Dalit saints of Hinduism
 | This article possibly contains original research. (September 2011) |
The dalit is a section of Hindu society generally referred as a "lower" caste that have produced several influential Hindu saints.[1][2][3] Some of the most notable Dalit Hindu saints are Ravidas, Kabir, Namdev, Chokha Mela, Sant Kanhoputra, etc.[4]
Many Harijans through their virtuous works, were given the title of Brahmin by non-Harijans. The most popular examples are Matanga, Nandanar, Purnananda, and Valmiki. In one legend, Nandanar entered a fire and came out of the fire as a Brahmin.[5]
The term Harijan was initially coined by a Koli Adivasi saint of Gujarat named Kubera, who in his lifetime had at least twenty thousands disciples.[6] Then Narsimh Mehta picked up the phrase and began using it for the backward castes[7].
Some writers believe that even Valmiki and Veda Vyasa, the celebrated of Hindu epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata, were also of Dalit background.[4]
I am a Bhangi, but I also do the work of a Brahmin. A Brahmin is one who spreads knowledge, sanskars; so I too am a Brahmin. I go on Bhakti pheris to spread the liberating message of Svadhyaya. So I am a Bhangi-Brahmin.
Saints
List of prominent historical saints
| Name | Ethnicity | Caste | Sect | Compositions | Other significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anayar | Tamil | Saiva | One of 63 Nayanar Shaivite saints | ||
| Andal | Tamil | Unknown/adopted | Vaishnava (devotee or Krishna) | Nachiyar Thirumozhi, 143 verses; Thiruppavai, 30 verses. | One of the 12 Alwar saints. |
| Atipattar | Tamil | Saiva | One of 63 Nayanar Shaivite saints | ||
| Balakdas | Marathi | Mahar[8] | Saiva | Wrote the Mahar Mahatmya declaring Samaji as the patriarch of the Mahars and Shiva as the God of the Mahars | |
| Banka Mahar | Marathi | Mahar | Vaishnava (devotee of Vithoba) | ||
| Bhagu | Marathi | Mahar | Vaishnava (devotee of Vithoba) | ||
| Binu | Bengali | Tantrik | |||
| Birbhan | Hindi | Chamar | Satnami | ||
| Guruchand Thakur | Bengali | Namasudra | Vaishnava (Matua sect devotee of Vishnu) | Son of Sri Harichand Thakur, helped organize the Vaishnava Matua sect | |
| Channayya | Marathi | Mahar[9] | Saiva (Virashaiva) | A disciple of Basava.[10] | |
| Chokha Mela | Marathi | Mahar | Vaishnava | Wrote many Abhangas devoted to Krishna. | |
| Damajipanth | Marathi | Mahar | Vaishnava | ||
| Devi Das | Hindi | Chamar | Satnami | A disciple of Jagjivan Das. | |
| Dhanna | Hindi | Chamar | Vaishnava | ||
| Ghasidas | Hindi | Chamar | Satnami | A prominent achiever of 'Saty' and aided the Satnami movement in Chhattisgarh India. His son, Balak Das was his successor (his memorable historical Jaistambh is in Giroud Puri Dham Disst Raipur Chhattisgarh) | |
| Ghisadas | Hindi | Ghisa[11] (weaver) | Vaishnava (Nirguna Sampradaya - Kabir Panthi) | ||
| Harahliah[12] | Kannada | Shaiva (Virashaiva) | |||
