Satnampanth

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This article is about the religious sect founded by Guru Ghasidas. For another sect also sometimes called Satnami sect, see Sadh.

Satnampanth, also called Satnami Samaj, Satnami movement, or Sadhanpanth, This sect is thought to be an offshoot of the Ravidassia sect[1][page needed] (sampradaya) founded by Bir Bhan (1543-1620 AD), of Narnaul district. His guru was Udhodas, the pupil of Saint Ravidas, a Chamar. A Haryana Review periodical issue regarding the Satnamis of the age of Bir Bhan, "A Satnami had three attributes: he put on the garb of a devotee , earned money through fair means and did not bear any type of injustice or atrocity."[2]

Emperor Akbar.[3] Swami Dayal lists Jagjivan Sahab as his predecessor[4]
and writes:

If in your mind you do not believe what I say, then consult the sayings of Kabir and Guru Nanak. Tulsi's persuasion is just the same, and so is that of Paltu and Jagjivan. These saints I take as my authority, and I witness to what they teach.[5]

The sect has an official foundation date, which is April 21, 1657.[6]

This sect is named after its Lord, Satnam.

Historically, chroniclers have also wrote of them as mundiah (because followers often shaved their heads) and

bairagi
.

Satnami Revolt 1672

The Satnami revolt occurred in the reign of the Moghul Emperor

Mahabharata war. 2,000 Satnamis were slain on the battlefield and many more were slain in pursuit. What followed was an attempt to slay every remaining member of the Satnamis, and destroy all their homes. The remnants of the Satnamis fled in all directions and for a long time were totally disorganized and leaderless.[7][8][9]

Revival and Promulgation

The sect was revived decades around 1714, when a community calling itself Satnami Sadh sprung up in Panchal Nagar (Farrukhabad), U.P. [Interestingly, the fourth, fifth and ninth Sikh gurus addressed "Saints" of Sikh history as Sadh.[10] For example, in the stanza of the Var of Sorath, the sadh, sant, bhagat, Gurmukh, and Gursikh are mentioned together.]

The second revival was again decades later by Jagjivan Das, a Chandel Thakur, whose guru was Maharaja Vishveshwara Puri. His own chief disciples were Dulanadasa, Gosaindasa, Devidasa and Khemadasa.

The third revival was by Ghasidas, a farmer, in the 1780s at present-day Chhattisgarh picked up and founded his own offshoot-Satnami sect. His teachings were saved in the Nirvan Gyan scripture, which he wrote.

Etymology and Usage

The term Satnam, was first used by

Vaishnava Saint Ramanuja
in his Satanaama Stotra. It was later used by Vaishnava Saint Kabir.

Kabir said:

Serve the sadhus, repeat Sat Nam and remain in the company of the guru.[11]

Another verse of his was:

This is the Satguru's message: Sat Nam is the real essence of His being , it is the bearer of the tidings of your liberation.[12]

Satnam is used as a name for males and females, usually Sikhs, though. Satyanam is used as a title, like for companies, such as Satyanam Info Solution [1] and Satyanam Satya Guru B.Ed College [2].

Satnam is chanted in yoga.[13]

Worship

In venerating Satnam, Satnamis chant Satnam three times.

Apart from Satnam, worship is also offered to

Ramachandra and Hanuman
[whom Satnamis refer to as Mahabir.] In fact, incense is burnt to Hanuman.

Satnamis celebrate

Dussehra and many also take a pilgrimage to Bhandar for the festivity.[14]

Commandments

The practices of Satnamis differ in terms of observed rules, because some forbearances given by Bir Bhan were followed by Ghasidas and are still followed by Ghasidas' followers, such as wearing or tilaks and rosaries, and practicing meditation. Worshiping gods in addition to Satnam is also practiced by followers of Ghasidas.

From Sant Bir Bhan

Bir Bhan issued edicts in his Adi Updesh.

  1. There is one Sat Purush - Satnam.
  2. Humility and modesty, elimination of ego and pride.
  3. No backbiting. Use your tongue only to recite His Name. Do not let your eyes fall on improper objects, nor on women, dances, shows and worldly me.
  4. Only hear the praise of God. Listen to no evil discourse, no tales, no gossip, no calumny, not even music, except hymns.
  5. Non-covetousness. Trust in God who is the giver of everything you.
  6. Never mention your caste when asked who you are. Only declare yourself as a Sadh.
  7. Wear white garments, no pigments, nor colyrium, or henna (mehndi), or any tilak, nor chaplets, or rosaries or jewels.
  8. Take no intoxicants and smell no perfumes. Never bow your head to any idol or man.
  9. Complete nonviolence in thought, word, and deed. No damnatory evidence be given.
  10. Marry only one. No man should touch a woman's leavings, but a woman may of a man's.
  11. Live as a householder, not as mendicant. No acceptance of alms or gifts. The company of sadhus is the only pilgrimage.
  12. No superstition as to a day, or lunation or month or the cry of an animal or appearance of a bird or any other sign or mark be observed.

From Sant Ghasidas

  1. Worship Satnam, as formless without any shrines.
  2. Abstain from meat and alcohol.
  3. Use brass utensils for cooking and eating.
  4. Abstain from smoking/chewing tobacco.
  5. Abstain using oxes for plowing at mid-day.
  6. Wear kanthi (necklace) of beads made from
    tulasi
    .
  7. Other females than wife are like mother, purify your behaviour and thinking.

History

Ghasidas, according to

Kabirpanthis in Chhattisgarh.[15]

Symbolism

The Satnamis have a sect mark of a straight line down the forehead drawn with ashes from an offering to Hanuman.

References

Notes

  1. ^ Lamb 2002.
  2. ^ Haryana Review: Volume 11 By Haryana Public Relations Department
  3. ^ P. 112 Growth of Scheduled Tribes and Castes in Medieval India By Kishori Saran Lal
  4. ^ Radhasoami Reality: The Logic of a Modern Faith By Mark Juergensmeyer
  5. ^ P. 348 The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India By Karine Schomer and W.H. McLeod
  6. ^ "SATNAMIS OR SADHS: CHANGING IDENTITY OF THE SATNAMIS OF NARNAUL" By Abha Singh
  7. ISBN 978-81-7156-551-1
    .
  8. ^ "General Knowledge Miscellanea". Pratiyogita Darpan. September 2007.
  9. ISBN 978-81-7835-517-7
    .
  10. ^ P. 146 Ernest Trumpp and W.H. McLeod as Scholars of Sikh History Religion and Culture By Trilochan Singh
  11. ^ Bijak By Sant Kabir Dasa
  12. ^ P. 60 Kabir, the Weaver of Godʼs Name By Virendra Kumar Sethi
  13. ^ "Satnam Meditation: An Easy Meditation to Settle Your Mind" By Michelle Fondin (August 02, 2016 10:39 AM)
  14. ^ P. 129 Organizational and Institutional Aspects of Indian Religious Movements By Joseph T. O'Connell
  15. ^ Lamb 2002, p. 52.

Sources

External links

Articles

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