List of Shudra Hindu saints
There have been influential people born into Shudra families who through their devotion to God became great well-known Hindu saints. Some saint-gurus like Gulabrao, Potuluri and Tukaram even had Brahmins as their disciples. While Vedas were texts that most Brahmins claimed as their's to preech and interpret, sages like Badari taught that even Shudras havete legitimacy to to do so, and many Shudras and Ati-Shudras were taught the Vedas even in ancient times such Raikva did with his pupil Janasruti Pautrayana.[1] Other saints attained the status of Brahmin through their devotion and tapasya such as Jalandhara and Nandanar. Some Shudras are ritually concecrated to become Brahmins like the Thachudaya Kaimal caste of Kudalmannikam in Tamil Nadu.
Some scriptures written by Brahmin it is described that God manifested as Shudras such as in the Srimad Bhagavatam where the God as the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva incarnates as a Brahmin, Shudra, and Harijan to test Rantideva.[2]
There were also Brahmins that served as priests in temples sponsored by Shudra kings and civilians, such as Ramakrishna who served for the widow Rani Rasmani.[3]
Shudra devotees have made great contribution through their compositions of hymns, texts and translations of Sanskrit texts into other languages. For example, Kasi Das translated the Mahabharata into Bengali. Prem Das composed the scriptures Chaitanyea Bhagavat, Chaitanyea Chundroday, Chaitanyea Churitamirita, Chaitanyea Mongal, and Chaitanyea Sangita. Other devout Shudras composed non-scriptural texts praising Hindu saints as done by Nil Mani Bysack who wrote History of India and Lives of nine eminent Hindu females.
Saints
- Adipatta (or Atipattan), fisherman caste,[4], one of 63 Nayanar Shaivite saints
- Bogar, goldsmith caste,[5] Tamil, Siddhar who became a Siddhar under the guidance of Kalanginaathar. It is said that he proceeded to China to teach the ways of the Siddhars. There is a myth that Lao Tze is Bogar. Bogar’s Samadhi is to be found in the South West corridor at the Palani Muruga shrine.
- Bhoja Bhagat Nachabkha (or Bhojo) (1785-1850), Kunbi,[6] Gujarati, poet, philosopher, wrote artis, dholas, kafis, kirtans, mahinas, prabhatias, tithis and varas
- Dadu Dayal, cotton carder caste,[7] founded Dadu Panth, tried to bridge gap between Hindus and Muslims
- Enadinatha, Shanar (toddy tapper) caste,[8] devotee of Shiva
- Gadge Maharaj (also, Debuji Zhingraji Janorkar), Dhobi,[9] ethnic Marathi-speaker, 20th century poet devotee of Krishna
- Goroba, Kumhar (potter) caste, ethnic Marathi-speaker
- Gulabrao Maharaj (20th century saint), Kunbi,[10] ethnic Marathi-speaker, taught the Vedas to the Brahmins
- Ilakkulaccanrar, Shanar caste,[11] devotee of Shiva
- Rami Janabai, Dasi,[12] ethnic Marathi-speaker, domestic servant in Namdev's home, performed Vatsalya Bhakti on Lord Rama
- Kabir, member of the weaver caste[13] and founder of Gurmat. He tried to bring peace between Hindus and Muslims. He is said to have been found in a lotus flower according to legend.
