Sevalal Maharaj (15 February 1739 – 4 December 1806) was an Indian socio-religious reformer and community leader, and is revered by the Gor Banjara community as a spiritual guru.
Guru Sevalal Maharaj was born to Bheema Naik (father) and Dharamani Yaadi (mother) in 18th century. He died at Ruhigarh (Yavatmal District) and was buried at Poharagarh in Washim district, now in the state of Maharashtra. His samadhi still stands there, adjacent to a temple dedicated to goddess Jagadamba. Although he was opposed to personality cults and rituals, it is a popular destination for Banjaras. Similar adjacent temples dedicated to Sevalal and to Jagdamba exist elsewhere and also attract worshipers in significant numbers.[1]
There are folk songs praising Sevalal that are popular during Banjara festivities.[1] Every Banjara/Gor/Lambadi village or hamlet has a temple for Sri Sevalal Guru. All the Banjara hoist a pink colour flags at spiritual sites in every village to show deep sense of spiritual reverence and claim the deep sense of community dignity.
Sri Sevalal Guru Preachingsedit
1) Serve the community as you do your own family.
2) Do not discriminate against anyone on any grounds.
3) Worship nature and don't detach from nature.
4) Plant trees and protect trees and animals. Don't sell animals to butchers.
5) Respect women.
6) Girls/daughters must be treated as Goddesses.
7) Do not practice violence.
8) Do not tell lies even at the cost of your own life; don't talk ill about others.
9) Do not steal other's belongings.
10) Protect the community language (Goar Boli) and costumes.
11) Respect all elders and love all younger ones.
12) Fight against the dowry.
13) Avoid being greedy, lustful, and self-interested.
14) Seek knowledge, always be an obedient student and a rigorous learner.
15) Help the weak and needy people.
16) Give water to the thirsty, and never sell water.
17) Protect the identity of community ( be a Gor and not a Kor).
18) Get liberation from ignorance, poverty and superstitions.
19) Don't kill animals.
20) Do not stay away from the Forest Area. Stay away from mainstream towns and cities.
21) Maintain cleanliness.
22) Worship Satibhavani.
Referencesedit
^ abBurman, J. J. Roy (2010). Ethnography of a Denotified Tribe: The Laman Banjara. Mittal Publications. p. 94. ISBN978-8-18324-345-2.
Further readingedit
Naik, Dhanasing B. (2000). The Art and Literature of Banjara Lambanis: A Socio-cultural Study. Abhinav Publications. ISBN978-8-17017-364-9.
January 01, 1970
sevalal, maharaj, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, 2020, lea. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Sevalal Maharaj news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2020 Learn how and when to remove this message Sevalal Maharaj 15 February 1739 4 December 1806 was an Indian socio religious reformer and community leader and is revered by the Gor Banjara community as a spiritual guru Shree Sevalal MaharajBornSevalal 1739 02 15 15 February 1739Suragondanakoppa Bhayagarh Nyamati Taluk Davangere District Karnataka IndiaDied4 December 1806 1806 12 04 aged 67 RuhigadResting placePoharagarh Washim district MaharashtraOccupationSocial reformerParentsBheema Naik father Dharamani Yaadi mother Guru Sevalal Maharaj was born to Bheema Naik father and Dharamani Yaadi mother in 18th century He died at Ruhigarh Yavatmal District and was buried at Poharagarh in Washim district now in the state of Maharashtra His samadhi still stands there adjacent to a temple dedicated to goddess Jagadamba Although he was opposed to personality cults and rituals it is a popular destination for Banjaras Similar adjacent temples dedicated to Sevalal and to Jagdamba exist elsewhere and also attract worshipers in significant numbers 1 There are folk songs praising Sevalal that are popular during Banjara festivities 1 Every Banjara Gor Lambadi village or hamlet has a temple for Sri Sevalal Guru All the Banjara hoist a pink colour flags at spiritual sites in every village to show deep sense of spiritual reverence and claim the deep sense of community dignity Sri Sevalal Guru Preachings edit1 Serve the community as you do your own family 2 Do not discriminate against anyone on any grounds 3 Worship nature and don t detach from nature 4 Plant trees and protect trees and animals Don t sell animals to butchers 5 Respect women 6 Girls daughters must be treated as Goddesses 7 Do not practice violence 8 Do not tell lies even at the cost of your own life don t talk ill about others 9 Do not steal other s belongings 10 Protect the community language Goar Boli and costumes 11 Respect all elders and love all younger ones 12 Fight against the dowry 13 Avoid being greedy lustful and self interested 14 Seek knowledge always be an obedient student and a rigorous learner 15 Help the weak and needy people 16 Give water to the thirsty and never sell water 17 Protect the identity of community be a Gor and not a Kor 18 Get liberation from ignorance poverty and superstitions 19 Don t kill animals 20 Do not stay away from the Forest Area Stay away from mainstream towns and cities 21 Maintain cleanliness 22 Worship Satibhavani References edit a b Burman J J Roy 2010 Ethnography of a Denotified Tribe The Laman Banjara Mittal Publications p 94 ISBN 978 8 18324 345 2 Further reading editNaik Dhanasing B 2000 The Art and Literature of Banjara Lambanis A Socio cultural Study Abhinav Publications ISBN 978 8 17017 364 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sevalal Maharaj amp oldid 1223022069, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
