Masan Jogi in India

Introduction / History

Masan Jogis have traditionally been people who deal with cremating the dead as a major part of their religious duties. They survived on alms like other Jogi subgroups, but their job had to do with cremation and dealing with the dead.

The Masan are a subgroup of the Jogis. Jogi is a colloquial term for the "yogi", which refers to the people who practiced yoga as part of their daily rituals. Over time, this led to the formation of a community, and subsequently the Masan Jogis formed into a caste.

Where Are they Located?

Most of the Masan Jogi live in Maharashtra, Karnataka or Telangana, states in central India.

What Are Their Lives Like?

In a certain way, they have high status since they are involved with religious rituals, and in another way, they have low status, since they deal with the dead, something which brings contempt in Hindu culture. They live apart from other communities, often in or near the places where they perform cremations. Others have been wandering pilgrims, more like other Jogis. In recent years the Masan Jogi have been striving to gain more political clout, especially in the state of Maharashtra.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Masan Jogi are followers of yoga and worshipers of the Hindu god Shiva. The Yoga system of philosophy taught the means whereby the human soul might attain complete union with the Supreme Being. The modern Jogi, speaking generally, claims to have attained that union and to be, therefore, a part of the Supreme. As followers of the yoga, they traditionally wear saffron-colored clothing. The Jogi are made up of purely religious mendicants (i.e., beggars) of the various Jogi orders, various people who live by fortune telling, practicing exorcisms and divination, and others.

What Are Their Needs?

The Masan Jogis need to be empowered to get beyond where they are, both spiritually and economically.

Prayer Points

Pray for a "Book of Acts" type of movement to Christ among the Masan Jogis.
Pray for the Masan Jogis to understand and embrace that Jesus wants to bless their families and neighborhoods.
Pray for Holy Spirit anointed believers from the Masan Jogis to change their society from within.
Pray for a movement in which the Holy Spirit leads and empowers Masan Jogi disciples to make more disciples.
Pray for a movement of Jesus to heal and strengthen Masan Jogi communities.

Text Source:   Keith Carey