- Kala Kumbhar, Kumbhar (potter), ethnic Marathi-speaker, Vaishnava devotee of Vitthal
- Kanakadas, Kuruba[14] or Beda[15] a devotee of Krishna and Beeraiah
- Kahar, a weaver, devotee of Vishnu[16]
- Kuba, Kumhar,[17] (potter), ethnic Punjabi-speaker, Vaishnava
- Kanchipurna[18], from Punamalli, ethnic Tamil-speaker, Vaishnava devotee of Lord Vishnu and disciple of Yamunacarya
- Maraner Nambi[19], from Maraner, Vaishnava devotee of Lord Vishnu and disciple of Yamunacarya
- Matsyendranath, said to be be born out of a fish and then adopted by a fisherwoman,[20] worshipped by Shaiva, Vaishnavas, tantric and Buddhists
- Munna Das, goldsmith[21]
- Namdev, weaver,[22] ethnic Marathi-speaker, Vaishnava devotee of Lord Vithoba. It is said that he is a part (Amsa) of Lord Krishna, wrote Abhangs devoted to Krishna
- Nammalvar[23]
- Nandanar[24]
- Narahari, Sunar (goldsmith),[25] Vaishnava devotee of Krishna, wrote Abhangs devoted to Krishna
- Neelan, powerful warrior and king of Thirumangai (part of Chola Empire), devotee of Lord Vishnu
- Nesa, weaver, Nayanar devotee of Shiva, one of 63 Shaivite saints
- Nisargadatta Maharaj, Kunbi, ethnic Marathi-speaker, devotee of Shiva a disciple of Siddharameswar Maharaj
- Potuluri Veerabrahmam, carpenter, ethnic Telugu-speaker, devotee of Shiva. His disciples included Brahmins like Annajayya, Muslims like Siddhayya and chura (cobbler) ‘untouchables’ like Kakkayya
- Rajjab, cottan-carder,[26] disciple of Sant Dadu Dayal devotee of Rama
- Raka Kumbhar, Kumbhar (potter), ethnic Marathi-speaker, Vaishnava devotee of Vitthal
- Revana Siddeshwara, Kuruba, devotee of Lord Shiva
- Sajan Kasai, butcher
- Sarala Dasa, Oriya, ethnic Oriya-speaker, self-proclaimed Shudramuni who wrote the entire Mahabharata scripture in Oriya
- Savata Mali, Mali (gardener) from Aran, Maharashtra, ethnic Marathi-speaker, devotee of Vithal, wrote Abhangs devoted to Krishna
- Saina, Nai (barber), ethnic Marathi-speaker, wrote Abhangs devoted to Krishna
- Sachidanand, Nai, devotee of Dattatreya
- Siddharameswar Maharaj, a devotee of Lord Shiva
- Sant Tanu Pal, Mahishya[27], ethnic Bengali-speaker,
- Thirumazhisai, Alvar devotee of Lord Vishnu
- Tukaram, Moray (peddler), Marathi, devotee of Vithal. Explained Vaishnava scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Bhagavata Purana. He was the guru of the Brahmin Bahinabai. He wrote several "Abhangs" devoted to Krishna.
- Tukdoji Maharaj, Kunbi, ethnic Marathi-speaker, devotee of Shiva, also a musician
- Tirukkacchi Nambi
- Tiruneelakanda or Tiruneelakantar, potter, Nayanar devotee of Shiva, one of 63 Shaivite saints
- Tiruneelakantha, potter, Nayanar devotee of Shiva, one of 63 Shaivite saints
- Tiruppana, Ezhava, Alvar devotee of Vishnu
Maharishis
- Aitreya Mahidasa, composed the Aitreya Brahmana and sections 1-3 of the Aitreya Aranyaka (the latter contains the Aitreya Upanishad - one of the 10 canonical Upanishads for Hindus) belonging to the Rigveda.
- Acyutananda, Karanam caste, 1 of the 5 Panchasakhas, born in Tilakana (Cuttack district in Orissa)[28], ethnic Oriya-speaker, and major figure of Vaishnavism, and was the patron saint of Gopalas (cow-hearders), Kaivartas (fishermen), Kamaras (blacksmiths).
