Bhagat

Bhagat is a term used in the Indian subcontinent to describe religious figures who have obtained high acclaim in their communities for their acts and devotion. It is also a term ascribed to one of the clans in the Mahar caste, with their clan totem being a King Cobra.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Furthermore, Bhagat is additionally a surname found among Marathas, Bania communities and Punjabi Brahmins.

Definition

Bhagat is a Hindi and Punjabi word derived from the Sanskrit word Bhagavat, भगवत्, which means saint or devotee.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is known to be used as an epithet for Vishnu or Krishna. Bhagat is also a Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain surname, found in various communities throughout India. Though, it is most prevalent in the northern states of India.

Sikhism

File:Saint Kabir with Namdeva, Raidas and Pipaji. Jaipur, early 19century, National Museum New Delhi (2).jpg

Four Bhagats of Sikhism: Bhagat Ravidas, Bhagat Kabir, Bhagat Namdev, and Bhagat Pipa.

File:Fresco depicting Guru Arjan meeting the Bhagats and composing the Adi Granth with the assistance of Bhai Gurdas, circa mid-19th century.jpg

Fresco depicting Guru Arjan meeting the Bhagats and composing the Adi Granth (first rendition of the Guru Granth Sahib) with the assistance of Bhai Gurdas, circa mid-19th century. The fresco is located within Gurdwara Baba Bir Singh. Positioning of the Bhagats (on the right-side), starting clock-wise from beside Guru Arjan's right-side: Kabir, Ravidas, Sheikh Farid, Jaidev, Farid?, Beni, Pipa, unknown, Trilochan, Dhanna?, and Namdev. Bhai Gurdas is on the left-side, scribing a manuscript.

Sikhism's central scriptural book, Guru Granth Sahib, has teachings of 15 Bhagats, along with bani of Sikh Gurus, Bhats and Gursikhs. Because Sikhism believes in one human creed (no one belongs to a higher or a lower social status or caste) and that accounts to adding Bani of various authors, a total of 36, in Guru Granth Sahib irrespective of many belonging to religions other than Sikhism. Religious writings of those Bhagats were collected by Guru Arjan. Some of them lived before Guru Nanak, but came to have a monotheistic as opposed to a polytheistic doctrine.

Broadly speaking, therefore, a Bhagat is a holy person or a member of a community whose objectives involve leading humanity towards God and highlighting injustices in the world.

Below is a list of the Bhagats who contributed towards Sri Guru Granth Sahib:<ref name=Bahri2000>Template:Cite journal</ref>

• Bhagat Kabir
• Bhagat Ravidas
• Bhagat Farid
• Bhagat Ramanand
• Bhagat Beni
• Bhagat Namdev
• Bhagat Sadhana
• Bhagat Bhikhan
• Bhagat Parmanand
• Bhagat Sain
• Bhagat Dhanna
• Bhagat Pipa
• Bhagat Surdas
• Bhagat Jaidev
• Bhagat Trilochan

See also

• Sant (religion)

External links

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