Udasi

Udasipanth
ਉਦਾਸੀਪੰਥ
Portrait of two Udasi mendicants of Sikhism in Delhi, Shepherd & Robertson (possibly), ca.1859–69
Founder
Sri Chand
Regions with significant populations
PunjabSindhUttarakhandUttar PradeshOrissaNepal
Religions
HinduismSikhism
Scriptures
Guru Adi Granth SahibHindu Granths

Udasis (Gurmukhi: ਉਦਾਸੀ ਸੰਪਰਦਾ; udāsī saparadā) (Devanagari: उदासी संप्रदाय), also spelt as Udasins, also known as Nanak Putras (meaning "sons of Nanak"), are a religious sect of ascetic sadhus centred in northern India who follow a tradition known as Udasipanth. Becoming custodians of Sikh shrines in the 18th century, they were notable interpreters and spreaders of the Sikh philosophy during that time. However, their religious practices border on a syncretism of Sikhism and Hinduism, and they did not conform to the Khalsa standards as ordained by Guru Gobind Singh. When the Lahore Singh Sabha reformers, dominated by Tat Khalsa Sikhs, would hold them responsible for indulging in ritual practices antithetical to Sikhism, as well as personal vices and corruption, the Udasi mahants were expelled from the Sikh shrines.