Satnampanth, also called Satnami Samaj, Satnami movement, or Sadhanpanth, are terms used to refer to various Indian religious and sectarian movements. The Satnami movement was connected to Dalit.
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.
[ Bijak By Kabir]
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.
[P. 60 Kabir, the Weaver of Godʼs Name By Virendra Kumar Sethi]
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.[ "Satnam Meditation: An Easy Meditation to Settle Your Mind" By Michelle Fondin (August 02, 2016 10:39 AM)]
History
Origin
There were several Indian sects called
Satnami, the earliest being one founded by Bir Bhan of the Narnaul district in 1657.
His guru was Udhodas, the pupil of Saint
Ravidas. 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."
[ Haryana Review: Volume 11 By Haryana Public Relations Department]
Jagjivan Das is the second most important Satnami. Due to his spiritual fame, he was met by Emperor Akbar.[P. 112 Growth of Scheduled Tribes and Castes in Medieval India By Kishori Saran Lal] Swami Dayal lists Jagjivan Sahab as his predecessor[ Radhasoami Reality: The Logic of a Modern Faith By Mark Juergensmeyer] 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.
[P. 348 The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India By Karine Schomer and W.H. McLeod]
The sect has an official foundation date, which is April 21, 1657.[" SATNAMIS OR SADHS: CHANGING IDENTITY OF THE SATNAMIS OF NARNAUL" By Abha Singh]
This sect is named after its Lord, Satnam.
Historically, chroniclers have also wrote of them as mundiah (because followers often shaved their heads) and vairagi.
Satnami Revolt (1672)
The Satnami revolt occurred in the reign of the Moghul Emperor
Aurangzeb. Many Hindus resented Aurangzeb’s strict Islamic policies-which included reviving the hated Islamic
Jizya tax (poll tax on non-Muslim subjects), banning music and art, and destroying
Hindu temples. The revolt began in 1672 when a Mughal soldier killed a Satnami. Other Satnamis took revenge on the Moghul soldier, and in turn the Moghul soldiers went about repressing the Satnamis. The result was that about 5,000 Satnamis were up in arms. They routed the Moghul troops situated in the town, drove away the Moghul administrators and set up their own administration in its place. The uprising gained the enthusiasm of Hindus in
Agra and
Ajmer also. Though totally lacking in weaponry and money, the Satnamis inflicted several defeats on the Moghul forces. The contemporary Moghul chronicler, Saqi Mustaid Khan, expressed amazement as to what came over this “destitute gang of goldsmiths, carpenters, sweepers and tanners and other… artisan castes that their conceited brains became so overclouded? Rebellious pride having found a place in their brains, their heads became too heavy for their shoulders.” This also shows the thinking of Muslim intelligentsia who regard them as untouchables. Amusingly, in contrast, Hindus have greatly respected the Satnamis throughout for their beliefs like prohibition of intoxicants and meat. The resentment of the Satnamis against the Moghul persecution meant that they even enacted revenge by destroying mosques in the area. It was only with great difficulty that any Muslim soldiers could be brought to face the Satnamis, such was the wrath of the Satnamis at the time. It was only when Aurungzeb himself took personal command and sent 10,000 troops with artillery that the Satnamis fell. They put up a brave defense. According to Saqi Mustaid Khan they believed that they were re-enacting scenes from the
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.
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 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 Chamar, in the 1820s 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. Ghasidas, according to M. A. Sherring, may have been influenced by the teachings of Ravidas, a disciple of Ramananda. Others believe he was inspired by Kabir, through the Kabir Panth in Chhattisgarh.
The Satnami movement originating in Madhya Pradesh was part of a larger Dalit movement of Chamar to set up their own Panth that were inspired by Bhakti movement-era saints, such as Ravidas and Kabir.
Beliefs and practices
Identity
The Satnamis regarded themselves as distinct from Hinduism.
They also shed their caste identity as Chamars.
Thus, they identified solely as Satnamis.
Worship
In venerating Satnam, Satnamis chant
Satnam three times.
Apart from Satnam, worship is also offered to Ramachandra and Hanuman whom In fact, incense is burnt to Hanuman.
Satnamis celebrate Dussehra and many also take a pilgrimage to Bhandar for the festivity.[P. 129 Organizational and Institutional Aspects of Indian Religious Movements By Joseph T. O'Connell]
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.
-
There is one Sat Purush - Satnam.
-
Humility and modesty, elimination of ego and pride.
-
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.
-
Only hear the praise of God. Listen to no evil discourse, no tales, no gossip, no calumny, not even music, except hymns.
-
Non-covetousness. Trust in God who is the giver of everything you.
-
Never mention your caste when asked who you are. Only declare yourself as a Sadh.
-
Wear white garments, no pigments, nor colyrium, or henna (mehndi), or any tilak, nor chaplets, or rosaries or jewels.
-
Take no intoxicants and smell no perfumes. Never bow your head to any idol or man.
-
Complete nonviolence in thought, word, and deed. No damnatory evidence be given.
-
Marry only one. No man should touch a woman's leavings, but a woman may of a man's.
-
Live as a householder, not as mendicant. No acceptance of alms or gifts. The company of sadhus is the only pilgrimage.
-
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 Jagjivan Das
-
Worshipped the divine in nirguna (“devoid of sensible qualities”) form
-
Self-discipline was the main way of worship of the divine and by use of the “true name”
-
Discussed Hindu deities in his works
-
Did not talk about the elimination of caste
From Sant Ghasidas
-
Worship Satnam, as formless without any shrines.
-
Abstain from meat and alcohol.
-
Use brass utensils for cooking and eating.
-
Abstain from smoking/chewing tobacco.
-
Abstain working from leather and carcasses.
-
Abstain using cows for plowing.
-
Wear kanthi (necklace) of beads made from tulasi.
Symbolism
The Satnamis have a sect mark of a straight line down the forehead drawn with ashes from an offering to Hanuman.
See also
Notes
Sources
External links
Articles
