Satpanth
Encyclopedia
Satpanth is a subgroup of Nizari Ismailism and Ismaili Sufism formed by conversions from Hinduism 700 years ago by Pir Sadruddin (1290-1367) and 600 years ago in the 15th century by his grandson Pir Imam Shah (1430-1520), the latter of which differs slightly from the Khoja in that they reject the Aga Khan as their leader and are known more commonly as Imam-Shahi. There are villages in Gujarat which are totally 'Satpanthi' such as Pirana near Ahmedabad where Imam Shah is buried.
It is also the older form of Nizari Ismaili practice originating from the Kutch community of Gujarat. Pir Sadardin gave the first converts to Ismailism the name 'Satpanth' because they were the followers of the 'True Path.' They were then given the title of Khoja to replace their title of Thakkar.
Satpanth is also the older form of Nizari Ismaili practice originating from the Kutch
community of Gujarat. Pir Sadardin
gave the first converts to Ismailism the name 'Satpanth' because they were the followers of the 'True Path.' They were then given the title of Khoja
to replace their title of Thakkar
. Here Khoja is totally distinguished from those of other castes.
origin. Others are from Rajput
, merchant, and farming castes. Some are migrants from neighbouring Indian states—including Madhya Pradesh
, the Punjab and Rajasthan
—who now reside in Gujarat (mainly the Kutch and commercial areas) and Mumbai
. Some communities are known to adhere strictly to the practice of taqiyya
, hiding any and all Islamic content of their faith. Many from the northern Rabari
community are also of this faith.
, while the Imam-Shahi sect rejects the idea of an Aga Khan altogether, and instead have elected committees within each settlement.
s, believe that the physical form of the Imam
is merely a vessel for the spiritual Imam which is Noor
or eternal light. They also believe that his farmans (proclamations), his shabd
(word) and his formless being are the real Imam. These separate concepts of an esoteric Imam and an exoteric Imam are called "Baatini Imam" and "Zaahiri Imam."
Satpanth devotees believe in "Nurani Didar," which is the "vision of light" or enlightenment
one achieves when one views the True Imam. This, again, has an esoteric and an exoteric meaning.
, Rajasthan
, and Gujarat. He laid the foundation of the communal organization, built the first assembly and prayer halls and appointed the community leaders "Mukhis." Khojas live chiefly in lower Sind, Kutch, Gujarat, Bombay and in wide diaspora, particularly in East and South Africa, Arabia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar (Burma), Canada, the United Kingdom, Portugal, U.A.E. and the United States.
that a row of community leaders and title holders (male and female) should sit facing the rest of the congregation. There is a row of individuals, sitting with their backs to the side wall, in the male as well as the female section. Both these sections are kept side by side in one large hall. Hence, a row of males would face and prostrate before the females, and vice versa. Looking at individuals of the opposite gender across the hall, and even the passing of objects between genders, is highly discouraged if not forbidden. If an object must be passed such as a utensil, the person must get up and leave it in the middle or end of the hall, where it will eventually picked up by the intended recipient. The reading of Holy Dua is undertaken while sitting on the floor on one's knees, or while sitting cross-legged as with other sects, with a Misbaha (rosary) being picked up at intervals. Any individual of any age who is fully versed in the Holy Dua may lead the prayer.
written by various medieval Pirs
, most notably Pir Sadruddin and Pir Satgur Nur.
It is also the older form of Nizari Ismaili practice originating from the Kutch community of Gujarat. Pir Sadardin gave the first converts to Ismailism the name 'Satpanth' because they were the followers of the 'True Path.' They were then given the title of Khoja to replace their title of Thakkar.
Satpanth is also the older form of Nizari Ismaili practice originating from the Kutch
Kutchi people
The Kutchi people traditionally reside in the Kutch region of the northwestern Indian state of Gujarat and in the Sindh province of Pakistan...
community of Gujarat. Pir Sadardin
Pir Sadardin
Pir Sadardin or Pir Sadruddin was a fourteenth century Ismaili Da'i and is regarded as the founder of the Khoja Ismaili sect, also called Satpanth...
gave the first converts to Ismailism the name 'Satpanth' because they were the followers of the 'True Path.' They were then given the title of Khoja
Khoja
The Khojas are ethnic group of Shia Muslims. The word Khoja derives from Khwaja, a Persian title .In Pakistan, many Khojas migrated to and settled in the province of Sindh and especially in the city of Karachi. While in India, most Khojas live in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and...
to replace their title of Thakkar
Thakkar
Thakkar or Thakrar, thakkur is a Lohana surname found primarily in the Indian state of Gujarat, and also among Odichya in the Malwa and Nimar regions of Madhya Pradesh, U.P....
. Here Khoja is totally distinguished from those of other castes.
