User:Usingh0663/sandbox
 Photograph of Nand Singh, founder of the Nanaksari sect, meditating whilst seated ontop of a tiger pelt | |
| Founder | |
|---|---|
| Baba Nand Singh | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Punjab | |
| Religions | |
| Sikhism | |
| Scriptures | |
| Guru Granth Sahib |
Nanaksari (Punjabi: ਨਾਨਕਸਰੀ, literally "those who rely on Nanak") also known as the Nanaksar Sampradaya, is a prominent Sikh religious and spiritual movement that emerged in the late 19th century in Punjab, India. Named after the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, the movement emphasizes deep spiritual practice, adherence to Sikh principles, humanitarian service, and most notably, the utmost respect given to the Guru Granth Sahib, as the complete manifest form of Guru Nanak (and the subsequent Gurus). It was founded in 1928 by a leader known as Baba Nand Singh, and since then has gained a dedicated following and has established numerous gurudwaras (Sikh places of worship) around the world.
History
[edit]A Ramgharia Sikh, named Baba Nand Singh, founded this Sikh movement. He was born in 1869/1872 to Sardar Jai Singh and Sardarni Sada Kaur, in the village of Sherpur Kalan, located 5 kilometers from Jagraon, Punjab. As a young man, he worked as a carpenter. He then decided to make pilgrimage to Hazur Sahib. It is said by his followers that during prolonged periods of meditation he had visions of Guru Nanak. These visions made him study and recite Sikh Scripture with a passion. He would later come back to Punjab,where Baba Nand Singh is said to have asked Guru Nanak to make him his Nanaksara (meaning ‘one who relies on Akali Guru Nanak Devji alone’). In 1918, Baba Nand Singh made his way back to his home village of Kaleran, where upon his arrival, was said to have cured an epidemic in his region by reciting Adi Guru Durbar. He then established an underground ‘Bohra’ (bore) just outside his village where he spend long hours meditating on the Almighty, sleeping very little, and performing severe austerities. During his lifetime, Baba Nand Singh never allowed any building to be erected around his ‘Bohra’, but predicted that a fine Gurdwara would be built in the area after his death. In 1929, a Jat Sikh by the name of Ishar Singh came into the company of Baba Nand Singh and began to serve him. Some followers of the Nanaksar movement parallel this event to the serving of Akali Guru Nanak Devji by Bhai Lehna Ji (who would become Akali Guru Angad Dev Ji). In 1943, Baba Nand Singh passed away and Baba Ishar Singh became his successor. In 1950, Baba Ishar Singh commissioned the building of a fine Gurdwara at Kaleran. It is said that from the building of this Gurdwara till today, there has been a continuous recitation of ‘Sukhmani Sahib’ (the ‘Pearl of Peace’, Akali Guru Arjan Devji’s composition). With the organizational abilities of Baba Ishar Singh, the Nanaksar movement began to expand
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and flourish throughout the region. From their history it is evident that the ‘Nanaksarias’ have a heavy imprint of Nirmalas on them. They may consider themselves to be ‘Khalsa’ but are complete pacifists. Those that wear the ‘Sri Sahib’ (dagger/sword) consider it to be merely a religious symbol than a weapon to be used. Within Akali Nihang circles, the Nanaksar movement has been accused of de-masculating the warrior ‘Khalsa’ by killing its martial ardor. Nirmalas believe in ‘Dehdari Gurus’ (living guides). In a similar fashion, the Nanaksaria Sikhs, although claiming not to have such designations for their spiritual leaders, do pay similar reverence to them. Baba Narinder Singh, on a web site devoted to Baba Nand Singh comments:
