Barmati Panth

Bar Mati Pantj is a religion founded by Matang-Dev around 1100 AD in Kutch and Sindh (modern India).^[1]

The followers of Baarmati Panth are spread all over India but its presence is most visible in the districts of Kutch, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Amreli, Bhavnagar in Gujarat (India) and Sindh (now in Pakistan) apart from other Indian states like Maharashtra, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh.

Followers of the religion are known as Maheshwari Meghwar.

History

Matang-Dev founded his religion around 1100 AD in Kutch and Sindh. He was born to Jasde-Devi and Matra-Rakh in the village of Mandna in Bihar (India) on the banks of the holy river Ganges. He migrated from Bihar to the Kutch region at his youth and united the people amongst the various untouchable (jhankhriyas) and tribal castes (simbhriyas) under his new religion. Those oppressed social groups had been debarred from professing the Hindu religion due to prohibitions by the high-caste Brahmins.

Matang-Dev was killed along with Abda Adbhang (king of Kutch) while fighting Haider Khan Pasha (a Pathan warrior from Western India) in the Great Rann of Kutch. Eventually, his son Lunang-Dev fought and killed Haider Khan. The body of Matang-Dev was buried at the outskirts of Seni near Badin, Sindh (now in Pakistan), which is the foremost pilgrimage place for all Maheshwaris.

Subsequently, Lunag-Dev continued the legacy of his father. Lunag-Dev is worshiped as a Maheshwari deity, and is buried at Tharai in Sindh.

Maatai-Dev

Lunag-Dev's son Maatai-Dev carried on the established legacy of Baarmati-Panth. He played a prominent role in the formation of princely dynasty of the Jadeja clan in the Kutch-Sindh region, and exerted great influence on them through his religious position. Maatai-Dev claimed the prerogative to ordain kings, a power previously held only by high-caste Brahmins. This exclusive power of coronation is still extant in parts of Kutch.^{[citation needed]} After his death, he was buried at Bhadra, Sindh.

End of inherited hierarchy

Maamai-Dev terminated the birth inheritance of the position of Religious Master. Instead, he advocated that after his death, only the Baarmati-Panth would be regarded as the supreme state of religious affairs. He was buried at Makli Hill in Sindh (now in Pakistan). Thereafter, his six sons perform all rites and rituals of the religion, but the highest obeisance is being given to ‘Baarmati-Panth’.

See also

• Meghwal

External links

• Maheshpanthi.Net

References

1. ^ Philosophy of Sindh’s Sufi poets highlighted Bureau report - The News International - Pakistan. Wednesday, December 6, 2006. Posted at Sufi News and Sufism World Report