Gangushahi is a

Sikh sect Sikh sects, denominations, traditions, movements, sub-traditions, also known as ''Sampradaya, sampardai'' (Gurmukhi: ਸੰਪਰਦਾ; ''saparadā'') in the Punjabi language, are sub-traditions within Sikhism that with different approaches to ...

that is mostly found in the

Shivalik Hills The Sivalik Hills, also known as Churia Hills, are a mountain range of the outer Himalayas. The literal translation of "Sivalik" is 'tresses of Shiva'. The hills are known for their numerous fossils, and are also home to the Soanian Middle Paleo ...

region.

History

The Gangushahi sect that can be traced back to Gangu Shah, also known as Gangu Das, whom was a manji preacher assigned by Guru Amar Das to the

region, being given a seat in the Sirmur region. Gangu Shah had been born into a Basi Khatri family in

Garhshankar Garhshankar is a city in Hoshiarpur district in the state of Punjab, India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the ...

. According to Sikh lore, Gangu had presented four pice weight of ''gur'', all of his material possessions, to Guru Amar Das before the guru dispatched him to on the preaching mission to the Shivalik Hills. Over-time, his preaching attracted many followers, with the group growing into their own order. The great-grandson of Gangu, Javahar Singh, consolidated a new sect of Sikhs based on the following of Gangu. During this time, the Gangushahi leader Javahar Singh commanded a large force in the hills region. The Gangushahis constructed their own shrines at Daun (near Kharar in Ropar district), which had been built under Gangu Shah, and Khatkar Kalan (near Banga in Jalandhar district), which had been built under Javahar Singh. These shrines are still places of veneration to this day by followers of the sect. The Gangushahis were ex-communicated by the Khalsa when their incumbent '' gaddi'', Kharak Singh, in circa 1708 (around the time of Guru Gobind Singh's death) said the rest of the Sikhs congregations were "widowed" since no

Sodhi Sodhi is a clan of Khatris who historically lived in both eastern and western Punjab. Some notable Sikh Gurus, including Hari Das, Guru Ram Das, Prithi Chand, to Guru Arjan were from the Sodhi clan. Origin According to a legend, some of the ...

was on the gaddi, implicitly implying that he is left to lead the Sikhs as a ''

guru Guru ( ; International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: ''guru'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian religions, Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: tr ...

''. Furthermore, there are claims he performed miracles. The Gangushahis under Kharak Singh were against the ''

khande di pahul Amrit Sanskar (, pronunciation: , lit. "nectar ceremony") is one of the four Sikh Sanskaars. The Amrit Sanskar is the initiation rite introduced by Guru Gobind Singh when he founded the Khalsa in 1699. A Sikh who has been initiated into the ...

'' ceremony, insteading advocating for the original ''charan amrit'' initiation ceremony. Gangushahis still exist today, albeit in small numbers, inhabiting the Shivalik Hills region, particularly in the areas of Jauharsar, Pinjaur, Dagshai, and Nahan. They maintain their own deras and they do not strictly adhere to mainstream Sikh customs nor ''rehat'' (codes of conduct).

Notes

References

{{Sikhism Sikh groups and sects