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| {{Short description| |
{{Short description|Truth-exemplar in Indian religions}} | ||
| {{italic title}} | {{italic title}} | ||
| {{About|teachers and spiritual leaders in ] and ]|other uses|Sant (disambiguation)}} | {{About|teachers and spiritual leaders in ] and ]|other uses|Sant (disambiguation)}} | ||
| {{confuse|Saint}} | |||
| A '''''sant''''' ({{langx|sa|सन्त्}}; ]: {{IAST|Sant}}; {{IPA|sa|sɐn̪t̪|}}) is a human being revered as a "truth-exemplar" for their abnormal level of "self, truth, reality" in ], particularly ], ], ], and ].<ref name=william/>{{sfnp|Schomer|McLeod|1987|pp=1-17|ps=}} In ] it is used to describe a being who has attained spiritual enlightenment and divine knowledge and power through union with ].<ref name=Khalsa>{{cite book | title=Sri Guru Granth Sahib: English Translation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib | publisher=Hand Made Books (Mandeep Singh) | author=Khalsa, Sant Singh | year=2007 | location=Arizona | pages=12–263}}</ref> | |||
| == Etymology == | == Etymology == | ||
| ''Sant'' is sometimes translated as "]", but this is a ] (there is no ] commonality) |
"''Sant''" is sometimes translated as "]", but this is a ] (there is no ] commonality) as "''sant''" is derived from the ] root '']'',{{sfnp|Schomer|McLeod|1987|p=3|ps=}} which can mean "truth, reality, essence", while "saint" is derived from the Latin word {{lang|la|sanctus}}, which means "holy, sacred",<ref name=william>William Pinch (1996), Peasants and Monks in British India, University of California Press, {{ISBN|978-0520200616}}, page 181 footnote 3</ref> derived from ] root ''sak-'', "to sanctify".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Watkins |first1=Calvert |url=https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/indoeurop.html#IR094600 |title=American Heritage Dictionary Indo-European Roots Appendix |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |accessdate=2017-12-04}}</ref> | ||
| Schomer and McLeod explain ''sant'' as preceptor of ''Sat'' or "truth, reality", in the sense of "'one who knows the truth' or 'one who has experienced Ultimate Reality', that is a person who has achieved a state of spiritual enlightenment or mystical self-realisation".{{sfnp|Hawley|1987|p=57|ps=}}{{sfnp|Schomer|McLeod|1987|p=2|ps=}} William Pinch suggests the best translation of ''sant'' is "truth-exemplar".<ref name=william/> | Schomer and McLeod explain ''sant'' as preceptor of ''Sat'' or "truth, reality", in the sense of "'one who knows the truth' or 'one who has experienced Ultimate Reality', that is a person who has achieved a state of spiritual enlightenment or mystical self-realisation".{{sfnp|Hawley|1987|p=57|ps=}}{{sfnp|Schomer|McLeod|1987|p=2|ps=}} William Pinch suggests the best translation of ''sant'' is "truth-exemplar".<ref name=william/> | ||
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| == Sikhism == | == Sikhism == | ||
| {{Sikhism sidebar}} | |||
| *In Sikhism, a ''sant'', '']'', or '']'' is any human being that has attained God realization and spiritual communion with God. Sikhs believe that the divine energy of God can be experienced by humans on Earth. This is attained through continual recitation and spiritual internalization of God's name (]/''Naam Simran''). Sikhs commonly utilize ] as the name of God which |
*In Sikhism, a ''sant'', '']'', or '']'' is any human being that has attained God realization and spiritual communion with God. Sikhs believe that the divine energy of God can be experienced by humans on Earth. This is attained through continual recitation and spiritual internalization of God's name (]/''Naam Simran''). Sikhs commonly utilize ] as the name of God which cannot be simply uttered by the mouth but must be lived thru truthfullness. | ||
| * ''Sants'' can originate from any religion. Figures such as ], ], ], ], ] and others are known as ''sants'' or ''bhagats'', despite some being of ] or ] faith. Divine knowledge is universal, and their knowledge after obtaining enlightenment through ''Naam Simran'' has been compiled and included in the holy book of Sikhism, the ]. | * ''Sants'' can originate from any religion. Figures such as ], ], ], ], ] and others are known as ''sants'' or ''bhagats'', despite some being of ] or ] faith. Divine knowledge is universal, and their knowledge after obtaining enlightenment through ''Naam Simran'' has been compiled and included in the holy book of Sikhism, the ]. | ||
| * ''Sants'' are holy persons of very exalted status, one of being the ideal human being. As such, Sikhs are encouraged to seek the company and holy congregation of ''sants'' (Sadh-Sangat), learn from them, and attain "santhood" through intensive reading and contemplation of Sikh scripture (]) and ''Naam Simran''. | * ''Sants'' are holy persons of very exalted status, one of being the ideal human being. As such, Sikhs are encouraged to seek the company and holy congregation of ''sants'' (Sadh-Sangat), learn from them, and attain "santhood" through intensive reading and contemplation of Sikh scripture (]) and ''Naam Simran''. | ||
