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Udasi (
Gurmukhi Gurmukhī ( pa, ਗੁਰਮੁਖੀ, , Shahmukhi: ) is an abugida developed from the Laṇḍā scripts, standardized and used by the second Sikh guru, Guru Angad (1504–1552). It is used by Punjabi Sikhs to write the language, commonly ...
: ਉਦਾਸੀ ਸੰਪਰਦਾ; ''udāsī saparadā'') is a religious sect of ascetic '' sadhus'' centred in northern
India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. Becoming custodians of Sikh shrines in the 18th century, they were notable interpreters and spreaders of the
Sikh philosophy 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 ...
during that time. However, their religious practices border on a syncretism of Sikhism and
Hinduism Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...
, including idolatry, and they did not conform to the Khalsa standards as ordained by Guru Gobind Singh. When the Lahore
Singh Sabha The Singh Sabha Movement was a Sikh movement that began in Punjab in the 1870s in reaction to the proselytising activities of Christians, Hindu reform movements (Brahmo Samajis, Arya Samaj) and Muslims (Aligarh movement and Ahmadiyah). The move ...
reformers, dominated by Tat Khalsa Sikhs, would hold them responsible for indulging in ritual practices antithetical to Sikhism, as well as personal vices and corruption, the Udasi mahants were expelled from the Sikh shrines.


Etymology

Udasi is derived from the Sanskrit word ''Udāsīn'', which means one who is indifferent to or disregardful of worldly attachments, a stoic, or a mendicant. The word ''Udasi'' is derived from the Sanskrit word , meaning 'detached, journey', reflecting an approach to spiritual and temporal life, or from ('detachment'), signifying indifference to or renunciation of worldly concerns.


History

According to myth, the sect was established in the
Puranic Purana (; sa, , '; literally meaning "ancient, old"Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature (1995 Edition), Article on Puranas, , page 915) is a vast genre of Indian literature about a wide range of topics, particularly about legends an ...
age but historically-speaking, the sect was founded by and based on the teachings of
Guru Nanak Gurū Nānak (15 April 1469 – 22 September 1539; Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ; pronunciation: , ), also referred to as ('father Nānak'), was the founder of Sikhism and is the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. His birth is celebrated w ...
's elder son
Sri Chand Sri Chand (8 September 1494–13 January 1629, Gurmukhi: ਸ੍ਰੀ ਚੰਦ), also referred to as Baba Sri Chandra or Bhagwan Sri Chandra, was the founder of the Udasi sect of ascetic Sadhus. Early life He was the eldest son of Guru Na ...
(1494–1629, other sources give a death year of 1643). Sri Chand, contrary to his father's emphasis on participation in society, propagated ascetic renunciation and celibacy. Another Sikh tradition links the Udasis to
Baba Gurditta Baba Gurditta (5 November 1613–15 March 1638, Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰਦਿੱਤਾ) was the son of Guru Hargobind (sixth Sikh guru), and the father of Guru Har Rai (seventh Sikh guru) of Sikhism. There is a gurudwara in Kiratpur Sahib, Punjab w ...
, the eldest son of
Guru Hargobind Gurū Hargobind (Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿਗੋਬਿੰਦ, pronunciation: l 19 June 1595 – 28 February 1644), revered as the ''sixth Nānak'', was the sixth of ten Gurus of the Sikh religion. He had become Guru at the young age of e ...
, and there is dispute on whether the Udasis originated with Sri Chand or Gurditta. Another viewpoint is that Sri Chand was the founder of the sect and passed the leadership to Baba Gurditta as his successor.'''' They maintain their own parallel line of gurus from Guru Nanak, followed by Sri Chand, followed by Gurditta. They first came to prominence in the 17th century, and gradually began to manage Sikh shrines and establishments in the 18th century, from where they espoused a model of Sikhism that diverged considerably from that of the Khalsa. They would set up establishments across North India through to Benares, where they would come to be ideologically joined with monastic asceticism. The combination of Hindu gods and the Sikh religious text indicated that the sect evolved over time under many historical influences and conditions, interpreting the message of
Guru Granth Sahib The Guru Granth Sahib ( pa, ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ, ) is the central holy religious scripture of Sikhism, regarded by Sikhs as the final, sovereign and Guru Maneyo Granth, eternal Guru following the lineage of the Sikh gur ...
in monistic
Vedantic ''Vedanta'' (; sa, वेदान्त, ), also ''Uttara Mīmāṃsā'', is one of the six (''āstika'') schools of Hindu philosophy. Literally meaning "end of the Vedas", Vedanta reflects ideas that emerged from, or were aligned with, t ...
terms. They were initially largely based in urban centers where they set up their establishments, or ''akharas'', only beginning to spread into rural areas during Sikh rule; before, they had around a dozen centres; by the end of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's reign, the number had increased to around 250. The Udasis widely propagated its form of Sikh philosophy, and during the 18th and the early 19th centuries, their teachings attracted a large number of people to the Sikh fold. Before the emergence of the
Singh Sabha Movement The Singh Sabha Movement was a Sikh movement that began in Punjab in the 1870s in reaction to the proselytising activities of Christians, Hindu reform movements ( Brahmo Samajis, Arya Samaj) and Muslims (Aligarh movement and Ahmadiyah). The mov ...
in the late 19th century, they controlled important Sikh shrines, including the Harimandir Sahib for a short while. However, during the
Akali movement The Akali movement , also called the Gurdwara Reform Movement, was a campaign to bring reform in the gurdwaras (the Sikh places of worship) in India during the early 1920s. The movement led to the introduction of the Sikh Gurdwara Bill in 1925, w ...
of the 20th century, the Tat Khalsa Sikhs expelled them from the Sikh shrines, accusing them of vices and of indulging in ritual practices that were against the teachings of the Sikh gurus. The Sikh Gurdwara Reform Act, 1925 defined the term "Sikh" in a way that excluded the syncretic groups like Udasis,
Nanakpanthi Nanakpanthi (Gurmukhi: ਨਾਨਕਪੰਥੀ; ''nānakapathī'') is a follower of the teachings of Guru Nanak (1469-1539), the foundational guru of a spiritual community natively known as Nanakpanth while known world-wide as Sikhism. Nanakpan ...
s, and other groups who maintained transitional identities. Subsequently, the Udasis increasingly identified themselves as Hindus rather than Sikhs.


