[Reader-list] Unknown Narratives of Eclectic History of Sikhism

[Kabir Khan]

Unknown Narratives of Eclectic History of Sikhism
<https://maleccha.wordpress.com/2016/01/14/unknown-narratives-of-eclectic-history-of-sikhism/>
14th January- Maghi was always a special day in our lives. It was the day
after Lohri, when potatoes were roasted in left over bonfire of last
evening. More than that, it was the birthday of Sant Baba Dalel Singh, my
maternal family including my mother is a follower of him. An obscure
religious/spiritual master and a good orator- whose teachings were limited
to – taking the name of Lord, meditation, honest earnings and sharing them
with all (*Naam Japna, Kirat Karni, Vand Ke Chhakna*), not much different
from what Nanak preached in medieval era. He used to give *Naam-daan, *the
*mantra* of desired deity. It is an old practise performed by Sadhus and
other religious teachers. In his case the list of deities included the
Hindu Gods as well as Guru Granth Sahib.

Dalel Singh belonged to Nirmala sect of Sikhism. A sect of celibates
dressed in *bhagwa, *they believed in equality with Guru Granth Sahib- Adi
Granth as their main deity. It is believed that Guru Gobind Singh sent five
of his students to Banaras (Varanasi) for studying Hindu philosophy. They
and their chosen successors became the bridge between the teachings of Sikh
Gurus and the ancient and medieval philosophies: Vedic, Vedanta and *Nirgun*
& *Sargun *Bhakti. Nirmalas trace their history from Nanak as there is an
old saying- *Maareya Sikka Jagat Mein Nanak Nirmal Panth Chalaya *(rough
translation- It was Nanak who coined Nirmala sect in this world).

In 18th century when Sikhs started organizing themselves as political
power, Nirmalas became the source of their intellect. They were generally
mobile. Whenever wherever they settled- educational centres for studying
religion were set up. Their contribution in education can be realised from
that they had both *Pandit* & *Singh *in their name at the same time. As
far as my understanding of history goes not one of these Nirmala saints was
Brahmin by caste, almost all of them belonged to lower castes- or the Varna
of Shudras. Punjab unlike many other states of India didn’t have had
Brahminical hegemony. This has been pointed out by many scholars, including
a recent article
<http://www.epw.in/journal/2016/1/special-articles/sacralising-dalit-peripheries.html>
in Economic & Political Weekly. Islam, Sufism and Sikhism have had a role
to play in keeping Brahminical tenets at bay. Continued here...
<https://maleccha.wordpress.com/2016/01/14/unknown-narratives-of-eclectic-history-of-sikhism/>

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Regards

कबीर/کبیر

Phone:00-91-96-63-427-315

email: kabirkhan1989 at gmail.com

email: maleccha at live.com

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