Ramgarhias

Many Sikhs today mistake the term Ramgharia for a caste where rather it is a sect which is made up of a number of casts. The Ramgharias are predominantly Tarkhans (carpenters) by caste. At present Tarkhan Sikhs who are descended from the Ramgharia Missal, especially in UK, keep their Gurdwaras separate and try to, contrary to Tat Khalsa Singh Sabha thinking, maintain their distinctiveness in Sikhism. Many of their practices are in line with Sanatan (Traditional) Sikh ideology in which Sikhism is part of a larger spiritual family. The eighteenth century was a period of turbulence in Panjab. Within the continued invasions and wars, rose the period of the Sikh misls, Sardars who managed and controlled areas of Panjab. This period came to its heights with "The Lion of Panjab - Maharaja Ranjit Singh", who unified Panjab. The sardars of the time were great and many rose up in fame and status. One such man was Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia. Jassa Singh whose original name was Jassa Singh Thoka (Thoka means carpenter). The name Ramgarhia comes from when Jassa Singh took the besieged fort of Ram Rauni, Amritsar. The fort was given to Jassa Singh and his army to protect and renamed to Ramgarh, and as he became the governor his name changed to Ramgarhia. Jassa Singh's territory extended to a large part of Panjab and served Maharaja Ranjit Singh personally in his battles. Some sections of Ramgharias, in line with ancient Tarkhan practices, still practice the ancient Hindu Tarkhan worship of Baba Vishkarma. Baba Ji was considered the architect who was imbued with all the qualities of Fine Art, which were necessary for the creation of Universe. It is because of this that all creative art from design, building, carpentry, architecture, painting etc that traditional Ramgarhias, may they be Sikh or Hindu pray homage to Lord Vishkaram. Please see the links below for much more information on Ramgarhias.

Lord Vishkaram

Jassa Singh Ramgrhia