Practices

According to 18th-century descriptions, they either cut or matted their hair under a turban, rather than knot it under a turban like Khalsas, and instead of the Khalsa emphasis on the '' panj kakkar'' garb and sporting arms, their dress code would include items such as a cap, a cotton bag, a flower rosary, a vessel made of dried pumpkin, a chain around the waist, ash to smear on their body, and a deerskin upon which to perform Hatha yoga, resulting in an extremely divergent appearance from Khalsa Sikhs in the eighteenth century. In addition to not consider the Khalsa's
Rehat Maryada The Sikh Rehit Maryada (Punjabi: ; also transcribed as Sikh Reht Maryada or Khalsa Rehat Maryada) is a code of conduct and conventions for Sikhism. The final version of the Rehat Maryada was approved by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee ...
to be binding on them, their modes of thought and attitude towards salvation also differed significantly. The Khalsa believed that salvation could be attained while taking part in society and pursuing secular objectives like political power and accumulation of resources like agrarian land, though this had to be accomplished within a particular framework of beliefs and spiritual practices, chief among which was the societal order and structure of the Khalsa. The Udasis considered secular pursuits to be incompatible with personal salvation, which was to be achieved only through renouncing the world, espousing asceticism and a monastic traveler lifestyle. Udasis are known for their ''
Akhara Akhara or Akhada ( Sanskrit and Hindi: अखाड़ा, shortened to ''khara'' Hindi: खाड़ा) is an Indian word for a place of practice with facilities for boarding, lodging and training, both in the context of Indian martial artist ...
s'' along with the Nirmala sect of Sikhism. The Udasis also worship the panchayatana, the five Hindu deities:
Shiva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
,
Vishnu Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism. Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" withi ...
,
Durga Durga ( sa, दुर्गा, ) is a major Hindu goddess, worshipped as a principal aspect of the mother goddess Mahadevi. She is associated with protection, strength, motherhood, destruction, and wars. Durga's legend centres around c ...
,
Ganesha Ganesha ( sa, गणेश, ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped Deva_(Hinduism), deities in the Hindu deities, Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in Ganapatya sect. His image is ...
, and Surya.


