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Sects of Sikhism
Sikh sects, denominations, traditions, movements, sub-traditions, also known as sampardai (Gurmukhi: ਸੰਪਰਦਾ; saparadā) in the Punjabi language, are sub-traditions within Sikhism 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, according to 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 beliefs". 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. 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 Sikhism, also referred to as Sikh Dharma Brotherhood, formed in 1971 as the Sikh faith in the western hemisphere; Yogi Bhajan led this. See also Dera (organisation) for more examples of Sikh sects.
Some sects of Sikhism are dominanted by gradualist (known as sehajdhari) Sikhs rather than baptized (Khalsa) Sikhs, these sects are namely the Udasis, Sewapanthis, Bandais, Nirmalas, Nanakpanthis, Jagiasi-Abhiasi, and Nirankaris. These sehajdhari Sikh sects may come into conflict with more Khalsa-orientated sects, such as regarding the management of Sikh shrines, due to mutual differences, with differences often being resolved through dialogue.
Some sects originated early-on, such as the sects associated with the Chhota Mel and the Nihangs. As per the Bansavalinama, after the death of Guru Gobind Singh in 1708, four major sects were the Akal Purkhias (associated with the Akal Bunga), the Bandais (associated with the Jhanda Bunga), the followers of Chaubanda, and the Jit Malias. Other sects arose during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, such as the Nirankaris, Namdharis, and contemporary Sant Mat derived movements that are tangentially related to Sikhism, such as the Radhasoamis. In the 20th century, there were movements and organizations such as the Nanaksaris, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sevak Jatha, Sachkhand Nanak Dham, and Sikh Dharam in the Western Hemisphere that arose. Some sects were intellectual traditions which produced literature, such as the Gianis, Udasis, and Nirmalas.
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.
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.
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 categorise 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.
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Sects of Sikhism
Sikh sects, denominations, traditions, movements, sub-traditions, also known as sampardai (Gurmukhi: ਸੰਪਰਦਾ; saparadā) in the Punjabi language, are sub-traditions within Sikhism 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, according to 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 beliefs". 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. 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 Sikhism, also referred to as Sikh Dharma Brotherhood, formed in 1971 as the Sikh faith in the western hemisphere; Yogi Bhajan led this. See also Dera (organisation) for more examples of Sikh sects.
Some sects of Sikhism are dominanted by gradualist (known as sehajdhari) Sikhs rather than baptized (Khalsa) Sikhs, these sects are namely the Udasis, Sewapanthis, Bandais, Nirmalas, Nanakpanthis, Jagiasi-Abhiasi, and Nirankaris. These sehajdhari Sikh sects may come into conflict with more Khalsa-orientated sects, such as regarding the management of Sikh shrines, due to mutual differences, with differences often being resolved through dialogue.
Some sects originated early-on, such as the sects associated with the Chhota Mel and the Nihangs. As per the Bansavalinama, after the death of Guru Gobind Singh in 1708, four major sects were the Akal Purkhias (associated with the Akal Bunga), the Bandais (associated with the Jhanda Bunga), the followers of Chaubanda, and the Jit Malias. Other sects arose during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, such as the Nirankaris, Namdharis, and contemporary Sant Mat derived movements that are tangentially related to Sikhism, such as the Radhasoamis. In the 20th century, there were movements and organizations such as the Nanaksaris, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sevak Jatha, Sachkhand Nanak Dham, and Sikh Dharam in the Western Hemisphere that arose. Some sects were intellectual traditions which produced literature, such as the Gianis, Udasis, and Nirmalas.
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.
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.
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 categorise 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.
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