- Balaram Das, Bauri[29] caste, called Shudra Muni, 1 of the 5 Panchasakhas, born in Orissa and a major figure of Vaishnavism.[30], he wrote the Sidhanta Damaru, Jagmohan Ramayana, and some commentaries
- Dirghatamas, son of the Dasi (maid)[31] Mamata
- Kathina, said to be born from a sacrificial flame[32]
- Manduk Muni, devotee of Krishna
- Ramananda Raya, a very important devotee of Krishna
- Rishyasringa, said to be born from a doe [32]
- Karve
- Sankardeva[33], from Assam, Vaishnava devotee of Krishna
- Vyas-octas, descendants of a Shudra raised to the rank of a Brahman by Vyasa Muni[34]
Mahasiddhas
- Bahila, from Kabhauradesa in Kamarupa[35], a devotee of Shiva
- Dharma Vyadha[36]
- Camripa, cobbler of Visnunagara, 1 of 84 Natha Mahasiddha devotees of Shiva
- Dhombipa, washerman of Saliputra, 1 of 84 Natha Mahasiddha devotees of Shiva
- Jalandhara, Shudra, born into Shudra,[37] merchant family in Nagara Tatha (near modern Karachi, Sindh), Sindhi, mentioned as a Brahmana by a Rahula, guru of King Gopichand
- Kapalapa, a Tantric Siddha from Rajapura (modern-day Rajaor near Jammu)
- Konkanapada (or Konkalipa)[38], from Magadha
- Mahila, Kalyapala (liquor-seller)[39] from Kundapura in Orissa
- Minapa, fisherman of Kamarupa, 1 of 84 Natha Mahasiddha devotees of Shiva
- Sehila, from Kashmir[40], a devotee of Shiva
- Tantipa, weaver[41] from Sravasti, 1 of 84 Natha Mahasiddha devotees of Shiva
- Vidura[42]
Shudra Priestly Castes
- Dasari, a caste of Vaishnava mendicants in Andhra Pradesh, that are mainly from the Kanada- and Telugu-speaking communities
- claim descent from either a wealthy Shudra devotee, or a Shudra named Banajiga (disciple of Vaishnava Ekanga Rangaswami) and a Kuruba woman[43]
- Poshm-Wanloo, a tiling caste of Sakta menicants on the bank of the Bhimal who move about with a small temple called Pochamma[44]
- Ravulo, a title for Kurumo temple priests in Ganjam (Orissa) who work together with Shudra temple-servants Malis (flower providers) and Munis[45]
- in temples were Brahmins are priests, the Ravulo officiates as a temple servant (e.g., ceremonies of blowing the conch)
- Shudra Muni, a title for temple priests in Orissa that worship goddesses Khambheshvari or Stambheshvari as God[46]
- other titles for these priests include Devata, Dehuri, Jani, Mali, Muni and Raula
- Thachudaya Kaimal, a caste of former Shudra temple-priests in Kudalmanikkam who were concecrated to become a Brahmin, and are individually nomiated ruler of Travancore[47]
Avatars of gods
- Shri Ayya Vaikundar, considered incarnation of Vishnu in the Ayyavazhi Smarta sect
Other respected sages
- Bhagat Amir Shankar, butcher, devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba
- Bhagat Avvaiyyar, Ezhava
- Bhagat Bala Ganpat Shimpi, tailor, friend of Shirdi Sai Baba
- Ghosha, the daughter to Bhakta Kakshivat who wrote verses in the Rig Veda.
- Bhakta Jaidev, made poetry of the Gita-Govinda
- Bhakta Kakshivat, a Brahmavadin, was the son of Dirghatamas by a Shudra maid servant (Brihaddevata 4.24-25). His descendants are also referred to as "Kakshivat".
- Bhakta Narayana Guru, Ezhava, a very well-known Hindu reformer and a sanyasi
- Guru Nitya Chaythaniya Yethi
- Bhakta Murtigana, disciple of Varmashiva,initiated into all tantric rahasyas by Varmashiva and became a great tantric himself. He was made the preceptor of the Rathod king Shurapala, despite being Shudra on account of his learning, he succeeded Varmashiva as the lord of the matha
- Bhagat Mhalsapati Sonar, goldsmith
- Manikyavachakar, Ezhava
- Mudisoodum Perumal, Nadar, a religious Ayyavazhi reformer
- Bhagat Prasanna, disciple of Brahmin Lalmohan[48]
- Karta Ram Maharaj, Rajasthani, meghawals (leather-weavers) the guru of members of his caste
- Kashiram Shimpi, tailor
- Nataraja Guru, disciple of Narayana
- Gabaji Sutar, carpenter, devotee of Sai Baba in Sai's time
- Guru Muni Narayana Prasad, disciple of Sree Narayana Guru
- Swami Bodhananda
- Bhakta Narayan Baba, the youngest son of Tukaram, began Pandharpur Festival in 1685
- Rajak Var-Pradanam, Chanda (washerman), first disciple of Shripad Shri Vallabha avatar
- Vagbhatananda Gurudevar, Thiyya, disciple of Sree Narayana Guru
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