The Prominent Saints and Sects of Rajasthan

Saints and Sects

Some facts about the Bhakti movement and forms:

  1. Bhakti Era/Period:
    1. The time period of the Bhakti era is believed to be from Samvat(1443-1643AD).
    2. George Grierson called this a Swarnkal.
    3. Shyamsundar Das called this as a Swarnayuga.
    4. Acharya Ram Chandra Shukla called a Bhakti Kaal.
    5. Hazari Prasad Dwivedi called a Lok Jagran.
  2. Bhakti forms:
    1. Worship a God in a form considered as a Sagun Bhakti.
      • Believers: Meera
    2. Worship a God without any form, considered as a Nirguna Bhakti
      • Believers: Dadudayal, Jambho Ji

Dadudayal

  1. Birth year: 1544 A.D
  2. Birthplace: Home of a Brahmin(Lodhi Ram), Ahmedabad
  3. Teacher: Brahmanad(Disciple of Kabir Ji)
  4. He is known as Kabir of Rajasthan.
  5. 1585 A.D:
    • He met Akbar at Fatehpur Sikri by the efforts of Bhagwan Das(Amer ruler).
  6. He found the Dadu sect in the year 1602 A.D.
  7. He wrote a book name Vani.
    1. In their temple, instead of idols, the book Vani is kept.
  8. Dadudayal Ji started the Nipakh Movement.
  9. Dadu Sect:
    1. Main Brach: Naraina(Jaipur)
    2. The Dadu sect belongs to Nirgun Bhakti stream.
    3. The temples of the Dadu sect are called the Dadu Dwara.
    4. In this sect, the dead body is neither burned nor buried; instead, they keep the body to eat animals and birds in the forest.
      • Dadudayal Ji dead body left in the Bhairna hills(Jaipur) for the animals.
    5. The worshipping place of the Dadu sectarians is called Alakh Dariba.
    6. 1750 A.D:
      1. Chief of Naraina Branch: Jaitram
        • He classified the Dadu sect into various branches:
          1. Khalsa
          2. Virakt
          3. Khakhi
          4. Utara De
          5. Naga
    7. Disciples of Dadudayal Ji:
      1. 52 disciples(also known as 52 pillars)
      2. Prominent disciples:
        1. Sundardas Ji
          1. Founder of Naga branch
          2. Main Brach: Greatolav(Dausa)
          3. He helped Pratap Singh(Jaipur ruler) at the time of the invasion of the Marathas.
          4. Characteristics of Naga Branch:
            • The men’s always armed, and their residence place is known as Chavani.
          5. Book wrote:
            1. Sundarsagar
            2. Sundarvilas
            3. Sundar Granthwali
        2. Razzab Ji
          1. He was the Pathan man of Sanganer.
          2. Book wrote:
            1. Razzab Vani
            2. Sarvangi
        3. Garibdas Ji
          1. He was the son of Dadudayal Ji.
          2. He was the chief of the Dadu sect after the death of Dadudayal Ji.
        4. Miskindas Ji
          1. He was also the son of Dadudayal Ji.

Guru Jambheshwar/Guru Jambha Ji(Jambho Ji)

He was Born in Pipasar village, Nagaur in the year 1951. He belongs to the Panwar Rajput clan.

  1. Father: Lohat Ji Panwar; Mother: Hansa Devi.
  2. He belong to Nirguna Bhakti stream.
  3. Jambho Ji is considered as the incarnation of God Vishnu.
  4. Rao Jodha and his son Bika and Bida of Jodhpur were devotees of Jambhoji.
  5. 1482 A.D:
    1. He gives 29 sermons to the followers at Samrathal Dhora.
    2. He found the Vishnoi/Bishnoi Sect.
  6. 1536 A.D:
    1. Self-immolation(Samadhi): Mukan Village(Bikaner).
    2. Main temple: Mukan Village(also known as Mukam Mukti Dham)
    3. Fair: last day of the dark fortnight(Ashwin and Falgun month)
    4. Other temples:
      1. Jambha(Jodhpur)
      2. Ramravas(Jodhpur)
      3. Janglu(Bikaner)
  7. Main Teaching:
    1. Do not do violence over animals.
    2. Do not cut trees
      • Khejri tree sacred by Bishnoi sect
    3. To marry a widow.
  8. The people of the Bishnoi sect are environment friendly.
  9. The Books Written by Jambho Ji:
    1. Jambh Samhita
    2. Jambh Sagar
    3. Jambh Vani
    4. Bishnoi Dharm Prakash
    5. Jambh Sarita
  10. A book was written by Chandla, M. S. (1998) on Jambho Ji: Jambhoji: Messiah of the Thar Desert.
  11. Learn More about Guru Jambheshwar JI, Wikipedia.

