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OF THE HINDUS.
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thieves. They look up to TEGH BAHADUR, the father of GURU GOVIND, as their founder.
GOVIND SINHIS.
These form the most important division of the Sikh community, being in fact the political association to which the name is applied, or to the Sikh nation generally'. Although professing to derive their national faith from Nának, and holding his memory in veneration, the faith they follow is widely different from the quietism of that reformer, and is wholly of a worldly and warlike spirit. GURU GOVIND devoted his followers to steel, and hence the worship of the sword, as well as its employment against both Mohammedans and Hindus. He also ordered his adherents to allow their hair and beards to grow, and to wear blue garments: he permitted them to eat all kinds of flesh, except that of kine, and he threw open his faith and cause to all castes, to whomsoever chose to abandon the institutes of Hinduism, or belief in the mission of Mohammed, for a fraternity of arms and life of predatory daring. It was then only that the Sikhs became
1 Described by Sir JOHN MALCOLM, in the eleventh volume of the Asiatic Researches. The Sikh priest to whom he alludes (page 198) as one of his authorities, was afterwards well known to me, and was an individual every way worthy of confidence. His name was Átmá Rám, and although advanced in years, he was full of energy and intelligence, combining with them extreme simplicity and kindliness of disposition. The old man was a most favourable and interesting specimen of the Panjabi nation and disciples of Nának. He died a few years ago in Calcutta.
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