Interesting Udasin website

[tSingh]

www.shreeramvicharashram.org

I don't know why but of all the samprdais, its the Udasis who have embraced the internet the most. Another interesting site, opening with 'Sarv Dharam Eka Brahm' and moving onto some pretty interesting anti-non-veg stuff. Nice photos in the founders section too.

By the way, I've not had gospel truth status for this one yet, but I'm now 99.9999% convinced the famous Swami Ramdev is in fact Udasi. Maybe this is already common knowledge. I asked a Nirmala or two who have said he is. At his birthday function in Kankhal on TV I noticed all the big udasi mahants kind of running the show. The next week it was an Udasi mahant who was invited to explain the benefits of Swami's exercises. plus there are those statements he's made about Sikhi in general. He recently did his Patiala event at the (quite marginal) Udasi Ashram there.

[Kam1825]

Thanks Tirath, the site looks interesting

[Lazy Sewadar]

Dragging up an ancient post.....

By the way, I've not had gospel truth status for this one yet, but I'm now 99.9999% convinced the famous Swami Ramdev is in fact Udasi. Maybe this is already common knowledge. I asked a Nirmala or two who have said he is. At his birthday function in Kankhal on TV I noticed all the big udasi mahants kind of running the show. The next week it was an Udasi mahant who was invited to explain the benefits of Swami's exercises. plus there are those statements he's made about Sikhi in general. He recently did his Patiala event at the (quite marginal) Udasi Ashram there.

This was confirmed this year at the 2013 Maha Kumbha Mela, when Baba Ramdev took his place in the Udasi procession for Shahi Ishnan.... though, interestingly, is apparently not a very highly rated or regarded member of the akhara (as evident by his placement towards the back of the procession).

[jaikaara]

http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1660250/

Punjab-Haryana High Court

Shiv Ram Dass Udasin vs The Punjab State on 5 April, 1954

Equivalent citations: AIR 1955 P H 28, 1955 CriLJ 337

Author: H Singh

Bench: Bhandari, H Singh, Falshaw

JUDGMENT

Harnam Singh, J.

1. In Criminal Original No. 35 of 1952 Shri Shiv-ram Das Udasi applies
under Section 99-B, Criminal P. C., hereinafter referred to as the
Code, that the order passed by the State Government under Section 99-A
of the Code forfeiting to the Government every copy of the book called
'Gurmat Vichar Suraj' and all the documents containing copies, reprints
and translations of or extracts from that book may be set aside.

2. In Criminal Original No. 35 of 1952 the point for consideration is
whether the book called 'Gurmat Vichar Suraj' contains any matter the
publication of which is punishable under Section 124A or Section 153A
or S. 295A, Penal Code.

3. Section 99-D of the Code provides that the Special Bench shall, if
it is not satisfied that the book contains matter punishable under
Section 124A or Section 153A or Section 295A, Penal Code, set aside)
the order of forfeiture.

4. In these proceedings it is common ground that the boob does not
contain any seditious matter punishable under Section 124A or any
matter which promotes or is intended to promote feelings of enmity or
hatred between different classes of citizens of India punishable under
Section 153A, Penal Code. That being the position of matters, the
question that arises for decision is whether the book contains matter
which is deliberately and maliciously intended to outrage the feelings
of any class of citizens of India by insulting the religion or the
religious beliefs of that class.

5. In 1898 Bhai Kahan Singh published the book called 'Ham Hindu Nahin'
wherein he stressed the points of difference on religious mat-ters
between the Hindus and the Sikhs.

6. In 1937-38 Shri Shivram Das Udasi wrote the book called 'Gurmat
Darpan'. In that book Shri Shivram Das Udasi maintained inter alia that
inasmuch as the Sikh Gurus had made supreme sacrifices for the
protection of Hindu culture the Gurus were Hindus. That book was
published by Sardar Bulaqi Singh and Sardar Amar Singh of Gujrat,
Punjab.

7. In April, 1939 Shri Bhag Mal Udasi published the book called 'Gurmat
Darshan' wherein he made an attempt to show that the point of view
expressed by Shri Shivram Das Udasi in the book called 'Gurmat Darpan'
was erroneous.

8. In February, 1951 Shri Shivram Das Udasi published book called
'Gurmat Vichar Suraj' wherein he dealt with points raised by Shri Bhag
Mal Udasi in 'Gurmat Darshan' and Bhai Khan Singh in 'Ham Hindu Nahin'.

