Sahajdhari

 ( Sikhism ) 

1. Keshdharis: those who maintan uncut hair. This is the popular image of Sikhs, as they generally keep at-least some of the five Ks, usually kesh and a kara, though some may also keep a kanga and kirpan (especially a miniature one). Some maintain the rehit very strictly whilst others try to avoid transgressing it when in the public-gaze but they all generally accept it. Some men of this group may trim their beard. They constitute a substantial proportion of the Sikh population, especially in the Punjab homeland, although it would be impossible to give a reliable estimate on their share of the Sikh population.
2. Amritdharis: those who have undertaken the Amrit Sanskar initiation into the Khalsa and thus maintain the 5 Ks strictly. They keep Singh and Kaur in their names. They may constitute around 15–18% of the Sikh population.
3. Sehajdharis: this type of Sikh generally does not keep uncut hair and are gradualist Sikhs. They may reject other aspects of the rehit and may not keep traditionally Sikh names but rather Hindu-inflected ones. Once interpreted as meaning "slow-adopter", referring to Sikhs who were working toward becoming Khalsa Sikhs but not one, it is more likely the term derives from the word sahaj as used by Guru Nanak, which refers to "ineffable bliss of the soul’s liberation". Sehajdhari Sikhs are often of a relatively high-caste background (mostly trading-castes and rarely Jats) who want to maintain their status as they are concerned of adhering to the rehit, which may challenge their position. Some sehajdhari families only Gurdino while giving the rest of their children freedom to assume either a Hindu or Sikh identity. This label was traditionally often applied to Khatris and Aroras who were Sikhs but did not follow the Khalsa practice of maintaining the 5Ks.
4. Monas: no proper term has been coined for this group, they may be called mona ("shaven") but this term can be interpreted as offensive and it does not properly distinguish them from the sehajdhari group. It refers to Sikhs who are of a traditional keshdhari familial background but they choose to cut their hair and do not adhere to Sikh principles strictly but they usually have Singh or Kaur in their name still. They will wear a special kind of headwear when visiting gurdwaras. This fourth group is especially prevalent in the Sikh diaspora.

All amritdharis are keshdharis but not all keshdharis are amritdharis. However, keshdharis who are not amritdharis still consider themselves Khalsa Sikhs, despite not undergoing its baptismal ritual.

Sahajdhari Sikhs have continued participating in Sikh life right up to modern times, and have associated themselves with Sikh institutions and organizations such as the SGPC, Chief Khalsa Diwan, Shiromani Akali Dal, and the All-India Sikh Students Federation. The Singh Sabhas used to have seats on their executive committees reserved for the Sahajdharis. Among their own societies, confined mainly to north-western India prior to the migrations of 1947, were the Sahajdhari Committee of Multan, Guru Nanak Sahajdhari Diwan of Panja Sahib and Sri Guru Nanak Sahajdhari Jatha of Campbellpore. The Sahajdhari Diwan of Panja Sahib attained the status of their central forum. They had as well their annual conference, which met for its first session on 13 April 1929 under the chairmanship of Sir Jogendra Singh, who passed on the office to the famous Sikh scholar and savant, Bhai Kahn Singh. A Sahajdharis' conference formed part of the annual proceedings of the Sikh Educational Conference. The of colonial Punjab can also be described as a type of sehajdhari Sikhs.

The Sahajdharis share all of the religious, and social customs and ceremonies with the main body of the Sikhs, and join their congregations in the . The population in the Punjab region of Sahajdhari Sikhs (another name used is Sikh Nanakpanthis) according to the 1891 Census was 397,000 (20% of the total Sikh population); according to the 1901 Census, 297,000 (13% of the total Sikhs); according to the 1911 Census, 451,000 (14.9% of the total Sikhs); according to the 1921 Census, 229,000 (7% of the total Sikhs); according to the 1931 Census, 282,000 (6.5% of the total Sikhs). Outside of Punjab, the North-West Frontier Province and Sindh had considerable Sahajdhari populations. Consequent to the partition of India in 1947, Sahajdharis became widely dispersed in the country. Their India-wide forum was the Sarab Hind (All-India) Sahajdharis Conference, which rotated from town to town for its annual sessions. Three of its presidents, Gur Darshan Singh, Sant Ram Singh and Ram Lal Singh Rahi, the founding Executive Vice President of Sarab Hind (All-India) Sahajdharis Conference, were recognized with the "Nishan-e-Khalsa" award by the Anandpur Foundation at the Tercentennial Celebration of Khalsa in 1999.

• Kesh (uncut hair)
• Kanga (wooden comb)
• Kacchera (specially-designed underwear)
• Kara (iron bracelet)
• Kirpan (strapped sword)

• Jagiasi-Abhiasi
• Sewapanthi
• Bandais
• Nirmalas
• Nanakpanthi

• Bhai Ram Lal Singh Rahi – Now an Amritdhari Sikh, was the founding Executive Vice President of Sarab Hind (All-India) Sahajdharis Conference, recognized with the "Nishan-e-Khalsa" award by the Anadpur Foundation at the Tercentennial Celebration of Khalsa in 1999.
• Deep Sidhu – Sikh youth leader
• Udham Singh – Indian independence freedom fighter
• Hardeep Grewal – Canadian MPP
• Harry Bains – Canadian politician
• Sukh Dhaliwal – Canadian MP
• Nav (rapper) – Canadian rapper

• Khalsa
• Prohibitions in Sikhism
• Gurmata
• Gurmukh
• Manmukh
• Patit

• Kirpal Singh and Harbans Lal of Global Sikh Studies
• Concepts In Sikhism , Edited by Dr. Surinder Singh Sodhi
• SIKH IDENTITY: Continuity and Change, Eds. Pashaura Singh and N. Gerald Barrier, Manohar Publications, New Delhi