https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Ramanandi_SampradayaRamanandi Sampradaya - Revision history2026-08-18T09:56:52ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ramanandi_Sampradaya&diff=447147&oldid=prevCarmineJansen at 09:09, 27 February 20262026-02-27T09:09:10Z<p></p>
<a href="//en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ramanandi_Sampradaya&diff=447147&oldid=423893">Show changes</a>CarmineJansenhttps://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ramanandi_Sampradaya&diff=423893&oldid=prevAjay Kumar: Created a new article2023-08-31T07:45:05Z<p>Created a new article</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Branch of the Vaishnava Hinduism}}<br />
{{EngvarB|date=May 2015}} <br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}<br />
{{Vaishnavism}} <br />
The '''Ramanandi''' ([[IAST]] {{IAST|Rāmānandī}}), also known as '''Ramavats''' ([[IAST]] {{IAST|Rāmāvat}}),{{sfn|Michaels|2004|p=254}} {{sfn|Tattwananda|1984|p=10}} Ramananda sect is the largest sect of Vaishnavas, out of 52 gates of Vaishnavism, 36 are held by Ramanandi's. They mainly emphasize the worship of [[Rāma]], [[Sita]], and [[Hanuman]], as well as [[Vishnu]] directly and also his other [[avatar]]s.<br />
[[File:Ramanandi Himachal.webp|thumb|Rare portrait of a Ramanandi ascetic worshipping [[Sita]] [[Rama]] in India, Himachal Pradesh, [[Mandi State|Mandi]], first half off the 19th century]]<br />
<br />
==Caste==<br />
{{Main|Bairagi Brahmin}}<br />
People of this sect are known as Vaishnavite in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan. At the beginning of the 20th century, this sect declared to be the descendants of [[Lord Rama|Rāma's]] sons, [[Kusha (Ramayana)|Kusha]] and [[Lava (Ramayana)|Lava]].{{sfn|Jaffrelot|2003}}<br />
<br />
==Denomination==<br />
[[File:Unknown Indian - Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita Cooking and Eating in the Wilderness - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|[[Rama]], [[Sita]], and [[Lakshmana]] cooking and eating in the Wilderness (picture).]]<br />
The Ramanandi Sampradaya is one of the largest and most egalitarian Hindu sects India, around the [[Gangetic Plain]], and Nepal today.{{sfn| Burghart |1983|p=362}} It mainly emphasizes the worship of [[Rama|Rāma]],{{sfn|Michaels|2004|p=254}} as well as [[Vishnu]] directly and other incarnations.{{sfn|Tattwananda|1984|p=10}}{{sfn|Michaels|2004|p=255}}{{refn|group=note|{{harvtxt|Michaels|2004|p=255}}: "many groups that are considered {{IAST|Vaiṣṇava}} also worship {{IAST|Śiva}}. The largest ascetic groups that celebrate the Śivaratri festival with mortification of the flesh and pilgrimages are the {{IAST|Vaiṣṇava}} {{IAST|Rāmānandī}}s."}} {{IAST|Rāmānandī}} ascetics rely upon meditation and strict ascetic practices, but also believe that the grace of god is required for them to achieve liberation. For that reason, the {{IAST|Tyāga}} section of the {{IAST|Rāmānandī}} ascetics, unlike some {{IAST|Śaiva}} ascetics, do not cut the [[Upanayana|sacred thread]].{{sfn|Michaels|2004|p=316|loc="Wear a Sacred Thread" is noted as a distinctive mark of {{IAST|Rāmānandī}} ascetics in Table 33, "Groups and Sects of Ascetics".}} Their reasoning for this is that only {{IAST|Viṣṇu}} or {{IAST|Rāma}} can grant liberation.{{sfn|Michaels|2004|p=256}}<br />
<br />
Most Ramanandis consider themselves to be the followers of [[Ramananda]], a [[Vaishnava]] saint in medieval India.{{sfn|Raj|Harman|2007|p=165}} Philosophically, they follow [[Vishishtadvaita]] ([[IAST]] {{IAST|Viśiṣṭādvaita}}) tradition of Bhaghavat [[Ramanuja]].{{sfn|Michaels|2004|p=254}}<br />
<br />
Its ascetic wing constitutes the largest Vaishnava [[Hindu monasticism|monastic order]] and may possibly be the largest monastic order in all of India.{{sfn|Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia 1999}} There are two major subgroups of Ramanandi ascetics: the Tyagi, who use ash for initiation, and the Naga, who are the militant wing.{{sfn|Michaels|2004|p=316}}<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
{{See also|Ramananda}}<br />
<br />
