A history of the Sikhs, from the origin of the nation to the battles of the Sutlej.

APP. xxi SIKH SECTS OR DENOMINATIONS 377

APPENDIX XXI
A LIST OF SOME SIKH SECTS OR DENOMINATIONS
(In which, however, some Names or Titles not properly distinctively
an Order are also inserted)
1st. Udasi.-Founded by Sri Chand, a son of Nanak.
The Udasis were rejected by Amar Das, as not being
genuine Sikhs.
2nd. Bedi.-Founded by Lakshmi Das, another son of
Nanak.
3rd. Tehun.-Founded by Guru Angad.
4th. Bhalla.-Founded by Guri Amar Das.
5th. Sodhi.-Founded by Gurfu Ram Das.
NOTE.-The Bedis, Tihans, Bhallas, and S6dhis are rather
Sikhs of the subdivisions of Kshattriyas, so called (i.e. of
the tribes of certain Gurus), than distinct sects.
6th. Ramraiya, seceders who adhered to Ram Rai when
Tegh Bahadur became Guru. They have a considerable
establishment in the Lower Himalayas, near HardwSr.
7th. Banda-Panthi, i.e. of the sect of Banda, who succeeded Gobind as a temporal leader.
8th. Masandi.-Masand is simply the name of a subdivision of the Kshattriya race; but it is also specially
applied to the followers of those who resisted Gobind; some
say as adherents of Ram Rai, and others as instigators of
the Guru's son to opposition. The more common story,
however, is that the Masands were the hereditary stewards
of the household of the several Gurus, and that they became
proud and dissipated, but nevertheless arrogated sanctity
to themselves, and personally ill-used many Sikhs for not
deferring to them; whereupon Gobind, regarding them as
irreclaimable, expelled them all except two or three.
9th. Rangrheta.-Converts of the Sweeper and some other
inferior castes are so called. (See note 4, p. 71, ante.)
10th. Ramdasi, i.e. Rao or Rai Dasi.-Sikhs of the class
of Chamars, or leather-dressers, and who trace to the Rao
Das, or Rai Das, whose writings are inserted in the Granth.
11th. Mazhabi.-Converts from Muhammadanism are so
called.
12th. Akali.-Worshippers of Akal (God), the most
eminent of the orders of Purists or Ascetics.
13th. Nihang.-The naked, or pure.
14th. Nirmale.-The sinless. One who has acquired
this title usually administers the Pahal to others.