time

 • Ram Singh’s younger brother Hari Singh took over as ‘deputy Guru’ •

• Ram Singh’s younger brother Hari Singh took over as ‘deputy Guru’ • not 13 th, 14 th, 15 th Gurus for Namdharis, but rather “deputy” Gurus, looking after until return of Guru Ram Singh • Namdhari Sakhis “prophecies” that Guru Ram Singh will live until 250 years old • Hari Singh’s, son Partap Singh became the next Guru (14 th) • His son, Jagjit Singh became next Guru of Namdharis (15 th) – current Guru

Guru Jagjit Singh – current Guru of the Namdharis

Guru Jagjit Singh – current Guru of the Namdharis

Guru Ram Singh – Namdharis lament in his return

Guru Ram Singh – Namdharis lament in his return