Sri Chand

Sri Chand, also referred to as Baba Sri Chand (8 September 1494 – 13 January 1629),[1][2] was the founder of the ascetic sect of Udasi and was the elder son of Guru Nanak, first Guru and founder of Sikhism. He was born to Mata Sulakhani on Bhadra sudi 9, 1551 Bikrami (i.e. 8 September 1494).

Memorials to Udasi mahants of Sadh Belo with an invocation to Sri Chand, the founder of Udasis.

Relationship with Sikh Gurus

Not much is known about the relationship of Guru Angad and Sri Chand.

Guru Amardas declared active and domestic Sikhs to be separate from passive and recluse Udasis.[3]

However the Sikh Gurus, Guru Amardas, Guru Ramdas, Guru Arjan and Guru Hargobind who were also contemporaries of Sri Chand did revere him.

Guru Harigobind's eldest son, Baba Gurditta, was given to the Udasis at the behest of Baba Sri Chand's request and Baba Gurditta eventually replaced Baba Sri Chand as head of the Udasis after his death. Baba Gurditta was the father of Guru Hari Rai, the grandfather of Guru Hari Krishan and the elder half-brother of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

Ram Rai, son of Guru Har Rai joined Udasi sect after a failed attempt of being an official eighth Guru of the Sikhs.

Influence

Composing Aarta

Sri Chand wrote Aarta, his most important writing, in praise of his father, Guru Nanak, and presented it to him after one of the Udasis. This writing had major influence on people of that time who did not know about Guru Nanak yet.

Akharas

Sri Chand established many akharas, some of them being Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad and Shree Panchayati Akhada Bada Udasin.[4]

References
  1. Gurnek Singh. "Baba Srichand JI". Encyclopaedia of Sikhism. Punjabi University Patiala. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  2. "The Encycopaedia of Sikhism, vol. IV, S-Z". archive.org. p. Sri Chand, Baba. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  3. Cunningham,Joseph A History of the Sikhs
  4. "Shree Panchayati Akhada Bada Udasin". Hindustan Times.

Bibliography


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