# Sadh

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Hindu sect in northern India

This article is about the Hindu sect in northern India. For other uses, see [Sadh (disambiguation)](/source/Sadh_(disambiguation)).

The **Sadh**, also referred to as **Satnami**, are a [Hindu](/source/Hindu) community, found mainly in [North India](/source/North_India), traditionally associated with textile dyeing and calico printing. They are found mainly in [Uttar Pradesh](/source/Uttar_Pradesh), concentrated in [Farrukhabad District](/source/Farrukhabad_District), with small numbers also found in [Saharanpur](/source/Saharanpur), [Mirzapur](/source/Mirzapur). [Meerut](/source/Meerut) and [Bareilly](/source/Bareilly) districts.[1]

## History and origin

The term Sadh is derived from [sadhu](/source/Sadhu), which means a mediator.[1] The Sadh use the name *Satnami* to call upon the God. Hence, they call themselves as *Satnamis*.[2] There are two sub-divisions in the community, the Shamme, and Vidhi. The Shamme are those who strictly follow their religion, while members of the Vidhi division do not adhere religious sanction.[1]

The origin of the Sadh may be traced to an early Satnami sect founded in 1543 CE or 1657 CE by Birbhan of Bijesar, a village near [Narnaul, Haryana](/source/Narnaul%2C_Hariyana).[2][3] Birbhan claimed to be inspired by a student of [Ravidas](/source/Ravidas).[2] In the late 1600s, this sect was mostly composed of the lower strata of Hindu society, particularly farmers, carpenters, goldsmiths, etc. They were ruled by the [Mughal](/source/Mughal_Empire) emperor [Aurangzeb](/source/Aurangzeb), and in 1672 they revolted, only to be annihilated by his army. The surviving members of the sect, or their descendants, may have played a part in the eventual formation of the Sadh in the eighteenth or early nineteenth century.[3][4]

## Present circumstances

The Sadh specializes in printing on colour and silk cloth. The community is now involved in the retail side of this industry. They have traditional [caste](/source/Caste) councils, and in rural areas these councils resolve any disputes within the community. They are an [endogamous](/source/Endogamous) Hindu community who practice [vegetarianism](/source/Vegetarianism_and_religion).[1]

## See also

- [Satnampanth](/source/Satnampanth)

- [Patwa](/source/Patwa)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-POI_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-POI_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-POI_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-POI_1-3) [People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part Three](https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=vkkK6SZOo_gC&oi=fnd&pg=PA1031&dq=People+of+India+Uttar+Pradesh+Volume+XLII&ots=pKpLJmgimz&sig=7UHzoE7pmZ-TkIp_vJeq3yMJJ_s#v=snippet&q=Sadh&f=false) by K S Singh page 1229–1231 Manohar Publications

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Hastings2003_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Hastings2003_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Hastings2003_2-2) [Grierson, George Abraham](/source/George_Abraham_Grierson) (1908). ["Sadhs"](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Encyclopedia_of_Religion_and_Ethics_Volume_11.pdf&page=70). In [Hastings, James](/source/James_Hastings) (ed.). *[Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics](/source/Encyclopedia_of_Religion_and_Ethics)*. Vol. XI: Sacrifice-Sudra. New York: [Charles Scribner's Sons](/source/Charles_Scribner's_Sons). pp. 46–47.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_3-1) ["Satnami sect | History, Founder, Satnam Panth, & Facts | Britannica"](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Satnami-sect). *www.britannica.com*. Retrieved 15 August 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Lamb_4-0)** Lamb, Ramdas (29 August 2002). [*Rapt in the Name: The Ramnamis, Ramnam, and Untouchable Religion in Central India*](https://books.google.com/books?id=STw9LQtx89oC). SUNY Press. p. 51. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7914-5385-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7914-5385-8).

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sadh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadh) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadh?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.