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.

See also

• Hinduism portal

• List of Dalits

References

1. Ghanshyam Shah, p. 42.
2. Jayakumar 1999, p. 20.
3. Strauss et al 2007, p. 179.
4. Jesudasan & Jesudasan, p. 156.

Sources

• Shah, Ghanshyam (2002). 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 (2007). Staging Politics: Power and Performance in Asia and Africa. I. B. Tauris.
• Jesudasan, C; Jesudasan, Hephzibah. A history of Tamil literature (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 15 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.