Sikh Sect

Sikh sects, denominations, traditions, movements, sub-traditions, also known as '' sampardai'' (Gurmukhi: ਸੰਪਰਦਾ; ''saparadā'') in the Punjabi language, are sub-traditions within Sikhism that with different approaches to practicing the religion. ''Sampradas'' believe in one God, typically rejecting both idol worship and castes. Different interpretations have emerged over time, some of which have a living teacher as the leader. The major traditions in Sikhism, says Harjot Oberoi, have included Udasi, Nirmala, Nanakpanthi, Khalsa, Sahajdhari, Namdhari Kuka, Nirankari, and Sarvaria.

During the persecution of Sikhs by Mughals, several splinter groups emerged, such as the Minas and Ramraiyas, during the period between the death of Guru Har Krishan and the establishment of Guru Tegh Bahadur as the ninth Sikh Guru. These sects have had considerable differences. Some of these sects were financially and administratively supported by the Mughal Empire in the hopes of gaining a more favorable and compliant citizenry.

In the 19th century, Namdharis and Nirankaris sects were formed in Sikhism, seeking to reform and return the Sikh faith to its "original ideology". They also accepted the concept of living gurus. The Nirankari sect, though unorthodox, was influential in shaping the views of ''Khalsa'' and the contemporary-era Sikh beliefs and practices.Sects in Sikhism
Encyclopedia Britannica Another significant Sikh break-off sect of the 19th century was the Radha Soami movement in Agra led by Shiv Dayal Singh, who relocated it to Punjab. Other contemporary-era Sikhs sects include 3HO led this. See also Dera (organization) (non-Sikh Deras) for more examples of Sikh sects.

Early Sikh sects

These distinguished ways or paths are termed ''sampradaya'' or ''samprada''. In the past, this term has been wrongly misinterpreted or conveyed to the public as 'sects' or 'cults'—terms that incorrectly imply deviation arising from dissent with practiced beliefs. The term ''samprada'' does not mean 'sect' but rather order, as in an order of monks. In this sense, a sampradaya represents one of several mutually complementary orders—each of the major traditional sampardas claims to have begun with the Gurus.

Panj Samparda (Gurmukhi: ਪੰਜ ਸੰਪਰਦਾਵਾਂ; ''pañj sampradāvā̃''; meaning "five sects") is the collective name for the following five early sampradayas in Sikhism.

These include: Nihang Samparda, Udasi Samparda, Nirmala Samparda, Sevapanthi Samparda, and Giani Samparda (Damdami Taksal)

Two Sikh sects in the guruship period who were antipathic to the orthodox lineage of Sikh gurus were the Minas and Hindalis. Both these groups of sectarian Sikhs produced literature promoting their interpretations and views, albeit with the Hindalis producing less literature compared to the Minas. At some point, the Minas took control of the Darbar Sahib complex in Amritsar during the 17th century, with them being a major opponent of the mainstream Sikhs.

Nanakpanthi

A Nanakpanthi is a follower of the teachings of Guru Nanak, the first guru of Sikhism. The community transcends the boundaries of Sikhism and Hinduism and was also a reference to the early Sikh community. Most Sindhi Hindu people are Nanakpanthi, and during the 1881 and 1891 censuses, the community could not decide whether to self-identify as Hindu or Sikh. In 1911, Shahpur District (Punjab) reported 12,539 Hindus (20% of the total Hindu population) identifying themselves as Nanakpanthi, in addition to 9,016 Sikhs (22% of the total Sikh population). The institutional focus of Nanakpanthi social life was around a ''dharamsala'', playing the same role before the 20th century as the Gurdwara has played thereafter under Khalsa dominated period. The beliefs and practices of the Nanakpanthis overlapped with those of Sahajdhari and Udasi Sikhs in pre-20th century period, as evidenced by documents dated to that period. In 1891 Census of British India, which was the first to categorize Sikhs into sects, 579,000 people identified themselves as "Hindu Nanakpanthi" and another 297,000 as "Sikh Nanakpanthi". The other major Sikh categories were ''Sikh Kesdhari'' and ''Gobind Singhi Sikhs'' in this census. Many Muslims also consider themselves as Nanakpanthis.

Udasi

Udasi, derived from the Sanskrit word "Udasin", meaning "detached, journey", reflecting an approach to spiritual and temporal life, is an early sect based on the teachings of Guru Nanak's elder son Sri Chand (1494–1643), who, contrary to his father's emphasis on participation in society, propagated ascetic renunciation and celibacy. Another Sikh tradition links the Udasis to Baba Gurditta, the eldest son of Guru Hargobind, and there is dispute on whether the Udasis originated with Sri Chand or Gurditta. Udasis were some of the first proselytizers of Sikhism.

They maintain their own parallel line of gurus from Guru Nanak, starting from 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 '' devas'' 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 in monistic Vedantic terms. They were initially based mainly in urban centers where they set up their establishments, or ''akharas'', only beginning to spread into rural areas during Sikh rule.

