Satpanth is a Nizari Ismaili religious sect which follows Pir Sadardin (can check here too.) and his grandson Syed Imamshah Bawa aka Hanstej Maharaj. Pir Sadardin and Syed Imamshah Bawa aka Hanstej Maharaj, were Shia Ismaili Da’is who founded the Satpanth Tariqa around 600 years ago, and taught tolerance, perennialism and syncretism of all religions, putting a particular emphasis on the syncretism of Islam and Hinduism.
There are villages in Gujarat which are totally Satpanthi such as Pirana near Ahmedabad where Imamshah aka Hanstej is buried. Satpanthi Dargahs are known to be venerated with a stark contrast in the devotees, with Muslim-identifying visitors who may wear a hijab, and Hindu-identifying visitors wearing their traditional garb such as the sari.
Satpanth can be described as a synthesis of Hinduism and Islam as most who refer to themselves as Satpanthi claim they are Hindu or retain their Hindu names and traditions.
This has resulted in a unique syncretism in which adherents strongly employ Hindu symbols, especially the Om and Swastika, keep Sanskrit names, and observe all mainstream Hindu religious occasions, while prayers can also include Persian and Arabic Duas.
Whereas history says, Satpanth is a religious conversion machinery, in which “religious synthesis” is used to attract followers of other religion and clandestinely converted to Islam. The whole process is so smooth that even before the convert realises, it he is already converted.
In addition to the name of Satpanth Sect, it is also known as Imamshahi Panth, Pirana Panth, Kaka Panth, Gupt Sect, Pirana Satpanth, Nizari Panth, Momna Panth, Matiya Panth, (where Panth = Sect), etc.
religious classification
“A Nizari Ismaili Sect of Shia Branch of Islam”
Islam -> Shia Branch -> Nizari -> Ismaili -> Satpanth
Founder(s)
Pir Satgur Nur
Pir Satgur Nur (https://ismaili.net/hero/hero17.html) is the earliest pir or guru sent from Persia to India for propagation of Nizarism, which in India became designated (called) as Satpanth. Satgur Nur’s tomb (dargah) is in Navsari, Near Surat, Gujarat, India.I. Navsari Branch
Pir Shams
Next important pir is Shams al-Din (commonly known as Pir Shams https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamsuddin_Sabzwari).
His name appears in the 10th avatar in Dashavatar Book of Satpanth. In 10th Avatar, he takes the form of Parrot (सुक स्वरूप) and converts Surja Rani, wife of Kaligno, the demon and his son Kamlakunvar to Satpanth. Kalingo, the antagonist, is said to be a follower of Kashi Vishwanath. His tomb is in Multan, Pakistan.
Pir Sadruddin
Pir Shams’ son was Pir Nasir al-DIn. Nasir’s son was Pir Shihab (of Sahib) al-Din. Sahib al-Din’s son was Pir Sadar al-Din. Pir Sadar al-Din is also known as Pir Sadruddin or Pir Saradin.
Pir Sadruddin aka Pir Sadardin (check here too) is considered as the main pir of the Satpanth sect. Pir Sadruddin laid the foundation and strategy of spread of Satpanth religion. He wrote the maximum number of satpanth ginans, the teaching in form of poetry.
Saiyed Imamshah (aka Hanstej) of Pirana
His grandson Imamshah (known as Hanstej alternative spelling Hanshtej w.e.f. 15-Jul-2023) expanded the sect. He founded, what is today called as Pirana Satpanth having headquarters at Kalki Tirthdham (aka Nishkalanki Dham), Prernapith, Village Pirana, Near Ahmedabad in Gujarat State of India.
The Imamshah Bawa Roza Sansthan Committee Trust (Regd. E-738 – Ahmedabad) registered under Charity Commissioner’s office, Ahmedabad is the central organisation of Pirana Satpanth sect.
Strategy
Corrupt Hindu Religious Books to give out Islamic Message
Pir Sadruddin wrote a corrupt version Hindu religious book Dashavatar a.k.a. Dasavatar. Lateron his grandson Imamshah built over this formula and expanded his work. This is the main tool to brainwash hindus and trick them to follow Islam, even without actually realizing that they are being clandestinely converted to Islam.
In this book he used first 9 avatars of Hindu Lord / Bhagwan Vishnu and superimposed Maula Ali as the 10th and final avatar of Vishnu that is to happen in Kaliyuga.