| Harichand Thakur (1811–1839) | Bengali | Namsudra | Vaisnavism (Matua devotee of Vishnu) | Founded Vaishnava Matua sect to worship Hari and preach Harinam[13] and a few of their songs even recognize Harichand as an avatar of Vishnu[14] | |
| Jagjivan Ram | Hindi | Aprisya Chamar | Satnami (devotee of Krishna) | Who went to Calcuttta to become initiated as a Hindu saint [citation needed], and is very well known as a major Dalit and Indian political leader | |
| Janbrish | Mang or Channayya[15] | ||||
| Jiwan Das | Hindi | Satnami | A saint of the Satnami sect | ||
| Jivan Das | Gujarati | Vaishnava (Kabirpanthi)[16] | |||
| Kartanand[17] Punjabi | |||||
| Kaliar | Tamil | Oil presser[18] | Shaiva | Tamil one of 63 Nayanar Shaivite saints | |
| Kanho or Kanhopatra | Marathi | Mahar courtesan dancer | Vaishnava (devotee of Vithoba) | ||
| Kapinjalada | Chandala | According to Mahabharata (Anushasana Parvan 53.13–19) | |||
| Karmamelam | Marathi | Mahar | Vaishnava | ||
| Kurmadas | Vaishnava | ||||
| Lalgir | Hindi | Sansi | Shaiva (Nirguna Sampradaya - Alakhgir) | Founded the Alakhgir Shaiva sect that worships Lord Shiva as Alakh or Formless. | |
| Madara Dhulayya | |||||
| Malamat Shah | Satnami | ||||
| Dasrath Gajbhiye[19] | Vaishnava (Nirguna Sampradaya - Kabir Panthi) | ||||
| Mohini Devi | Hindi | Chamar[20] | Satnami | Organized many Chamars. | |
| Munibanan | Tamil | Sweeper | Vaishnava | ||
| Namdeo | Punjabi | Dhobi | |||
| Nabhadas | Hindi | Dom | Vaishnava | Sant Ramanand's disciple. | |
| Nandanar (Nanthanaar) | Tamil | Athanuur | Shaiva | One of 63 Nayanar Shaivite saints. Chidambaram, the main place where Nandanar practiced austerities is now a place where backward castes have their own ashrams and recite the Upanishads in Sanskrit[21] | |
| Nirmala | Marathi | Mahar | |||
| Pambatti Cittar | Tamil | Shaiva | A Siddhar. | ||
| Parshuram | Hindi | Chamar | Vaishnava (Ramnami) | Founder of the Ramnami sect in Chhattisgarh | |
| Prasanna | Bengali | Shakta (devotee of Durga Ma) | Disciple of Kalachand. | ||
| Pipal Dass | Hindi | Chamar[22] Punjabi, a follower of Ravi Das | Vaishnava (Nirguna Sampradaya - Ravidasi) | ||
| Purnananda | Became recognized as a Brahmana. | ||||
| Ram Das | Chamar[23] | Disciple of Lakhmir. | |||
| Ram Naval | Hindi | Bhangi[24] | Vaishnava (Nirguna Sampradaya - Naval Panthi) | His successors were Daya Ram Maharaj (his son), Ram Baksh Maharaj and the present-day Badri Ram Maharaj. | |
| Ramsaran Pal | Bengali | Pal | Vaishnava (Kartabhaja) | Claimed to be a reincarnation of Krishna. | |
| Ravidas | Hindi | Chamar | Vaishnava (Nirguna Sampradaya - Ravidasi) | The Guru of Mirabai. He is said to have taken up his family job of shoe-making and supplied shoes top ascetics. "My caste is low, my lineage is low, and mean is my birth. I have taken shelter, King Rama, says Ravidas the cobbler" (p. 659, Guru Granth Sahib). His disciples are the Ravidasis. He was a disciple of Ramananda, claimed by Harijans to be their master.[25] | |
| Sadna | Marathi | Butcher | |||
