Panth (also panthan, meaning "path" in Sanskrit) is the term used for several religious traditions in India. A panth is founded by a
guru
Guru ( sa, गुरु, IAST: ''guru;'' Pali'': garu'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverentia ...
or an
acharya
In Indian religions and society, an ''acharya'' (Sanskrit: आचार्य, IAST: ; Pali: ''ācariya'') is a preceptor and expert instructor in matters such as religion, or any other subject. An acharya is a highly learned person with a tit ...
, and is often led by scholars or senior practitioners of the tradition.
Some of the major panths in India are:
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Khalsa Panth
Khalsa ( pa, ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ, , ) refers to both a community that considers Sikhism as its faith,[Kha ...]
(
Sikhism
Sikhism (), also known as Sikhi ( pa, ਸਿੱਖੀ ', , from pa, ਸਿੱਖ, lit=disciple', 'seeker', or 'learner, translit=Sikh, label=none),''Sikhism'' (commonly known as ''Sikhī'') originated from the word ''Sikh'', which comes fro ...
)
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Sahaja Panth (Universal)
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Kabir Panth
Kabir Panth (Path of Kabir) is a Sant Mat denomination and philosophy based on the teachings of Kabir. It is based on devotion to him as one guru as a means to salvation. Its adherents are from many religious backgrounds as Kabir never advocated ...
(Part of the Sahaja)
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Dadu Panth (Part of the Sahaja)
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Tera Panth (Jain)
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Satnampanth
Satnampanth, also called Satnami Samaj, Satnami movement, or Sadhanpanth, This sect is thought to be an offshoot of the Ravidassia sect (sampradaya) founded by Bir Bhan (1543-1620 AD), of Narnaul district. His guru was Udhodas, the pupil of Sain ...
(
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
)
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Nath Panth (Hindu)
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Varkari Panth (Hindu)
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Sat Panth (
Shia
Shīʿa Islam or Shīʿīsm is the second-largest Islamic schools and branches, branch of Islam. It holds that the Prophets and messengers in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad in Islam, Muhammad designated Ali, ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib as his S ...
,
Islamic
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God (or '' Allah'') as it was revealed to Muhammad, the mai ...
)
# Rasul Panth (Islamic)
# Pagal Panth (Islamic)
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Ravidas Panth
Ravidassia or the Ravidas Panth is an Indian religion based on the teachings of Ravidass, who is revered as a satguru.
Historically, Ravidassia represented a range of beliefs in the Indian subcontinent, with some devotees of Ravidass counting the ...
(Sikh)
References
* Kabir and the Kabir Panth by G. H. Wescott, South Asia Books; (July 1, 1986)
* The Bijak of Kabir by Linda Hess and Shukdev Singh, Oxford University Press, 2002
* One Hundred Poems of Kabir: Translated by Rabindranath Tagore. Assisted by Evelin Underhill, Adamant Media Corporation, 2005
* Crossing the Threshold: Understanding Religious Identities in South Asia by Dominique Sila-Khan, I. B. Tauris in Association with the Institute of Ismaili Studies; (November 4, 2004)
Indian religions
Sanskrit words and phrases