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Tat Khalsa and Schisms of Sikhi: a Look Into Early Rahitnamas and Heretics

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Tat Khalsa and Schisms of Sikhi: a Look Into Early Rahitnamas and Heretics Tat Khalsa and Schisms of Sikhi: A look into early Rahitnamas and Heretics BY Raminderjit Singh Sekhon And Dr. Amarjit Singh Early Rahatnamas The early Sikh Rahatnamas (Code of conduct) by Chaupa Singh, Bhai Nand Lal Singh, Bhai Prahilad Singh, Bhai Daya Singh, and Bhai Desa Singh, were essential sources of Khalsa beliefs and practices for the early eighteenth century Sikhs. Recent scholarship has taken an academic position by concocting ‘Sanatan Sikh tradition’ that Khalsa Code of Conduct was a creation of Singh Sabha Movement of late nineteenth and early twentieth century. According to these scholars Sikhs used to believe in Brahmanical rituals, worshiped Hindu God and Godesses, Gugga, and Sakhi Sarwar, and other rituals related to folk religions and that such practices existed even during the Guru period. Early Rahatnamas and Tankhahnamas Analyzing the early Rahatnamas literature clearly and defiantly negates such inaccurate and imprecise inference. Additionally the Tankhahnama (Religious punishment decree) by Bhai Nand lal ji declares that, “who so ever sings the compositions of other than the Gurus is liable for tankhah (Religious punishment). Historical evidences, when examined through Rahatnamas and Tankhahnanmas conclusively indicate that Sanatani Sikhi never existed as propounded by these scholars. On the contrary the elitist Sikhs, Udasis, and Nirmalas, who sought fame and fortune by deviating from the true Sikhi for personal gains and were in a nominal strength, propagated Sikhi in a Sanatani tradition. Definitions: Khalsa: Who believes in one Guru Granth Sahib, One Panth, and One Maryada. Does not deviate from the teachings of the ten Gurus and Khande Ki Phaul. Heretics: a professed believer who maintains religious opinions contrary to those accepted by his or her church or rejects doctrines prescribed by that church. Schism: Formal division in or separation from a church or religious body Apocryphal: Of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true. Sachi Bani The Heretics: Udasis Baba Sri Chand (1494 - 1629) was Elder son of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. His religious beliefs of asceticism and celibacy was against the Sikh philosophy. When he lost the Guru-ship to Guru Angad Dev ji, he started his own Gurgadhi with a new sect as Udasi. and He started preaching Guru Nanak’s bani in his own way and started composing apocryphal hymns. Later Guru Amardas responded to differentiate the Dhur ki bani from kachi bani. Before leaving this world he appointed Baba Gurdita as his successor. Kachi Bani written by various Udasi’s are like Ratanmala and Jugawali. Udasis theology is based on Sanatan Dharm and is a main sampardha of Hindu tradition. Udasis Guru Period Post Guru Period Baba Gurdita After the execution of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur ,Sikhs went through hardships and Four Dhunia (Baba Gurdita lived in jungles, and fought guerrilla wars. appointed four head preachers) Bala Hasna, Al Must, Phul Shah, Gobind Sahab Udasis took control of Sikh Gurudwaras. Six Bukshishs Besides Guru Granth Sahib they installed Suthere Shah, Sangat Sahibiaye, Hindu idols and performed Hindu havans in Jeet Maliaye , Bakhat Maliaye, Gurdwaras, which continued during the Bhagat Bhugwaniaye, Meenhan Khalsa Raj and Sikh PEPSU states. Shiaye Ten mini Bukshishs Udasis were granted jagirs and use to get Manak Chand and Mehar Chand, Sodhi Dheermal, Niranjan Rai, 200,000 rupees yearly grant from Patiala, Dewana Sahib, Ghaniya Sahib, Nabha and Jind states. These states were Sewa Das, Ram Dasiaye (Budha), helped Udasi theology to rule efficiently to Jagiasi Ram Nirbaan, Ram Rai, Thaan Das please their their Brahminical ministers and Hindu Prja Udasis Nankana Sahib Saka (1921) Mahant Narayan Das a udasi controlled Nankana Sahib, birth place of Guru Nanak Dev ji .He was a shrewd politician with a backing of jagirdar and British government and had his own Muslim ruffians. He held mujras at Nankana Sahib. Akali movement sent a peaceful jatha to liberate Nankana Sahib but Narayan Das with help of his accomplices and government massacred over 150 Sikhs. Later the Sikhs fought against the evil Udasi mahants and vacated all Gurudwaras. From then on SGPC was formed and Sikh maryada was restored severing all relationship of Sikhs with Udasis for ever. However, recently there is again an emergence of two Udasi Deras: Dera Gobind Murali (Established by Baba Virsa Singh near Delhi) It is an anti-Sikh political Dera and has close relationship with government agencies. Sikh Dharma (Established by Harbhajan Yogi, based in New Mexico,USA). An Udasi sect of Hath Yoga (Khundalini Yoga performerss) Hindu Rituals such as Havans and ideal worship is commonly conducted at the center. Hindali (Niranjunia) Bhai Hindal of jandiala Guru was once a manjidar of Guru Amardas Ji. Hindali Later he started his own gurudom at Jandiala. Bidhi