History of Pandharpur Wari & the Warkari Movement
The Warkari sect is a devotional (bhakti) movement in Maharashtra centered on devotion to Vitthal, emphasizing equality, humility, and selfless service.
Sant Dnyaneshwar and the origins
Sant Dnyaneshwar, along with his elder brother and guru Sant Nivruttinath, younger brother Sant Sopankaka, and sister Sant Muktabai — four saintly siblings — are traditionally credited with laying the foundations of the Warkari tradition.
Sant Tukaram and later saints
Saints like Sant Tukaram, Sant Namdev, Sant Eknath, and Sant Chokhamela carried the tradition forward through abhang compositions and teaching. Sant Chokhamela, born into the Mahar caste, is remembered as a pivotal figure who challenged caste hierarchies through devotion.
The palkhi tradition
Today's organized palkhi-dindi system was established by Haibatrao Baba in the early 1800s. Since then, lakhs of Warkaris have walked from Alandi and Dehu to Pandharpur every single year.
FAQ
When did the Warkari movement begin?
The Warkari tradition is traditionally traced to the 13th century with Sant Dnyaneshwar, and was enriched over the following centuries by saints like Sant Tukaram, Sant Namdev, Sant Eknath, and Sant Chokhamela.
Who started the palkhi tradition?
The organized dindi-palkhi system in its current form was started by Haibatrao Baba around 1820, though the Wari tradition itself predates that by centuries.