| * The virtuous life associated with a ''sant'' or a ''brahmgyani'' (one who has a perfect knowledge of God) is strenuously defined in Sikh ], most notably in the ''Sukhmani Sahib'' passage of the ]. Sikhism advocates for people of all faiths to realize and become one with God, and attaining union with God is the highest form of spiritual enlightenment. {{sfnp|Schomer|McLeod|1987|pp=251-267|ps=}} <ref name=Khalsa/> | * The virtuous life associated with a ''sant'' or a ''brahmgyani'' (one who has a perfect knowledge of God) is strenuously defined in Sikh ], most notably in the ''Sukhmani Sahib'' passage of the ]. Sikhism advocates for people of all faiths to realize and become one with God, and attaining union with God is the highest form of spiritual enlightenment. {{sfnp|Schomer|McLeod|1987|pp=251-267|ps=}} <ref name=Khalsa/> | ||
| ==Hinduism== | |||
| {{Hinduism}} | |||
| In ], a Sant has an important place in the life of a devotee. Hindu ] also tell the importance of a sant.<ref>{{Cite web |title=saint {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/saint |access-date=2022-05-02 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> According to the ] scriptures, worshipers are freed from the disease of birth and death by taking refuge in a true sant and doing devotion according to the scriptures. The identity of the true sant is also stated in the holy scriptures of Hinduism that one who is a true sant will have complete knowledge of all the holy books and will initiate three types of mantras (names) thrice.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Identification of a True Sant or Satguru in the World - Jagat Guru Rampal Ji |url=https://www.jagatgururampalji.org/en/gyan-ganga-river-of-knowledge/true-saint-identification/ |access-date=2022-05-02 |website=www.jagatgururampalji.org |language=en}}</ref> | |||
| == See also == | == See also == | ||
Latest revision as of 02:18, 7 November 2024
Truth-exemplar in Indian religionsThis article is about teachers and spiritual leaders in Hinduism and Sikhism. For other uses, see Sant (disambiguation). Not to be confused with Saint.
A sant (Sanskrit: सन्त्; IAST: Sant; [sɐn̪t̪]) is a human being revered as a "truth-exemplar" for their abnormal level of "self, truth, reality" in Indian religions, particularly Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Buddhism. In Sikhism it is used to describe a being who has attained spiritual enlightenment and divine knowledge and power through union with God.
Etymology
"Sant" is sometimes translated as "saint", but this is a false cognate (there is no etymological commonality) as "sant" is derived from the Sanskrit root sat, which can mean "truth, reality, essence", while "saint" is derived from the Latin word sanctus, which means "holy, sacred", derived from Indo-European root sak-, "to sanctify".
Schomer and McLeod explain sant as preceptor of Sat or "truth, reality", in the sense of "'one who knows the truth' or 'one who has experienced Ultimate Reality', that is a person who has achieved a state of spiritual enlightenment or mystical self-realisation". William Pinch suggests the best translation of sant is "truth-exemplar".
Usage
Sant differs from saint not merely in the etymological sense but also in usage. The word is used in various contexts:
- In fifteenth- and sixteenth-century India under Islamic rule, it was used generally to describe teachers and poet-scholars who led worshippers and communities the praises of god or goddess within the Bhakti movement in Hinduism.
- In modern era, the term sometimes describes any holy man or woman who advocates a particular form of spirituality or members of the group that leads a Sant Mat (teachings of a spiritual congregation).
- The term is also used in a generic sense and in this respect is similar to the usage of saint to indicate a morally good person. As such, it has been applied to a wide range of gurus (not to be confused with Sikh gurus) and other religious leaders.
Sikhism
Hinduism
In Hinduism, a Sant has an important place in the life of a devotee. Hindu scriptures also tell the importance of a sant. According to the Hindu scriptures, worshipers are freed from the disease of birth and death by taking refuge in a true sant and doing devotion according to the scriptures. The identity of the true sant is also stated in the holy scriptures of Hinduism that one who is a true sant will have complete knowledge of all the holy books and will initiate three types of mantras (names) thrice.
See also
References
- ^ William Pinch (1996), Peasants and Monks in British India, University of California Press, ISBN 978-0520200616, page 181 footnote 3
- ^ Schomer & McLeod (1987), pp. 1–17
- ^ Khalsa, Sant Singh (2007). Sri Guru Granth Sahib: English Translation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Arizona: Hand Made Books (Mandeep Singh). pp. 12–263.
- Schomer & McLeod (1987), p. 3
- Watkins, Calvert. "American Heritage Dictionary Indo-European Roots Appendix". Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
- ^ Hawley (1987), p. 57
- Schomer & McLeod (1987), p. 2
- John Hawley and Mark Juergensmeyer (2008), Songs of the Saints of India, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0195694208, pages 2-8
- Schomer & McLeod (1987), pp. 251–267
- "saint | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
- "Identification of a True Sant or Satguru in the World - Jagat Guru Rampal Ji". www.jagatgururampalji.org. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
Bibliography
- Hawley, John Stratton, ed. (1987), Saints and Virtues, University of California Press, ISBN 9780520061637
- Schomer, Karine; McLeod, W. H., eds. (1987), The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 9788120802773