People
The people of the Satpanth consist mostly of high-caste converts of LohanaLohana
The Lohana also referred to as Luvana are an Indian caste,largely classified as merchants and are categorized as Vaishya or Bania caste although their ancient history proves that they are Kshatriya of Suryavanshi descant, claiming their lineage from Lava, son of Rama...
origin. Others are from Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
, merchant, and farming castes. Some are migrants from neighbouring Indian states—including Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
, the Punjab and Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
—who now reside in Gujarat (mainly the Kutch and commercial areas) and Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. Some communities are known to adhere strictly to the practice of taqiyya
Taqiyya
Taqiyya , meaning religious dissimulation, is a practice emphasized in Shi'a Islam whereby adherents may conceal their religion when they are under threat, persecution, or compulsion...
, hiding any and all Islamic content of their faith. Many from the northern Rabari
Rabari
Members of the Rabari or Rewari live throughout the Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Harayana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh states in India...
community are also of this faith.
Leadership
The current head of the mainstream Satpanth Nizari Ismaili community is H.H. Shah Karim Al-Husayni Aga Khan IVAga Khan IV
Prince Karim, Aga Khan IV, NPk, NI, KBE, CC, GCC, GCIH, GCM is the 49th and current Imam of the Shia Imami Nizari Ismaili Muslims. He has held this position under the title of Aga Khan since July 11, 1957, when, at the age of 20, he succeeded his grandfather, Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan...
, while the Imam-Shahi sect rejects the idea of an Aga Khan altogether, and instead have elected committees within each settlement.
Beliefs about the leadership
Satpanth followers, called MureedMureed
Mureed is a village and union council, an administrative subdivision, of Chakwal District in the Punjab Province of Pakistan, it is part of Chakwal Tehsil....
s, believe that the physical form of the Imam
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
is merely a vessel for the spiritual Imam which is Noor
Noor
-In fiction:*Noor , the play by Akbar Ahmed*Noor, an album by the metal band Adorned Brood*Noor , Arabic title for the Turkish soap opera Gümüş-Places:*Noor, Iran, a city in northern Iran and capital of the Noor county...
or eternal light. They also believe that his farmans (proclamations), his shabd
Shabd
' is the Sanskrit for "sound, speech"In Sanskrit grammar, the term refers to an utterance in the sense of linguistic performance.-In Indian linguistics:...
(word) and his formless being are the real Imam. These separate concepts of an esoteric Imam and an exoteric Imam are called "Baatini Imam" and "Zaahiri Imam."
Satpanth devotees believe in "Nurani Didar," which is the "vision of light" or enlightenment
Enlightenment (spiritual)
Enlightenment in a secular context often means the "full comprehension of a situation", but in spiritual terms the word alludes to a spiritual revelation or deep insight into the meaning and purpose of all things, communication with or understanding of the mind of God, profound spiritual...
one achieves when one views the True Imam. This, again, has an esoteric and an exoteric meaning.
Origin
Pir Sadruddin and his grandson Pir Imam Shah are credited with the conversion of the Khojas from the Hindu caste of the Lohanas located in PunjabPunjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
, Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, and Gujarat. He laid the foundation of the communal organization, built the first assembly and prayer halls and appointed the community leaders "Mukhis." Khojas live chiefly in lower Sind, Kutch, Gujarat, Bombay and in wide diaspora, particularly in East and South Africa, Arabia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar (Burma), Canada, the United Kingdom, Portugal, U.A.E. and the United States.
Rituals
It is customary in each and every Jamaat-khanaJamaat-khana
Jama'at Khana -literally, a "congregational place" an amalgamation derived from the Arabic word jama‘a and the Persian word khana is used by various South Asian Muslim communities to denote a place of worship or gathering...
that a row of community leaders and title holders (male and female) should sit facing the rest of the congregation. There is a row of individuals, sitting with their backs to the side wall, in the male as well as the female section. Both these sections are kept side by side in one large hall. Hence, a row of males would face and prostrate before the females, and vice versa. Looking at individuals of the opposite gender across the hall, and even the passing of objects between genders, is highly discouraged if not forbidden. If an object must be passed such as a utensil, the person must get up and leave it in the middle or end of the hall, where it will eventually picked up by the intended recipient. The reading of Holy Dua is undertaken while sitting on the floor on one's knees, or while sitting cross-legged as with other sects, with a Misbaha (rosary) being picked up at intervals. Any individual of any age who is fully versed in the Holy Dua may lead the prayer.
Scripture
The holy writ of the Satpanth tradition is the collection of GinansGinans
The Ginans are a vast corpus of devotional literature in the form of lyrics and hymns worshiping and praising God, and has been the living tradition of Nizari Ismailis particularly from South Asia. The word is Hindustani, and derived from the Sanskrit word jñāna...
written by various medieval Pirs
Pir (Sufism)
Pir or Peer is a title for a Sufi master equally used in the nath tradition. They are also referred to as a Hazrat or Shaikh, which is Arabic for Old Man. The title is often translated into English as "saint" and could be interpreted as "Elder". In Sufism a Pir's role is to guide and instruct his...
, most notably Pir Sadruddin and Pir Satgur Nur.