Sant Nirankari Mission

Sant Nirankari Mission

Sant Nirankari Samagam Fair at Sant Nirankari Colony, New Delhi on 16 Nov 2014
Abbreviation SNM
Motto Universal Brotherhood
Formation May 1929
Purpose "Universal Brotherhood"
Headquarters Sant Nirankari Colony, Delhi
- 110 009. India.
Main organ
 Sant Nirankari Mandal
Website www.nirankari.org

The Sant Nirankari Mission (Hindi: संत निरंकारी मिशन; also known as Universal Brotherhood Mission) is a spiritual organisation based in India. The Sant Nirankari Mission identifies itself as "neither a new religion nor a sect of an existing religion, but an all-embracing spiritual movement dedicated to human welfare".[SNM 1]

The Mission originated from the Nirankari movement started by Baba Dyal Singh but is no longer affiliated with the movement.[1] It was established in 1929 by Baba Buta Singh who was a member of Nirankari sect. It has been targeted by orthodox Sikh groups, who consider the mission to be a heresy of Sikhism.[2]

The Mission has about 3000 centers and millions of followers across the world.Its headquarter is located in Sant Nirankari Colony, New Delhi.[SNM 2] Savinder Kaur, wife of fourth guru Baba Hardev Singh currently leads the mission.

History

The Nirankari movement began with the reformist teachings of Baba Dyal Singh in the early 19th century. Baba Dyal Singh emphasised the importance of a living guru, while mainstream Sikhism accepted the Sikh scriptures as the final, and current, guru of the faith. This eventually caused a distinction between mainstream Sikhism and the Sant Nirankari mission. In 1929, one segment of the movement led by Baba Buta Singh, now known as the Sant Nirankari Mission, disassociated itself from mainstream Sikhism and became an independent sect.[3]

Baba Buta Singh was succeeded by Baba Avtar Singh. In the 1960s, the sudden growth of the Sant Nirankari Mission aroused the ire of fundamentalist Sikhs and led to violent clashes.[4] In 1980, Gurbachan Singh, third chief leader (satguru) of the Mission, was assassinated by Ranjit Singh, a member of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha. The Jatha, shortly before the killing, had been involved in protests against the Sant Nirankaris.[5] There were other violent clashes in 1978. After the assassination of third guru Gurubachan SIngh, his son Baba Hardev Singh succeeded as the chief leader of the organisation and remained until his death on 13 May 2016. On 17 May 2016, Baba Hardev Singh's wife, Savinder Kaur succeeded him. She is the first woman chief to lead the mission.[6]

Avtar Bani

The Avtar Bani outlines the key philosophy of the Sant Nirankari Mission, and serves as the group's primary text, though not necessarily a holy book. It is named after its author Baba Avtar Singh.[SNM 3] Its initial version was first published in 1957. Its successor, the Sampuran Avtar Bani ("complete Avtar Bani") was published in 1965. The Avtar Bani was originally written in Punjabi verse, but some stanzas were in the Urdu and Sindhi language. It contains 376 hymns which describe the qualities of Formless God (Nirankar) and the important role of a spiritual guru in attaining God-realisation. It has been published in Gurumukhi, Devnagari, Urdu and Roman scripts. It has also been translated and published in English (verse and prose), Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Nepali and Marathi verse.

Nirankari Museum

The Nirankari Museum was established by fourth satguru Baba Hardev Singh on 22 February 2005. The museum is located within the Sant Nirankari Sarovar in New Delhi, which depicts the history of the Nirankari Mission through audio-visuals and pictures.[7][8]

Nirankari International Samagam

The first Nirankari International Samagam was held on 11–12 August 2012 at National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The theme of the samagam was Oneness.

References

  1. ↑ W. H. McLeod (28 July 2005). Historical dictionary of Sikhism. Scarecrow Press. pp. 180–. ISBN 978-0-8108-5088-0. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  2. ↑ William Gould (31 October 2011). Religion and Conflict in Modern South Asia. Cambridge University Press. pp. 237–. ISBN 978-0-521-70511-0. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  3. ↑ Padma Rangaswamy (30 December 2007). Namaste America. Penn State Press. pp. 269–. ISBN 978-0-271-02775-3. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  4. ↑ Martin E. Marty (1 July 1996). Fundamentalisms and the State: Remaking Polities, Economies, and Militance. University of Chicago Press. pp. 273–. ISBN 978-0-226-50884-9. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  5. ↑ "Punjab: The Knights of Falsehood – Psalms of Terror". South Asia Terrorism Portal. New Delhi: Institute for Conflict Management. 31 December 2001. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
  6. ↑ "Baba Hardev Singh's wife Savinder to head Nirankari sect". Hindustan Times. 18 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  7. ↑ "Our Staff Reporter" (23 February 2005). "Nirankari Museum inaugurated". The Hindu. Chennai, Madras, India: Kasturi and Sons Ltd. OCLC 35304678. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
  8. ↑ Tribune News Service (24 February 2005). "A museum of spiritual panorama". The Tribune. Chandigarh, India: The Tribune Trust. OCLC 47351219. Retrieved 11 December 2010.

References from Sant Nirankari Mandal website

  1. ↑ "History | Baba Buta Singh Ji (1873–1943)". Sant Nirankari Mission. Delhi, India: Sant Nirankari Mandal (Regd.). Retrieved 10 December 2010.
  2. ↑ "Souvenir 50th Samagam – Organisational Outfit of Sant Nirankari Mission". Sant Nirankari Mission. Delhi, India: Sant Nirankari Mandal (Regd.). Retrieved 10 December 2010.
  3. ↑ "SNM History – Baba Avtar Singh Ji". Sant Nirankari Mission. Delhi, India: Sant Nirankari Mandal (Regd.). Retrieved 11 December 2010.
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