Sikhism - Culture - Gurmat Veechar

6. MATA MANSADEVI JI
Mata Mansa Devi was the wife ofGuru Amar Dass Sahib, the 3 rd
Nanak. As Guru Amar Dass came in contact with Guru's house quite
late at the age ofplus sixty and ascended to Guru's throne at the age of
72 years, much is not known about the couple's earlier life except that
they were very religious and pious persons and were quit generous in
giving charities. Otherwise they belonged to a well to do business class
family. It is also known that Baba Amardass had no inclination or
aptitude for marriage. He was all along avoiding being married but
ultimately agreed for the same after a lot ofpersuasion. He was married
at the age of 28 years after all of his siblings had tied their nuptial
knots.
Mata Mansa Devi was the daughter ofBhai Devi Chand Behal of
village Sankhara - a village at a distance of about sixty miles from
Basarke, the village to which Bhai Tcj Bhan , the father ofGuru Amar
Dass belonged.
The couple was blessed with four children, two sons and two
daughters. Sons were Baba Mohan and Baba Mohri and daughters
were Bibi Bhani and Bibi Dani. As Bhai Amar Dass, before coming in
touch with Guru Darbar was going on pilgrimage to Hardwar, twice a
year, Mata Mansa Devi was looking after the family affairs in his
absence. Then when Baba Amardass went to Khadur in the darbar of
Guru Angad Dev Sahib and served the Guru for about 12 long years
and was out ofthe home for long spells of time, she even passed that
testing period and looked after the family with a lot ofpatience.
When Guru Angad Dev Sahib was approached by Goinda to
develop Goindwal city, he directed Bhai Amar Dass to move to
Goindwal and take up the project in hand. Baba Amar Dass shifted
alongwith his family from Basarke to that town. Mata Mansa Devi
participated in the Kar Sewa. Several other women followed her. She
in accordance with the Guru family tradition looked after the 'Iangar'
too and was often found cleaning the utensils. Despite her advanced
age she never lagged behind in 'sewa', ofthe sangat.
Mala Mansa Devi Ji /109