The Mahakumbh 2025 is witnessing the presence of saints and seers from all across the world. Saints belonging to various akhadas, the Naga Sadhus and the other seers who are a significant attraction at the largest spiritual gathering of the world. Another sect who is grabbing enormous attraction is of ‘Jangam jogis’. But who are these Sadhus with morpankh (peacock’s feather) tied to their heads…dafli, manjira, dholak in hands and Shiva's name on their lips who keep wandering from place to place, taking alms only from the Sadhus who sit in ‘Kalpavas’ at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj? Let us know about the ‘Jangams’ –
The Jangam Sages are believed to have originated from Lord Shiva’s body. According to Hinduism, during the auspicious occasion of the marital alliance of Shiva and Parvati, the Lord intended to give some donations to Brahma and Vishnu. The two deities refused for the donations, Shiva then created the ‘Jangams’ from his thigh. It was the Jangams who performed all the rituals at Shiva-Parvati’s holy union and received donations from the Lord.
The Jangams are blessed by Lord Shiva as immortals who will live by begging alms from Shiva temples by the priests, naga sadhus and other saints. Since then, the Jangams are engaged in priesthood, religious preachings and holy songs dedicated to Shiva.
The meaning of the word ‘Jangam’ is moving linga. Jangams are blessed with the true spirit of Agamic knowledge, who sacrifice their lives giving Samskara (the good) to the society. They are mentioned as Gurus of the Hindu Shaiva and the Veerashaiva sects, as disciples of Lord Shiva in the Basava Puranas. Jangams have also served as government and political advisors in the past. In most of the Shiva temples, the prayers are performed by the Jangams only.
These sages are known by different names in different parts of India. ‘Jangams’ in Himalayas and Maharashtra, ‘Jangam Jogi’ in Haryana, ‘Jangam Ayya’ in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, ‘Swami’ and ‘tata’ in Karnataka, ‘Jangam Deva’ in Andhra Pradesh and as ‘Jangam Veerashaiva Pandaram’ in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
There is also a description of the Jangam Pratishthaan, available in the stone inscription in Anantlingeshvor temple of Nepal. It proves that the Jangams were present in Nepal before the 9th century. There is also the Jangam Math build in Nepal.
In Uttar Pradesh, there is the Jangamwadi, where Jangam means knower of Shiva and Wadi means living place. The Jangamwadi math is the oldest establishment among all the other maths in Kashi. The place has witnessed an unbroken lineage of the 86 jagatgurus.
The Jangams always wear linga on their bodies. Linga is cased within a sliver box called ‘karadige’ that is tied around the neck by a thread called ‘Shivdhara’. They perform the Burra Katha, Veeragase dance, Jangam dance and Jangam Dhyana.
Notably, the Jangams accept donations in the Talli (the bell) held in their hands upside down. A folklore says that the Jangams take donations in Talli because it was ordered by Lord Shiva to never take Maya to the hands. The bhajans that the Jangams sing is not for any entertainment purpose, but only to seek alms from the Sadhus.