Udasi
Encyclopedia
Udasi is a religious
, ascetic sadhu
sect
of Sikhism
focused on the teachings of its founder, Sri Chand (1494-1643), son of Guru Nanak Dev
, the founder and the first Guru
of Sikhism
.
Guru Hargobind sent his oldest son Baba Gurditta
(father of Guru Har Rai
) to be a disciple of Sri Chand. Baba Gurditta
led Udasis on missions outside of the Punjab region
to propagate Sikhism.
. Accordingly, not all Udasi males have beards and long hair, as other Sikhs, belonging to the Khalsa
, do. Udasi mahant
s have maintained accurate records of the chain of succession from Sri Chand.
Udasi scholars like Anand Ghan have written commentaries on portions of the Sikh scripture
, along with Janamsakhis
and gur-bilas works.
During the 18th century, Udasis escaped persecution by the Mughal Empire
, as they look different from Khalsa Sikh and Akalis, in whose absence they took care of Sikh places of worship and kept the teachings of Sikhism alive. This responsibility was with them for more than a century, and at one point in history (approximately 1849), there were more than 250 Udasi akhara
s in India.
During the Gurdwara Reform Movement of the early 1920s, Udasis lost control of all the historical shrines. There are presently far fewer Udasis than there were prior to the Gurudwara Reform Movement.
Traditionally, there were four Udasi centres (akharas or dhuans) with each controlling a certain preaching area; eastern India (main centre, Nanakmatta), western Panjab and Kashmir
, Malwa (Punjab)
and Doaba
. There is an Udasi gurudwara (temple) in Amritsar
, near the Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple).
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
, ascetic sadhu
Sadhu
In Hinduism, sādhu denotes an ascetic, wandering monk. Although the vast majority of sādhus are yogīs, not all yogīs are sādhus. The sādhu is solely dedicated to achieving mokṣa , the fourth and final aśrama , through meditation and contemplation of brahman...
sect
Sect
A sect is a group with distinctive religious, political or philosophical beliefs. Although in past it was mostly used to refer to religious groups, it has since expanded and in modern culture can refer to any organization that breaks away from a larger one to follow a different set of rules and...
of Sikhism
Sikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...
focused on the teachings of its founder, Sri Chand (1494-1643), son of Guru Nanak Dev
Guru Nanak Dev
Guru Nanak was the founder of the religion of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. The Sikhs believe that all subsequent Gurus possessed Guru Nanak’s divinity and religious authority, and were named "Nanak" in the line of succession.-Early life:Guru Nanak was born on 15 April 1469, now...
, the founder and the first Guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
of Sikhism
Sikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...
.
Guru Hargobind sent his oldest son Baba Gurditta
Baba Gurditta
Baba Gurditta was the son of Guru Hargobind and the father of Guru Har Rai of Sikhism. There is a gurudwara in Anandpur Sahib, Punjab which is in remembrance of Baba Gurditta.-See also:*Udasi...
(father of Guru Har Rai
Guru Har Rai
Guru Har Rai was the seventh of ten living Gurus of the Sikhs who became Guru on 8 March 1644 following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Guru Har Gobind, who was the sixth guru. Before he died, he nominated five year old Har Krishan, his youngest son as the next Guru of the Sikhs...
) to be a disciple of Sri Chand. Baba Gurditta
Baba Gurditta
Baba Gurditta was the son of Guru Hargobind and the father of Guru Har Rai of Sikhism. There is a gurudwara in Anandpur Sahib, Punjab which is in remembrance of Baba Gurditta.-See also:*Udasi...
led Udasis on missions outside of the Punjab region
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
to propagate Sikhism.
Overview
Udasi, comes from the root word udas which means detachment or renunciation. Unlike the Khalsa sect, they do not prohibit shaving or cutting one's hairKesh (Sikhism)
In Sikhism, Kesh is the practice of allowing one's hair to grow naturally as a symbol of respect for the perfection of God's creation. The practice is one of the Five Ks, the outward symbols ordered by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 as a means to profess the Sikh faith...
. Accordingly, not all Udasi males have beards and long hair, as other Sikhs, belonging to the Khalsa
Khalsa
+YouWebImagesVideosMapsNewsMailMoreTranslateFrom: ArabicTo: EnglishEnglishHindiEnglishAllow phonetic typingHindiEnglishArabicAssumptionGoogle Translate for Business:Translator ToolkitWebsite TranslatorGlobal Market Finder...
, do. Udasi mahant
Mahant
A mahant is a religious superior, in particular the chief priest of a temple or the head of a monastery. The Hindi word mahant is from Prakrit mahanta-, from Sanskrit mahat "great". The priest, pundit, gyani, or pastor of any well-known religious place would be a mahant...
s have maintained accurate records of the chain of succession from Sri Chand.
Udasi scholars like Anand Ghan have written commentaries on portions of the Sikh scripture
Guru Granth Sahib
Sri Guru Granth Sahib , or Adi Granth, is the religious text of Sikhism. It is the final and eternal guru of the Sikhs. It is a voluminous text of 1430 angs, compiled and composed during the period of Sikh gurus, from 1469 to 1708...
, along with Janamsakhis
Janamsakhis
The Janamsakhis , literally birth stories, are writings which profess to be biographies of the first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak. These compositions have been written at various stages after the death of the first guru.-Overview:...
and gur-bilas works.
During the 18th century, Udasis escaped persecution by the Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
, as they look different from Khalsa Sikh and Akalis, in whose absence they took care of Sikh places of worship and kept the teachings of Sikhism alive. This responsibility was with them for more than a century, and at one point in history (approximately 1849), there were more than 250 Udasi akhara
Akhara
In Hinduism, Akhara is an organization of the different sects of Sadhus Vairaghis yogis or Hindu Renunciates....
s in India.
During the Gurdwara Reform Movement of the early 1920s, Udasis lost control of all the historical shrines. There are presently far fewer Udasis than there were prior to the Gurudwara Reform Movement.
Traditionally, there were four Udasi centres (akharas or dhuans) with each controlling a certain preaching area; eastern India (main centre, Nanakmatta), western Panjab and Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
, Malwa (Punjab)
Malwa (Punjab)
Malwa is a region of Punjab and parts of Haryana between the Sutlej and Yamuna rivers. This Malwa should not be confused with the Malwa Plateau region of Madhya Pradesh, Central India...
and Doaba
Doaba
Doaba is the region of Indian Punjab surrounded by the rivers Beas and Sutlej. The name "Doaba" literally translates to "land of two rivers" . It is one of the most fertile regions of the world, and was the centre of the Green Revolution in India.Scheduled castes form more than 35% of the...
. There is an Udasi gurudwara (temple) in Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
, near the Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple).