Udasi

Udasi and Udasin is derived from the Sanskrit word Udāsīn, which means one who is indifferent to or disregardful of worldly attachments, a stoic, or a mendicant. meaning 'detached, journey', reflecting an approach to spiritual and temporal life, The word udas, meaning renunciation, came to be applied as a general label for the renunciates, the Udasis. The term udasi is also used to describe the four travel-tours of Guru Nanak. == History ==

Origin According to their traditional origin narrative, the sect was established in the Puranic age, tracing back to the four Kumaras who were bestowed with divine knowledge (divya jnana) by Vishnu, Sri Chand, contrary to his father's emphasis on participation in society, propagated ascetic renunciation and celibacy.'' Sri Chand had a traditional upbringing. He underwent the yajnopavīta ceremony, studied at a gurukul, and spent time alone in wilderness in a state of meditation. All four of the Adi-Udasis were originally from Srinagar in Kashmir. Bhai Govinda (elder brother) was appointed on 11 September 1637 and Bhai Phul (younger brother) was appointed the next day on 12 September 1637. Gurditta made the four preachers adopt his dress, which would become charactistic of the Udasis. He also made them take an ember from Sri Chand's hearth to their new place of establishment to set-up their own hearths. These four centres of the Udasis were named after their head-missionary. The Udasis propogated across the subcontinent and re-discovered places related to Sikh history that had been forgotten and abandoned. When Guru Gobind Singh ended the masand system, Udasis became paramount for their missionary activities, which had previously also been conducted by the masands. The Udasis also began to take control of Sikh sites after this reform. After the Sikhs evacuated from Anandpur Sahib, the caretaking of the Sis Ganj and Kesgarh Sahib shrines became the responsibility of an Udasi named Gurbaksh Das, who also helped quell a pretender to the guruship by Gulab Rai in Anandpur after the Sikh guru's death. The Udasis started receiving state-patronage from Sikh rulers and jagirdars in the late 18th century, with revenue-free land being bestowed to them, known as dharmarths. Both Sikh leaders in the trans-Sutlej and cis-Sutlej regions gave support to the Udasis. This official state-patronage of the Udasis helped improved their esteem and popularity amongst all sections of Punjabi society. G. W. Leitner notes that Udasi institutions were providing education in a dozen districts of Punjab. They were initially largely based in urban centers where they set up their establishments, or akharas, only beginning to spread into rural areas during Sikh rule; They successfully obtained a court-decree that classified themselves as Hindus rather than Sikhs. An Udasi organization active in Punjab is the Udaseen Taksaal International led by Sant Gurpreet Singh Udasi. == Beliefs and practices ==