Charandasi Sect

  1. This sect founded by Charandas Ji.
  2. The follower of the Charandasi sect wears yellow cloths.
  3. One of Charandasji, a female disciple named Dayabai, wrote the following books:
    • Vinay Malika
    • Daya Bodh

Ramanandi Sect

  1. Krishnadas Payhari founded the Ramanandi sect at Galta Ji.
  2. The people of the Ramanandi sect worship Lord Ram in the form of ‘Rasik Nayak.
    • Therefore, this sect is also called the ‘Rasik sect’.

Jasnath Sect

  1. Sikar Lodhi alloted the land of Katriyasar village(Bikaner)
  2. The maximum of Jasnath Ji belong to the Jat caste.
  3. The follower do the Fire dance.

Nimbark Sect

  1. The people of the Nimarak sect consider Radha is Wife of Lord Krishna.
  2. Their Book is ‘Vedant Parijat Bhasya’.

Vallabh Sect

  1. This sect was founded by Vallabhacharya who was a Brahmin of Telangana.
  2. The music which is sung in the temple is called Haveli music.

Haridasi Sect

  1. It is founded by Hari Singh Shankhla.
    • Main Books:
      1. Mantra Raj Prakash
      2. Haripurush Ji Ki Vani
  2. The Haridasi sect is also known as the ‘Nirajani Sect’.

Gouriya Sect

  1. This sect founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Saint Pipa Ji

  1. He was the disciple of Ramanad.
  2. Main temple: Sandari(Barmer)
  3. His cave is located at Toda(Tonk)

Laldasi Sect

  1. Laldas Ji was a woodcutter of Mev caste
  2. He believed in the Nirgun stream of devotion.

Saint Dhanna Ji

  1. Birth:
    • Dhuvan village(Tonk) in a Jat family
  2. He started the Bhakti movement in Rajasthan.

Nawal Sect

  1. It was founded by the Nawal Sagar at Harsolav village(Nagaur).
  2. Main Book:
    • Nawaleshwar Anubhav Vani

Balnandacharya

  1. He is also called the Laskar saint.
  2. Main Branch
    • Lahargal(Jhunjhunu)

Saint Maw Ji

  1. He founded the pilgrimage site named ‘Beneshwar Dham’ in Dungarpur.
  2. He stated the Nishkalanki Sect.
  3. Book wrote:
    • Chopra

Alakhia Sect

  1. Swami Lal Giri Ji founded it in Churu.
  2. The main branch is located at Bikaner.
  3. Book:
    • Alakh Stuti Prakash

Rajaram

  1. Main Branch:
    • Shikarpura(Jodhpur)

Narharpir

  1. He is known as ‘Dhani of Bagar’ i.e Master of Bagar region(Shekhawati region).

Ramsnehi sect

  1. Four main branches of Ramsnehi Sect:
    1. Shahpur(Bhilwara)
      • Founded by Ramcharan Ji
    2. Ren(Nagaur)
      • Founded by Dariyav Ji
    3. Singthal(Bikaner)
      • Founded by Hariram Das Ji
    4. Kherapa(Jodhpur)
      • Founded by Ramdas Ji

Bhakt Kavi Durlabh

  1. He is called ‘the Narsingh of Vaghar’.
  2. His principal influencing region was Vaghar(Dungarpur and Banswara).

Saint Meera

  1. Meera tutor name was Gajadhar.
  2. Raidas was the spritual leader of Meera.
  3. Book wrote:
    1. Geet Govind
    2. Rukmani Mangal
    3. Satyabhama Nu Rushno
    4. Narsi Ji Ro Mayro(with the help of Ratna Khati)

Gawari Bai

  1. She is known as ‘Meera of Vaghar’.

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