Mahant (/məˈhʌnt/) is a religious superior, in particular the chief of a temple or the head of a monastery in Indian religions.[1]
James Mallinson, one of the few westerners to be named as a mahant,[2] describes the position of a mahant as a combination of an abbot and a brigadier.[3]
Other titles for the word Mahant, serving in the context of a well known religious place, include priest or pundit—generally always being a gyani or pastor.[citation needed]
Brahmins with Mahant surname are also found in Himachal Pradesh region. They speak local dialects of Pahari and Hindi and read and write in Devanagari. They are vegetarians. The Mahant are monogamous and marriage is by discussion. They make their living from the temples. Their children however prefer other work such as for the government or private work.[5]
In other branches of Hinduism, the mahant is an ascetic who is the head and leader of the temple and has religious responsibilities as a preacher.[6] Mahant is a title of Bairagis and Goswamis. However The post of Mahant can be achieved by a person of any caste, even today many castes are involved in the Mahant/joggi post.
Sikhism
In Sikh history, the mahants (Gurmukhi: ਮਹੰਤ; mahata) were the hereditary managers who controlled and held the door keys of Sikh gurdwaras. After the creation of the SGPC and the Nankana massacre involving Mahant Narayan Das, a law was passed handing over gurdwaras to reformer Sikhs.[7]
References
^New Oxford American Dictionary (2nd ed., 2005), p. 1020.
^"The making of a mahant: a journey through the Kumbh Mela festival". Financial Times. 8 March 2013.
^Roughton, Nicole. ""Attending the Kumbh Mela at Nasik: some reflections from a SOAS mahant" by James Mallinson – South Asia Notes". Retrieved 2021-09-16.
^Webster's Third New International Dictionary, p. 1361.
mahant, other, uses, disambiguation, religious, superior, particular, chief, temple, head, monastery, indian, religions, james, mallinson, westerners, named, mahant, describes, position, mahant, combination, abbot, brigadier, contents, etymology, hinduism, sik. For other uses see Mahant disambiguation Mahant m e ˈ h ʌ n t is a religious superior in particular the chief of a temple or the head of a monastery in Indian religions 1 James Mallinson one of the few westerners to be named as a mahant 2 describes the position of a mahant as a combination of an abbot and a brigadier 3 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Hinduism 3 Sikhism 4 References 5 External linksEtymology EditThe Hindi word mahant comes from Prakrit mahanta Sanskrit mahat accusative case mahantam meaning great 4 Hinduism EditOther titles for the word Mahant serving in the context of a well known religious place include priest or pundit generally always being a gyani or pastor citation needed Brahmins with Mahant surname are also found in Himachal Pradesh region They speak local dialects of Pahari and Hindi and read and write in Devanagari They are vegetarians The Mahant are monogamous and marriage is by discussion They make their living from the temples Their children however prefer other work such as for the government or private work 5 In other branches of Hinduism the mahant is an ascetic who is the head and leader of the temple and has religious responsibilities as a preacher 6 Mahant is a title of Bairagis and Goswamis However The post of Mahant can be achieved by a person of any caste even today many castes are involved in the Mahant joggi post Sikhism EditIn Sikh history the mahants Gurmukhi ਮਹ ਤ mahata were the hereditary managers who controlled and held the door keys of Sikh gurdwaras After the creation of the SGPC and the Nankana massacre involving Mahant Narayan Das a law was passed handing over gurdwaras to reformer Sikhs 7 References Edit New Oxford American Dictionary 2nd ed 2005 p 1020 The making of a mahant a journey through the Kumbh Mela festival Financial Times 8 March 2013 Roughton Nicole Attending the Kumbh Mela at Nasik some reflections from a SOAS mahant by James Mallinson South Asia Notes Retrieved 2021 09 16 Webster s Third New International Dictionary p 1361 https joshuaproject net people groups 21700 IN Raymond Brady Williams 2001 An Introduction to Swaminarayan Hinduism Cambridge University Press pp 239 ISBN 052165422X Mahant Archived 2009 02 23 at the Wayback MachineExternal links Edit Hinduism portal India portalSGPC Glossary Mahant Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mahant amp oldid 1126059283, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
