Who Is Sehajdhari Sikh And Who Is Patit

[JSinghnz]

This question comes up quite often in this forum.

I am posting my old article which clarifies the difference between the two.

Who is Sehajdhari Sikh and who is Patit

1 Comment 397 Views

High Court decision is very shocking. This judgement should be condemned by every Sikh all around the world. This judgement will give the Patits to change the whole concept of Sikhism. Our identity of being a Sikh has been challenged here. There should be huge protests against this direct attack on us. This is a very serious issue which needs a united stand by all Jathebandis and Sikh organisations.

Members of the SGPC executive, led by its president Avtar Singh, today laid down the definition of a Sehajdhari Sikh.

Sticking to the definition given in the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925, the committee members have stated that Sehajdhari Sikhs are those who are born in non-Sikh families, but follow the tenets of Sikhism. A Sehajdhari Sikh is thus a non-Sikh who performs ceremonies according to Sikh rites; who does not use tobacco, does not consume halal meat in any form; who is not a “patit” and who recites the mulmantra of Guru Granth Sahib.

In the resolution passed during a meeting held this evening, the SGPC pointed out that the definition of Sehajdhari given in the Section 2 (10-A) of the Gurdwara Act states that the word “sehajdhari” consists of two words “sehaj” (slowly) and “dhari” (adopt a religious path) and hence these are those novices who slowly move on the path of Sikhism to adopt its doctrine, ethics and tenets.

A Sehajdhari, therefore, is one who has entered the path of Sikhism and he will continue to be a Sehajdhari Sikh till he fully accepts the moral and spiritual vows of Sikhism, to be called a practicing Sikh. The SGPC resolution also made it clear that when a Sehajdhari Sikh becomes a keshdhari Sikh, but he chooses to trim his body hair, he will not be a Sehajdhari Sikh. Similarly, if a person born into a Sikh family (and is a Sikh), but chooses to disrespect his keshdhari roop he will not turn into a Sehajdhari Sikh but become a “patit”.

So the disrespect to kesh makes a person born into a Sikh family a PATIT. If these persons cannot respect their identity, they have no right for any voting rights in SGPC. It is as simple as that.

The amount of Sehajdharis in Punjab today is probably no more than 50 people. Rest of the Sikhs are either patit or keshdhari/Amritdharis. But yet when the elections come the actual definition will be ignored and for dirty political reasons the patits will be included into Sehajdhari.

Source: JSingh, Discussion Forum

[SikhKosh]

A Patit is someone who has taken Amrit and then broken Rehat. Someone simply born in a Sikh family (not taken Pahul) that cuts his hair does not become an apostate - patit.

[JSinghnz]

A Patit is someone who has taken Amrit and then broken Rehat. Someone simply born in a Sikh family (not taken Pahul) that cuts his hair does not become an apostate - patit.

Had you cared to read the above article, you would have not written the above. Posting the relevant clarification again, hopefully you understand

Similarly, if a person born into a Sikh family (and is a Sikh), but chooses to disrespect his keshdhari roop he will not turn into a Sehajdhari Sikh but become a “patit”.

[JSinghnz]

I thought so too, someone has to willingly initiate into the dharm to be part of it, can't really be forced to take on a title.

Can you think,?????? just wondering, lol.

And what title are you referring to?

[JSinghnz]

lol why are you wondering that..?

The title of a sehajdhari Sikh, a shishya(student) is someone who willingly wants to learn from their respected Guru ji, similarly someone can't be forced into become a student, right.? So wouldn't it make sense that a sehajdhari Sikh is someone who is looking to become Sikh, and a patit is someone who once accepted their Guru ji (by initiating into their religion willingly), but then rejected them.

Stop using your own sense in everything for goodness sake.

The clarification is clear but you still

want to put your misunderstandings and

confusion in easily understandable matters

[JSinghnz]

I am sure that I'm not the only Sikh who thinks this way~! The guy above agrees too.

Try reading the definition agreed by the Panth again. If you have difficulty comprehending simple English let me know I will try to break it down just for you.

[SikhKosh]

Had you cared to read the above article, you would have not written the above. Posting the relevant clarification again, hopefully you understand

Similarly, if a person born into a Sikh family (and is a Sikh), but chooses to disrespect his keshdhari roop he will not turn into a Sehajdhari Sikh but become a “patit”.

The article is wrong. So I repeat: you cannot become patit unless you have taken Amrit and then broken Rehat.

[JSinghnz]

The article is wrong. So I repeat: you cannot become patit unless you have taken Amrit and then broken Rehat.

YOU ARE WRONG, NOT THE ARTICLE.

Patit's legal definition as inserted in the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925, through the amending Act XI of 1944:: Patit means a person who being a Keshdhari Sikh, trims or shaves his beard or keshas or who after taking amrit commits any one or more of the four kurahits.

[SikhKosh]

Maybe you are unaware of the fact that keshdhari was historically the same as amritdhari. See Rehatnama Chaupa Singh of the 18th century which divides the Khalsa in Keshdhari (Amritdhari) and Sahajdhari alone. The 'third' division of Keshdharis came into being much later. Rehatnamas exist which clearly condemn persons who have Kesh and do not take Pahul. Reference: "dharey kesh pahul bina bhekhi muda sikh". A Sikh who keeps kesh but does not take Pahul is an imposter.

Sahajdharis were allowed to cut kes but encouraged to assimilate into the Khalsa by themselves taking Amrit at one point, initiating their children or marrying into Khalsa families (see Bhagat Ratnavli - 1721 & Rehatnama Chaupa Singh - 1764).

[Akalifauj]

Sahajdharis were allowed to cut kes but encouraged to assimilate into the Khalsa by themselves taking Amrit at one point, initiating their children or marrying into Khalsa families (see Bhagat Ratnavli - 1721 & Rehatnama Chaupa Singh - 1764).

Provide the Hukam where Guru Sahib allowed any type of Sikh to cut hair; sehajdhari, amritdhari, gursikh, sant.