The most corrupted avatars in the book are;
1) 8th Avatar – Krishna Avatar
2) 9th Avatar – Budha Avatar
3) 10th Avatar – Nishkalanki Avatar aka Kalki Avatar
Brainwashing
The Dashavatar book is the “religious conversion text” and the three mostly used avatars for brainwashing are;
1) Kirshna Avatar -> Corrupted the hearts
2) Budha Avatar – > Corrupted the minds
3) Nishkalanki Avatar / Kalki Avatar -> Promised Incentives and Induced people who follow Satpanth. In comparison, non-Satpanthis were threatened with chilling dire consequences.
Satpanth was presented as True Sanatan Religion of the Kaliyuga i.e., the present times.
While the actual (true) Sanatan religion was declared as null and void in Kaliyuga.
Taqiyya
How can Islam allow praying to Hindu Gods?
The answer lies in Islamic concept of Taqiyya
Islam allows a person practicing Taqiyya is to anything and everything prohibited in Islam.
- He is allowed to do idol worship and pray to Hindu Gods.
- He is allowed to become a Hindu Sadhu etc.
- He is allowed to preach Hinduism.
- etc.
In order to gain the confidence of his target person, who he wishes to convert, a Muslim is allowed to anything he wants to. But while doing so, he should be faithful to Islam in his heart.
Unexpected Success
“Result was a huge Success”
This strategy was an instant success.
Unsuspecting Hindus became victims of this strategy.
- Taqiyya allowed the preacher to gain confidence of their followers by preaching their native religion and using the religious terms they were familiar with.
- The road to conversion became very easy.
- The deception was so deep that the normal Hindus could not figure out the corruption in their books and religious stories.
- Taqiyya made the new converts feel safe and as they were shielded from the possible criticism from their other Hindu friends and relatives.
- Slowly, the Hearts and Minds of the new converts, i.e., Hindus started;
– Adopting
– Accepting, and
– Following
– Taking pride
in Satpanth. - Thus, the goal of religious conversion was achieved.
Branches of Satpanth, including Pirana Satpanth
Formation of Satpanth
Satpanth was founded by Pir Sadruddin.
His grandson, Saiyed Imamshah alias Imamuddin Abdur Rahim Saiyed alias Hanstej Maharaj founded the Pirana Satpanth branch of main Satpanth.
A. Main Satpanth
Pir Sadurddin (aka Pir Sadardin) is considered the founder of Satpanth. These days, it is also called as Ismaili Sect or Ismailism. Pir Sadruddin authored the foundational religious literature of Satpanth called Dashavatar book. It is based on the 10 avatars of Hindu God Vishnu. This is book is also known as the shorter version named Dashavatar Nano.
He is the master mind or designer of strategy, which resulted in clandestine religious conversion of Hindus to Muslims. Hindu Lohana community were the first converts and are called Khoja Muslims.
At present Aga Khan is the religious head of Main Satpanth aka Ismailism. It is spread over 30 countries in the world.
Level of Taqiyya: NIL.
(Post 1975, after the Paris Conference, use of taqiyya was officially abandoned and clear Muslim identity was openly adopted.)
Dasavatar by Pir Sadruddin
Dashavatar by Imamshah aka Hanstej
Constitution of Pirana Satpanth
B. Pirana Satpanth
Pirana branch of Satpanth was founded by Saiyed Imamshah. This sect is called by various other names like Satpanth, Imamshahi, Pirana Panth, Gupt Panth (Secret Sect), Satpanth Sanatan, etc.
Taking forward the work of his grand father, Pir Sadruddin, Saiyed Imamshah authored the larger edition of Dasavatar book, called Dashavatar Moto. Some variations can be seen between the books, but the underlying formula for religious conversion remains same.
The central institution is called The Imamshah Bawa Roza Sansthan Committee Trust (Regn No E 738, Ahmedabad). The trust is managed by 7 trustees from Satpanth community, 3 trustees from Muslims Saiyed community and 1 Chairman i.e., head of Pirana Satpanth sect. An Archive.org link to the Constitution of this trust is given here.
Its headquarters is at Pirana, near Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India. The main Dargah is basically located in the graveyard i.e., Kabristhan of Muslim Saiyed community, but due to the usage of taqiyya, this place is now called as Prernapith, Kalki Dham, Nishkalanki Dham etc.
