Bhagat: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 01:44, 10 February 2026

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.^[1] Furthermore, Bhagat is additionally a surname found among Marathas, Bania communities and Punjabi Brahmins.

Definition[edit | edit source]

Bhagat is a Hindi and Punjabi word derived from the Sanskrit word Bhagavat, भगवत्, which means saint or devotee.^[2] 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[edit | edit source]

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

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:^[3]

Notes[edit | edit source]

↑ "CENSUS OF INDIA 1961" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-09-20. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
↑ "Definition of BHAGAT". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2025-01-30.
↑ Bahri, H.; Bansal, G.S.; Puran, B.; Singh, B.; Singh, B.; Buxi, L.S.; Chawla, H.S.; Chawla, S.S.; Das, D.; Dass, N.; et al. (2000). "4. Bhagats and Saints". Studies. 63 (2): 169–93. doi:10.1007/1-4020-3044-4_4.

External links[edit | edit source]

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[1] "CENSUS OF INDIA 1961" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-09-20. Retrieved 2024-04-17.

[2] "Definition of BHAGAT". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2025-01-30.

[Bahri2000-3] Bahri, H.; Bansal, G.S.; Puran, B.; Singh, B.; Singh, B.; Buxi, L.S.; Chawla, H.S.; Chawla, S.S.; Das, D.; Dass, N.; et al. (2000). "4. Bhagats and Saints". Studies. 63 (2): 169–93. doi:10.1007/1-4020-3044-4_4.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Short description|Punjabi Title and Name}}
+{{Short description|Punjabi title and name}}
 {{about|the Punjabi word 'Bhagat'|Sindhi folk art|Sindhi bhagat}}
-{{italic title}}
+{{italic title}}{{Sikhism sidebar}}
-In Hinduism and Sikhism, but some time this surname is Found in Buddhism, '''''Bhagats''''' ({{lang-pa|ਭਗਤ}}, from [[Sanskrit]] {{lang-hi|भक्त}}) were originally holy men of various sects, primarily punjabi Brahmins which later also emerged as kshatriya in some parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab also. Members of a community that gives prominence to the religious teachings of [[Kabir]] are also known as ''Bhagats'', and the Hindu and Sikh religions both have numerous ''Bhagat'' communities in [[Punjab]], Jammu and Kashmir.
+'''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 [[clan|clans]] in the [[Mahar]] caste, with their clan totem being a [[King Cobra]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=CENSUS OF INDIA 1961 |url=http://lsi.gov.in:8081/jspui/bitstream/123456789/2806/1/41944_1961_ETH.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171528/http://lsi.gov.in:8081/jspui/bitstream/123456789/2806/1/41944_1961_ETH.pdf |archive-date=2022-09-20 |access-date=2024-04-17}}</ref> Furthermore, Bhagat is additionally a surname found among [[Maratha (caste)|Marathas]], [[Bania (caste)|Bania]] communities and [[Punjabi Brahmins (disambiguation)|Punjabi Brahmins]].
 ==Definition==
-''Bhagat'' is a [[Punjabi (language)|Punjabi]] word derived from the [[Sanskrit]] word ''Bhagavata'', which means: a devotee of the Lord (''[[Bhagavan|Bhagvan]]''). Many such [[Hinduism|Hindu]] and [[Sikhism|Sikh]] devotees are followers of the ''[[bhakti]]'' tradition, who adhere to a prayer-led path of [[Self-realization|realization]]. ''Bhagat'' is also a Hindu, [[Buddhist]] and [[Jainism|Jain]] surname , founded in various communities though it is most prevalent in the northern states of India.
+''Bhagat'' is a Hindi and [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] word derived from the [[Sanskrit]] word ''Bhagavat'', भगवत्, which means saint or devotee.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Definition of BHAGAT |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bhagat |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=www.merriam-webster.com |language=en}}</ref> It is known to be used as an epithet for Vishnu or Krishna. ''Bhagat'' is also a [[Hinduism|Hindu]], [[Buddhist]], and [[Jain]] surname, found in various communities throughout India. Though, it is most prevalent in the northern [[States and union territories of India|states]] of India.
 ==Sikhism==
-[[File:Saint Kabir with Namdeva, Raidas and Pipaji. Jaipur, early 19century, National Museum New Delhi (2).jpg|thumb|Four Bhagats of Sikhism: [[Bhagat Ravidas]], [[Bhagat Kabir]], [[Bhagat Namdev]], and [[Bhagat Pipa]].]]
+{{Further|Bhagat Bani}}[[File:Saint Kabir with Namdeva, Raidas and Pipaji. Jaipur, early 19century, National Museum New Delhi (2).jpg|thumb|Four Bhagats of Sikhism: [[Bhagat Ravidas]], [[Bhagat Kabir]], [[Bhagat Namdev]], and [[Bhagat Pipa]].]]
-Sikhism's central scriptural book, [[Guru Granth Sahib]], has teachings of 15 ''Bhagats'', along with ''[[Gurbani|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 and even some ''Bhagats'' who were considered as low, untouchables or ''[[Shudras]]'', as per the [[Varna (Hinduism)|Hindu caste system]], based on the caste they were born into. Religious writings of those ''Bhagats'' were collected by [[Guru Arjan]]. Some of them lived before [[Guru Nanak]], but came to have a [[monotheism|monotheistic]] as opposed to a [[God in Hinduism|polytheistic]] doctrine.
+[[File:Fresco depicting Guru Arjan meeting the Bhagats and composing the Adi Granth with the assistance of Bhai Gurdas, circa mid-19th century.jpg|thumb|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 ''[[Gurbani|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 [[monotheism|monotheistic]] as opposed to a [[God in Hinduism|polytheistic]] doctrine.
 Broadly speaking, therefore, a ''Bhagat'' is a holy person or a member of a community whose objectives involve leading humanity towards [[God in Sikhism|God]] and highlighting injustices in the world.
@@ Line 46: / Line 48: @@
 ==External links==
-*{{Commonscatinline}}
+*{{Commons category-inline}}
 {{Writers of Guru Granth Sahib}}
+{{Sikhism}}
 [[Category:Sikh Bhagats| ]]