According to 18th-century descriptions, they either cut or matted hair under a turban, rather than a knot 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 (seli topi), a cotton bag, a flower rosary, a vessel made of dried pumpkin, a chain around the waist, ash (vibhuti) to smear on their body, and a deerskin upon which to perform Hatha yoga, resulting in a highly divergent appearance from Khalsa Sikhs in the eighteenth century. 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 ''Akharas'' along with the Nirmala sect of Sikhism. It is important to note that many Udasis actually took Amrit and have become members of the Khalsa.

During the era between the martyrdom of Banda Singh Bahadur in 1716 and the rise of Ranjit Singh and the Sikh Empire, they were among the few sects able to build and manage Gurdwaras and train apprentices; they were scholars in both Sanskrit and Persian. They were respected and patronized through land grants during Sikh rule. With a broad reach due to their syncretic nature between Sikhism and Hinduism, they were able to derive significant acceptance during the era of armed struggle in Punjab, bringing a large number of people into the Sikh fold during the 18th and the early 19th centuries. They greet each other with "Om namo Brahmane," and attribute their origin to the mythic Sanandan Kumar, the son of Brahma. When the Singh Sabha movement, dominated by Reformist Khalsa Sikhs, codified the Sikh identity in the early 20th century, the increasingly corrupt and hereditary Udasi mahants were expelled from the Sikh shrines. After the standardization of Sikh identity after the Singh Sabha movement, the Udasis increasingly regarded themselves as Hindus rather than Sikhs.

Jagiasi

Jagiasi, also known as Jagiasu or Jijnasu (from the Sanskrit word '' jijñāsā'' meaning "desire to know"'')'', was a sister-sect to the Udasis, with the differences being that whilst the Udasi trace their origin to Sri Chand, Guru Nanak's eldest son, the Jagiasu claim to have been founded by Lakhmi Das, the younger son of Guru Nanak. Another difference is while the Udasis follow a lifestyle of celibacy and asceticism, following in the footsteps of their founder, who was a recluse, the Jagiasu on the other hand promote and live the life of a householder, known as ''grist marg''. The sect was prevalent during the period of Baba Gurupat (also known as Bawa Gurpat Saheb), who was a 12th generation descendant of Guru Nanak. Baba Gurupat conducted missionary works in Sindh and founded many Jagiasu ''tikanas'' (seats; a term for a place of worship in many Sikh sects) in the region, specifically in Khairpur, Hyderabad, Halani, and Kandyaro. Whilst they venerate the Guru Granth Sahib, they tend to forgo the Amrit Sanskar baptism ceremony to become initiated Khalsa but a few of them are Khalsas. Furthermore, their beliefs and practices show tinges of religious syncretism with Hinduism. They maintain a close relationship with and similarities to their sibling sect, the Udasis.

Sanwal Shahis

The Sanwal Shahis were a Sikh sect founded by one of the disciples of Guru Nanak. They were found mainly in southwestern Punjab.

Gangushahis

The Gangushahis are a sect that can be traced back to Gangu Shah, also known as Gangu Das, who was a manji preacher assigned by Guru Amar Das to the Shivalik Hills region, being given a seat in the Sirmur region. Over-time, his preaching attracted many followers, with the group growing into their own order. The great-grandson of Gangu, Javahar Singh, consolidated a new sect of Sikhs based on the following of Gangu. The Gangushahis constructed their own shrines at Daun (near Kharar in Ropar district), which had been built under Gangu Shah, and Khatkar Kalan (near Banga in Jalandhar district), which had been constructed under Javahar Singh.

The Gangushahis were ex-communicated by the Khalsa when their incumbent '' gaddi'', Kharak Singh, in circa 1708 (around the time of Guru Gobind Singh's death), said the rest of the Sikhs congregations were "widowed" since no Sodhi was on the gaddi, implicitly implying that he is left to lead the Sikhs as a ''guru''. Furthermore, there are claims he performed miracles. The Gangushahis under Kharak Singh were against the ''khande di pahul'' ceremony, instead advocating for the original ''charan amrit'' initiation ceremony.

Gangushahis still exist today, albeit in small numbers, inhabiting the Shivalik Hills region, particularly in the areas of Jauharsar, Pinjaur, Dagshai, and Nahan. They maintain their own deras, and they do not strictly adhere to mainstream Sikh customs nor ''rehat'' (codes of conduct).

Minas

The Mina sect followed Baba Prithi Chand (1558–1618), the eldest son of Guru Ram Das, after the younger brother Guru Arjan was officially made the next Guru. Called Minas by the orthodox Sikhs, a derogatory term meaning "scoundrels", An alternate non-derogatory term for them has been the ''Miharvan'' Sikhs, after the son of Prithi Chand. This sect was shunned by orthodox Sikhs, declared by Guru Gobind Singh as one of the five ''Panj Mel'' that a Sikh must avoid.