Factions

There are various sub-sects within the Udasis, some of them being: * Almast ''dhūāṅ'' * Phūl ''dhūāṅ'' * Goind (or Gondā) ''dhūāṅ'' * Bālū Husnā ''dhūāṅ'' * Nāngā, followers of this sect remain naked except for a brass chain worn around the waist Note - the word ''dhūāṅ'' means hearth


''Bakhshishāṅ'' sects

After the four ''dhūāṅs'', another sub-sect of Udasis emerged known as ''Bakhshishāṅ.'' There were six prominent groups of this type, them namely being: * ''Bhagat Bhagvanie'' (followers of Bhagat Bhagvan) * ''Suthrashahie'' (followers of Suthrashah) * ''Sangat Sahibie'' (followers of Sangat Sahib) * ''Mihan Shahie'' or ''Mihall Dasie'', so called after ''Mihan'', the title conferred by Guru Tegh Bahadur on Ramdev * ''Bakht Mallie'' (followers of Bakht Mall) * ''Jit Mallie'' (followers of Jit Mall)


Akhara locations

Traditionally, there were four Udasi centres (''
akhara Akhara or Akhada ( Sanskrit and Hindi: अखाड़ा, shortened to ''khara'' Hindi: खाड़ा) is an Indian word for a place of practice with facilities for boarding, lodging and training, both in the context of Indian martial artist ...
s'' or ''dhuans'') with each controlling a certain preaching area;
Nanakmatta Nanakmatta is a historical town named after the Sikh pilgrimage site, Gurdwara Nanak Mata Sahib, in the state of Uttarakhand in India. Sikh tradition records that the site was once called Gorakhmata, a centre of Siddh-jogis named after the fou ...
, Kashmir,
Malwa (Punjab) Malwa is a geographical region in the south of Punjab state in India. It is located between Haryana, Rajasthan, Sutlej and Ghaggar rivers. Districts of Malwa The following districts are classified as Malwa: * Barnala * Bathinda * Fa ...
and
Doaba Doaba also known as Bist Doab, is the region of Punjab, India that lies between the Beas River and the Sutlej River. People of this region are given the demonym "Doabia". The dialect of Punjabi spoken in Doaba is called "Doabi". Th ...
. There is an Udasi
gurudwara A gurdwara (sometimes written as gurudwara) (Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ''guradu'ārā'', meaning "Door to the Guru") is a place of assembly and worship for Sikhs. Sikhs also refer to gurdwaras as ''Gurdwara Sahib''. People from all faiths ...
(temple) in Amritsar, near the Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple). Today's Udasi are predominantly located in northwestern India especially around
Punjab Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising a ...
Haryana Haryana (; ) is an Indian state located in the northern part of the country. It was carved out of the former state of East Punjab on 1 Nov 1966 on a linguistic basis. It is ranked 21st in terms of area, with less than 1.4% () of India's land a ...
,
Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...
and cities like Haridwar and
New Delhi New Delhi (, , ''Naī Dillī'') is the capital of India and a part of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the government of India, hosting the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament Ho ...
; they are divided into three major groups: * Niya (New) Udasi Panchayati Akarda * Bara (Big) Udasi Panchayati Akarda * Nirmal Udasi Panachayati Akarda


Leaders

*
Sri Chand Sri Chand (8 September 1494–13 January 1629, Gurmukhi: ਸ੍ਰੀ ਚੰਦ), also referred to as Baba Sri Chandra or Bhagwan Sri Chandra, was the founder of the Udasi sect of ascetic Sadhus. Early life He was the eldest son of Guru Na ...
(1494–1629) *
Baba Gurditta Baba Gurditta (5 November 1613–15 March 1638, Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰਦਿੱਤਾ) was the son of Guru Hargobind (sixth Sikh guru), and the father of Guru Har Rai (seventh Sikh guru) of Sikhism. There is a gurudwara in Kiratpur Sahib, Punjab w ...
(1613–1638) * Almast, Phūl, Goind (or Gondā) and Bālū Husnā (four head preachers appointed by Baba Gurditta for four new monastic seats)


See also

*
Dhanadeva __NOTOC__ Ayodhya Inscription of Dhana is a stone inscription related to a Hindu Deva king named Dhana or Dhana–deva of the 1st-century BCE or 1st century CE. He ruled from the city of Ayodhya, Kosala, in India. His name is found in ancient coi ...
– an ancient inscription found in an Udasi shrine *
Sects of Sikhism Sub-traditions, also known as '' Samparda'' (Gurmukhi: ਸੰਪਰਦਾ; ''saparadā'') in the Punjabi language, are sub-traditions within Sikhism that believe in different approaches to practicing the religion. While all sampradas believe in ...
&
Hinduism Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...
* Sadh Belo


References


External links


Udasis
{{Sikhism Sikh groups and sects Asceticism