Can you explain the concept of Miri and Piri in Sikhism?
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Can you explain the concept of Miri and Piri in Sikhism?
Respected Sharma ji,
Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh!
Your question is as to how the concept of Miri and Piri is explained in Gurbani?
Both the words Miri and Piri are from Persian and the word Mir is short form of Amir and means ruler, king, hakam, general, head, chieftain, commander etc. and the word Pir means Bhagat, Guru and Acharya. In Gurbani, both the words Mir (ਮੀਰ/ਮੀਰਾ) and Pir (ਪੀਰ/ਪੀਰਾ) have been used for Akalpurakh/Guru, who are embodiment of each other.
In Gurbani, both the words were used since the time of first Guru Person Guru Nanak Sahib, as you would observe from the following verse and its meanings:-
ਕੋਟੀ ਹੂ ਪੀਰ ਵਰਜਿ ਰਹਾਏ ਜਾ ਮੀਰੁ ਸੁਣਿਆ ਧਾਇਆ ॥ ਥਾਨ ਮੁਕਾਮ ਜਲੇ ਬਿਜ ਮੰਦਰ ਮੁਛਿ ਮੁਛਿ ਕੁਇਰ ਰੁਲਾਇਆ ॥ ਕੋਈ ਮੁਗਲੁ ਨ ਹੋਆ ਅੰਧਾ ਕਿਨੈ ਨ ਪਰਚਾ ਲਾਇਆ ॥੪॥ (ਪੰਨਾ 417)
ਜਦੋਂ ਪਠਾਣ ਹਾਕਮਾਂ ਨੇ ਸੁਣਿਆ ਕਿ ਮੀਰ ਬਾਬਰ ਹੱਲਾ ਕਰ ਕੇ (ਵਗਾ ਤਗ) ਆ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਅਨੇਕਾਂ ਹੀ ਪੀਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ (ਜਾਦੂ ਟੂਣੇ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ) ਰੋਕ ਰੱਖਿਆ। (ਪਰ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਤਸਬੀਆਂ ਫਿਰਨ ਤੇ ਭੀ) ਪੱਕੇ ਥਾਂ ਮੁਕਾਮ ਪੱਕੇ ਮਹਲ (ਮੁਗ਼ਲਾਂ ਦੀ ਲਾਈ ਅੱਗ ਨਾਲ) ਸੜ (ਕੇ ਸੁਆਹ ਹੋ) ਗਏ। ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੇ ਪਠਾਣ ਸ਼ਾਹਜ਼ਾਦਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਟੋਟੇ ਕਰ ਕਰ ਕੇ (ਮਿੱਟੀ ਵਿਚ) ਰੋਲ ਦਿੱਤਾ। (ਪੀਰਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਤਸਬੀਆਂ ਨਾਲ) ਕੋਈ ਇੱਕ ਭੀ ਮੁਗ਼ਲ ਅੰਨ੍ਹਾ ਨਾ ਹੋਇਆ, ਕਿਸੇ ਭੀ ਪੀਰ ਨੇ ਕੋਈ ਕਰਾਮਾਤ ਕਰ ਨਾ ਵਿਖਾਈ।4।
In this verse, the word Mir has been used for Babbar and when it became to be known that he is coming very fast to attack then the Pathan rulers of that time asked religious persons to use magic and exorcism to make the Mughals blind but that didn’t happen and there was tremendous loss of life and property in the hands of Mughals.
So, the overall meaning of Piri and Miri is Bhagati and Shakti or religion and politics. In Sikhism, therefore, from the time of first Guru Person Guru Nanak Sahib, the Gurus were playing the roles of Pir and Mir and hence were given respect as ‘Satgur Sacha Patshah’ or ‘Deen Duni Da Patshah’.
Hope it helps. If you have any further questions, please do ask. If you find any deficiencies, please point out the same for improvement in future.
Regards,
Your Brother
Thanks Sir