9. By order passed on 29-2-1952, the State Government has declared to
be forfeited to Government every copy of the book called 'Gurmat Vichar
Suraj' and all the documents containing copies, reprints, and
translations of or extracts from 'Gurmat Vichar Suraj'. In passing
orders under Section 99-A of the Code the State Government thought that
the passages appearing at pages 184, 246, 248, 259, 272, 291, 302, and
312 of the book called 'Gurmat Vichar Suraj' were punishable under
Section 295A, Penal Code.

10. Indisputably, it is no defence to a charge under Section 295A,
Penal Code, for anyone to plead that he was writing a book in reply to
the one written by one professing another religion who has attacked his
own religion.

11. In arguments it was conceded that the publication of passages
appearing at pages 259, 272, 302 and 312 of the book does not fall
within S, 295-A, Penal Code. Indeed it was said that the objectionable
passages in the books were those to be found at pages 184, 246, 248,
and 291 of the book.

12. Shri Bhag Mal maintained in the book called 'Gurmat Darshan', that
God is not in the guise of the Hindu deity, Vishnu. In that book Shri
Bhag Mal prefaced his discussion by his own poetic composition. In the
passage appearing at page 184 of the book called 'Gurmat Vichar Suraj'
Shri Shivram Das Udasi has criticised the passage from the poetic
composition of Shri Bhag Mal reading

"Ram Krishan 'Avtar Asur Sangharan Karne Sirje Sirjanhar'."

13. Plainly, Shri Bhag Mal in the passage cited above maintained that
Cod created Ram and Krishan 'Avtars' for destroying demons. If so,
there was nothing offensive in that passage.

14. In "The Opening" of the 'Sri Guru Granth Sahib' Guru Nanak
describes God to be "One Supreme Being, the true-and-eternal Name, the
Creative Person, fearless and without enmity the timeless Form,
'unborn' and self-existing, the Enlightner known through grace; true in
the beginning, true in the night of ages, true even now and true
eternally". In the hymns of the Gurus the 'Incarnations' are stated to
be men sent by God to do His work of saving the world age after age.
That is the Sikh belief about the mission of the Gurus.

15. In justifying the married life of Hindu deities Shri Shivram Das
Udasi makes reference to the life of Guru Har Rai. In considering that
matter the author maintains that the Sikh Gurus having married, no
objection can be made to the ten incarnations of Vishnu on the ground
that they were married. In 'Raj Magh.' Guru Arjan says that "the
devotion of the house-holder is superior to that of the anchoret".

16. Again, in the passage under consideration it is said that the ten
incarnations of Vishnu cannot be said to be full of anger for the
reason that they destroyed the demons. In discussing that matter Shri
Shivram Das Udasi cites with approval the battles fought by Guru Har
Gobind and Guru Gobind Singh against tyranny and oppression and the
punishment imposed upon the 'Masands' by Guru Gobind Singh.

17. In the passage appearing at page 184 of the book the author refers
to collection of 'tithes' ordered by the Gurus and maintains that the
mere possession of wealth is no evidence of greed.

18. Prom that I have said above, it is plain that in the passage
appearing at page 184 of the book the author seems to accept the
conduct of the Gurus to be the Ideal Conduct and on that basis seeks to
justify the conduct of the ten incarnations of Vishnu.

19. In the passage appearing at page 146 of the book Shri Shivram Das
Udasi seems to think that Guru Teg Bahadur thought that the soul was
perishable. In this connection he cites the 'Slok' of Guru Teg Bahadur
which reads

"What is born dieth to-day, to-morrow, or the next day; Nanak, sing
God's praises and lay aside all entanglements."

20. Plainly, in this 'Slok' Guru Teg Bahadur emphasises the eternal
truth that death is certain for all. In the hymns of the Gurus the soul
is described to be 'unborn', 'undying', 'deathless' and 'birthless'.

21. In 'Rag' Devgandhari Guru Teg Bahadur sang

"All thy relations are only for life; Thy mother, father, brothers,
sons, kinsmen and the wife of thy house, 'When the soul parteth from
thy body, cry out and call thee a ghost'; Nobody keepeth thee even
half a 'ghari'; they expel thee from the house."

22. In numerous hymns to be found in the 'Sri Guru Granth Sahib' bodies
are said to die but the soul which possesses the body is stated to be
eternal.

23. In 'Rag' Asa Guru Arjan Sang

"*****

The soul neither dieth nor is born;

*****

24. In 'Akal Ustat' Guru Gobind Singh described the Sikh conception of
the manner in which souls emanate from God and are again absorbed in
Him in these words :

"As from one lire millions of sparks arise; though arising
separately, they unite again in the fire;

As from one heap of dust several particles of dust fill the air, and
on filling it again blend with the dust;

As in one stream millions of waves are produced; the waves being
made of water all become water;

So from God's form non-sentient and sentient things are manifested,
and, springing from Him shall ail be united in Him again".

