They have a distinct style dress including a white oval turbans, and kachhera, primarily white kurtas, but never wear black, or blue colors. They are animal activists, as well as strict vegetarians and drink only rain water, or water from a well, river, or lake.ĭevout Namdharis keep their hair intact and maintain the articles of Sikh faith, wear a corded prayer mala with 108 knots. Namdhari means to “live beholding God’s name” and meditation is key to their belief system. They also believe in the three fundamentals principals of Sikhism as taught by First Guru Nanak. Namdharis revere both the Guru Granth, and Dasam Granth, and recite selections of their scriptures in daily prayers. Ram Singh who was born in 1816 exiled from India by the British in 1872 is commonly believed by Namdharis to still be alive, and is expected to return and take up his leadership role. the Namdhari succession includes Ram Singh, Hari Singh, Partap Singh, and Jagjit Singh. The Namdhari sect believes that rather than appointing Guru Granth Sahib his successor at the time of his death in 1708, that Tenth Guru Gobind Singh really lived to be 146 years of age, and nominated Balak Singh of Hazro to succeed him as guru in 1812. He incorporated basic Sikh values into his teachings, and as well as teaching yoga, encouraged students to revere Guru Granth Sahib, keep their hair, wear white, eat a vegetarian diet, live a moral life, and be initiated into Sikhism. The Happy Healthy Holy Organization (3HO) was created by Yogi Bhajan, a Sikh of Sindhi origin who came to the United States in the late 1960’s, and began teaching Kundalini yoga. However all offshoot sects of Sikhism respect Gurbani, and revere Sikh scriptures.
Others do not necessarily profess to be Sikhs, nor accept Guru Granth Sahib as the ultimate, and everlasting in the lineage of Sikh gurus. Of these seven, several profess Sikhism, yet may not become initiated as Khalsa in the Amrit ceremony. Seven such sects are are considered to be offshoots of Sikhism because though their are differences in ideology, there are also striking similarities.
The influence of the ten gurus may be found thriving among communities who over centuries split, and splintered, into schisms of mainstream Sikhism. Guru Nanak traveled far and wide on mission tours around the world to spread his message of one creator and creation.