RELIGIOUS SECTS OF THE HINDUS. 237 



in the Punjabi and other dialects, mostly of a moral or mystic tendency. 

 They are held in great disrepute, however, and are not unfrequently 

 gamblers, drunkards, and thieves. They look up to Tegh Bahader, the 

 father of Guru Govind, as their founder. 



GOVIND SINHIS. 



These form the most important division of the Sikh community, 

 being, in fact, the political association to which the name is applied, or to 

 the Sikh nation generally.* Although professing to derive their national 

 faith from Ncinak, and holding his memory in veneration, the faith they 

 follow is widely different from the quietism of that reformer, and is wholly 

 of a worldly and warlike spirit. Guru Govind devoted his followers to 

 steel, and hence the worship of the sword, as well as its employment 

 against both Mohammedans and Hindus. He also ordered his adherents 

 to allow their hair and beards to grow, and to wear blue garments : he per- 

 mitted them to eat all kinds of flesh, except that of kine, and he threw 

 open his faith and cause to all casts, to whomsoever chose to abandon 

 the institutes of Hinduism, or belief in the mission of Mohammed, for a 

 fraternity of arms and life of predatory daring. It was then only that 

 the Sikhs became a people, and were separated from their Indian, country- 

 men in political constitution, as well as religious tenets — at the same time 

 the Sikhs are still, to a certain extent, Hindus : they worship the deities of 

 the Hindus, and celebrate all their festivals : they derive their legends and 



* Described by Sir John Malcolm, in the eleventh volume of the Asiatic Researches. The 

 Silih priest to whom he alludes (page 198) as one of his authorities, was afterwards well known to me, 

 and was an individual every w;iy worihy of confidence. His name was Atmd Ram, and although 

 advanced in years, he was full of energy and intelligence, combining with them extreme simplicity 

 and kindliness of disposition. The old man was a most favourable and interesting specimen of the 

 Punjubi nation and disciples of Ndnuh. lie died a few years, ago in Calcutta. 



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