Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Gulf News
Dubai: Since the establishment of Sikhism over 500 years ago, several sects have emerged within Sikhism.
These sects or groups are ideologically different from the mainstream traditional Sikh religion but have links with it. Main among these sects are Nirankaris, Namdharis, Dera Sachcha Sauda, and Dera Sach Khand among others.
Dera Sach Khand was in the news this week after one of its senior leaders was killed in sectarian violence in Austria.
Members of Dera Sach Khand are primarily the followers of medieval Indian spiritual leader Ravidas who was born in 1377 AD, more than 90 years before the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. Ravidas had a large number of followers who had formed a sect in his name much before Sikhism was established as a religion.
Ravidas wrote deeply devotional verses and 40 of his hymns have been incorporated in the Sikh scripture, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Ravidas is one of the few spiritual leaders, other than the Sikh Gurus, whose writings have been incorporated in the Granth.
Since Sikh Gurus were against social inequality based on caste system, inclusion of his writings in the Granth was a big boost to members of the lower castes. However, the caste system failed to completely die down in Sikh society.
One of the followers of Ravidas, Baba Pipal Das, who was born in Bhatinda, Punjab, founded Dera Sach Khand in the early 20th century. He was succeeded by Sarwan Das as the head of the Dera. After him, the heads of the Dera were Hari Das, Garib Das and Niranjan Das, the present head of the Dera, who was among those injured in Sunday's Vienna brawl.
Ravidas's other writings and socio-religious practices of his sect make Dera different. The traditional Sikh community finds itself at odds with the Dera sect because Dera members believe in a living human guru while Sikhs do not.
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