Origin from 1812
The Namdharis, also known as Kuka, are a Sikh order that differs from mainstream Sikhs primarily in believing that the line of Sikh Gurus did not end with Guru Gobind Singh in 1708, recognizing Satguru Balak Singh as an eleventh Guru and continuing the succession to the present day. Its founder, Satguru Ram Singh, who lived from 1816 to 1885, moved the order's center to Sri Bhaini Sahib in Ludhiana, Punjab in April 1857 and is regarded as the first Indian to employ non-cooperation and non-violent boycotts against British imperial rule; members, who claim between 500,000 and one million adherents, practice strict lacto-vegetarianism, abstain from alcohol and tobacco, reject idol worship and rituals beyond reciting God's name, and wear distinctive white homespun turbans and white woolen cord rosaries.
Facts
Status
Status TodayLiving tradition, practised today 2 Classification
Kind of order ApostolateCharitable and Medical Work 2 Who may join Organisation
OrdinationAuthority conferred by initiation rather than by ordination 2 Practice
Liturgical LanguageGurmukhi script and Sant Bhasha, the shared literary language in which Sikh scripture is composed 2 Origins
Origin Period Belief
Defining Doctrinal PositionSainthood and armed readiness held as one inseparable doctrine, the saint-soldier ideal, rather than two separate roles 2 Connections
Belongs to Tradition
Rooted In
Uses Liturgical Language
Sources
1. Namdhari (Wikipedia)
lead paragraph
The Namdharis (Gurmukhi: ਨਾਮਧਾਰੀ; Devanagari: नामधारी; Shahmukhi: نامدھاری; nāmadhārī, meaning "bearers of the name"), also known as Kuka (Gurmukhi: ਕੂਕਾ; kūkā (sing.); ਕੂਕੇ; kūkē (pl.): fro
page categories
Category:1812 establishments in India
View the Source2. Islamic Mysticism: A Short History
Alexander Knysh, Brill
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