Relation to other groups Udasi beliefs and practices are often juxtaposed with that of mainstream Sikhs. The Udasis differed from the orthodox Sikhs in-regards to their Brahmanical and Vedantic influenced beliefs, practices, doctrines, and rituals. Such differing aspects were in-regards to incarnation, renunciation, austerities, asceticism, celibacy, life-style, wealth, property, and hair-cutting. Furthermore, the Sikh conceptualization of God was more of a personal relationship whilst the Udasi take was more of an impersonal reality. Sikhs placed more emphasis on devotion (bhakti) whilst Udasis also hold knowledge and meditation to be critical for the spiritual path. Whilst mainstream Sikhs paid a lot of attention to secular matters, the Udasis focused entirely on spiritual pursuits. The Udasis venerate their version of the Nishan Sahib flag. There are two versions of a maha-mantra favoured by the Udasis, which venerate Indic deities and Sri Chand: Lifestyle and conduct Udasis are celibates, vegetarians, and teetotalers. Sometimes they consume different types of cannabis concoctions, known as bhang and charas, and also some use opium. When someone becomes initiated as an Udasi, they are supposed to cut all sense of identity to their family. Although they usually cremated their dead, sometimes they buried them. Initiation For their initiation ceremony, they perform charan-amrit rather than the Khalsa amrit-sanskar, which instead consists of five Udasi mahants dipping their toes in water and the initiate drinking the water. After initiation, the person must wear salmon-coloured clothing (known as bhangven) and shun both gold and women. While Khalsa Sikhs append the title Singh to their names after baptism and initiation, the Udasis append the title Das or Brahm after theirs, with their personal-name also changing. A type of sweet food, called halva, is then distributed to those present at the ceremony. Furthermore after initiation, an Udasi will wear a langot, be given a bath in ash, be adorned with a tilak mark, be given a mala rosary, be bestowed with a seli, be given a turban (pagri) or cap (topi), a brahmanchal (cloth), be taught the guru-mantra of their guru, may have some of their head-hair cut, and they are required to recite hymns from the Udasi texts Shri Chandra Matra and Guru Pranali, and are re-named, with them no-longer associating with their birth-name or family-name. After, the initiate expresses thanks to the mahant(s) and others present and is served parshad, they are also given the bhagwa-coloured clothing to be worn for life, and the Onkar and Vedas are recited. Also, a bhandara is held and rot prashad is served to the initiates. These initiates can become two types of members: Nirvan and Paramhans, differentiates by their conduct and required articles to be kept/worn. House-holding Udasis, known as Grahist, can also become initiates, where after they are only served parshad and become known as Sewak types. Caste Udasis come from all castes and occupational-backgrounds. In-regards to their caste, the Udasis consider themselves to belong to the swan varna (known as hamsa) and the eternal gotra (known as acyuta). == Appearance and attire ==

According to 18th-century descriptions, they either cut or matted their hair (with matted hair known as jaṭādhāris The Udasis wear seli-topi (woolen thread and a head-cap), with their seli having 1,108 knots. In-addition, they wear a khinthā (patched-quilt), jholī (bag), and a mālā (rosary). Their rosaries are either beads constructed out of tulsi, sandalwood, or rudraksha, knotted woolen, or flowers (phulmala). Some Udasis wear earrings in their right-ear, specifically mudrā earrings. Fot footwear, they favour wooden kharavan or khaḍaon. The nomadic Udasi sadhus (known as ghummakaḍa) additionally carry a stick (danda) for defense, a hollowed gourd or pumpkin (tumbī) for water, a black asan, and a deer-pelt (mṛgachālā) to sit upon. Udasis who are disciples of specific lineages or sub-sects may have additional or unique items they wear. For example, those belonging to the lineage of Pritam Das, Sangat Sahib, and Bhakta Bhagavana wear a kara bracelet and janjīrī waist-chain. Nanga Udasis go completely naked except for a brass waist-chain. Diwani Udasis wear shell-necklaces on their turban (pagri). Some of the Udasis, such as the Nangas, Nirbans, and Niranjanias, smear their bodies with ash and wore just a loin-cloth. Certain types wear a cord around their head, waist, and neck. They often adorn themselves with a tilak (bodily marking) and janeu (sacred-thread). The Udasis have their own religious-flag, which they call the dharma dhvaja ("flag of righteousness"). Its symbols feature a hand mark (known as panjā) and a peacock feather decoration. == Factions ==

