The Multifarious Faces of Sikhism
throughout Sikh History
Page 4 of 5
Gulab
Dasia cont'd
Assisted by the destruction of the Sanatan
Sikh kingdoms of Lahore in 1847, the number
of Gulab Dasia Sikhs increased, and by 1850
they had begun to spread their disruptive debauched
behaviour throughout Punjab.
Maharaja Karam Singh
Painting of the Maharaja of Patiala in who's
lifetime the Sikh Kingdoms were annexed, circa
1840
Thousands of young people began to abandon
religious morals and social values and much
that was once taboo became to be practiced openly.
Inebriated on alcohol they began to wander about.
Some took to playing the ‘Dadh’
(small hand-held drum) and a ‘Sarangi’
(stringed instrument similar to a violin) and
moved from village to village, singing ballads
about the romantic star-crossed Punjabi lovers,
Hir and Ranja.
Sarangi
A Muslim folk musician playing the 'Sarangi'
on the streets of Agra, circa late 19th century
Most Gulab Dasia Sikhs dressed in fine, well-scented
clothes and all men and women mixed with each
other without any shame or embarrassment. As
the number of Gulab Dasia Sikhs spread throughout
Punjab, many began to feel anger toward them.
Giani Gian Singh Nirmala writes:
‘Whichever village
the Gulab Dasis went. Hearing their
words the young men became extremely Khalasi
[free] of thought. On one hand
they were young of age in which one is easily
corrupted. Second their fear of sinning
was lifted [by teachings of Gulab Dasis]
such thinking they greatly adopted. In the
reigns of Maja, Malwa and Patohara this
sect spread greatly. Seeing all
this adolescent young men women became thieves,
fornicators and argumentative.
It seemed that Vendantist [for Gulab Das
was originally a Vendantist Udasi/Nirmala
Sikh] had become atheists shock and horror
spread in the world. Daughters and daughter
in-laws stole money from their homes [to
give Gulab Dasis], drank alcohol and eat
meat.’ ‘Naveen
Panth Prakash’, Vol. 5, Giani Gian
Singh Nirmala, edited by Giani Kirpal Singh
Ji, Pa. 2858
Giani Gian Singh also points out that the disruptive
influence of the Gulab Dasia Sikhs were further
encouraged by a rogue group of Udasis who adopted
some ‘Sanyassi’
ways. These apostate Udasi Sikhs were based
around Magishah Mansoor and Rameshvar, and encouraged
Sikhs to cut their hair.
Sanyassi
An early painting of Akbar the Great (center)
battling the warrior 'Sanyassi' Yogis, circa
1604