''[[Bhaktamal]]'', a gigantic hagiographic work on Hindu saints and devotees written by Raghavadas in 1660,{{sfn|Callewaert|Snell|1994|p=95}} was a core text for all Vaishnavas including Ramanandis.{{sfn|Pinch|1996|p=55}} This text lists [[Ramanuja]], expounder of [[Vishishtadvaita]] school of Vedanta, and Ramananda as saints of the [[Sri Sampradaya|Ramanuja Sampradaya]] but Galta peeth of Ramanandi Vaishnavas have ruled out this by prohibiting Ramanuja Vaishnavas from taking Shahi snan in [[Kumbh Mela]].{{sfn|Callewaert|Snell|1994|p=97}} Many localized commentaries of ''Bhaktakamal'' were taught to young Vaishnavas across India. In the 19th century, proliferation of the printing press in the [[Gangetic plain]]s of North India allowed various commentaries of the text to be widely distributed. Of these, Bhagavan Prasad's ''Shri Bhaktamal: Tika, Tilak, aur Namvali Sahit'' was considered to be the most authoritative.{{sfn|Pinch|1996|p=55}} In this text, Bhagvan Prasad lists 108 prominent Vaishnavas starting with Ramanuja and ending with Ramananda.{{sfn|Pinch|1996|p=56}} Ramananda's guru Raghavananda is described as an egalitarian guru who taught students of all castes. Ramananda himself is described as an [[avatar]] of [[Rama]], a humble student with great yogic talents who was asked to form his own sampradaya as a punishment by his guru.{{sfn|Pinch|1996|pp=57–58}} The text located his birth in [[Allahabad|Prayag]] in c. 1300 CE.{{sfn|Pinch|1996|p=57}}<br />
<br />
[[J.N. Farquhar]], a noted missionary and indologist, published his own work on the Ramanandi Sampradaya based on his interaction with various Ramanandis at the ''[[Kumbh Mela]]'' of 1918.{{sfn|Pinch|1996|p=60}} Farquhar credits Ramananda (c. 1400–1470 CE){{sfn|Farquhar|1920|p=323}} and his followers as the origin of the North Indian practice of using Ram to refer to the [[Absolute (philosophy)|Absolute]].{{sfn|Farquhar|1920|pp=323–324}} Based on the textual evidence and similarity of sect marks between Ramanandis and Sri Vaishnavas, Farquhar concludes that Ramananda migrated to [[Benares]] from [[Tamil Nadu]]. He acknowledges that Ramananda accepted disciples from all castes and did not observe the restrictions in matters of food. However, Farquhar finds no evidence to show that Ramananda endeavoured to "overturn caste as a social institution".{{sfn|Farquhar|1920|pp=324–325}} On the other hand, Sita Ram, author of the ''Vaishnava history of Ayodhya'', and [[George Abraham Grierson|George Grierson]], eminent linguist and Indologist, represent Ramananda as saint who tried to transcend caste divisions of medieval India through the message of love and equality. The scholars also disagree on Ramananda's connection with Ramanuja. While Farquhar finds them completely unconnected, Sita Ram and Grierson place Ramananda within the Ramanuja tradition.{{sfn|Pinch|1996|p=61}}<br />
<br />
Up to the nineteenth century, many of the trade routes in northern India were guarded by groups of warrior-ascetics, including the Nāgā sections of the Rāmānandīs, who were feared because of their strength and fearlessness.{{sfn|Michaels|2004|p=274}} The British took steps to disarm these militant groups of ascetics, but even today the sects still retain their heroic traditions.{{sfn|Michaels|2004|p=274}}<br />
<br />
==Geography==<br />
Ramanandi live chiefly in the northern part of India.{{sfn|Tattwananda|1984|p=10}} Ramanandi monasteries are found throughout northern, western and central India, the Ganges basin, the Nepalese [[Terai]], and the Himalayan foothills.{{sfn| Burghart |1983|p=362}} Ramanandis are spread across India, mainly in [[Jammu division|Jammu]], [[Punjab]],<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Singh |first1=K. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uw8wAQAAIAAJ&q=Ramanandi+Punjab |title=Punjab |last2=Bansal |first2=I. J. S. |last3=Singh |first3=Swaran |last4=India |first4=Anthropological Survey of |date=2003 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India |isbn=978-81-7304-123-5 |language=en |quote=They are divided into several sections, among which may be mentioned the Ramanandi who worship Ram Chandra}}</ref> [[Himachal Pradesh|Himachal]], [[Gujarat]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Rajasthan]], [[Odisha]], [[Assam]] and [[West Bengal]].<ref>[[Bairagi Brahmin (caste)]]</ref> The majority of Hindu immigrants to [[Trinidad and Tobago]] as well as substantial section of Hindus in United Kingdom of Great Britain belong to Vaishnava sects such as the Ramanandi. Ramanandi has had a major influence on the mainstream [[Sanatani]] (orthodox) sect of [[Hinduism in Trinidad and Tobago]].{{sfn|West|2001|p=743}}<br />
