Aspirant Academy

History

Key Points at a Glance

Religious Beliefs, Saints, Folk Deities

Paper I · Unit 1 Section 1 of 15 0 PYQs 53 min
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Key Points at a Glance

  1. Panchpirs are the five principal Lok Devtas of Rajasthan: Pabuji, Gogaji, Ramdevji, Tejaji, and Harbhuji. Each is worshipped through oral epic traditions centered on phad scroll paintings recited by Bhopa-Bhopi folk priests.

  2. Ramdev Pir, born c. 1405 CE at Runicha (Ramdevra, Jaisalmer district), is the only Lok Devta worshipped by both Hindus and Muslims as "Ramsa Pir." His annual fair at Ramdevra (Bhadrapada Shukla 2-11) draws roughly 5 lakh pilgrims.

  3. Dadu Dayal (1544-1603 CE), founder of the Dadu Panth, was born in Ahmedabad and later settled at Narayana in Nagaur district. His approximately 5,000-verse composition Dadu Vani became the foundational text of the sect.

  4. Nirguna Bhakti in Rajasthan is represented by Dadu Dayal, Rajjab, and Sundardas. All rejected idol worship, caste hierarchy, and ritualism, aligning with Kabir's broader nirguna tradition.

  5. Meera Bai (c. 1498-1547 CE), princess of Merta in Nagaur, was Rajasthan's foremost Saguna Bhakti saint devoted to Krishna. She is credited with about 1,300 bhajans in Braj Bhasha, Rajasthani, and Gujarati.

  6. Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (1141-1236 CE) established the Chishti Sufi order at Ajmer around 1193 CE. The Ajmer Dargah is South Asia's most visited Sufi shrine and receives about 1.5 lakh pilgrims during Urs (Rajab 1-6).

  7. The six orthodox schools of Indian Vedic philosophy are Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, and Vedanta. All accept the authority of the Vedas, while Prasthan Trayi refers to the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and Brahmasutras.

  8. Jainism in Rajasthan is represented most prominently by the Dilwara Temples at Mount Abu and the Ranakpur Temple in Pali district. Rajasthan has the highest Jain population share (~1.2%) of any Indian state.

  9. The Charandasi Sect, founded by Charan Das (1703-1782 CE) of Dehra village in Alwar, produced two prominent female saints: Sahajo Bai and Daya Bai. RPSC Mains 2024 directly asked about these two women saints.

  10. Karni Mata of Deshnok in Bikaner is a tutelary deity of Rajputs, especially the Charans. Her temple is famous for its sacred rats and its association with the Bikaner royal family and Rao Bika's establishment of the Bikaner state in 1488 CE.

  11. Gogaji (c. 900 CE) of Dadreva in Churu district is worshipped as a snake deity and also revered by Muslims as "Zahir Pir." The Gogamedi fair on Bhadrapada Shukla 9 is a major pilgrimage in Hanumangarh district.

  12. The Suhrawardi Sufi Silsilah, founded by Shihabuddin Suhrawardi (1145-1234 CE), was represented in Rajasthan by Hamiduddin Nagori (1192-1274 CE). It emphasized asceticism and strict sharia compliance.

  13. Tejaji (c. 928-960 CE) of Nagaur is both a cattle protector and a serpent deity, especially revered by the Jat community. Major fairs are held at Parbatsar in Nagaur and Bangad in Ajmer district.

  14. Pabuji (c. 1239-1276 CE) of Kolu in Phalodi was regarded as a camel deity and protector of livestock, especially by the Rebari and Nayak communities. His epic Pabuji ri Phad is performed overnight by Bhopa priests.

  15. Ram Navami 2026 national celebrations saw participation from temples across Rajasthan, including Govind Dev Ji in Jaipur, Shrinathji in Nathdwara, and Pushkar, reflecting the intersection of Saguna Vaishnava devotion and state governance in contemporary Rajasthan.