In this guide
In 1730, in the village of Khejarli near Jodhpur, soldiers arrived to cut khejri trees for the ruler's new palace. A woman named Amrita Devi Bishnoi clung to a tree and refused to let it be cut, saying that a head lost for a tree was a cheap bargain. She was killed; her daughters followed; and in the end, according to tradition, 363 Bishnois gave their lives before the ruler stopped the felling. The Bishnois were following the teachings of Jambhoji, a fifteenth-century saint of Rajasthan. The story is one of many that show how Rajasthan's folk deities and saints shaped not only faith but values — equality, protection of animals and nature, and service.
The folk deities (lok devta)
Rajasthan's folk deities were mostly real people — warriors, protectors and reformers — who came to be worshipped after their deaths. Their stories are told in songs, phad paintings and fairs.
The Panch Pir
Five folk deities are grouped as the Panch Pir of Marwar: Pabuji, Harbhu, Ramdevji, Gogaji and Mehaji Mangaliya.
| Deity | Associated place | Key associations |
|---|---|---|
| Pabuji | Kolu (Phalodi) | Rathore warrior; credited in tradition with bringing the first camels to Rajasthan; deity of camel herders (Rebaris); Pabuji ki phad sung by Bhopas |
| Gogaji | Gogamedi (Hanumangarh) | Chauhan warrior; worshipped as the snake deity ("Jaharveer", "Goga Pir"); revered by Hindus and Muslims |
| Ramdevji | Ramdevra / Runicha (Jaisalmer) | Tomar Rajput saint; opposed untouchability and caste discrimination; his disciple Dali Bai was from a Meghwal family; revered as Ramsa Pir by Muslims; the Kamad community performs Terah Taali for him |
| Harbhu | Bengti (Phalodi) | Warrior-saint |
| Mehaji Mangaliya | Bapini (Jodhpur region) | Warrior-saint |
Other major folk deities
| Deity | Place | Associations |
|---|---|---|
| Tejaji | Kharnal (Nagaur); fair at Parbatsar | Jat folk hero who died keeping a promise to a snake; protector of cattle and against snakebite; "deity of farmers" |
| Devnarayan | Asind (Bhilwara) | Deity of the Gurjars; Devnarayan ki phad |
| Mallinath | Tilwara (Balotra) | Warrior-saint; cattle fair |
| Karni Mata | Deshnoke (Bikaner) | Deity of the Bikaner rulers; temple of sacred rats |
| Jeen Mata | Sikar | Chauhan tutelary deity |
The saints (sant parampara)
| Saint | Period | Associated place | Teachings / legacy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mirabai | 16th century | Born in Kurki, Merta region; married into Mewar | Devotee of Krishna; defied royal and social conventions; her padas (songs) are sung across India |
| Jambhoji (Guru Jambheshwar) | 15th–16th century | Pipasar (Nagaur); Samrathal | Founded the Bishnoi sect (1485) with 29 rules (bis + noi), including protection of trees and animals |
| Jasnathji | 15th–16th century | Katariyasar (Bikaner) | Founded the Jasnathi sect; the fire dance of his followers |
| Dadu Dayal | 16th century | Born in Ahmedabad; active at Sambhar and Naraina (Jaipur) | Founded the Dadu Panth; critic of ritual and caste; called the "Kabir of Rajasthan"; his teachings collected in the Dadu Vani |
| Sant Peepa | 14th–15th century | Gagron (Jhalawar) | A Khichi Chauhan ruler who renounced his throne to follow Ramananda |
| Charan Das | 18th century | Born in Dehra (Alwar) | Founded the Charandasi sect |
| Ram Charan | 18th century | Shahpura (Bhilwara) | Founded the Ramsnehi sect; other Ramsnehi centres at Rain, Sinthal and Khedapa |
| Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti | 12th–13th century | Ajmer | Founder of the Chishti Sufi order in India; his dargah draws pilgrims of all faiths |
The Bishnois and Khejarli
The Bishnoi community's commitment to protecting trees and wildlife, inspired by Jambhoji's rules, culminated in the Khejarli sacrifice of 1730, led by Amrita Devi. It is remembered as one of the earliest recorded environmental movements, and it inspired later movements such as Chipko. The Rajasthan government's Amrita Devi Bishnoi Smriti Paryavaran Puraskar honours environmental conservation. The Bishnois remain known for protecting blackbuck and chinkara in western Rajasthan.
Why folk deities and saints matter
- Religious life — fairs, shrines and songs across the state.
- Syncretism — shared worship of Ramdevji, Gogaji and the Ajmer dargah by Hindus and Muslims.
- Social reform — challenges to caste and ritual.
- Environmental ethics — the Bishnoi tradition.
- Culture — phad painting, folk music (Bhopas), dance (Terah Taali, fire dance).
Practice
Prelims-style:
- Which folk deity is credited with bringing camels to Rajasthan?
- Where is the samadhi of Ramdevji?
- Who founded the Bishnoi sect, and how many rules did he prescribe?
- Which saint is called the "Kabir of Rajasthan"?
- Which folk deity is worshipped by the Gurjars?
Mains-style (50 words): What is the significance of the Khejarli sacrifice?
Mains-style (100 words): "The folk deities of Rajasthan promoted social harmony." Discuss with examples.
A note on dates and numbers. Exam patterns, vacancies and schedules change from year to year. Always confirm the current details in the latest notification on the Rajasthan Public Service Commission website .
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