Jangam Jogi, the word Jangam means a traveling jogi who travels from place to place and earns his living by charity. These jogis of Shaivism are known for their devotion to Bhagwan Shiva. Which narrates the story of Bhagwan Shiva, in which the entire story from Shiva's marriage to
Amarnath Yatra is presented through songs.
Lifestyle of Jangam Jogi
❀ Jangam jogis get ready from the initial twelve years, they have to practice the sannyas life by becoming aware, sharp, satej, pranavan-jangam.
❀ Do not stay at one place permanently for more than three days.
❀ Beg only in seven unfamiliar houses at one place, spend the day in whatever they get from there, lead a life of abstinence.
❀ Such saints stay at one place for four months of rain.
❀ But one should be engaged in swadhyaya, satsang, vratopasana and nididhyasan, some sanyasis are not interested in running a monastery(mutt), they are always on the move.
❀ After that, after the initial twelve years or as many years as the guru has ordered to remain in motion, they are put in charge of running the monastery(mutt) and are called Sthavara Sannyasis.
Jangam Jogi's identity
The identification of Jangam Jogi is very easy.
❀ They wear saffron robes, a dashanami turban on his head and a copper-brass vase with a bunch of peacock feathers on it, and a bell of a special shape called a talli in her hand.
❀ They do not beg directly like other sadhus, but stand in front of houses and shops and start singing unique hymns of Shiva while playing Talli.
❀ The most important thing is that these jogis never ask for donations by extending their hands. Whenever someone donates to him, he accepts the donation by reversing the talli held in his hand.
❀ According to folklore, these jogis collect donations in Talli because they were ordered by Bhagwan Shiva to never take Maya in their hands, so they collect donations in Talli.
Mythology of Jangam Jogi Origin
Mainly two types of stories are prevalent regarding the origin of Jangam Sadhus. As per the first story, it is said that when Devi Parvati created Bhagwan Ganesh, she asked Bhagwan Shiva to create a deity. In such a situation, Bhagwan Shiva cut his thigh and the blood that fell from it fell on an idol named Kush and that lifeless idol became alive. The Jangam Rishis originated from the idol of this Kush.
According to another legend, it is believed that during the marriage of Shiva-Parvati, Bhagwan Shiva first offered dakshina to Vishnu and then to Brahma to get married, but both refused. According to Hindu beliefs, no ritual is considered complete without receiving Dakshina. This was the reason why Bhagwan Shiva cut his thigh and created Charansheel Rishis. After this, these sadhus took Dakshina and performed the rituals of Shiva-Parvati marriage and sang many songs.
Different names of Jangam Jogi in India
Jangam Jogis are mainly from Haryana, these people are said to have originated from Haryana and are known by different names across the country.
Known as Jangam in Madhya Pradesh in Maharashtra and Jangam Ayya (Acharya) Swami in Karnataka. Known as Jangam Veerashiv Pandaram in many regions of Tamil Nadu, Jangam Baba in North India and Jangam Deva in Andhra Pradesh, Jangam Guru in Nepal.
One special thing related to these sadhus is that no one can become a mobile sadhu just like that. It is said that in every generation one member of each family becomes a monk. That's how this community is growing.