Who Is Sant Sevalal Maharaj?

Who Is Sant Sevalal Maharaj?

In This Article, ”Who Is Sant Sevalal Maharaj?”, We Will Read: Who Is Sant Sevalal Maharaj?, Who Are Lambadis?, Social Status Of Banjara Community, etc.

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Context

In News

• For the first time ever, the year long commemoration of birth anniversary of Sant Sevalal Maharaj, the Spiritual & Religious Leader of Banjara Community is being celebrated by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
• The yearlong commemoration under the aegis of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav campaign to celebrate 75 years of India’s independence.
• The celebration began from 26th February, 2023.

Background

Since last 3 years, Sant Sevalal Maharaj Charitable Trust, New Delhi, whose president Dr Umesh Jadav is the only Member of Parliament of Banjara community , from Kalaburagi Constituency in Karnataka, has been celebrating the Jayanti in Delhi, where thousands of Banjara community people from different states of the country take part.

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Who Is Sant Sevalal Maharaj?

• Birth: Santh Sevalal Maharaj was born on 15 February 1739 at Surgondankoppa in Shivamogga district of Karnataka.
• Origin: Sant Sevalal Maharaj’s grandfather Ramji Rathod migrated from Chittorgarh region of Rajasthan as a trader and cattle herder.
• Spiritual Guru Of Banjara Community: He is considered a social reformer and spiritual teacher of the Banjara community. It is believed that there is a population of around 10 to 12 crore Banjara community across the country.
• Key Reforms By Sant Sevalal Maharaj
  • He travelled across the country with his Ladeniya Troup to serve especially the forest dwellers and nomadic tribes.
  • Due to his extraordinary knowledge, excellent skills and spiritual background in Ayurveda and Naturopathy, he was able to dispel and eradicate myths and superstitions prevalent in the tribal communities and brought about reforms in their way of life.
  • Among such communities, the Banjara community settled across the country with different names, have permanently abandoned their nomadic lifestyle and settled in their settlements called Tandas.
• Revered Symbol: Sant Sevalal Maharaj is revered by around 10 to 12 crore people belonging to the Banjara community. In states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, Sant Sevalal Maharaj is a revered symbol of every Banjara family and in all these states the birth anniversary of Sant Sevalal Maharaj ji is celebrated with great fanfare in the month of February.
• Samadhi Sthal: The Samadhi Sthal of Saint Sewalal Ji is situated in Manora Taluka of Washim District of Maharashtra at Pohradevi which is also known as Banjara Kashi.

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Who Are Lambadis?

• Lambadis/Banjara/Lambanis were the nomadic tribes who found in Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
• They are the largest tribal community in Telangana. They celebrate Sevalal Jayanti during the third week of February starting from 15th onwards.
• Karnataka has the second highest population of Lambanis (Banjaras) in the country, who are considered among 101 sub-castes that have been recognised as Scheduled Castes (SCs) in the State
• Lambadi traditional bards called Bhats recite the Lambadi epic of Sevabhaya. The traditional epic of Sevalal has the following seven episodes, half of which occurred in Telangana.
  • 1. The birth of Sevalal at Sevagad, Anantapur
  • 2. Offering Sira (made out of mud) and puri to goddess at Sirsigad.
  • 3. Freeing the uncastrated bull at Nimagao
  • 4. Getting decree from the village chief at Yaragadda
  • 5. A Chingariya boy’s sex was changed into female
  • 6. Rescuing the ship of Zoori
  • 7. Defeating Goddess in heaven

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Social Status Of Banjara Community

The Banjara community have been declared as ST in five States (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand), Scheduled Caste in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka, and Other Backward Class (OBC) in Chhattisgarh, Daman and Diu, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand.

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