Who is Hanstej Maharaj ?
Hanstej alternatively spelled as Hanshtej is a sufi saint of Pirana, a small village in the outskirts of Ahmedabad.
His real name is Syed Imam-ud-din. He was the youngest of the eighteen children of Pir Syed Hasan Kabir-ud-din bin Pir Syed Sadruddin who was a descendant of Hazrat Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq.
He was born on Thursday, the 21st Moharrum, 834 A.H.(1430 C.E/1486 Savant) at Uchh Sharif near Multan. His mother, Hurmat Khatun, was a daughter of Syed Alauddin bin Syed Kamal-ud-din.
Syed Imam-ud-din arrived at Ahmedabad around 856 A.H.(1452 C.E./1508 Savant) and stayed at a Mosque on the outskirts of the city. Here he is reported to have had a confrontation with Muhammad Begda, the famous king of Gujrat and wrought some miracles. From Ahmedabad, he proceeded onwards and settled down at Girmata from where he carried on his mission to spread Islam.
During his missionary career spanning nearly seventy years, he is reported to have composed hundred and four volumes of religious prose (six) and prosody (eight); apart from more than two hundred and twenty nine Ginans. His main works extent today are: Atharved Gavantri, Gugri na das ginan, Bai Budhai, Naklank Gita, Moman Chetamani, To Munivar Bhai, Vistol, Jannatpuri, Mul Gayetri yane shrushtinun mandan an renure hidayat, Satveni (Nani), Das Avatar (Moto), Jhankar, Man Sanjamni (Nani), Muibandh sol thal, Char Chowk with seventeen Ginans, and hundred and sixty two Ginans etc..
Syed Imam-ud-din served the Ismaili cause for nearly seventy years and is said to have died at the ripe age of 87 on 26th of Ramadhan, 919 A.H. (1513 C.E./1569 Savant) at Girmata. He is buried in the mausoleum at Pirana Sharif, the construction of which he had himself overseen during his life-time.
His other appellations are Syed Abdur-Rahim, Indra Imamdeen, Syed Imam Shah, etc… but he is famous as Syed Imam-ud-din or Syed Imam Shah amongst the Ismailis and as Pir Imam Shah or Pir Indra Imamdeen amongst the Imamshahis.
He founded the Pirana Satpanth branch of Nizari Islamili sect of Shia Islam. To know more about Pirana Satpanth click this button.
Why is he renamed?
“Imamshah was given a new name… Hanstej”
Strangely, after 510 years of his death, on 15-Jul-2023, Imamshah was given a new name… Hanstej-ji Maharaj.
No one can change the name of another person after the death of such person.
Have you ever thought why would someone change the name of Imamshah to Hanstej?
It’s not just change of name. Its change of identity from Muslim to Hindu.
Obviously, the reason would be something that not meets the eye.
The Strategy…
What allows the renaming?
The most important strategy used in formation of Satpanth and its propagation is Islamic concept of Al-Taqiyya.
Al-Taqiyya allows a Muslim to do all and anything he feels necessary to “protect and spread” Islam.
Thus, even when Satpanth is a Muslim sect, it can adopt outwardly Hindu look. It can have Hindu Gods and follow Hindu rituals.
Read https://satpanth.com/shaping-of-pirana-satpanth/ to know more about how Pirana Satpanth is using taqiyya to its advantage.
but… Why?
The followers of Pirana Satpanth are constantly questioning its Islamic elements and roots.
This is happening because the Gen Z of Pirana Satpanth has always been fed the lies that Pirana Satpanth is a hindu sect.
As a result, its young generation is in no position to accept Pirana Satpanth as a Muslim sect.
Thus in order to ensure that the young stay with Pirana Satpanth, they need to be brainwashed by making them believe that Pirana Satpanth is a Hindu sect.
and the result is …
The sect Pirana Satpanth which was on verge of complete collapse in around 1985, was revived.
Hindu religious leaders were taken for a ride.
The management of Pirana Satpanth was successfully able to stop the flow of people leaving Satpanth and joining Sanatan.
The blend of Hindu and Muslim elements worked. What the management does is that according to the requirements of the time, they just change the proportion of this blend, keeping the main Islamic seed intact.
Just change the outwardly looks.