Main Followers: Kutch Kadva Patidar Satpanth Samaj
Level of Taqiyya: Very High.
– Imamshah is renamed to Hanstej Maharaj
– Ali is rename as Nishkalanki and further as Kalki
– Imamshah’s Dargah is now called Temple
– Satpanth religious books are translated according to the Hindu religious terms and Islamic terms and connection is hidden
B1. Faizpur Branch
A branch of Pirana Satpanth sect operates from a small town called Faizpur, near Jalgaon, Maharashtra.
Janardan Maharaj is the head of this branch
Main Followers: Marathi Leva Patidar Satpanth Samaj
Level of Taqiyya: Very High
Outwardly Hindu identity, but follow Islamic Kalmas.
Dashavatar Book in Marathi Language
B2. Kukas Branch
In his last days, Imamshah called Naya Kaka, his ardent follower. He gave him a new name Naseeruddin and was asked to proceed to Kukas village of Kanam area of Vadodara District.
Shivramdasji Maharaj is the head of this branch
Main Followers: Local Kachiya, Machhi, Koli etc. Satpanth Samaj
Level of Taqiyya: Very High
Outwardly Hindu identity, but follow Islamic Kalmas.
C. Saiyed Community
Saiyed Community, they are the spiritual gurus of Pirana Satpanth. They are descendants of Imamshah . They are the sole beneficiaries of main Trust of Pirana, the Imamshah Bawa Roza Sansthan Committee Trust.
They control the large area of graveyard where Imamshah’s tomb is located.
This is the place which is outside the controversial 13 feet wall built around the Imamshah’s dargah. It houses many tombs of Satpanthis and Masids for prayers too.
Level of Taqiyya: Low
Muslim Identity is revered and accepted. But some followers are still outwardly Hindu
D. Hempuri Branch
Alarmed by the announcements of far-reaching steps taken by the ex-satpanthi community i.e., Kutch Kadva Patidar Sanatan Samaj (abkkpsamaj.org) to cut ties with Satpanthis, which potentially carried huge risk for the Satpanth if it continued in the present form.
The ex-satpanthi community made abundantly clear that they were not ready to have relations with people from a Muslim religion, even if it followed taqiyya and outwardly displayed Hindu identity.
The people in charge of main Pirana Satpanth sect made some sweeping changes. The aim of these changes was to use taqiyya even more vehemently, to give a message to its young followers that Satpanth is hindu religion. Thus to ensure its followers do not abandon it.
Following important steps were taken by the management of Pirana Satpanth;
| Sno | Date | Steps Taken |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | 30-Jan-2022 | A controversial 13 feet high wall was constructed within the Dargah premises of Imamshah. This divided the property into two sections. 1. The Graveyand and Mosque. (Area which cannot be given a Hindu outlook.) 2. The Dargah (where Imamshah is buried. Going ahead, this place is converted to temple.) |
| 2. | 11-Mar-2022 | Idols of Hindu Gods were placed in the vicinity of the Imamshah’s Dargah. To give a Hindu outlook to the premises. |
| 3. | 17-Oct-2022 | 54 Kundi Maha Vishnu Yagya was performed in Pirana. To give out a false message that Pirana Satpanth is a HIndu sect. |
| 4. | 15-Jul-2023 | Saiyed Imamshah alias Imamshah Maharaj was given new name (renamed) to Hanstej Maharaj (alternate spelling – Hanshtej Maharaj). This is to firmly establish the false Hindu identity, so that unsuspecting people become their easy victims. |
| 5. | 26-Feb-2024 | Inauguration of Mahadev (Shiv) and Hanuman Temple in Pirana. Remember Hanuman is shown as servant of Nishkalanki Narayan, i.e., Maula Ali, in their main Nishkalanki Narayan Temple. This is best example of use of taqiyya to attract Hindus to Satpanth, i.e., Islam |
| 6. | 08-May-2024 | Imamshah (Hanstej’s) tomb (kabar) and Hazarbeg’s tomb were destroyed. Alongwith these, the tomb of his wife Fatima Bibi, the tomb of his son Nurmuhmmad Shah and other tombs located just outside the dargah structure and its periphery, were destroyed. This dargah is renamed as a Hindu temple. Remember, worshipping tomb is NOT an integral part of practices of Islam. It is said that there are no dargahs in Arabic countries. Even prophet Muhammad and his relative’s tombs are not there. So by destroying the tombs, these people have not done anything anti-islam. |
These steps led to breakup of Pirana Satpanth sect once more. People who were not happy with these developments on 23-Mar-2025 formed a separate group, called Hempuri Dham group.
