LOK SAINTS OF RAJASTHAN | RAS EXAM

Published on June 14, 2021 by Abhishek Shekhawat |
Last Updated on March 15, 2023 by Abhishek Shekhawat

JAMBHO JI

• He was born in Panwar Rajput family in Peepasar of Bikaner.
• He took birth on Janmashtami in 1451.
• Name of his parents were – Loahat Ji Panwar and Hansa Devi.
• He propagated Bishnoi cult in 1485 at Sambharathal of Bikaner.
• His works are Jambha Samhita, Jambh Sagar and Bishnoi Dharam Prakash and Shabd Vani.
• There is a collection of 29 teachings principles and 120 Shabda in his book Jambha Sagar. These 29 rules are followed by the people of this cult.
• He emphasized upon moral code of conduct and criticized pretentions and two-facedness of Hindu-Muslim religions.
• He taught to love and protect nature, forbade cutting of trees and killing of animals. He stressed on the importance of widow’s remarriage.
• He left for heavenly abode on Trayodashi in 1526 in Mukam village of Bikaner.
• His temples are located in Peepasar, Mukam, Jambha, Ramdawas, Jagool.

JASNATH JI

• He was born in 1482 A.D. in Katariasar, Bikaner.
• His parents were Hameer Ji Jani Jat and Roopande.
• He promoted Jasnathi Siddha cult.
• He taught 36 rules to lead a path of knowledge (Gyanmargi).
• He led a bachelor’s life throughout and underwent the process of reparation for 12 years and used to give sermons to the people in Gorakhmalia.
• He asked his followers to respect teachings of Guru about creation of this world, existence and worship of formless God, chanting of his name and the process of salvation.
• The collection of his teachings is present in Simbhudara and Konda.
• His followers dance on burning coals to pay tribute to him.
• He took Samadhi at the age of 24 in Katariawas in 1506.

PEEPA JI

• He was born in the family of Kheenchi Chauhan ruler of Gagron in 1425.
• His parents were Kadawa Rao and Lakshmivati.
• His teacher was Ramanand.
• He believed in equality and revering Guru with devotion as a means of salvation.
• He defeated army of Sultan Feroz Shah Tughlaq as the ruler of Gagron.
• His temple is located in Samdari village of Barmer.
• He is worshipped by tailor community.

SAINT RAMCHARAN JI MAHARAJ

• He was born in Bija Vaishya family of Jaipur in 1718 A.D.
• His parents were Bakhtaram and Dev ji. His wife was Gulab Kanwar.
• He was known as Ramkishan in childhood.
• He is the founder of Ramsnehi cult.
• He wrote song in Brajbhasha and is popularly known as ‘Anabhai Vani’.
• He always supported the idea of worshipping Guru in one’s life.

SAINT RAIDAS

• Raidas was born into a Chamaar caste in Kashi.
• He was a contemporary of Kabir.
• He vehemently opposed the caste system and showiness. He emphasized on importance of human equality and having a pure heart.
• He was a disciple of Ramanand.
• His teachings on humanity, tolerance, surrender, devotion and liberal ideas are dispersed in the form of Raidas ki Parchi.

DADUDAYAL

• He took birth in 1544 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
• He founded Dadu Panth.
• He started practicing Sadhna at the age of eleven after receiving schooling from Vriddhanand.
• He came to Sambhar in Jaipur in 1568 and started working as Dhunia and gave discourses.
• He met Akbar in Fathepur Sikri in 1585 and inspired him.
• He traveled the states of Marwar, Bikaner, Dhundhad and finally reached Naraina in Phulera. There he passed away on Jyestha Krishna Ashtami in 1605.
• His clothes and books are kept safe here till today. Therefore, it is known as principal seat of Dadu Panth.
• His wisdoms were collected in form of Dadudayal ki Vani and Dadudayal ra Duha.
• The cult consists of 125 disciples- 52 are prominent while other 52 are pillars.
• He propagated lessons on faith in God and Guru, love and morality, self-knowledge, pointlessness of casteism, importance of truth and simplicity in life.
• People of this community leave dead bodies in jungles to be eaten by animals and birds.
• Alakh Dariba is the satasang spots.
• The place where he achieved Samadhi in a cave in Naraina is called as Dadukhol.
• The cult is further divided into following:

1. Khalsa– Its founder is son of Dadu ji – Garibdas.
2. Virkatttta– It is a group of nomad disciples of Dadu ji.
3. Uttardev and Standhari – A g=community in Haryana whose founder is Banwaridas.
4. Khaki– These followers are jatadhari, rub ashes on their body and lives in unit of army.
5. Naga – Founded by disciple Sundardas. The Naga Sadhus keep weapons along with them and had served as soldiers in Jodhpur, Jaipur and Bharatpur.