| Sakhubai | Marathi | Vaishnava | |||
| Sarwan Dass | Punjabi | Chamar[22] | Follower of Ravi Das and son of Sant Pipal Dass | ||
| Satyakam Jabali[26] | |||||
| Shatakopa | Tamil | Kanjar[27] or Bhiton | Alwar devotee, Yamuna Muni declared, "I touch my feet at the holy feet of Shatakopa" | ||
| Soot | Narrator of the Puranas. | ||||
| Soyarabai | Marathi | Mahar[28] | Sant Chokha Mela's wife | ||
| Tejananda | Known by title "Swami" (priest) | ||||
| Thykad Ayyavu Swamy | Tamil | Pariah[29] | Kaumara (devotee of Muruga) | ||
| Tirukkurippu Tondar[18] | Tamil | One of 63 Nayanar Shaivite saints | |||
| Tirumankai (alias Nilan) | Tamil | Kalvar (robber)[30] | Vaishnava | One of the 12 Alwar saints. | |
| Tirumalisai[31] | Tamil | Vaishnava | One of the 12 Alwar saints. | ||
| Tiru Nalai Povar[32] | Tamil | One of 63 Nayanar Shaivite saints. | |||
| Tiru Nilakanta | Tamil | Potter[33] | Shaiva | One of 63 Nayanar Shaivite saints | |
| Tiru Nilakanta Yazhpanar | Tamil | Pana[34] (musical instrument player) | Shaiva | One of 63 Nayanar Shaivite saints | |
| Tiruvalluvar[35] | Tamil | Shaiva | One of 63 Nayanar Shaivite saints, wrote the Tirukkural | ||
| Trikam Das | Gujarati | Vaishnava (Kabirpanthi)[36] | |||
| Umaid Ram Maharaj | Hindi | Bhangi[37] | Vaishnava | He was a mendicant. His successors were Sukaram Maharaj, Deepa Ram Maharaj and the present-day Mangi Ram Maharaj. | |
| Vakhna | Mirasi[38] (sweeper) | Vaishnava (Nirguna Sampradaya - Dadu Panthi) | Disciple of Dadu Dayal. | ||
| Vithal Ramji Shinde | Marathi | Chamar[39] | Prartna Samaj | A member of the Prartna Samaj and founder of the Depressed Classes Mission organization for the upliftment of backward-caste Hindus. |
Maharishis
Saints and sages only can become real advisors to the kings, because they are selfless and possess the highest wisdom. They only can improve the morality of the masses. They alone can show the way to eternal bliss and mortality. Shivaji had Swami Ramdas as his adviser, King Dasaratha had Maharshi Vasishtha as his advisor.
- Maharshi Naval Ram, Bhangi,[40] a member of the Rajasthani Bhangi caste. He was born in 1840 on the month of Bhadrapad on Wednesday in Harsala village in Nagaur district. His successors were Daya Ram Maharaj (his son), Ram Baksh Maharaj and the present-day Badri Ram Maharaj.
- Maharishi Vithal Ramji Shinde, Chamar,[41] a member of the Prartna Samaj and founder of the Depressed Classes Mission organization for the upliftment of backward-caste Hindus.
- Maharishi Soot, narrator of the Puranas.
Avatars
- Matangi, worshipped as a form of Durga. She was the offspring of Matanga Muni.
- Tiru Panazhwar or Panalwar, Panan,[42] devotee of Lord Vishnu, considered avatar of spot of Lord Vishnu's chest
Mixed Dalit-Brahmin saints
- Maharishi Parashara, son of an outcaste woman (Matsyakanya-Satyavathi Devi), was one of the greatest devotees and thinkers in the Hindu
- Maharishi Vashista, son of a concubine, a guru of Shri Rama.