On this day, a meeting of like minded people was called in Hempuri and one of their preacher Shri Ratilal Kheta Pokar, commonly known as R K Patel Saheb originally hailing from Laxmipura Kampa, near Khedbrahma and presently residing at Vadodara was anointed to as the guru of this new sect and given the name as Ram Ratandas (alternative spelled as Ram Ratnadas). They also laid the foundation of the new so-called temple at Hempuri village (near Pirana). Some people call this place as Rajh Mandir (रज मंदिर). Rajh means the Dust, the dust of Imamshah’s tomb, as it was already destroyed till then.
Level of Taqiyya: Medium to High
They read the so called changed books from the year 1990 onwards, in which references to Islam have be renamed with Hindu terms. But do not accept the change of name of Imamshah to Hanstej
E. Dholka Branch
A wave of steps similar to that led to formation of Hempuri branch, were taken in early 1990s.
In the name of modernization of the religion, the religious books of Satpanth were changed. The Satpanth books were tactfully so changed that Islamic / Arabic terms were replaced by translated Hindu / Sanskrit terms. Taqiyya was used to achieve this.
This gave the books an “Outwardly” hindu look, enough for an unsuspecting person to falsely believe that Satpanth is Hindu religious sect. This time also the main purpose was to arrest the large scale abandoning of Satpanthis and joining the ex-satpanth community called Kutch Kadva Patidar Sanatan community (abkkpsamaj.org).
Further, Hindu Sadhu sammelans were organised on regular. VHP, RSS, Bajrang Dal members started actively associating with issues related to Pirana Satpanth. All this was done was to give a message that Satpanth is a hindu sect and thus Hindu Sadhus and Hindu religious organisations are actively supporting them.
People who did not like this formed a new group. Their Hidden Pir, Saiyyed Sallauddin Khaki, being their guru, guided them to Dholka village,a place near Pirana, where they already had religious infrastructure.
This group sticks to the original religious literature, as advocated by, authored by and followed since the times of Imamshah himself.
Kutch Kadva Patidar (Satpanth) Community members are the main followers
Level of Taqiyaa: Medium.
They follow the original books preached by Imamshah
Dasavatar followed by Dholka
F. Aathiya Branch
In Pirana itself, across the main road opposite of entrance of Imamshah’s dargah, there is a huge dargah of Bakar Ali Shah, the descendent of Imamshah. This is the Aathiya Branch (the 8ers) of Pirana Satpanth.
Main Followers: Gujarati Leva Patidar (Satpanth) community.
There are two sub-branches
- Amreli, near Junagadh – Kaka Bhailal Vishram Dhanani is the head
- Virod, near Vadodara – Kaka Vishnu Ishwarbhai is the head
Level of Taqiyya: Medium
Openly follow Islamic Kalmas and Tombs etc
Books of Aathiya Branch
G. Panchiya Branch
This is the seat of Surabhai. This is also called as Panchiya (the 5ers) Branch .
Prabhat Maharaj is their main guru.
They also have small branches at Balesna and Patan.
Rabari Satpanth Samaj Community is the main followers.
Level of Taqiyya: Medium
Openly recite Islamic Kalman and follow tombs of Saiyed
H. Satiya Branch
They follow the tomb of Bala Muhammad Shah. They are called Satiyas (the 7ers).
Followers are from Petlad, Nadiad, Khambhat and Borsad areas
and Sheikhs of Ahmedabad.
At present not much information is available about this sect. If you have more information on this sect, please send an email to [email protected]
Level of Taqiyya : Very Low
Muslim Identity is revered and accepted
I. Burhanpur Branch
The tomb of Muhammad Shah Dule, is the main place of religious place. It is located in Bahadarpur village, about 5 kms from Burhanpuar, located near the border of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
This branch is closely connected with the Dholka Branch of Pirana Satpanth.
Dr Shamshuddin Pirzada is the main religious guru of this sect.
Marathi Leva Patidar (Satpanth) and other nearby communities are the main followers.
Level of Taqiyya: Medium.
Openly recite Islamic Kalman and follow tombs of Saiyed
Books on Satpanth
Check our library of carefully classified and grouped books on Satpanth.