• Saint Sunderdas of Naga Sect was born in Vaishya family of Dausa and died in 1707 in Sanganer of Jaipur. His main works are – Sunder Vilas, Sunder Granthawali, Sundersar, Gyan Samudra etc. He was known as Shankracharya of Rajasthan.
• Rajjab Ji was also a disciple of Dadu ji. He was born in Pathan Patwar at Sanganer. He became an austere and preached the teachings of Dadu ji wearing a dress of groom. His works involved Rajjab Vani and Sarvangi. There is a Rajjab Dwar in Sanganer dedicated to him.

MEERABAI

• She was a daughter of Ratan Singh of Merta, grand-daughter of Rao Duda and great grand-daughter of Rao Jodha ji.
• She was born at Kudaki of Nagaur in 1573.
• She got married to Bhojraj, son of Rana Sanga of Chittorgarh.
• She was a devotee of lord Krishna and considered him as her husband. Her fondness is regarded as Madhurya Bhav.
• Following are pieces of her work – Teeka Raag Govind, Narsi Mehta ni Hundi, Rukmani Mangal and Teeka on Geet-Govins.
• Ratna Khati composed Narsi Ji Ro Mayro under the guidance of Meera in Braj bhasha.
• She is known as Radha of Rajasthan.
• She founded Pasi sect in Vrindavan of Uttar Pradesh.

SAINT DHANNA

• He was born in 1415 in a Jat family of Dhuvan village, Tonk.
• He followed Ramanand.
• He preached nirgun bhakti.
• His name is mentioned in Guru Granth Sahib by Guru Arjan Dev.
• An annual fair is organized in his village.
• Similar to others, he advocated end of casteism and need of Guru.

LALDAS JI

• He was born in 1540 in Dholidoov village in Mewat on Sharavan Krishna Panchmi.
• His parents were Chandmal and Samada.
• He condemned hypocrisy in the society and emphasized on morality and devotion.
• His major sites are Alwar, Nagla and Shepur. He took initiation from a Muslim Saint Gadan Chishti of Tijara.
• His teachings are available in the from of Laldas Ji ki Chetavniyan.
• Though he died in Nagla of Bharatpur, his Samadhi place is situated in Sherpur of Alwar.
• He made a prediction to Dara Shikoh that Delhi will be ruled by one who will kill his brother. This came true when Aurangzeb took over the throne.

HARIDAS NIRANJANI

• Born in 1455 in Sankhla Kshatriya family at Kapdod in Nagaur.
• He was originally known as Hari Singh.
• Earlier he was a dacoit but experienced change of heart after meeting a Mahatma.
• He is the founder of Niranjani cult and known as Valmiki of Kalyug.
• The principal seat of the cult is situated at Gaadha in Deedwana of Nagaur.

BHAKT KAVI DURLABH

• He was born in 1753 in Bagad region.
• He lived and preached at Banswara and Dungarpur.
• He is also called as Narsingh of Rajasthan.

SAINT BHAAV JI

• Another saint of Bagad region. He was born in a brahmin family of Sanwala village in Dungarpur.
• He gained enlightenment while he was in Beneshwar in 1727.
• Therefore, the place is named as Beneshwar Dham.
• He is regarded as Nikalanki avatar of Shri Krishna.
• Every year a fair is organized at Beneshwar Dham which is also known as Kumbh of Tribals.

SAINT CHARANDAS JI

• A Jain born in Dehra of Alwar in 1703.
• His real name was Ranjit. He was son of Murlidhar and Kunji.
• Bhaktisagar, Gyan Sarvodaya, Brahm Charitra are his famous compositions.
• He died in 1782 in Delhi while his Samadhi is established in Dehra.
• A fair is organized every year on Basant Panchami to mark respect to this greatest saint of Mewat.
• His teachings consisted of 42 rules.
• His prominent female devotees were Daya Bai and Sahjo Bai.
• They wrote ‘DayaBodh & Vinay Patrika’ and Sahaj Prakash respectively.