Udasi Sect and Its Popularity- A Study of Revenue-Free Grants in Punjab (Late Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Century)

Abstract

The mainstream Sikh faith attracted a lot of state patronage but Udāsīs, an Order of Sikhs, was also very popular and attracted generous endowments. The udāsīs made an appearance on the scene of Sikh history before the end of the sixteenth century and consisted of various celibate ascetic Orders within the Sikh community. Establishments of the above-mentioned sect were known by different terms, akhārās, derās, darbārs, samādhs and dharamsālas. The present paper deals with the study of growing popularity of udāsīs by way of study of revenue-free grants in the Punjab during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century and is largely based on documentary evidence, related to the revenue-free land grants, which was collected by the British administrators after the annexation of the Punjab in 1849 and this primary data is available at National Archives of India, New Delhi, in form of Foreign/Political Proceedings.