Varkari
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The Varkari tradition is a part of the bhakti spiritual tradition of Hinduism. Varkari in Marathi also means travellers. The Varkari sampraday (religious movement) is so called because the followers travel hundreds of miles to the holy town of Pandharpur on foot, twice a year on the two Ekadashi (11th day by lunar calendar) in the Hindu calendar months of Ashadh (which falls sometime in August) and Kartik (which falls sometime in November). This pilgrimage is called vari in the Marathi language and thus one who performs it in the path of devotion (Bhakti Marga) is a varkari.
Varkaris worship Vitthal or Vithoba, the presiding deity of Pandharpur who is considered same as Shri Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu. Varkaris can be categorized as vaishnavites saints from Maharashtra like Dnyaneshwar, Namdeo, Tukaram, Eknath and many others spearheaded the and strengthened the tradition with their teachings. The varkaris perform the pilgrimage to Pandharpur even today wherein they walk with the palkis of the saints from their places of origin all the way to Pandharpur.
The Varkari tradition has made all-pervading impact on the life of the common people for six hundred years (from 13th century to 18th century). The Varkari sect has looked upon God as the Ultimate Truth and has ascertained grades of values in social life and insisted upon each man's inculcating them in him. The sect has accepted ultimate equality among men. It lays stress on values such as individual sacrifice, forgiveness, simplicity, overcoming passions, peaceful co-existence, compassion, non-violence, love, humility in social life. All these values were the thrust of all marathi saints. The Varkari sect tried to mould the attitude of the common people (including Sudras and women) towards life. As far as possible, it inspired people to live according to high ideals of life. Dnyaneshwar and Dnyaneshwari that he preached are important because they formed the attitude and the way of life of Maharashtrian masses. A person must have a kind of detachment while living his life and he must have the courage of his convictions in the face of evil forces that deform life and dreadful death. Dnyaneshwari helped common man to inculcate these qualities in him.
The Saints Of the Varkari tradition made realising "Almighty" in very simple words. Each Of them wrote separate small booklets of verse in plain words.All called it the HARIPATH. Each saint in his own rustic but sweet style has tried to express the result of fusing the chanting Lord's name; as in Lord Vishnu and mentally feeling oneness with HIM. Such a state of mind surpasses all desires and negative thoughts. It resulted in people coming together unitedly
Reference : Jnaneshvara In The Indian Context by Chandrakant B. Bandiwadekar Retired Professor of Hindi, University of Pune and University of Bombay. ( http://www.here-now4u.de/eng/jnaneshvara_in_the_indian_cont.htm )
