Dadu Dayal
Topic: Bhakti and Sufi Traditions · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Dadu Dayal was a saint-poet of the 16th century who lived and taught in Rajasthan. Tradition says he was a cotton-carder, a man who cleaned raw cotton for a living. He was a nirguna saint, which means he worshipped a God without form or image. He rejected caste, idol worship and empty rituals. His followers formed the Dadupanth, the "path of Dadu". He belongs to the line of artisan saints who followed Kabir.
Example
The Dadupanth of Rajasthan kept the Kabir Granthavali, one of the three main collections of Kabir's verses. This shows how closely Dadu's followers were linked to Kabir's teaching.
Don't confuse with
- Kabirpanth: This is the sect of Kabir's own followers, based in Varanasi and Uttar Pradesh. It keeps the Bijak, while the Dadupanth of Rajasthan keeps the Kabir Granthavali.