Jump to content

Warkari

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 161.150.2.55 (talk) at 12:38, 17 July 2013. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

A Varkari, carrying an ektar with a saffron flag attached and cymbals tied to strings in his hands, journeying from Alandi to Pandharpur

Varkari (Marathi: वारकरी - meaning "a pilgrim") is a Vaishnava religious movement (sampraday) within the bhakti spiritual tradition of Hinduism, geographically associated with the Indian states of Maharashtra and northern Karnataka. Varkaris worship Vithoba (also known as Vitthal), the presiding deity of Pandharpur, regarded as a form of Krishna, an Avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu. Teachers associated with the movement include Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Chokhamela, Eknath, and Tukaram, all of whom are accorded the title of Sant.

The Varkari movement includes the worship of Krishna in the form of Vithoba and a duty-based approach towards life emphasising, moral behavior and strict avoidance of alcohol and tobacco, strict vegetarian diet and fasting on Ekadashi day (twice a month), self-restraint (brahmacharya) during student life, equality and humanity for all rejecting discrimination based on caste or wealth, the reading of holy books by all castes, the reading of the Haripath every day and regular bhajan and kirtan.

Influence

The Varkari tradition has been part of the culture for Hindu people of Maharashtra for many centuries. Varkari look upon God as the Ultimate Truth and ascertained grades of values in social life but accepted ultimate equality among men. Varkaris prostrated in front of each other because "everybody is Brahma" and stressed individual sacrifice, forgiveness, simplicity, overcoming passions, peaceful co-existence, compassion, non-violence, love and humility in social life.

The Varkari poets put God-realisation (haripath) in simple terms in small booklets of verse. Each saint, in his own rustic but sweet style, has extolled japa, chanting the Lord's name. Sant Dnyaneshwar, Eknath,Tukaram, and other Marathi Bhakti saints of the Varkari sect tried to mould the attitude of the common people, which included low castes and women, to have a kind of detachment and the courage of one's convictions in the face of evil forces.

Pilgrimage to Pandharpur

Pilgrimage to Pandhapur is called as Vari. Every year Varkari walk hundreds of miles to the holy town of Pandharpur, gathering there on ekadashi (the 11th day) of the Hindu lunar calendar month of Aashaadha (which falls sometime between late June to July in the Gregorian Calendar). Varkaris making the pilgrimage to Pandharpur carry the palkhis (palanquins) of the Saints from their places of samadhi (enlightenment or "spiritual birth"). According to historians, Vitthal devotees were holding pilgrimages prior to the 13th century. {{Citation needed|reason=your explanation here|date=July 2013}}. In the present times, about 40 palkhis, with their devotees, come from all over Maharashtra to Pandharpur.[1] The current tradition of carrying the paduka (sandals) of the sants in a palkhi was started by the youngest son of Sant [[Tukaram]], Narayan Maharaj, in 1685. Further changes were brought in by Haibatraobuwa and descendants of Sant Tukaram in the 1820s. Another pilgrimage is celebrated on the ekadashi of the month of Kartik ( Falls in November.of Gregorian Calendar).

During the vari there are some events such as Ringan and Dhava that marks the uniqueness of Vari tradition. During the Ringan a sacred horse called as Maulincha Ashva, who is believed to be the soul of the saint whose idol is being carried in the Palki, runs through the rows of pilgrims who try catching the dust particles kicked off and smear their head with the same. Dhava is another kind of race where everyone wins and it is held to commemorate the same way Saint Tukaram caught the view of Pandharpur Temple and started running in sheer exhilaration.

Lifestyle of Varkari

Varkari wear tulasi-mala (string of beads made from basil). They only consume Lacto-vegetarian (satvik) food. Furthermore, like many other Vaishnav sects, they refrain from using onion and garlic in their dishes. Sect members also do not smoke or consume alcohol.

Notable Varkari Saints

Dnyaneshwar's palkhi (palanquin), holding the footwear of the saint, is carried with honour in a silver bullock cart from Alandi to Pandharpur.

Important Places

Following are the four important places for Warkari Sampradaya.

Literature

list of Warkari Kirtankar

  • Babamaharaj Satarkar
  • Ramraomaharaj Dhok
  • Chandrashekhar maharaj Deglurkar
  • Chaitanya maharaj Deglurkar
  • Kisan Maharaj Sakhare- Aalandi
  • Ramkrushnadas maharaj Lahvitkar
  • Bandatatya Karadkar
  • Yogiraj maharaj Paithankar
  • Namdeoshastri Sanap
  • Prakash maharaj Bodhale
  • Pandurang maharaj Ghule
  • Sandipan maharaj Hasegaonkar
  • Sanjay maharaj Pachpor
  • Bhagwan Krishna Sanap Satara
  • Shrikant Maharaj Patkar pune

References

  1. ^ Hindu.com, Tukaram.com and page 21 of VidyaOnline.net
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Warkari&oldid=564646977"