Other respected sages in Hindu society
- Namdev Mahar, Mahar,[43] devotee of Sai, lived in Kharagpur
- Bhagubai, wife of Namdev Mahar,[43] devotee of Sai
See also
References
- ^ Dalits and the state, pp. 42, Ghanshyam Shah, Centre for Rural Studies (Lal Bahadur Shastry National Academy of Administration)
- ^ Dalit consciousness and Christian conversion: historical resources for a contemporary debate: mission theology in an Asian context, pp. 20, Samuel Jayakumar, I.S.P.C.K. (Organization), Regnum International, 1999
- ^ Staging politics: power and performance in Asia and Africa, pp. 179, Julia C. Strauss, Donal Brian Cruise O'Brien, I. B.Tauris, 2007
- ^ a b "The Hindus forgot that their great saints and philosophers belonged to low caste's men as Valmiki, Ved Vyas, Sauni, Rom Harshan, Tiru Vallur, Kabir, Raidas, Chokhamela, Namdev, Tukaram...", Dalit Literature, pp. 209, Amar Nath Prasad, Sarup & Sons, 2007
- ^ p. 74 From stigma to assertion: untouchability, identity and politics in early and By Mikael Aktor, Robert Deliège
- ^ P. 269 Brāhmanism and Hindūism, Or, Religious Thought and Life in India: As Based By Sir Monier Monier-Williams
- ^ P. 24 Gujarat Unknown: Hindu-Muslim Syncretism and Humanistic Forays By J. J. Roy Burman
- ^ p. 133 Dalit movement in India and its leaders, 1857–1956 by Rāmacandra Kshīrasāgara
- ^ Murthy, p. 16 Basavanna
- ^ Sathyan, p. 242 Karnataka State Gazetteer
- ^ p. xiii, Scheduled caste welfare: myth or reality, by R. B. Singh
- ^ p. 42, Hinduism and Islam in India: caste, religion, and society from antiquity to, by S. V. Desika Char
- ^ p. 96, Caste, Culture and Hegemony: Social Domination in Colonial Bengal
- ^ p. 100, Caste, Culture and Hegemony: Social Domination in Colonial Bengal
- ^ Bhanu, p. 1105 People of India
- ^ Page 78 The Aryan Path - Volume 8 By Sophia Wadia
- ^ p. 1350 The Journal of Asian studies, Volume 67, Issue 4 by Association for Asian Studies, Far Eastern Association (U.S.)
- ^ a b p. 52 Nandanar, the Dalit martyr: a historical reconstruction of his times by Sundararaj Manickam
- ^ p. 84 Dalit movement in India and its leaders, 1857–1956 by Rāmacandra Kshīrasāgara
- ^ P. 30 India and Nepal: Sacred Centres and Anthropological Researches By Makhan Jha
- ^ Sastri, p. 3 Hindu Feasts, Fasts & Ceremonies
- ^ a b p. 15 Dalits in regional context by Harish K. Puri
- ^ p. 415 Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province by H. A. Rose, IBBETSON, Maclagan,
- ^ p. 149 The Bhangi: a sweeper caste, its socio-economic portraits, by Shyamlal
- ^ Singh, p. 98 Leadership Patterns and Village Structure
- ^ p. 97 Poisoned bread: translations from modern Marathi Dalit literature by Arjuna Ḍāṅgaḷe
- ^ p. 87, Gita Darshan as Bhakti Yoga, as a Chaitanyite Reads it
- ^ p. 61 Women Saints of East and West By Swami Ghanananda, John Stewart-Wallace
- ^ p. 352 Dalit movement in India and its leaders, 1857–1956 by Rāmacandra Kshīrasāgara
- ^ p. 159–160 Tamil literature, Volume 2, Part 1 By Kamil Zvelebil
- ^ p. 139 A history of Tirupati, Volume 1 by Sakkottai Krishnaswami Aiyangar
- ^ p. 156 A history of Tamil literature by C. Jesudasan, Hephzibah Jesudasan
- ^ p. 12 The grand epic of Saivism by Cuttān̲anta Pāratiyār, Cēkkilār
- ^ p. 135 Some aspects of Kerala and Tamil literature by Mu Irākavaiyaṅkār
- ^ p. 89 Tiruvalluvar by Es Makara-jan
- ^ Page 78 The Aryan Path - Volume 8 By Sophia Wadia
- ^ p. 144 The Bhangi: a sweeper caste, its socio-economic portraits, by Shyamlal
- ^ p. 248 Encyclopaedia Of Untouchables: Ancient Medieval And Modern by Raj Kumar
- ^ p. 43 Vitthal Ramji Shinde by G. M. Pavāra
- ^ p. 149 The Bhangi: a sweeper caste, its socio-economic portraits, by Shyamlal
- ^ p. 43 Vitthal Ramji Shinde by G. M. Pavāra
- ^ p. 108 Sri Andal, her contribution to literature, philosophy, religion & art: a compilation of lectures during All India Seminar on Andal, 13th to 15th August 1983 By Sri Ramanuja Vedanta Centre (Madras, India)
- ^ a b Shepherd, p. 111 Gurus Rediscovered