25. Shri Shivram Das Udasi seems to think that the immortality of soul
conflicts with the Gurus' teaching that God is without a 'second'. In
the noble words of Guru Gobind Singh cited above the soul comes forth
from God and is always really in Him as a partial expression of His
Will.

26. In considering tho matter Shri Shivram Das Udasi thought that the
basic teaching of the Gurus being that there is no vicarious atonement
the thought expressed by Guru Teg Bahadur in the 'Slok' cited above
conflicts with that doctrine. In expressing that view Shri Shivram Das
Udasi thought that the soul was perishable.

27. In 'Sri Rag' Guru Amar Das said :

"The 'pandits' induced by wordly gain read, and read, and recite the
'vedas', The fool who in his love of mammon forgetteth God's Name,
shall be punished therefor."

In commenting upon that thought Shri Shivram Das Udasi expresses the
opinion that the 'Granthis' induced by wordly gain read and read and
recite 'Sri Guru Granth Sahib' and shall also be punished.

28. In the passage appearing at page 248 of the book the author
comments upon the 'Kabit' of Bhai Gur Das reading :

"As a virtuous woman ever thinketh on her husband and desireth not
to behold another man;

As the 'chatrik' never longeth for lakes, rivers, or seas, but for
cloud-drops and singeth the praises of the Beloved;

As the 'chakor' in no way desireth to behold the sun, but in every
way longeth for the moon, which is dearer to it than life; So do the
Guru's Sikhs naturally refrain from worshipping other gods, but not
insultingly or disdainfully."

29. In numerous passages appearing in the 'Sri Guru Granth Sahib' the
Gurus have emphasised that worship is due to God alone. In the days
when the Sikh Gurus lived they were not worshipped by the Sikhs and the
'Sri Guru Granth Sahib' being the embodiment of the ten Gurus is not
the object of worship with the Sikhs.

30. In tho passage appearing at page 291 of ' the book Shri Shivram Das
Udasi expresses the opinion that the Sikh Gurus did not repudiate the
institution of caste system. That he was wrong in so thinking is plain
from what Guru Nanak said in 'Sri Rag Ki War' :

"Castes are folly, names are folly".

31. In 'Rag Bhairo' Guru Amar Das said :

'Let none be proud of his caste, He who knoweth God is a Brahman. O!
Stupid fool, be not proud of thy caste;

From such pride many sins result. Everybody saith there are four
castes, But they all proceeded from God's seed. The world is all
made out of one clay, But the Potter fashioned it into vessels of
many sorts. The body is formed from tho union of five elements;

Let any one consider 'if he hath' less or more 'in his composition'.

Saith Nanak, the soul is fettered by its acts, Without meeting the
true Guru salvation is not obtained."

32. In writing about the mission of Guru Nanak 'Bhai' Gurdas said that
Guru Nanak established 'Avarn Asharam' in India.

33. Prom what I have said above, it is plain that the passages to which
objection is taken in the order of forfeiture there seems to be some
misconception of thought.

34. In order to bring the case within Section 295A, of the Code it is
not so much the matter of discourse as the manner of it. In other
words, the words used should be such as are bound to be regarded by any
reasonable man as grossly offensive and provocative and maliciously and
deliberately intended to outrage the feelings of any class of citizens
of India. In no part of the book called 'Gurmat Vichar Suraj' is there
any passage showing disrespect to the Sikh Gurus or the 'Sri Guru
Granth Sahib'. From what I have seen in the book it is plain that the
author professes to accept the message of the Gurus as contained in the
'Sri Guru Granth Sahib' but seeks to place his own interpretation on
that message. That being the position of matters, I do not think that
the publication falls within Section 295A, Penal Code.

35. For the foregoing reasons, I set aside the order of forfeiture
passed by the State Government on 29-2-1952 forfeiting to Government
every copy of the book called 'Gurmat Vichar Suraj' and all the
documents containing copies, reprints, and translations of or extracts
from that book.

36. Finding, however, that Shri Shivram Das Udasi was ill-advised to
write the book called "Gurmat Vichar Suraj" in 1951 I leave the parties
to bear their own costs.

Bhandari, C.J.

37. I agree with my learned brother that the book does not contain any
matter punishable under Section 124A or Section 153A or Section 295A,
Penal Code, & consequently that the order of forfeiture must be set
aside, I would leave the parties to bear their own costs.

Falshaw, J.

38. I agree.

[Lazy Sewadar]

Bit off topic (as not the same individual and subject matter is 100% unconnected) but an interesting case report nonetheless.