<br />
==Saints==<br />
Saints [[Dhanna Bhagat|Dhanna]] and [[Bhagat Pipa|Pipa]] were among the immediate disciples of Ramananda.{{sfn|Farquhar|1920|p=328}} Hymns written by them find mention in the [[Adi Granth]], holy scripture of the [[Sikhs]].{{sfn|Schomer|McLeod|1987|p=5}} Sects founded by saints [[Raidas]], Sena and Maluk Das are also of a direct Ramanandi origin.{{sfn|Farquhar|1920|p=328}}<br />
<br />
The poet-saint [[Tulsidas]], who composed the [[Ramcharitmanas]], was a member of this sect.{{sfn|Michaels|2004|p=254}}{{sfn|Tattwananda|1984|p=10}} His writings made [[Vishnu]] and [[Shiva]] devotees of each other and thereby bridged the gap between Vaishnavas and Shaivites. Because Tulsidas attempted to reconcile various theologies scholars like [[Ramchandra Shukla]] do not agree that he can considered to be a Ramanandi exclusively.{{sfn|Shukla|2002|p=44}}<br />
<br />
Some sources say [[Jayadeva]], who composed the [[Gita Govinda]], was also a member of this sect.{{sfn|Tattwananda|1984|p=10}} Other sources classify Jayadeva simply as a Bengal Vaishnava.{{sfn|Michaels|2004|p=254}}<br />
<br />
[[Kabir]] was also disciple of Ramananda and part of Ramanandi Sampradaya,{{sfn|Tattwananda|1984|p=10}} Kabir also founded a separate sect that is now known as the [[Kabirpanthi]].{{sfn|Tattwananda|1984|p=10}}<br />
<br />
Another bhakti saint, [[Ravidas]], who was also a disciple of Ramananda, followed Ramanandi Sampradaya and also founded the Ravidassia sect.{{sfn|Pande|2010|p=76–77}}{{sfn|Jha|2013|p=12}}<br />
<br />
[[Bhaktamal]], a poem written c. 1585 in [[Braj language]], gives short biographies of more than 200 bhaktas. It was written by [[Nabha Dass]], a saint belonging to the tradition of Ramananda.{{sfn|Lochtefeld|2001|p=451}}{{sfn|Pande|2010|p=76–77}}This celebrated Vaishnav text ''Bhaktamal'' also mentions about peity of Ramanandi saint '''Shri Bhagwanji''' and miraculous powers of his disciple '''Shri Narainji''', who founded the Ramanandi Vaishnav temple named [[Thakurdwara Bhagwan Narainji]] in Pandori dham in [[Gurdaspur district|Gurdaspur]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Goswamy |first1=B. N. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MLfOASqmthYC&q=Bhaktam%C4%81la+Bhagwanji |title=The Mughal and Sikh Rulers and the Vaishnavas of Pindori: A Historical Interpretation of 52 Persian Documents |last2=Grewal |first2=J. S. |date=1969 |publisher=Indian Institute of Advanced Study |language=en}}</ref><br />
<br />
== Image gallery ==<br />
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150px"><br />
File:Chaturbhuj Temple, Orchha.jpg|Rama's ''[[Chaturbhuj Temple (Orchha)]]'' (Madhya Pradesh)<br />
File:Ram Mandir, Bhubaneswar.jpg|[[Ram Mandir, Bhubaneswar]] (Orisha)<br />
File:Hanuman at Badrachalam.jpg|[[Hanuman]] at the entrance of [[Sita Ramachandraswamy temple, Bhadrachalam]] ([[Telangana]])<br />
File:12BCM11.jpg|Celebrations at [[Sita Ramachandraswamy temple, Bhadrachalam]] ([[Telangana]]) <br />
</gallery><br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[Bairagi Brahmin]]<br />
* [[Rambhadracharya]]<br />
* [[Balmiki sect]]<br />
* [[Bhakti movement]]<br />
* [[Thakurdwara Bhagwan Narainji]] (Pandori dham)<br />
* [[Hindu denominations]]<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
{{reflist|group=note}}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
==Sources==<br />
{{refbegin}}<br />
* {{citation |last= Burghart |first= Richard |date=May 1983 |title= Wandering Ascetics of the Rāmānandī Sect |journal= History of Religions |volume=22 |issue=4 |pages=361–80|publisher=The University of Chicago Press |doi=10.1086/462930|s2cid= 162304284 }}<br />
