Dalit saints of Hinduism

Dalit is an ancient designation for a group of indigenous Indian people. Several influential Hindu saints, though, were members of this group.^[1]^[2] Though there has also many historical Vedic period saints, whose descendants are now considered as Dalits.^[3] Many of the saints have been classified as Shudra or Avarna, because there was no concept of Dalits or Harijan.

List

Vedic period

Matanga, teacher of Shabari.

Ancient period

Avvaiyar, royal saint of Chera dynasty.
Nandanar (Nalai Povar), one of the Nayanars.^[4]

Medieval period

Chokhamela, one of the first Dalit poets in India and wrote many Abhangas.
Ghasidas, notable saint of Satnami sect.
Namdev, saint from Varkari tradition.
Ravidas, founder of Ravidassia religion.

Modern period

Mata Amritanandamayi
Bhagu, notable Hindu saint and wrote many Abhangas devoted to Viṭhal.
Parsuram, founder of Ramnami Samaj.

References

^ Ghanshyam Shah, p. 42.
^ Jayakumar 1999, p. 20.
^ Strauss et al 2007, p. 179.
^ Jesudasan & Jesudasan, p. 156.

Sources

Shah, Ghanshyam. Dalits and the State. Centre for Rural Studies.
Jayakumar, Samuel (1999). Dalit consciousness and Christian conversion. Regnum International.
Strauss, Julia C; Cruise O'Brien, Donal Brian; Tauris, I. B. (2007). Staging politics.
Jesudasan, C; Jesudasan, Hephzibah. A history of Tamil literature (in Tamil).

[FOOTNOTEGhanshyam_Shah42-1] Ghanshyam Shah, p. 42.

[FOOTNOTEJayakumar199920-2] Jayakumar 1999, p. 20.

[FOOTNOTEStrauss_et_al2007179-3] Strauss et al 2007, p. 179.

[FOOTNOTEJesudasan_&_Jesudasan156-4] Jesudasan & Jesudasan, p. 156.

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