The Multifarious Faces of Sikhism
throughout Sikh History
Page 3 of 4
Nanaksaria
cont'd
In fact, the practice of image worship is also
common within this institution. Within the ‘Kaleranwala
Gurdwara’, there is enshrined
a painting of Akali Guru Nanak Devji which is
claimed to be the exact likeness of Akali Guru
Nanak Devji as seen in a vision by Baba Nand
Singh himself. The ‘Nanaksaria’
Sikhs pay homage to this image, and artifacts
of Baba Nand Singh.
Akali Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj
The painting of the first Sikh Guru as commissioned
by Baba Nand Singh
Like all Nirmala ‘Deras’,
the Nanaksar movement does not utilize a ‘Nishaan
Sahib’ (Sikh flag). The tradition
of not possessing a ‘Nishaan Sahib' is
a throwback to a time when the Nirmala saints
avoided persecution by Moghal hoards in the
19th century. During this time of conflict between
the Akali Nihang armies and invading Moghals,
pacifist Sikhs such as the Nirmalas avoided
being labeled as ‘Sikhs’,
and as such, desisted from hoisting up a ‘Nishaan
Sahib’.
Nanaksar Thaat
The entrance to the Nanaksar Gurdwara at Kaleran
which does not have a 'Nishaan Sahib' unlike
most Sikh Gurdwaras
As with Nirmala Sadhu Samparda, the followers
of the Nanaksar movement are strict vegetarians
(and avoid eggs and fish too). ‘Nanaksarias’
tend to divorce themselves from the events of
Sikh history and believe their ‘Sants’
(saints) have knowledge beyond history, through
their spiritual prowess. Hence, such a framework
allowed Baba Nand Singh to establish his own
Sikh traditions. With their evolution, the ‘Nanaksarias’
have established their own ‘Sikh
Rehit Maryada’ (code of conduct).
Baba Nand Singh greatly believed in reading
Adi Guru Durbar, either fully, or in portions.
Baba Nand Singh recommended:
‘Complete Guru Granth
reading in month.
50 readings of Sukhmani a month –
2 readings a day. 250 readings of Japji
– 10 daily. 180 Malas (Rosary of 108
beads) of Mool Mantra (From Ekonkar to Hosi
Vee Sach) in month – Six Malas daily.
Complete 160 Malas daily of Ram (Nam), 40
Malas if Ram is recited four times on each
bead. A Mohammedan was advised to
practice and recite Allah on each bead.’
Source: www.babanandsingh.org
Rehit Maryada
Baba Nand Singh was known for his strict code
of conduct, and according to the writing on
the tiles
in the photograph, it is said that he woke up
everyday at 12.30am to bathe before carrying
out his morning ablutions
It is said that whereas Baba Nand Singh advised
Sikhs and Hindus to contemplate ‘Ram
Mantra’, his successor, Baba
Ishar Singh substituted‘Ram’
for the comment Sikh mantra, ‘Va-eh
Guru’. Being in tune with Nirmala
pluralistic concepts, Baba Nand Singh advocated
the reading of ‘Bhagwad Gita’
for Hindus and the Koran for Muslims.
