Religion

Little is known of the early history of the Meghwal or their religion. There is evidence that in the 13th century CE many of the Meghwal became followers of the Nizari branch of Shia Islam, and that traces of Nazari belief remain in their ritual and myth.[22] However, most of the Megh are now considered Hindu, although some follow other religions such as Islam or Christianity.
During the Medieval Hindu Renaissance, known as the Bhakti Era, Karta Ram Maharaj, a Meghwal from Rajasthan became the spiritual guru of Meghwals.[23] During the 19th Century, it was said that the Meghs were generally Kabirpanthi, followers of Saint Satguru (Hindi:संत सत्गुरु) Kabir (1488 - 1512 AD), the founder of Sant Mat.[24] Many Meghwal today follow Sant Mat, a loosely associated group of religious leaders whose teachings are distinguished by an inward, loving devotion to a divine principle, and by an egalitarianism opposed to the qualitative distinctions of the Hindu caste system, and to those between Hindus and Muslims.[25] By the year 1910, around 36000 Meghs from Sialkot had become Arya Samajis.[26] After realizing the trap they were in, they joined Ad Dharm society in the year 1925 which recognized Rishi Ravi Das, Kabir and Nam Dev (all legendary figures in low caste religious traditions) as their revered deities.[27] Baba Faqir Chand, a radical sage of India and a guru of Radhasoami Mat, nominated Bhagat Munshi Ram to work as Satguru in his place. Bhagat belonged to Megh community.[8]

In Rajasthan their chief deity is Baba Ramdevji who is worshiped during the vedwa punam (August - September). Meghwal religious leader Swami Gokuldas claims that Ramdev was himself a Meghwal in his 1982 book Meghwal Itehas, which constructs a history of the Meghwal community in an attempt to gain respect and improve their social status.[28] Daily offerings are made to Chamunda mata in the village temples. Bankar mata is worshiped at weddings.[4] Dalibai is a Meghwal female deity who is worshiped along with Ramdev.[9] In J&K, Punjab, Himachal and Haryana states of India ancestor worship (a sort of Veneration of the dead :Hindi:श्राद्ध) is performed and annual worship at encampment (Hindi:डेरा, डेरी) is prevalent in Meghs of J&K.[citation needed] Some Meghwars worship Pir Pithoro, whose shrine is near Mirpur Khas in Pithoro village.[29] Baba Bhagata Sadh of Keran, a religious leader and revered deity of Meghs in Jammu and Kashmir worked for the spiritual welfare of Megh community.[30] Baba Manmohan Dass, successor to Baba Bhagta Sadh took over Guru's position after demise of Baba Jagdish ji Maharaj.