Sikh bhagat

For the Sindhi performance art, see Sindhi bhagat

Bhagat is a Punjabi word derived from the Sanskrit word Bhagavata, which means: a devotee of the Lord (Bhagvan). Many such Hindu and Sikh devotees are followers of the bhakti tradition, who adhere to a prayer-led path of realization. Bhagat is also a Hindu and Jain surname, most commonly in northern states of India.

In Hinduism and Sikhism, Bhagats (Punjabi: ਭਗਤ, from Sanskrit भक्त) were originally holy men of various sects. Sikhism's central scriptural book, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, has teachings of 15 men known as Bhagats, along with bani of the ten Sikh Gurus. Religious writings of those Bhagats were collected by Guru Arjan. Some of them lived before Guru Nanak, but came to have a monotheistic as opposed to a polytheistic doctrine.

Members of a community that gives prominence to the religious teachings of Bhagat Kabir are known as Bhagats too, and the Hindu and Sikh religions both have numerous Bhagat communities in Punjab. These communities have faith in all the Bhagats in the Guru Granth Sahib, but consider Kabir to be the most important of them.

Broadly speaking, therefore, a Bhagat is a holy person or a member of a community whose objectives involve leading humanity towards God and highlighting injustices in the world.

Sufi Muslim Bhagats lived in Hindu centres and largely became imbued with Hindu spirituality.

Below is a list of the Bhagats who contributed towards Sri Guru Granth Sahib:

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