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The Namdhari are a sect of Sikhs who believe in a continuous line of human living gurus, including their current guru, Guru Jagjit Singh. They differ from traditional Sikhs who believe that Guru Granth Sahib is the final guru. The Namdharis follow Sikh traditions and wear all-white clothing and a 108-knotted white woolen cord. Guru Ram Singh, one of their gurus, inspired civil disobedience against the British in Punjab and Mahatma Gandhi.
The Namdhari consider themselves an orthodox sect of Sikhs, but are not considered Sikhs by the Akal Takht, the primary authority on the Sikh religion. Namdharis are similar to Sikhs in many respects, but differ from other Sikhs in regards to the living guru. While traditional Sikhs believe that Guru Granth Sahib, their book of holy scriptures, is the current living guru and final guru of Sikhs, Namdharis believe in a continuous line of human living gurus extending to the present. The current Namdhari guru is Guru Jagjit Singh.
In the Sikh religion, gurus are the source of Sikh teachings and philosophy. Traditional Sikhism holds that there are only eleven gurus, beginning with Guru Nanak Dev in the 16th century. His successors were Guru Angad Dev, Guru Amar Das, Guru Ram Das, Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Har Gobind, Guru Har Rai, Guru Har Krishan, Guru Teg Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh. Before his death in 16, Guru Gobind Singh decreed that Guru Granth Sahib would be the next and permanent Sikh Guru.
The Namdharis believe that Guru Gobind Singh lived for 146 years, until 1812, and that there have been five gurus since his death. They also believe that Guru Gobind Singh bestowed Guruship on Guru Balak Singh, the founder of the Namdhari religion, before his death. The twelfth Namdhari guru was Guru Ram Singh, who is revered as one of the foremost Namdhari gurus. He initiated civil disobedience against the occupying British in Punjab in the mid-19th century and inspired Mahatma Gandhi. Guru Ram Singh was exiled in 12 and some Namdharis believe that he is still alive and that he will return one day to guide them.
The thirteenth Namdhari guru was Guru Hari Singh, followed by Guru Partap Singh. The current guru Namdhari is the son of Guru Partap Singh and attained Guruship in 13.
In addition to their beliefs regarding Guruship, the Namdharis follow the traditions of Sikhism. They hold Guru Granth Sahib in reverence and consider themselves loyal to the Khalsa, the community of all baptized Sikhs, and their traditions. Namdharis can be identified by their all-white clothing. They also wear a 108-knotted white woolen cord, called a mala, around their necks for use as a rosary.
