Sanatan Sikh

While the Khalsa was gaining political power in the 18th century, a large number of Sehajdharis began joining its ranks from around the mid-18th century onwards. According to Oberoi, the interpretation "deeply transformed Sikh thinking and practices." Under its auspices, Hindu priests publicly worshipped idols and images in the Golden Temple precincts, and it was considered legitimate to worship living Gurus, descendants of Sikh gurus and other prominent ancestries who had "inherited their charisma." For these groups the principle of authority of Sikh tradition was invested in living gurus (as Khem Singh Bedi, their leader, liked to be regarded) rather than the principle of shabad guru, or the Guru Granth Sahib as the Guru, which was upheld by the dominant Khalsa tradition. Amid factional rivalry, the influence of the dominant Tat Khalsa ("true Khalsa"), due to the support of the Sikh masses, resulted in the decline of this socioreligious faction. == See also ==