A mystical journey through spirituality and obedience, draped in the enigmatic aura of purple.
The Nazir Order of the Purple Veil, colloquially known as the Purple People, represents a spiritual movement that originated in the early 1970s, deeply rooted in ascetic beliefs and practices. Founded by the Reverend Nazirmoreh K. B. Kedem, this order is characterized by its unique adoption of purple attire, symbolizing a connection to higher spiritual vibratory rates and an allegiance to a life of renunciation and esoteric spirituality.
The community, also referred to as the Nahziryah Monastic Community, is situated on a secluded 100-acre compound in the Ozark Mountains of Marion County, Arkansas. Initially established as a survivalist compound in anticipation of Y2K, it transitioned into a spiritual retreat center in the early 2000s. Members of the community, including Kedem’s extended family, live in rustic cabins and lodges, practicing a lifestyle that includes strict vows of silence and abstinence under Kedem’s guidance. The community supports itself through the production and sale of spiritual merchandise and crafts, such as incense, copper jewelry, and woven items, which are sold online and at local festivals.
Kedem, who has claimed to be eternal and omniscient, requires followers to relinquish all personal possessions, past relations, and even their birth names upon joining the community. Communication within the community is restricted; members may only speak when addressed by Kedem and must respond in Sahgole, a language he created from Aramaic. Despite Kedem’s claims of worldwide adherents, the community has never grown beyond thirty members, encompassing his five wives and thirteen children, alongside other followers.
The order has faced allegations of physical abuse and extreme ascetic practices, leading to public scrutiny and the departure of several members. Despite these controversies, the Nahziryah Monastic Community continues to operate, rebranded as an eco-village and maintaining a presence online and at various local events. Its distinct purple attire and esoteric beliefs continue to intrigue and attract attention within the broader spiritual and local communities.
image via Arkansas Times