* {{citation |last1=Callewaert|first1=Winand M.|last2=Snell|first2=Rupert|title=According to Tradition: Hagiographical Writing in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GrMwdEqHLzEC&pg=PA95|year=1994|publisher=Otto Harrassowitz Verlag|isbn=978-3-447-03524-8}}<br />
* {{citation |last=Farquhar|first=J. N.|title=Outline of the Religious Literature of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lwggjSPrjxUC&pg=PA323|year=1920|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-2086-9}}<br />
* {{citation |title=India's silent revolution: the rise of the lower castes in North India |page=196 |first=Christophe |last=Jaffrelot |publisher=C. Hurst & Co. |location=London |year=2003 |isbn=978-1-85065-670-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OAkW94DtUMAC}}<br />
* {{citation |title=Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZP_f9icf2roC&pg=PA904|year=1999|publisher=Merriam-Webster|isbn=978-0-87779-044-0|ref={{sfnRef|Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia 1999}}}}<br />
* {{citation |last1=Michaels |first1=Alex |title= Hinduism: Past and Present |edition=English translation of the book first published in Germany under the title Der Hinduismus: Geschichte und Gegenwart (Verlag, 1998) |year=2004 |publisher= Princeton University Press |location=Princeton }}<br />
* {{citation |last=Pinch|first=William R.|title=Peasants and Monks in British India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uEP-ceGYsnYC&pg=PA60|year=1996|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-20061-6}}<br />
* {{citation |last1=Raj|first1=Selva J.|last2=Harman|first2=William P.|title=Dealing With Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ov2oltTLinkC&pg=PA165|year=2007|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=978-0-7914-6708-4}}<br />
* {{citation |last1=Schomer|first1=Karine|last2=McLeod|first2=W. H.|title=The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OkKhOivXrhgC&pg=PA5|year=1987|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0277-3}}<br />
* {{citation |last=Shukla|first=Usha Devi|title=Rāmacaritamānasa in South Africa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L0xmbB3riQoC&pg=PA44|year=2002|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-1893-4}}<br />
* {{citation |last1=Tattwananda |first1=Swami |title= Vaisnava Sects, Saiva Sects, Mother Worship |edition=1st revised |year=1984 |publisher= Firma KLM Private Ltd. |location=Calcutta |page=10}}<br />
* {{citation |last=West |first=Jacqueline |title=South America, Central America and the Caribbean 2002|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o9ODxqsr-dIC&pg=PA743|year=2001|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-1-85743-121-6}}<br />
* {{citation |last=Pande |first=Rekha |title=Divine Sounds from the Heart—Singing Unfettered in their Own Voices: The Bhakti Movement and its Women Saints (12th to 17th Century) |date=2010 |publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing |isbn=9781443825252 |pages=76–77 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mYEnBwAAQBAJ |access-date=25 August 2019 |language=en}}<br />
* {{citation |last=Lochtefeld |first=James G.| isbn = 9780823931798 | title = The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M | url = https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/98 | url-access = registration | year = 2001 | publisher = Rosen Publishing Group | location = New York, New York, United States of America | page = [https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/98 451] }}<br />
* {{citation|last=Jha|first=Mamta|title=Sant Ravidas Ratnawali | year=2013|publisher=Prabhat Prakashan | page=12}}<br />
{{refend}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
* [http://www.philtar.ac.uk/encyclopedia/hindu/devot/ramav.html Ramavats (Ramanandis)], Division of Religion and Philosophy, University of Cumbria<br />
* [http://lordrama.co.in/ sampradaya]<br />
<br />
{{VaisnavaSampradayas}}<br />
{{Hindudharma}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Vaishnava sects]]<br />
[[Category:Hindu religious orders]]<br />
[[Category:Bhakti-era Hindu sects]]</div>Ajay Kumar