Namdhari Sikhs: beliefs, maryada and history

Namdhari Sikh maryada: basic tenets

Article by Principal Beant Kaur

The Sikhs in Punjab had miserably deviated from the principles of Sikhism framed by Satguru Gobind Singh Ji. The original tenets were being twisted by the Sikhs to suit their requirements. The Gurdwaras were also under the control of selfish priests who were more bothered about their own bread and butter than about propagating the Sikh religion.

Satguru Ram Singh Ji therefore decided to send his disciple Bhai Rai Singh to Hazoor Sahib in Nanded to note down the religious customs and daily routine being followed there.

Bhai Rai Singh remained there for three and a half months and brought back the maryada, which was then promulgated by Satguru Ram Singh Ji amongst the Namdhari Sikhs. He re-established and re-inaugurated the Khalsa Panth on the lines (maryada) of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

Satguru Ram Singh Ji prescribed the following code of conduct for his disciples:

The highest purpose of human life is to realise Almighty God and attain salvation. This is possible only after being blessed by the living Guru and His Naam: Gurmantar.
Piety, and not power, will rule in the present age.
Do not believe in idol worship.
Rise three and three-quarter hours before dawn and bathe from head to heel.
Meditate on God's name (Naam Simran) and recite Gurbani.
Learn by heart at least Japji Sahib, Jaap Sahib, Shabad Hazare, Rehras and Arti Sohila.
Perform Havan on all auspicious occasions.
Recite Chandi di Var daily before sunrise.
Have full trust in God and in the Satguru as the embodiment of God.
Learn Punjabi in the Gurmukhi script, and keep to your mother tongue and your own culture.
Wear white clothes: a kurta, churidar pyjama and white turban.
Wear a rosary (mala) made of wool, and always keep an aasan (a piece of clean cloth to sit upon), wooden sandals and a garwa (round iron vessel).
Be a pure vegetarian and teetotaller. Eating any type of meat or egg, and the use of any type of alcohol, is strictly prohibited.
Do not use tobacco in any form.
Do not tell lies; speak the truth.
Believe in simple living and high thinking.
Do not steal or commit adultery.
Do not accept food, clothing or anything else from a person who has not taken Gurmantar and does not follow the Sikh tenets.
Treat the women of others as your own daughters and sisters.
Not repaying a loan is a sin greater than theft or robbery.
Generosity and charity should be the essence of one's life.
Providing food to the hungry and clothes to the naked is a great service to the Almighty.
Give the highest reverence to the Gurbani of Sri Adi Granth Sahib and Sri Dasam Granth Sahib. Treat the scriptures as the Eternal Truth: do not only worship them, but follow their teachings.
Always utter the name of God. Deep meditation (Naam Simran) should be practised daily for at least two and a half hours.

The Namdhari Sikhs followed the instructions of the Guru in the true sense of the term. They achieved the heights of spirituality and morality by meditating on God's name (Naam Simran), reciting Gurbani and through the blessing of the Guru. People in lakhs started pouring into Sri Bhaini Sahib and became true followers of Satguru Ji.

Satguru Ram Singh Ji visited different places in Punjab to bless the people with Naam. Whoever had a glimpse of Him was drawn by His charming personality.

Namdhari Sikhs as perceived by Dr W. H. McLeod

From "Sikhism" by Dr W. H. McLeod

Namdhari Sikhs are easily recognised by their practice of wearing white homespun clothing and by their method of tying the turban horizontally across the forehead. Around their necks they wear a white woollen cord (mala), woven as a series of 108 knots and serving as a rosary. Their distinctive rituals include the fire ceremony (Havan) and the practice of circumambulating a fire during the course of their wedding ceremony.

The orthodox belief that the line of personal Gurus ended with the death of Guru Gobind Singh is denied by the Namdhari Sikhs. They insist that the tenth Guru lived for many years after 1708, eventually bestowing the succession on (Guru) Balak Singh of Hazro.

The Namdhari Sikhs are strict vegetarians and vigorous protectors of the cow. They attach equal importance to the Adi Granth and Dasam Granth, and they include the Dasam Granth composition Chandi di Var in their daily Nitnem.

The Namdhari Sikhs meanwhile developed a rural base in eastern Central Punjab, an outward appearance which clearly distinguishes them from the orthodox, a distinctive ritual, and a belief concerning the succession of Gurus which the others vehemently reject. Their loyalty to Khalsa traditions as they understand them is, however, altogether too obvious to be ignored, and only the strictly orthodox would be prepared to place them outside the circle of Sikhs. Faced by their devotion, the Tat Khalsa in general and Principal Teja Singh in particular concluded that even if they were astray on one vital point they were at least potentially aligned with the Panth…

…and does little else to dispute the claims of the Namdharis to be regarded as Sikhs.