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 in the Mahar caste, with their clan totem being a King Cobra.
Definition
Bhagat is a Hindi and
Punjabi language word derived from the
Sanskrit word
Bhagavat, भगवत्, which means saint or devotee.
It is known to be used as an epithet for Vishnu or Krishna.
Bhagat is also a
Hinduism,
Buddhist, and
Jain surname, found in various communities throughout India. Though, it is most prevalent in the northern states of India.
Sikhism
Sikhism's central scriptural
book, Guru Granth Sahib, has teachings of 15
Bhagats, along with
Gurbani 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 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:
See also
Notes
External links
