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JUNE, 1905.]
THE CULT OF MIAN BIBI IN THE PANJAB.
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THE CULT OF MIAN BIBI IN THE PANJAB.
BY LALA DINA NATE.
Prefatory Remarks. THERE are varions stories about the following saints and their first appearance. According
1 to the best received account, one Khwaja Kasmi had five song, named Shah Madar, Bholan Shah, Shekh Mada, Pir Sultan Shah, ad Pir Jholan Shah, and five daughters, named Jal Part, Mal Pari, Asman Part, Har Part, and Sabx Pari. Of all these the tomb of Bholan Shah exists at Jhonawal, in tahsil Gaphshankar, in the Hoshiarpur District. The other brothers and sisters are said to have become famous in other parts, and to have died there.
Another story is that Shah Madar, who is referred to throughout the songs sung by the followers of Mian Bibt, was a Shekh of Ram, whose real name was Badru'ddin. Being an adventurous man, he migrated to India and took lodgings in the bouse of a Court jester. After his arrival his host gained increasing favour with the Court, and he thought this was due to Shah Madár's supernatural influence. Shah Madar was called Mian by his host's daughters, and they in return were called by him Bibi. The girls became more and more attached to the Miân, and their belief in his supernatural powers grew stronger day by day. One day, it is said, the king, instigated by a minister, who was jealous of the favour shown to the jester, ordered the latter to fight with a tiger. The jester, in his dilemma, asked the Mian's advice, and he, by a miracle, caused a tiger to go into the king's darbár, kill the jealous minister, and to refrain from doing farther mischief at the bidding of the Mian's host. This astonished the Court, which sought out the author of the miracle. The Miân, however, was not pleased with the publicity thas given to his powers and desired to leave the place. The girls tried to persuade him not to desert them, but he could not be prevailed upon to remain. At last, seeing that the girls were determined to live end die with him, he disappeared underground with his virgin companions. It is not known when or where this happened, but the above story illustrates a common belief as to the origin of the cult of Man Bibi.
A third and perhaps the most plausible story, is that Mian Btbt wag & Shekh named Sadda of Delhi, said to have been well-versed in medicine and to have influence over ovil-spirits. He had a number of followers and maid-Servants, the principle among whom were Mian Bholen Shah, Mian Chanen, Mian Shah Madar, Mian Maleri, Shah Part, Hur Pari, Mihr Pari, Nar Pari, Usmal Parl, and Gungan Part. These are not Indian names, and the addition Part to the fernale names is intended to signify that the possesgata were very beautiful. The ordinary addition to these female names was Bibi, and it is said that the saint got his soubriquet of Mian Bibi ou acconst of his attachment' his female followers. Hence the origin of the name of Man Bibi for a male saint. The main followers travelled throngh many lands and preached the wondrous powers of their head, and credulous women, believing in the spiritual powers of the Mtân, held him in great respect, and after his death kept his memory green by the performence of a kind of passion play it his honour. The Mian always showed a preference for women, being shrewd enough to know that his pretensions would be readily believed by the sex and would succeed amongst them. He worked exclnsively among women, curing their diseases by his medical skill and attributing bis successes to his spiritual powers. He is credited with the possession of an Aladdin's lamp, with which he could attract to himself any woman he chose. And with its aid he is said to have made
1 (This is a title of the
lat mint Sakht Sarwar. -ED.)