Dhūāṅ sects There are various Dhūāṅ sub-sects within the Udasis, some of them being: • Almast dhūāṅ - the Dhūāṅ Bhāī Almast Jī Kā was based out of Nanakmatta and preached in the eastern areas of the Indian subcontinent, such as Dhaka, Patna, and Puri. • Phūl dhūāṅ - the Dhūāṅ Bhāī Phūl Jī Kā preached in the area of Punjab between the Sutlej and Beas rivers, namely the Doaba region • Goind (or Gondā) dhūāṅ - the Dhūāṅ Bhāī Goind/Gondā Jī Kā preached in southern Punjab, namely Malwa • Bālū Husnā dhūāṅ - the Dhūāṅ Bhāī Bālū Hasnā Jī Kā preached in western Punjab and Kashmir. Bakhshishāṅ sects After the four dhūāṅs, another sub-sect of Udasis emerged known as Bakhshishāṅ. There were six prominent groups of this type, them namely being: There were also the Niranjanias. Types of Udasi initiates and sadhus Sadhus can also be divided into which of the four life-stages they are living in, Muni, Ṛṣi, Sewaka, or Nirvaṇa. The Udasi disciples or students are known as a chelā. Another way of classifying the Udasis is by marital status, with those who are married being known as the Sant Udasi (sub-divided into Grahist and Chaturthasharmi) and those who remain unmarried are the Sadhu Udasi. There is also a three-part division system: those who are house-holders (Grahist), those who are not house-holders and who appoint a successor prior to death, and thirdly the Nirvan. There are four general types of Udasis: • Grahist: house-holders • Sewak: house-holders who have undergone the Udasi initiation ceremony • Nirvan: non-house-holders who have undergone the Udasi initiation ceremony who are nomadic in their preaching, smear ash on their body, and keep/wear long-hair (jatadhari), seli-topi, toomba, band, mrigchala (deer-pelt), gola sahib, chipi, kopin, mekhala, and make use of dhuni • Paramhans: non-house-holders who have undergone the Udasi initiation ceremony, are supposed to remain in good-spirits and not be affected by emotions, and forgo clothing, remaining naked, not keeping a danda or kamandal but keeping a kopin, and believing bathing to be immaterial There are six sub-types of Udasi sadhus of the Chaturthasharmi type: • Kuṭicaka: monks at a hermitage, there are three further divisions of this kind: • Kutia residers • Snandhari residers • Mathadhish residers • Bahudaka: nomadic monks • Hamsa: monks with the ability to discern between noumena (without the senses) and phenomena (with the senses) • Paramahamsa: monks who are considered liberated and do not have to wear the external signs of an Udasi • Turiyātīta: monks who have reached a state of fourth-dimensionalism • Avadhuta: monks without any attachment to the world and are unbothered There are also the Naga (Nāngā), followers of this sect remain naked except for a brass chain worn around the waist. They are the followers of Pritam Das. == Places of worship and shrines ==

Various terms are used to refer to Udasi-affiliated sites and structures, such as dera, math, sangata, ashram, gurukula, tapovanas, akhara, bunga, dharamsaal, or samadhi. The latter term finds heavy usage in Sindh. Another word used for Udasi centres of spirituality is dera. The word bada means "large" while naya means "new". There is an Udasi ashram located in Jalandhar known as the Pritam Bhawan Udãsîn Ashram, which contains the Swami Sant Das School. • Akhara Tehal Das, now abandoned. • Akhara Mahant Bala Nand, founded in 1775, rebuilt in 1888 as a three-storied structure by Mahant Bhishambar Prashad. It was a centre of Sanskrit learning until 1984. • Akhara Kashi Wala, founded by Mahant Narain Das in 1795, located near Darwaza Sultanvind. • Akhara Shatte Wala, originally named Akhara Parag Das. • Akhara Brahm Buta, said to be the oldest akhara of the city. Sri Chand is said to have stayed here when he visited the city during the guruship of Guru Ram Das. Mahant Nirban Santokh Das was associated with this akhara. • Akhara Bibbeksar, founded by Mahant Balak Nath, later shifted to Haridwar. • Akhara Kashi Wala of Gheo Mandi, founded by Mahant Sharan Das during the first half of the 19th century. It was founded on land gifted by Maharaja Ranjit Singh that belonged to the village of Tung. It remains active as an Udasi spiritual centre. • Sanglan Wala Akhara, founded by Mahant Pritam Das in 1788 in Bazaar Mai Sevan. • Akhara Chitta, founded by Mahant Ganga Ram Viakarani in Bazaar Mai Sevan during the Sikh Misl period. • Akhara Ghamand Das • Akhara Mahant Prem Das • Akhara Sarigalvala • Akhara Karishivala, near Darwaza Ghi Mandi • Akhara Babeksar • Akhara Samadhiarivala == Music ==

