11. Religious Beliefs, Saints, Folk Deities

CORE Key Points at a Glance

1. 1

   Panchpirs (पंचपीर) are the five principal Lok Devtas of Rajasthan: Pabuji, Gogaji, Ramdevji, Tejaji, and Harbhuji — each worshipped through oral epic traditions called phad paintings (फड़ चित्रकला) recited by Bhopa-Bhopi (भोपा-भोपी) folk priests.

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   Ramdev Pir (रामदेव पीर

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   Dadu Dayal (दादू दयाल, 1544–1603 CE), founder of the Dadu Panth (दादू पंथ), was born in Ahmedabad; settled at Narayana (Nagaur district), Rajasthan; his 5,000-verse composition "Dadu Vani" (दादू वाणी) is the foundational text of the sect.

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   Nirguna Bhakti (निर्गुण भक्ति) in Rajasthan: Dadu Dayal (Dadu Panth), Rajjab (Rajjabi sect), Sundardas (Sundardas tradition) — all rejected idol worship, caste hierarchy, and ritualism, aligning with Kabir's pan-Indian nirguna stream.

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   Meera Bai (मीराबाई, c. 1498–1547 CE), princess of Merta (Nagaur), devotee of Krishna — the pre-eminent Saguna Bhakti (सगुण भक्ति) saint of Rajasthan; composed ~1,300 bhajans in Braj Bhasha, Rajasthani, and Gujarati.

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   Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (ख्वाजा मुईनुद्दीन चिश्ती, 1141–1236 CE) established the Chishti Sufi order in Ajmer c. 1193 CE; the Ajmer Dargah (अजमेर दरगाह) is South Asia's most visited Sufi shrine, receiving ~1.5 lakh pilgrims annually during Urs (Rajab 1–6).

7. 7

   Six orthodox schools (षड्दर्शन) of Indian Vedic philosophy: Nyaya (न्याय), Vaisheshika (वैशेषिक), Samkhya (सांख्य), Yoga (योग), Mimamsa (मीमांसा), Vedanta (वेदांत) — all accept the authority of the Vedas; Prasthan Trayi (प्रस्थानत्रयी) = Upanishads + Bhagavad Gita + Brahmasutras.

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   Jainism in Rajasthan: Dilwara Temples (दिलवाड़ा मंदिर, Mount Abu, 11th–13th centuries CE) and Ranakpur Temple (रणकपुर, Pali district, 15th century CE) are the two premier Jain pilgrimage sites; Rajasthan has the highest Jain population share (~1.2%) of any Indian state.

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   Charandasi Sect (चरणदासी पंथ): founded by Charan Das (चरण दास, 1703–1782 CE) of Dehra village (Alwar); two prominent female saints — Sahajo Bai (सहजो बाई) and Daya Bai (दया बाई) — composed devotional literature in Hindi. RPSC Mains 2024 directly asked about these two women saints.

10. 10

    Karni Mata (करणी माता) of Deshnok (Bikaner) — tutelary deity of Rajputs, especially Charans; her temple is famous for sacred rats (kaba/kabas — काबा/काबास); associated with the Bikaner royal family and Rao Bika's (1488 CE) establishment of Bikaner state.

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    Gogaji (गोगाजी, c. 900 CE) of Dadreva (Churu district) — snake deity (नागदेवता); worshipped by both Hindus and Muslims as "Zahir Pir"; Gogamedi fair (Bhadrapada Shukla 9) is a major pilgrimage in Hanumangarh district.

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    Suhrawardi Sufi Silsilah (सुहरावर्दी सूफी सिलसिला): founded by Shihabuddin Suhrawardi (1145–1234 CE); in Rajasthan, Hamiduddin Nagori (हामिदुद्दीन नागोरी, 1192–1274 CE) was the principal Suhrawardi khanqah; emphasised asceticism and strict sharia compliance.

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    Tejaji (तेजाजी, c. 928–960 CE) of Nagaur — cattle and serpent deity; patron of Jat community; annual fair at Parbatsar (Nagaur, Bhadrapada Shukla 10–Poornima) and Bangad (Ajmer district).

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    Pabuji (पाबूजी, c. 1239–1276 CE) of Kolu (Phalodi, Jodhpur) — camel deity and protector of livestock; worshipped primarily by Rebari (रेबारी) and Nayak (नायक) communities; his epic Pabuji ri Phad (पाबूजी री फड़) is a 15-metre scroll performed all night by Bhopa priests.

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    Ram Navami 2026 national celebrations saw participation from temples across Rajasthan — Jaipur (Govind Dev Ji temple), Nathdwara (Shrinathji temple), and Pushkar — reflecting the intersection of Saguna Vaishnava devotion and state governance in contemporary Rajasthan. / राम नवमी 2026 के राष्ट्रीय उत्सव में राजस्थान के जयपुर (गोविंद देव जी), नाथद्वारा (श्रीनाथजी) और पुष्कर के मंदिरों की सक्रिय भागीदारी रही।