Mansa_Devi_(Sikhism)
Mansa Devi (Sikhism)
Wife of the third Sikh guru
Mansa Devi (died 1569) was the wife of the third Sikh guru, Guru Amar Das.[note 1][1][2][3]
Mata Mansa Devi | |
|---|---|
 Guru Amar Das' family. Guru Amar Das, Mansa Devi, and three children. Manuscript painting, ca.1839–1843. | |
| Personal | |
| Born | Mansa Devi Bahil Sankhatra |
| Died | 1569 Goindwal |
| Religion | Sikhism |
| Spouse | Guru Amar Das |
| Children | Dani (daughter) Bhani (daughter} Mohan (son) Mohri (son) |
| Parent | Dev Chand (father) |
Amongst Sikh sources, there are three different names ascribed to her.[1]
Mansa Devi was born in Sankhatra (located in present-day Sialkot district) as the daughter of a local Bahil Khatri man named Dev Chand.[2]
She was wedded to Amar Das on 8 January 1503, whilst other sources give the year of marriage as 1502.[2][4] For a while, the couple did not birth any children but eventually a daughter, named Dani, was born in 1530.[2] The couple would go-on to have three further offspring, them being, another daughter named Bhani (born in 1535), a son named Mohan (born in 1536), and a final child and son named Mohri (born in 1539).[2][5]
She may have influenced her husband's egalitarian views in-regards to gender, especially whilst the couple was at Goindwal.[1] A number of reforms aimed at uplifting women and girls are linked to her presence.[1] She convinced her husband to appoint female religious missionaries to spread Sikhism and the banning of sati.[6] Jetha was selected personally by Mata Mansa Devi, as the best match for her daughter Bhani due to his devoted and pious personality.[7][8]
- Her name is alternatively spelt as 'Manasa Devi'.
- Singh, Bhajan; Gill, M.K. (1992). "7. Mata Mansa Devi". The Guru Consorts. Radha Publications. pp. 64–73. ISBN 9788185484112.
- Singh, Harbans. The Encyclopedia of Sikhism. Vol. 3: M-R. Punjabi University, Patiala. p. 47.
- Singha, H.S. (2000). The Encyclopedia of Sikhism (over 1000 Entries). Hemkunt Press. p. 91. ISBN 9788170103011.
- Dilgeer, Harjinder Singh (1997). The Sikh Reference Book. Sikh Educational Trust for Sikh University Centre, Denmark. p. 521. ISBN 9780969596424.
- Singh, Harjeet (2009). Faith & Philosophy of Sikhism. Indian religions series. Vol. 4. Gyan Publishing House. p. 162. ISBN 9788178357218.
- The Sikh Review - Volume 49, Issue 581. Sikh Cultural Centre. 2001. p. 26.
- Singh, Prithi Pal (2006). The History of Sikh Gurus. Lotus Press. pp. 54–60. ISBN 9788183820752.
- Singh, Pashaura; Mandair, Arvind-Pal Singh (2023). "Guru Ram Das (1534–1581)". The Sikh World. Routledge Worlds. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780429848384.