Sikh Research and Education Center
655 Old River woods
Lane,
Chesterfield,
MO 63017
Chesterfield,
MO 63017
Email: srec@gurmat.info
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Sikh Research and Education Center
655 Old River woods
Lane,
Chesterfield, MO 63017 Email: srec@gurmat.info
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Guru Nanak, the founder Guru, undertook wide tours within India and also the countries abroad to convey to the people his New Teachings. During these tours he felt the necessity of creating some sort of organizations by which his followers could continue to follow his teachings. He established 'Sangats' (Holy Associations) at various places he visited and made people his followers. Each Sangat was in the charge of a leader appointed by the Guru. After his long missionary journeys, Guru Nanak settled at Kartarpur. The Sikh missionary work was made more methodical by Guru Amar Das, the 3rd Guru. He established 22 dioceses in the country, each called a 'Manji' (cot), as the preacher used to sit on the cot while preaching.
Guru Ram Das, the 4th Guru, created the 'Masand' System, in place of Manji System. As Sikhism was expanding far and wide, a need was felt by the Guru to keep liaison with Sikhs, and the offering made by them should be collected and regularly remitted centrally to the Guru. The Sikhs he chose for the purpose were given the title of Masands. The Sikhs selected for the job were trusted men of great integrity. They did valuable work and the funds received greatly facilitated the gigantic work of raising the city of Amritsar. But we observe that during the early ministry of Guru Arjan Dev, the 5th Guru, many of the Masands had gone totally corrupt and openly sided with Prithi Chand, the Guru's oldest brother, who was dead opposed to the Guru. Guru Arjan in due course of time appointed other Sikhs for the job, as he needed some such organization for implementation of wider scheme for the rapid spread of Sikhism. The Guru modified the System and asked Masands to look after both the secular and spiritual affairs of the Sikhs. They were required to render receipts for the money received from the Sikhs and obtain receipts from the Guru to whom it was remitted.
The Masands, apart from performing their duties of collecting and remitting funds to the Guru, were also vigorous preachers. It was the Guru himself who used to initiate people to Sikh fold by Giving Pahul to them with Water Sanctified by God's Name. When the number of people desiring to become Sikhs increased considerably, the Masands were authorized to initiate them by Giving Pahul to them with Sanctified Water. The Masands served as the links between the Guru and the Sikhs. The system worked satisfactorily during the ministry of Guru Arjan, who was able to complete a number of gigantic projects to serve the cause of Sikhism.
Thereafter gradually decay in the Masands had set in, due to frequent handling of cash and other valuables. Man cannot overcome the temptations of his sensual desires and the money, unless he takes the support of God. Hardly a day passed, when cases of mis-appropriation of money by Masands was not brought to notice of the people and reported to Guru Gobind Rai. The Masands were, thus, given to a life of pleasure and indulgence.
At Dehra Dun, the Guru had learnt all about the Masands of Baba Ram Rai. He heard the similar reports of the Masands in his own organization. It so happened that some mimics came to Anandpur in those days. The themes of play of the dramatists generally depict the most vital current problems in a humorous way, saying 'just for fun'. At times these dramatists serve as the great reformers. The mimics at Anandpur enacted a drama exhibiting the ways of the Masands, which the Guru and the Sikhs saw it. It was a terrific sense-indulgence in wine and women, harshness toward the Sikhs, threatening to curse them on account of their love for the Guru. This had a great impact on the audience. The Guru became fully aware of the conduct of the Masands, and this event left an indelible impression on his mind. He declared the complete dissolution of the class of Masands and directed all the Sikhs to have nothing to do with them henceforth. The Guru totally abolished all types of priestly classes, as he foresaw Brahmanism creeping into Sikhism. In his Composition 33 Swaiyyas, the Guru has described the conduct of Masands.
Guru Gobind Rai wrote his own short biography, Bichitar Natak, in early part of year 1699. He stated the object of his coming to this world as under -
"God thus spoke to me: I take you as My Begotten Son. I make you to go to world to establish the Path of Righteousness. Establish the Path of Righteousness every where and restrain the people from doing evil deeds. (29)Guru Nanak had appeared in Ten Human Forms to convey the Message of God to the people of World. The Divine Message which was to be given, had been completed. The institution of the Guru in Person was to be brought to an end. The Mission of the Guru as stated above was to be completed and after some time the Guruship was to be brought to an end. The aim of the Gurus had always been to establish the New Way of Life as taught by them permanently, not to be shaken under any conditions. Most Important of all, the Guru had dissolved the Order of Masands totally, and there was an URGENT NEED FOR INTRODUCING ALTERNATE MODE OF INITIATION TO SIKHISM. All Religious Systems have their respective Initiation Ceremony, in which a novice takes a Pledge to be faithful in observance of the traits of the New System.
I then stood up, clasped my hands, bowed my head and replied: Your True Path shall be established, when You vouchsafe assistance. (30)
For this purpose I have been sent by God. I then took birth and came into the world. As He spoke to me, so do I tell you all. I bear no enmity to any one. (31)
All who call me the Supreme Being, shall fall into the pit of hell. Recognize me as God's servant only. Have not the slightest doubt what I say. (32)
I am the slave of the Supreme Being, and I have come to behold the wonders of the world. I tell the world, what God told me. I will not remain silent in saying the Truth through the fear of any mortal. (33)
As God spoke to me so do I speak. I pay no regard to any one besides. I do not take to any religious garb. I sow the seeds of the Invisible. (34)
I am not a worshipper of stones (idols). Nor I take to any religious garb. I sing the Name of Infinite and attain union with Him. (35)
I do not wear matted hair on my scalp. Nor do I put on the ear rings. I do not heed what others say, but listen to God alone. What God told me I do it. (36)
I love God's Name, which helps me every where. I do not know of any other god, nor have I any other support. (37)
I meditate on the Name of Infinite and attain the Supreme light. I will never think of any other God, as I have no attraction for any other object. (38)
I am imbued with Your Name, O God. The other honors have no charm for me. I remember You, O Lord, and thus remove my endless agonies and sins. (39)
For this purpose I have come to this world. I have been sent by the Supreme Guru (God) for spread of Righteousness. 'Spread Righteousness every where and annihilate the evil doers' (man's inner morbid destructive instinctual drives and passions - transform these drives into creative forces i.e. saintliness). (42)
For this purpose I have taken birth. O Men of God, understand this very clearly. I am to establish the Path of Righteousness and Goodness, by extirpating all tyrants (our inner destructive passions). (43)
The earlier Prophets sent by God, caused people to repeat their names. They killed no one, who was inimical to God (man's destructive instinctual passions). They did not establish the True Path of Righteousness. (44)"
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