Chand (Parchi Bhai Hindal)Hindal’s successor was Bidhi Chand and use to preach that Baba Hindal is much higher than Guru Nanak. He compiled his own bani on the pen name of Guru Nanak.He played a vital role in distorting Sikh tradition. Parchi Baba Hindal was his main composition and used raag gujri, suhi and ram kali. Hari Bhagat (Aqil Das 1761) (Post Guru Period) Hari Bhagat informed the Mughals, which led to the martyrdom of Bhai Taru Singh Ji (1720-1745) and later became the informer for Ahmad Shaw Abdali who was responsible for the 2nd genocide of Sikhs Kup Kalan near Malerkotla Punjab. Baba Mohan or Bhalla tradition: Goindwal Pothi Another rival tradition which competed with Bhallla Tradition the Sikh tradition. When Guru Amar Das Ji gave Guru-ship to Guru Ram Das Ji Baba Mohan lost his mental balance and started a parallel Guru-ship at Goindwal. He started writing apocryphal compositions to attract Sikhs to his camp. Rivals cherished an Ernest desire to succeed Guru-ship, cast envious eyes on spiritual wealth: the Bani of the Sikh Gurus. Goindwal Pothi (Pinjor and Aiyapur Wali Pothi): At present is in possession of Bhalla family and has apocryphal writing of Gulam Sada Sewak, Shah Shiraf, bhagat bani (Maske sheikh fareed ji ke). It’s ragas, tunes, mul mantar, arrangement of hymns and scribing period tells us it came from Bhalla rival tradition of kachi bani. Minas Prithi Chand: When he did not receive the Guru-ship started a parallel tradition to Sikhism by establishing a Dera at Village Heran near Lahore. He conspired along with Chandu to murder Guru Arjan Dev Ji and later attempted several times to kill Guru Hargobind Ji. Minas were philosophically similar to Udasis. Miharban (1582 – 1640): Was a prolific writer and scribed many folios; Pothi Such Khand, Sukhmani Sahansarnama, Var Piran Ki, Gost Kabir Gio Ki, and Gostan Bhagtan Kian Harji: Wrote Miharban Janam Sakhi attempted to further the mission of Guru Nanak Dev ji but with a clear distinction to corrupt the orthodox Sikhism. Chatur Bhuj, Kamal Nain, Har Nand, Abhai Ram, Darbari Lal (1723/24 – 1806) Scribed Harjas Pothi Dakkhani Rai (died1815) was a 6th generation descendent of Prithi Chand (mina) founded a Udasi sect at Gharachon dist., Sangrur granted by the ruler of Patiala. Minas controlled Darbar Sahib for 57 years (1639 -1696) and installed their own pothis (folios) as scriptures and performed Hindu rituals in Gurudwaras Minas Minas believed in Hindu Avtars, Hindu Tradition along with respect to Guru Nanak Dev ji. They always tried to authenticate their tradition by using the name of Nanak at the end of their discourses, written or oral, to confuse the Sikh masses. Politically Guru Nanak Dev ji mentioned Babar as Jabar in his Bani, on the contrary Miharban called him as Mard Ka Beta and instigated Mughals against Nankias. After the Guru period fearing the Khalsa Panth, they moved out of Majha to the forests of Malwa. When Sikhs attained power, they were confined to two villages: Veron Ke near Moga and Gharncho near Patiala. Modern scholars, for reasons unknown, are studying their manuscripts; MS 1245, MS 1003, Vanjara Pothi, Har Sahai Pothis, and floating them as orthodox writings of Sikh Gurus. These folios are readily available because of State support, since it is against the Khalsa Panth, and accessible due to proliferation of Schisms and Heretical traditions in Punjab. Mina Literature Heretics Dhir Mal (1627 – 1677): Declared himself Guru after the eight Guru Harkrisan ji. Since Guru Hargobind left Kartarpur, he took possession of Adi Granth (Kartarpuri Bir). He conspired with Shian Masand to attach Guru Teg Bahadur Ji and was friend of Heretic Ram Rai.He set himself as Guru at Kartarpur and appointed his own masands.He conspired with one of his masand Shihan ,who one day fired at Guru Tegh Bahadhar,but missed the target.His men attacked the Guru house and ransacked it,took old volume of the Holy Book of Granth Sahib.His descendants still in possession of the original copy of Adi Granth prepared under the direction of Guru Arjan Dev ji. Ram Rai (1646 -1687). He was son of Guru Har Rai Ji. Declared himself eight Guru and was very friendly with Aurangzeb. He established his Dera in Dehradun and later joined Udasi sect. Sat Kartarias (believed in Udasi rituals and practices)Contemporary of Guru Har Gobind Ji. Founder was Sangat Das and followed by Darbari Das.Their main head quarter was at Mandi in Himachal. Gangu Shahias (Ganga Das was the founder and was excommunicated by Guru Gobind Singh because they performed miracles and black magic but are still active in Pinjor, Dagshai, and Nahan in Himachal Pradesh. Miean Shahias (Contemporary to eighth, ninth, and tenth Guru and his real name was Ram Dev. Currently they have a Dera in Sadhu Bela Patiala. Nirmalas Kachi Sakhi Ributtal to Kachi Sakhi When Guru Gobind Singh Ji left Paunta City Why would Guru Gobind Singh send Sikhs to and reached Anadpur Sahib to establish learn Sanskrit, when Guru Granth Sahib was Khalsa, Paunta Sahi went under the control written in Gurmukhi and had second most of Hindu pahari Rajas.
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