Who were Minas? and a remnants of Sikh Bardari Standing at Heir Village

04-04-2019

Minas is title given to Baba Prithi Chand, elder sons of Guru Ram Das; and his followers Mina emerged as major sect which ran in parallel to 6th Sikh Guru and had their own Guru lineage unto 3 successions after Guru Arjan Dev. The sect was excommunicated from mainstream Sikh community.

The title Mina means a deceitful hypocrite. The title was given by Guru Ram Das to Baba Prithi Chand; because he refused to accept his father decision of choosing Guru Arjan Dev his next successor. Guru Ram Das said Gursikhs not to associate with him. Minas remain hostile and hatched conspiracies against Guru Arjan Dev and played important role in martyrdom of Guru Arjan. They also tried to plan murder of Guru Har Gobind but failed to do so. After death of Guru Arjan, Prithi Chand declared himself sixth Guru parallel to Guru Hargobind.

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:

1.    Guru Nanak

2.    Guru Angad

3.    Guru Amardas

4.    Guru Ramdas

5.    Guru Arjan  After fifth Guru, Minas believe in following three Gurus:

6.    Guru Prithi Chand Mina

7.    Guru Meharvan Mina

8.    Guru Harji Mina

Minas have contributed literary but as outcast from Sikh religion the literature have no importance in Sikh Religion. Prithi Chand had written a Basant Ki Vaar under title Mahalla 6. Prithi Chand dies in 1618 and Mehrvan(b 1581) became his successor. He had done literatry work including Janamsakhis, Sukhmani Sahasranama etc. He was succeeded by Harji Mina. Harji had control of Golden Temple in his hand. He had written Goshti Guru Miharvaan. Hariji died in 1696 and no further lineage is noted in history.

Mina Gurus didn't get much support or fame in 17th-18th century due to which Mina literature got faded away. With advent of time, Minas get merged into mainstream Sikhism and no separate sect existed as of now.

After declaration of Guru Arjan Dev as fifth Sikh Guru, Prithi Chand started to live in a village called Hair in Lahore. This village is located few kilometers from Dera Chahal. He established a Gurdwara there in competition to challenge the power of Harmandir Sahib.

Mughal Emperor Jhangir executed Guru Arjan Dev g in 1606, there were conjectures that it was done by influence of Prithi Chand.

At present in Heir village, a desolated pre-partition edifice still standing, locals called it ‘Baradari’. Nanak Shahi brick used in its construction, however the original wooden roof fallen years back, supportive column of reinforced brick also added which were not part of original construction. It was used as bethak (common room) by Sikh community living in past.