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{{Short description|Punjabi title and name}}
{{about|the Punjabi word 'Bhagat'|Sindhi folk art|Sindhi bhagat}}
{{italic title}}{{Sikhism sidebar}}

'''Bhagat''' is a term used in the Indian subcontinent to describe religious figures who have obtained high acclaim in their communities for their acts and devotion. It is also a term ascribed to one of the [[clan|clans]] in the [[Mahar]] caste, with their clan totem being a [[King Cobra]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=CENSUS OF INDIA 1961 |url=http://lsi.gov.in:8081/jspui/bitstream/123456789/2806/1/41944_1961_ETH.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171528/http://lsi.gov.in:8081/jspui/bitstream/123456789/2806/1/41944_1961_ETH.pdf |archive-date=2022-09-20 |access-date=2024-04-17}}</ref> Furthermore, Bhagat is additionally a surname found among [[Maratha (caste)|Marathas]], [[Bania (caste)|Bania]] communities and [[Punjabi Brahmins (disambiguation)|Punjabi Brahmins]].

==Definition==
''Bhagat'' is a Hindi and [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] word derived from the [[Sanskrit]] word ''Bhagavat'', भगवत्, which means saint or devotee.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Definition of BHAGAT |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bhagat |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=www.merriam-webster.com |language=en}}</ref> It is known to be used as an epithet for Vishnu or Krishna. ''Bhagat'' is also a [[Hinduism|Hindu]], [[Buddhist]], and [[Jain]] surname, found in various communities throughout India. Though, it is most prevalent in the northern [[States and union territories of India|states]] of India.

==Sikhism==
{{Further|Bhagat Bani}}[[File:Saint Kabir with Namdeva, Raidas and Pipaji. Jaipur, early 19century, National Museum New Delhi (2).jpg|thumb|Four Bhagats of Sikhism: [[Bhagat Ravidas]], [[Bhagat Kabir]], [[Bhagat Namdev]], and [[Bhagat Pipa]].]]
[[File:Fresco depicting Guru Arjan meeting the Bhagats and composing the Adi Granth with the assistance of Bhai Gurdas, circa mid-19th century.jpg|thumb|Fresco depicting Guru Arjan meeting the Bhagats and composing the Adi Granth (first rendition of the Guru Granth Sahib) with the assistance of Bhai Gurdas, circa mid-19th century. The fresco is located within Gurdwara Baba Bir Singh. Positioning of the Bhagats (on the right-side), starting clock-wise from beside Guru Arjan's right-side: Kabir, Ravidas, Sheikh Farid, Jaidev, Farid?, Beni, Pipa, unknown, Trilochan, Dhanna?, and Namdev. Bhai Gurdas is on the left-side, scribing a manuscript.]]
Sikhism's central scriptural [[book]], [[Guru Granth Sahib]], has teachings of 15 ''Bhagats'', along with ''[[Gurbani|bani]]'' of [[Sikh Gurus]], ''Bhats'' and ''Gursikhs''. Because Sikhism believes in one human creed (no one belongs to a higher or a lower social status or caste) and that accounts to adding ''Bani'' of various authors, a total of 36, in [[Guru Granth Sahib]] irrespective of many belonging to religions other than Sikhism. Religious writings of those ''Bhagats'' were collected by [[Guru Arjan]]. Some of them lived before [[Guru Nanak]], but came to have a [[monotheism|monotheistic]] as opposed to a [[God in Hinduism|polytheistic]] doctrine.

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

Below is a list of the ''Bhagats'' who contributed towards [[Sri Guru Granth Sahib]]:<ref name=Bahri2000>{{cite journal
 | author = Bahri, H. |author2=Bansal, G.S. |author3=Puran, B. |author4=Singh, B. |author5=Singh, B. |author6=Buxi, L.S. |author7=Chawla, H.S. |author8=Chawla, S.S. |author9=Das, D. |author10=Dass, N.
 | year = 2000
 | title = 4. Bhagats and Saints
 | journal = Studies
 | volume = 63
 | issue = 2
 | pages = 169–93
 |display-authors=etal|doi=10.1007/1-4020-3044-4_4 }}</ref>

*[[Bhagat Kabir]]
*[[Bhagat Ravidas]]
*[[Bhagat Farid]]
*[[Bhagat Ramanand]]
*[[Bhagat Beni]] 	
*[[Bhagat Namdev]] 	
*[[Bhagat Sadhana]]
*[[Bhagat Bhikhan]]	
*[[Bhagat Parmanand]]	
*[[Bhagat Sain]]
*[[Bhagat Dhanna]]	
*[[Bhagat Pipa]]	
*[[Bhagat Surdas]]
*[[Jayadeva in Sikhism|Bhagat Jaidev]]		
*[[Bhagat Trilochan]]

==See also==
*[[Sant (religion)]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
{{Writers of Guru Granth Sahib}}
{{Sikhism}}

[[Category:Sikh Bhagats| ]]
[[Category:Titles and occupations in Hinduism]]


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