Thuggee - Religion and Thuggee

Religion and Thuggee

Thugs might be Hindu, Muslim, or sometimes Sikh. The patron deity of the Thuggee was the Hindu Goddess Kali (or Durga), whom they often called Bhavani or Bhowanee. Many Thuggees worshipped Kali but most supporters of Kali did not practise Thuggee.

The majority of Hindu followers only seem to be related during the early periods of development through their religious creed and staunch worship of Kali, one of the Hindu Tantric Goddesses. At a time of political unrest, with changes from Hindu Rajput rulers to Muslim Moghul emperors and viceroys, and possibly back again, a wise group would display allegiance to both creeds, but its ultimate loyalty was probably only to itself.

Sahib Khan, the Deccan strangler, 'knew Ram Sing Siek: he was a noted Thug leader - a very shrewd man,' who also served with the Pindaris for a while and was responsible for the assassination of the notorious Pindari leader Sheikh Dulloo. It is important to note here that the word "Sing" is used by various denominations among Hindus, for example Hindu Rajput's and Thakur's use the word "Sing" as part of their name. Such usage by Hindu groups should not be confused as Sikhs. Sikhs use the word "Singh" distinct from the word "Sing" that is used by Hindu Groups. "