238 SKETCH OF THE 



literature from the same sources, and pay great veneration to the Brali- 

 manas. The impress of their origin is still, therefore, strongly retained, 

 notwithstanding their rejection of caste, and their substituting the Das 

 Padshah ki granth* the compilation of Guru Govind, for the Veclas, and 

 Pur anas. 



NIRMALAS. 



These differ but little from the Uddsis, and are, perhaps, still closer 

 adherents to the doctrines of the founder, as the name imports : they 

 profess to be free from all worldly soil or stain, and, consequently, lead a 

 wholly religious life. They observe celibacy, and disregard their per- 

 sonal appearance, often going nearly naked. They are not like the 

 Uddsis, assembled in colleges, nor do they hold any particular form of 

 divine service, but confine their devotion to speculative meditation on the 

 perusal of the writings of Nanak, Kabir, and other unitarian teachers. 

 They are always solitary, supported by their disciples or opulent indivi- 

 duals, and are often known as able expounders of the Vedanta philo- 

 sophy, in which Brahmans do not disdain to become their scholars. They 

 are not very numerous ; but a few are almost always to be found at 



* From the succession of Chiefs ; Govind was tenth teacher in succession from Ndnak, who 

 flourished at the close of the 17th and beginning of the 18th century. 



The other standard authority of the Sikhs, the Adi Granth is a compilation chiefly of the 

 works of Ndnak, and his immediate successors, made by Arjurimal, a Sikh teacher, in the end of the 

 16th century. As it is usually met with, however, it comprehends the writings of many other indivi- 

 duals, many of whom are Vaishnavas. At a Sikh Sangat, or Chapel, in Benares, the Book, a large 

 folio, there denominated the Sambhu Granth, was said to contain the contributions of the following 

 writers : — 



Nanak, Nam Deo, Kabir, Sheikh Feridaddin, Dhana, Rdmdnand, P?pa, Sena, Jayadeva, 

 Pkandak, Sudama, Prahldd, Dhuru, Raidas, Vihhishana, Mlra Bdi, Kerma Bat. 



