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A Manji (Punjabi: ਮੰਜੀ ਪ੍ਰਥਾ (Gurmukhi)) was a Sikh 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 by Guru Amar Das, the third Guru of Sikhism.[2]
The word Manji or Manja literally means a cot (taken as the seat of authority in this context).[3][2]
Guru Nanak would arrange early Sikh followers into various sangat congregations or parishes and instructed them to erect a dharamsal dedicated to spreading their Guru's message and teachings in their local area.[4]
Sangatia (also spelt as Sangtias) 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] Most dharamsals 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 a Manjidar.[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 the diocese system in Christianity, and had been similarly important in Sikh missionary activity.[9][3] It existed as a parallel system to the existing Mughal Empire and was modelled after the Mughal Empire's provincial zones, known as Subahs (of which there were also 22).[2][5] Along with the Manjis, sub-centres known as Piris 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 the dharamsals and congregations of their assigned parish.[4] The main dharamsals located at localities founded by a Sikh guru or connected to their life were managed directly by a Sikh 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]
