ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>JAGI&#256S&#298</TITLE> <style type="text/css"> .BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;} .C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} </style><META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="JAGIS*"> <META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD> <BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"> <FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma"> <p class="C1">&#65279JAGI&#256S&#298, also Jagi&#257s&#363 or Jijñ&#257s&#363 is a religious sect cognate with the Ud&#257s&#299 section of the N&#257nakpanth&#299s of Sindh. The word <i>jagi&#257s&#257</i> is derived from Sanskrit <i>Jijñ&#257s&#257</i> (desire to know), <i>jagi&#257s&#299</i> denoting one desirous of knowledge, of spiritual insight. The members of the Jagi&#257s&#299 sect are mostly <i>sahajdh&#257r&#299s</i> i.e. gradualists, believing in the Gur&#363s and following generally the Sikh tenets but not yet sworn as full members of the community. There are however some who accept the rites of <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 initiation and wear long hair while some others add the suffix 'Si&#7749gh' to their names. Following the example of the founder of the sect, B&#257b&#257 Sr&#299 Chand, the elder son of Gur&#363 N&#257nak, the Ud&#257s&#299s do not marry. The Jagi&#257s&#299s on the other hand follow the example of the younger son of Gur&#363 N&#257nak, Lakhm&#299 Chand, who was a householder, and take to family life. The sect flourished especially during the days of B&#257b&#257 Gur&#363pat, known to be a descendant of Gur&#363 N&#257nak. He visited Sindh during Sikh times with a letter from Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 Ra&#7751j&#299t Si&#7749gh to the local chief, M&#299r Sohr&#257b <u>Kh</u>&#257n. B&#257b&#257 Gur&#363pat established many Jagi&#257s&#299 <i>&#7789ik&#257&#7751&#257s</i> or seats in Sindh, including those at <u>Kh</u>airpur, Hyder&#257b&#257d, H&#257l&#257&#7751&#299 and Ka&#7751&#7693y&#257ro. His last will, dated 29 July 1857, bears the signatures of many a Sindh&#299 Jagi&#257s&#299 and Ud&#257s&#299 saints.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Jagi&#257s&#299s recite hymns from the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib which they venerate as much as any devout Sikh and, like Sikhs, reject idolatry. But they perform several Hindu rituals as well and they do not undergo Sikh baptismal ceremony.</p> </ol><p class="CONT">Mot&#299 L&#257l Jotw&#257n&#299<br></p><BR> </font> <img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""> </HTML></BODY>