Mata Mansa Devi | |
|---|---|
 Guru Amar Das' family. Guru Amar Das, Mansa Devi, and three children. Manuscript painting, ca.1839–1843. | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | Mansa Devi Bahil Sankhatra |
| Died | 1569 Goindwal |
| Spouse | Guru Amar Das |
| Children | 4, including Mata Bhani |
| Parent | Dev Chand (father) |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Sikhism |
Mansa Devi (died 1569) was the wife of the third Sikh guru, Guru Amar Das. [note 1] [1] [2] [3]
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 have three further children: a second daughter Bhani (born in 1535), a son Mohan (born in 1536), and a second son 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]
