The ascetic son of a Sikh founder who walked his own spiritual path

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Sri Chand, the eldest son of Guru Nanak, founded the Udasi sect, championing celibacy and renunciation. While his father established Sikhism, Sri Chand’s path diverged, creating a unique legacy that bridged Vedic scholarship with his father’s philosophy, ultimately influencing the development of Sikh scripture and the history of the Punjab.

Born in 1494, Sri Chand was the eldest son of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. Despite his father’s prominence, Sri Chand was not chosen as his successor, a role that went to Bhai Lehna, later known as Guru Angad. This transition was marked by tension, as Sri Chand and his brother initially asserted claims to their father’s estate in Kartarpur. While some accounts suggest a rift, others emphasize that Sri Chand maintained respectful, even cordial, relations with subsequent Sikh gurus throughout his long life.

Sri Chand’s spiritual framework, known as Bhakti-Jnana Samuccaya, integrated elements of his father’s teachings with ascetic practices like celibacy and renunciation—lifestyles the Sikh gurus actively discouraged in favor of the householder’s path. He was a learned Sanskrit scholar who authored works such as the Matravani and the Aarta, a ten-verse hymn praising his father. His influence extended into the Sikh tradition itself; tradition holds that he contributed the seventeenth canto to the Sukhmani Sahib at the request of Guru Arjan.

Throughout his life, Sri Chand traveled extensively across the Indian subcontinent, from Kashmir to Sri Lanka, establishing the Udasi sect. He wielded significant influence, notably helping to secure the release of Guru Hargobind from Gwalior Fort in 1619. Before his death in 1629, he appointed Baba Gurditta, the son of Guru Hargobind, as his successor, ensuring the continuation of the Udasi lineage. Today, he remains a venerated figure, remembered for his complex relationship with the early Sikh community and his distinct synthesis of Indic traditions.

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