The Multifarious Faces of Sikhism
throughout Sikh History
Page 1 of 4
Nirankaris
Time of origin: early 1800s
As the Sanatan Sikh kingdoms established themselves
in the late 18th century, in time some Sikhs
felt the sway of materialism was undermining
Sanatan Sikhism.
One such person was the great non-Khalsa ‘Sehajdhari’
Sikh, Malhotra Khatri Baba Dyal Ji (1783-1855).
Budha Dal Akali Nihang oral tradition, as narrated
by Sanatan Sikh Shastar Vidiya Gurdev and ‘Raj
Ved’ (Ayurveda master) Nihang
Baba Ram Singh states that once Dyal Ji came
to Akal Takht and heard Akali Phoola
Singh shout aloud "Dhan
Nirankar Dhan Nirankar" and give
discourse on worship of formless God.
96 Crore Jathedar Akali Nihang Baba Phoola Singh
Head of the Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa and Akal
Takht, circa mid 19th century
Inspired by these works, Baba Dyal Singh went
back home to the Rawalpindi region, and began
to expound the spiritual message of ‘Nirankar’
(formless God). Dr Trilochan Singh writes that
Baba Dyal Singh was a disciple of the ‘Sehajdhari’
Seva Panthi holy man, Sant Baba Budhu Shah:
‘Baba Dyal
visited Bhera in order to meet Sant Budhu
Shah. He came under his spell and
received spiritual instructions from him.
Bhai Budhu Shah also arranged his marriage
with the daughter of Bhai Charan Das, which
was performed strictly according to Sikh
rites.’ ‘The Turban
And Sword Of The Sikhs’, Dr Trilochan
Singh, Pa. 398
Baba Dyal Singh’s followers were mainly
non-Khalsa ‘Sehajdhari Nanak Panthis’
(Sikh Hindus who followed Akali Guru Nanak Dev
Ji’s teachings). The message of Baba Dyal
Ji was to contemplate ‘Nirankar’,
and none other. Baba Dyal Ji, in tune with the
teachings of his Seva Panthi Gurdev, Baba
Budhu Shah, taught his followers to
turn their backs on all superstitions, tombs,
Brahmanical ways, Hindu deities, and people
setting themselves up as Gurus to appropriate
money from the credulous masses.
Baba Dyal Singh
Founder of the Nirankaris
Maharaja Ranjit Singh, upon
hearing fame of Baba Dyal Ji, gave the Nirankaris
a grant of land, yet there were many in the
Sanatan Sikh world, who did not approve of Baba
Dyal Ji’s movement. His actions offended
many in the Sanatan Sikh world. According to
the Ludhiana Mission Report
in 1855, Nirankaris abused cows, and did not
either burn or bury their dead - an act to distinguish
themselves from Hindus and Muslims. Instead,
they consigned the dead to rivers. This offended
the orthodox Hindus, and they began a court
case against the Nirankaris. Another court case
was brought against the Nirankaris in the early
years of British Raj. This case was due to the
Nirankari act of marrying at times considered
inauspicious by certain superstitious Sanatan
Sikhs and Hindus, and for organizing a ‘Bhojan’
(dinner) on the day of a devotee’s death.
Bhojan
Dinner laid out during the day of a devotee's
death, Hardwar, circa early 20th century
This was contrast to the then Sanatan Hindu
belief that all food from the deceased house
is polluted for thirteen days. Due to Nirankaris
constantly mocking and breaking superstitious
taboos of the Sanatan Sikh Hindu world, the
local Sanatan Sikh temple banned Nirankaris
from Sikh temples. This forced the Nirankaris
to build their own temple outside Rawalpindi.
Baba Dyal Ji passed way on 30the January 1855.
He always advocated to all that one should earn
an honest living, and should believe in no other,
except ‘Nirankar’.
‘Dhan Nirankar, Dhan Nirankar’
was the ‘Gurmantra’
of Baba Dyal Ji.