Sant

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Sant is a term that is used in India, derived from the Sanskrit sat. Its root comes from the Sanskrit particle of the verb that means both "to be good" and "to be real". [1]It differs from the false cognate "Saint" by which it is often translated. [2]Sant can refer to

  1. the bhakti poets of the Marathi and Hindi speaking areas, some of which a lineage to the Nath yogis and who have been referred to as Sant Mat[3] [4]
  2. in the fifteenth and sixteenth century, "the good," often referring to people who sing the name of God and worship Him. [5]
  3. a surname in deshastha brahmins. Strangely it is present in both types of deshastha brahmins, Rigvedi and Yajurvedi. Famous poet Indira Sant is a Rigvedi Brahmin.
  4. Maltese nobility (see Sant Cassia) and can be a Maltese surname. The Leader of the Opposition is Alfred Sant.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Hawley, John S. (Ed.), Saints and Virtues, University of California Press (1987) "Three Hindu Saints", page 57
  2. ^ Schomer, Karine, The Sant Tradition in Perspective, in Sant Mat:Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India in Schomer K. and McLeod W.H. (Eds.)ISBN 0-9612208-0-5
  3. ^ Hawley, John S. (Ed.), Saints and Virtues, University of California Press (1987) "Three Hindu Saints", page 57
  4. ^ Rigopoulos, Antonio The life and teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi State University of New York press, Albany, (1993) ISBN 0-7914-1268-7
  5. ^ Hawley, John S. (Ed.), Saints and Virtues, University of California Press (1987) "Three Hindu Saints", page 57
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