Study on Varkari Tradition as a Living Knowledge System in Bhartiya Gyan Parampara

This research paper examines the Varkari tradition, a significant devotional bhakti movement centred in Maharashtra, widely revered as the worship of Lord Vitthal or Pandurang of Pandharpur. It represents a profound and ongoing expression of the Bhartiya Gyan Parampara, known as the Indian Knowledge System. Originating in the 13th century and nurtured by prominent saints such as Dnyaneshwar, Eknath, Namdev, Chokhamela, Muktabai, Kanhopatra, Janabai, and many others associated with the Varkari sampradaya tradition, whose teachings continue to inspire and guide millions. The paper argues that the Varkari sampradaya is a “Living Tradition” supporting indigenous ways of knowing, being, and practising through both informal and formal community-based learning. Central to it is bhakti to Lord Vitthal, seen as an experimental and democratic path to self-realisation and social harmony. The Varkari movement emphasises direct oral transmission, personal experience, and communal learning, with practices such as devotional songs (Abhangas), kirtans, and the annual Pandharpur Vari/Wari pilgrimage creating a socially accessible spiritual framework. These practices preserve and reinterpret Vedantic ideas in simple, emotionally resonant forms, making them accessible to the masses. This paper argues that the Varkari sampradaya functions as a community Indian Knowledge System, where knowledge is not stored in texts but embodied in collective memory, performances, and practices. Its inclusive nature, cutting across class, gender, and caste, reflects a deep commitment to values like humility, equality, and seva. In the context of Bhartiya Gyan Parampara, the Varkari tradition is an experimental, holistic, and deeply rooted in everyday life. The paper also discusses contemporary challenges such as commercialisation, urbanisation, and digital media, highlighting efforts to preserve and adapt the tradition for the new generations. Through the lens of Bhartiya Gyan Parampara, this paper contributes to a broader understanding of how living traditions can serve as powerful repositories of indigenous wisdom and ethical action. Showing that bhakti movements are not only spiritual paths but an enduring system of education and social transformation.