THE NAMDHARI

S

• 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 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 11th, 12th Sikh Gurus, etc

• 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 – 11th 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 12th – 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’

• not 13th, 14th, 15th 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 (14th)

• His son, Jagjit Singh became next Guru of Namdharis (15th) – current Guru

Guru Jagjit Singh – current Guru of the Namdharis

Guru Ram Singh – Namdharis lament in his return