They emerged in a period of religious persecution and inner dispute within the Sikh tradition during the 17th century on the appropriateness of violence and non-violence in the pursuit of religious freedoms and spiritual matters. According to Hardip Syan and Pritam Singh, Miharvans emphasized more of the non-militant approach of Guru Nanak and earlier Gurus in theological pursuits, while the Guru Hargobind followers pursued the " miri piri" approach and began militarizing the Sikh tradition to resist the Mughal persecution. The Minas controlled Amritsar and Harmandir Sahib built under Guru Arjan for much of the 17th-century. After the death of Prithi Chand, his son, Meharban, became the next Mina Guru. After Meharban, his son Harji became the successor. After Hariji, the sect would split into different groups.

The Minas faded in the eighteenth century and are now largely extinct.

Hindalis

A lesser Sikh sect contemporary to the Minas was the obscure Hindalis (Gurmukhi: ਹਿੰਦਾਲੀਏ; ''hidālī'ē''), or ''Niranjanis'' (Gurmukhi: ਨਿਰੰਜਨੀਏ; ''nirajanī'ē''), who followed Bidhi Chand of Jandiala (Gurmukhi: ਜੰਡਿਆਲਾ ਦੇ ਬਿਧੀ ਚੰਦ; distinct from Bidhi Chand Chhina), son of Hindal (Gurmukhi: ਹਿੰਦਾਲ or ਹੰਦਾਲ), a resident of Amritsar who became a Sikh during Guru Amar Das' reign, who would follow his father's path, becoming a chief official at a Sikh temple in the town of Jandiala Guru in Amritsar. He would lose his congregation after marrying a Muslim woman, and so would establish a new ''panth'' in an effort to undermine Guru Hargobind, propagating his father Hindal to be superior to Guru Nanak, who was relegated to being simply a follower of Kabir. They would not impact Sikh society the way the Minas did, leaving little behind besides a ''janamsakhi'' tradition and attempts to link their tradition to Bhai Bala, a Sandhu Jatt, as they were a Jatt-led sect. Despite most Sikh ''panth'' being Jatt, the Hindalis did not draw a large following. The Hindalis, compared to the Minas, produced a modest volume of literary contribution. The competing works of the Minas and Hindalis provide insight into early Sikh society and thought.

Satkatarias

The Satkartarias were a sect founded by Sangat Das in the early 1600s, who was a Julha Khatri that lived during the guruship period of Guru Hargobind. The name of the sect was derived from the phrase ''Sat Kartar'' (literally "True Creator"), which was often uttered and repeated by Bhai Sangtia (a Sodhi from Lahore), who was initiated into the Sikh religion by Guru Arjan in 1593. According to lore, Guru Arjan blessed Bhai Sangtia with the yogic powers of ''ridhia'' and ''sidhia''. Bhai Sangtia gained prestige in the Sikh community after this blessing. There was a belief that anything Bhai Sangtia uttered would come true. Sangat Das was Bhai Sangtia's successor and used his characteristic phrase. Bhai Sangtia chose Sangat Das as his disciple and gave him his ''seli topi'' (traditional cap) to mark him as his successor. Both Bhai Sangtia and Sangat Das were reclusive men, often meditating in isolation for long periods of time, with Sangat Das being more extreme in this regard. Followers of the sect use the phrase for both greeting and meditation. Guru Hargobind had permitted Sangat Das to establish his own dharamsaal at Sri Hargobindpur, near the riverbank of the Beas. Sangat Das was succeeded by his son, Hazaari Das. Hazaari Das was in-turn succeeded by his own son, Harlal Das. The Guru Granth Sahib is kept at the sect's centre at Sri Hargobindpur. Furthermore, the site has in its possession a claimed relic: a suite of armour that Guru Hargobind had apparently given to Sangat Das. The structure was constructed as a four-story building and became known as ''Dharamsala Satkartarian'', which still operates to this day as the sect's headquarters. Another Satkataria centre would be established in Phagwara by Darbari Das, who was the younger brother of Sangat Das. At Mandi, another centre for the sect was established. There used to be a centre for the sect at Batala, but this site was taken over by the SGPC in 1940, yet it is still known as Gurdwara Satkartarian. The Udasis eventually absorbed the Satkatarias and do not survive as an independent group. Writing in 1926, Pundit Ganesha Singh Nirmala, in his work ''Bharat Mat Darpan'' writes that the sadhus of the sect wore deep-red colored or white clothing, but they always wore red-colored turbans. He further notes that all of their practices were like the Udasis, except that they do not mat their hair nor spread ash on their body.

Suthrashahis

Suthrashahis were a sect of Sikhism founded by Suthra Shah (1625-1682), a disciple of Guru Hargobind. Suthra Shah was born into a Nanda Khatri family in what is now Gurdaspur district. The order practiced mendicancy, carrying two wooden sticks they struck together while soliciting alms. In Frans Balthazar Solvyns