Masand System

Guru Ram Das introduced the institution of Masands (representative of the Gurus at various places). Guru Arjan Dev Ji added to it the principle of Tenth of individual income payable for the Guru’s Langar (Common Kitchen) and for other acts of benevolence of the poor.

Many people were drawn into the Sikh fold in consequence of Guru Arjan’s travels. The Guru’s fame spread far and wide bringing to him devotees from all over the Punjab, from the eastern parts then called Hindustan and from far-off lands such as Kabul and Central Asia. This growing following was kept united by an efficient cadre of local leaders, called masands who looked after the sangats, Sikh centres, in far-flung parts of the country. They collected from the disciples dasvandh or one-tenth of their income which they were enjoined to give away for communal sharing, and led the Sikhs to the Guru’s presence periodically.

The Guru’s assemblies had something of the appearance of a theocratic court. The Sikhs had coined a special title for him - Sachcha Padsha, i.e. the True King, as distinguished from the secular monarch. Offerings continued to pour in which in the tradition of the Guru’s household would be spent on feeding the poor and on works of public beneficence.

During the time of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the seat of the Master and the disciples, shifted to Kiratpur and Amritsar was already in he hands of masands; impostors, priests who saw the money to be got by priest-craft at Hari Mandar. Since the time of Guru Arjun Dev, there had sprung up a kind of civic administration, which collected the offerings of people at large for the upkeep of the Sikh cities, temples and tanks.

For some time the civic administration worked well; but later the surrounding enemies of the House of the Master came in and enlisted as Masands or collectors of offerings, and made the whole administration inimical to the disciples. They afflicted the true disciples in many way, and the disciples endured without a sigh or murmur all that came from Masands in the name of their Beloved. A full revelation of their ill-doing was made to Guru Gobind Singh in a drama played before him at Anandpur, and it was he who abolished the Masand administration and abolished the tyrants.

This Sikhi-related article is a stub. Help SikhiWiki by expanding it.