Mina (Sikhism)
Mina (ਮੀਣੇ) is a title that was given to Baba Prithi Chand (the elder son of the fourth Sikh Guru Ram Das ji) and his followers, after Guru Ram Das ji had appointed his younger son, GuruArjan Dev ji as the next Guru of Sikhs. [1] The Minas had their own lineage extending to three Gurus, and had emerged as a parallel sect during the early part of the 17th century [2] The sect was excommunicated from the mainstream Sikh community.
History and Literary contributions
The title Mina means a deceitful hypocrite. The title was given by Guru Ram Das ji to Baba Prithi Chand, after he refused to accept his father's decision of choosing the younger son Guru Arjan Devji as the next Sikh Guru. Guru Ram Das ji instructed the GurSikhs from associating with Baba Prithi Chand. The Minas remained hostile and hatched conspiracies against Guru Arjan Dev ji, played an important role in his eventual martyrdom. [3] They also unsuccessfully tried to execute the sixth Sikh Guru Har Gobind ji. After death of Guru Arjan Dev ji, Prithi Chand had declared himself as the sixth Guru parallel to Guru HarGobind ji.
Mina Guru Lineage
Minas did not believe in authority of last five Gurus and have their own lineage. Following are Gurus common to mainstream Sikhs and Minas belief:
After fifth Guru, Minas believe in following three Gurus:
- Prithi Chand Mina
- Meharvan Mina
- Harji Mina
Literary contributions
Minas made significant literary contributions, but it has little importance in the Sikh religion, given that they had been excommunicated. In particular, Prithi Chand had written a Basant Ki Vaar, under the title Mahalla 6. Prithi Chand's successor Meharvan Mina (b 1581) [4] wrote some Janamsakhis, Sukhmani Sahasranama, etc. He was succeeded by Harji Mina, who wrote Goshti Guru Miharvaan. [5] Hariji died in 1696 and no further lineage is noted in history
Progress
The Mina Gurus didn't get much support among the masses, and over time, the Minas got merged into mainstream Sikhism. The sect is non-existent in the present day. [6]
References
- ^ Page 145, The Encyclopedia of Sikhism, H. S. Singha
- ^ Page 170, The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies, Pashaura Singh, Louis E. Fenech
- ^ Page 41, Sikhism: A Guide for the Perplexed, Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair
- ^ Page 172, The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies, Pashaura Singh, Louis E. Fenech
- ^ Page 176, The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies, Pashaura Singh, Louis E. Fenech
- ^ Page 179, The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies, Pashaura Singh, Louis E. Fenech
