Warkari

A Warkari, carrying an ektari with a saffron flag attached and Chiplya cymbals tied to strings in his hands, journeying from Alandi to Pandharpur

Warkari (/wɑːrkəri/ WAH-kə-ree; Marathi: वारकरी; Pronunciation: Marathi pronunciation: [ʋaːɾkəɾiː]; Meaning: 'The one who performs the Wari') is a sampradaya (religious movement) within the bhakti spiritual tradition of Hinduism, geographically associated with the Indian state of Maharashtra. Warkaris worship Vitthal (also known as Vithoba), the presiding deity of Pandharpur, regarded as a form of Vishnu. Saints and gurus of the bhakti movement associated with the Warkaris include Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Chokhamela, Eknath, and Tukaram all of whom are accorded the title of Sant.[1] Recent research has suggested that the Varkaris were historically the followers of Krishna.[citation needed] Vittala is also another name for Krishna. Krishna is referenced as Vittala in most Bhakthi songs of Purandara Dasa and other Bhakti Saints.

  1. ^ Maharashtra State Gazetteers: General Series, Volume 2. Maharashtra (India), Directorate of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications. 1971. p. 19. The Vaishnavism developed in Maharashtra as a special form which goes under the name of the Varkari sampradaya.