Maheshwari meghwar
Encyclopedia
Bar Mati Pantj is a religion founded by Matang-Dev around 1100 AD in Kutch and Sindh (modern India).
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.
(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 Brahmin
s.
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
.
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. After his death, he was buried at Bhadra
, Sindh
.
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’.
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 BiharBihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
(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
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
(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 Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s.
Matang-Dev was killed along with Abda Adbhang (king of Kutch) while fighting Haider Khan Pasha (a Pathan
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
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
Badin
Badin is the main city and capital of Badin District in Sindh, Pakistan. It lies east of the Indus River. The region is swampy, fertile for growing rice. Some oil fields are located near the town in the seasonally inundated Rann of Kutch region...
, Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
(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
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
.
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 JadejaJadeja
Jadeja belong to the Yaduvanshi rajputs or Chandravanshi rajputs. They are one of the 36 royal dynasties of old tracing their origins to Lord Krishna...
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. After his death, he was buried at Bhadra
Bhadra
In Hinduism, Bhadra is a goddess of the hunt and one of Shiva's servants....
, Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
.
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 HillMakli Hill
One of the largest necropolises in the world, with a diameter of approximately 8 kilometers, Makli Hill is supposed to be the burial place of some 125,000 local rulers, Sufi saints and others. It is located on the outskirts of Thatta, the capital of lower Sind until the seventeenth century, in what...
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’.