The Ramnamis are a sect from Chhattisgarh who believe in chanting the name of Ram as the sole means of devotion and worship. They are a part of Panth communities from this region who belong mostly to the ' lower castes', reject bramhanical practices and the caste system, and are followers of bhakti marg. The Ramnamis, the Satnamis and the Kabirpanthis are the main Panth communities from this region.
The Ramnami community was formed in the late 19th century when a group of followers moved away from the Satnami community in Chhattisgarh. It is believed that two individuals, Parsuram and Lahari, were responsible for forging this new community. The Ramnamis arrived at core set of beliefs which set them apart from other Panth communities. They believe in the name of Ram as the only means of salvation, devotion and worship. They are not followers of any Guru or Sant, and reject all forms of rituals or institutionalized practices. They believe that name of Ram is the sole means of self awareness and bhakti. The Ram they believe in is present only in the name, and not in any embodied form. In that sense they are not followers of the personage of Ram who was born to Dasarath, the king of Ayodhya. They believe that the name of Ram preceded him, and represents the Universal being.
Their living environment is fully inscribed with the name of Ram, from their bodies, their clothes, to the walls of their homes- Ram-nam fills their being from within and without.
This module presents the way of life of this community settled in the belt of the Mahanadi river, in the Janjgir-Champa region.
This content has been created as part of a project commissioned by the Directorate of Culture and Archaeology, Government of Chhattisgarh, to document the cultural and natural heritage of the state of Chhattisgarh.
