AManji (Punjabi: ਮੰਜੀ ਪ੍ਰਥਾ(Gurmukhi)) was aSikh religious administrative unit, similar to a parish or diocese, for the propagation of Sikhism.[1] It was part of the Sikh missionary administrative organization founded byGuru Amar Das, the third Guru ofSikhism.[2]
The wordManji orManja literally means acot (taken as theseat of authority in this context).[3][2]
Guru Nanak would arrange early Sikh followers into varioussangat (congregations) or parishes and instructed them to erect adharamsal dedicated to spreading their Guru's message and teachings in their local area.[4]
Sangatia (also spelt asSangtias) were head leaders from the local Sikh congregation (sangat) who arose as local leaders based upon personal piety and merit.[4] Anyone could arise to become a Sangatia as there was no established priestly or clergy-class in Sikhism, as long as they were well-learnt and dedicated enough to the religion.[4] Mostdharamsals ceased being headed by a Sangatia after the introduction of the Manji and later Masand systems.[4] However, some remained under the leadership of a Sangatia due to the respect some earned.[4]
Guru Amar Das divided the Sikh congregation areas into twenty-two Manji zones.[2][5] He appointed a local preacher to be in-charge of each of the Manjis, known as aManjidar.[4] For this purpose, a large group of 146 followers were trained for the propagation of Sikhism. 94 of them were men whilst 52 were women.[6][7][8] It had been conceptually similar in its aims to thediocese system in Christianity, and had been similarly important in Sikh missionary activity.[9][3] It existed as a parallel system to the existingMughal Empire and was modelled after the Mughal Empire's provincial zones, known asSubahs (of which there were also 22).[2][5] Along with the Manjis, sub-centres known asPiris were established of which there were 52 in total.[10]
The Manji system was established to give Sikhs a sense of their own sovereignty.[5] This is reflected by the fact that the number of zones established perfectly mimics the Mughal administrative system's zones, with both having twenty-two primary divisions.[5] The Manjis facilitated the spread of Sikhism to more faraway regions away from the already-established epicentres.[5]
Manjidars were appointed leaders under the purview of the Guru and were responsible for a specified Manji diocese or parish.[4] They were responsible for looking over thedharamsals and congregations of their assigned parish.[4] The maindharamsals located at localities founded by a Sikh Guru or connected to their life were managed directly by aSikh Guru whilst the centres in more minor, obscure, or distant localities and areas were headed by an appointed Manjidar.[4] Positions of local Manjidars was not dynastic nor inheritable and it was not a professional duty as they still had to live the life of a householder.[4] They were not allowed to claim divine status for themselves.[4]
Manjidars should not be confused with the laterMasands.[4]
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Manji is a raised bed or cot where the sovereign sits. Manji in the Sikh system of Raj already existed as the Sikh administrative unit. Guru Amardas Sahib started Manjis to parallel the Mughal empire.
Guru Amar Das created the institution of manjis ("Cots," seats of authority) for attracting new followers, each headed by men and women of good standing in the Sikh community and helping in the dissemination of the Guru's word in the distant communities. ... Proclaiming a parallel notion of sovereignty Guru Amar Das organized the Panth into 22 administrative units (manjis), reflecting the number of provinces into which the Mughal empire was divided.
Guru Amar Das established the Manji System to propagate Sikhism in a logical and planned way. He divided Sikh congregation areas into 22 Manjis and a local preacher was made in-charge of each Manji. He trained the group of 146 followers, out of which 52 were women, to attend to the spiritual needs of the people. He also appointed preachers called Masands, who went across the country to spread the gospel of Sikhism.
After attaining the Guru's mantle, he [Guru Amar Das] visited various places to propagate the message of the faith. He reorganised the Sikh faith and established 22 centres, each called a 'manji', and 52 sub-centres, each called a 'peehri' for this purpose.
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