Mahant


A mahant is a religious superior, in particular the chief priest of a temple or the head of a monastery in Indian religions.

Etymology

The Hindi word mahant comes from Prakrit mahanta-, Sanskrit mahat "great".

Hinduism

Other titles for the word Mahant, serving in the context of a well known religious place, include priest or pundit, being generally always a gyani or pastor.
In other branches of Hinduism, the mahant is an ascetic who is the head and leader of the temple and has religious responsibilities as a preacher.

Sikhism

In Sikh history, the mahants were the hereditary managers who controlled and held the door keys of Sikh gurdwaras. After the creation of the SGPC and the Nankana massacre involving Mahant Narayan Das, a law was passed handing over gurdwaras to reformer Sikhs.