ABSTRACT
The brief account of the Udasis, Nirmalas and Seva Panthis shows that they were primarily concerned about the propagation of the mission of Guru Nanak and his successors. The popular Sikh tradition ascribes the origin of this sect to Guru Gobind Singh. The Udasis, Seva Panthis and Nirmalas set a tradition of founding sectarian establishments. Each establishment evolved its spacial structures comprising worshipping spots, congregation halls and residential structures. The heads of these establishments were assisted by several confidants and followers who observed distinct codes of conduct, dress codes and eating taboos. State patronage played an important role in the development and expansion of the network of these establishments. The Udasis underwent physical sufferings for reaching to a param tatva and mukti, whereas the Seva Panthis and Nirmalas attached supreme importance to seva and simran. However, the mahants, sants and babas held the Sikh Gurus and the Adi-Granth in high esteem.