The term Gawantaris refers to Udasi musicians. A commonly played instrument of the Udasis is the Narasingha horn, used to inform the public about religious processions. Their daily religious services incorporate ghanti/gharial bells and narsingha/singhi trumpets. == Literature ==

The Udasis wrote their own explanations, interpretations, and commentaries on both Hindu and Sikh texts and scriptures. They also authored their own versions of both the Janamsakhi and Gurbilases literary genres. The Udasis claim to have written the earliest available codex of the Ād Granth. Their work Udasi Bodh explains their origin, history, philosophy, and mythos. Some of the texts used in their daily worship practice include the Udasi-Satotar or the Panch-Parameshar. A matra attributed to Balu Hasna is also recorded and revered by them. Anand Ghan was an Udasi scholar active in the late 18th and early 19th century who authored Vedantic-influenced commentaries on the Guru Granth Sahib. == Distribution ==

Today's Udasi are predominantly located in northwestern India, especially around Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, and cities like Haridwar and New Delhi; they are divided into three major groups: • Udasin Panchayati Bada Akhara • Udasin Panchayati Naya Akhara • Nirmal Udasi Panachayati Akarda Udasis historically were found across the Indian subcontinent, including to the south and east. They were found in the Deccan as well. However, most of their centres were based in northwestern India, especially in Punjab. In Sindh Sindh has a large number of people who may be best described as Udasis. The area of northern Sindh was especially influenced by Udasipanth. The Udasi temples of Sindh are known as darbars.A darbar at Godhu Shah in Khairpur (known as the Godhu Shah Darbar, Nanga Darbar, or Gurpota Darbar) is believed to have been founded by a grandson of one of the Sikh gurus (Gurpota) whom became an Udasi under the guidance of a mahant, it is associated with the Nanga sect of Udasis. In recent times, veneration of the folk deity Jhulelal has crept into the practices of Udasi darbars in Sindh. During the reign of Mughal emperor Jahangir, Guru Hargobind dispatched Bhai Natha (Bhai Almast's successor) to Bengal, who dug another well and also laid the foundation stone for the Shujatpur Sikh Sangat, a religious congregation. Dalbir Singh Dhillon claims that the sixth guru had dispatched Bhai Almast to conduct missionary work in Bengal, whose original work was carried-on by Bhai Natha by the time of the ninth Sikh guru, Tegh Bahadur. Sangat Shutrashasi was a temple that belonged to the Suthrashahi sub-sect of the Udasi sect which was once located in Urdu Bazaar, but the Suthrashahi sadhus later destroyed it themselves. == Leaders ==

The Udasis nominally claim to be followers of the Sikh gurus from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh. However, they also profess faith in Sri Chand's lineage down to their living mahants of which-ever branch, centre, or Udasi sub-sect they are affiliated to. They maintain their own parallel line of gurus from Guru Nanak, followed by Sri Chand, followed by Gurditta. According to Sulakhan Singh, the Udasi guruship lineage asserts that Baba Gurditta was the successor of Guru Hargobind, with Gurditta after annointing Guru Har Rai as his successor, with Gurditta being the intermediary guru between Hargobind and Har Rai. This differs from the mainstream Sikh guruship lineage, who believe Guru Har Rai was the immediate successor of Guru Hargobind. Furthermore, the Udasis believe that four preachers, named the Adi-Udasis, succeeded Baba Gurditta sometime in the first half of the 17th century, who each established their own dhuan. Their leadership lineages start from Guru Nanak and end with their living mahants. == Demographics ==

From the 1790s to the 1840s during Sikh-rule, the popularity of the Udasis increased. In the 1891 Census of British India, 10,518 Hindus and 1,165 Sikhs returned themselves as Udasis. There are no current statistics for their population count. ==See also==