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[edit]
Vedic period[edit]
- Matanga, teacher of Shabari.
Ancient period[edit]
- Avvaiyar, royal saint of Chera dynasty.
- Nandanar (Nalai Povar), one of the Nayanars.[4]
Medieval period[edit]
- 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[edit]
- Mata Amritanandamayi
- Bhagu, notable Hindu saint and wrote many Abhangas devoted to Viṭhal.
- Parsuram, founder of Ramnami Samaj.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Ghanshyam Shah, p. 42.
- ^ Jayakumar 1999, p. 20.
- ^ Strauss et al 2007, p. 179.
- ^ Jesudasan & Jesudasan, p. 156.
Sources[edit]
- 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).