WAKARI SECT 

Context

Shila Mandir

• The Bhakti saint Sant Tukaram sat on that piece of rock for 13 days when challenged about the abhyanga he had written.
• The saint has immersed his works in the Indrayani river; the work miraculously reappeared after 13 days proving its authenticity.

Warkari Sect

• Sant Tukaram and his work are central to the warkari sect spread across Maharashtra
• Tukaram's message about a casteless society and his denial of rituals has led to a social movement.
• Warkari is a religious movement within the bhakti spiritual tradition of Hinduism. it is geographically associated with Maharashtra and Northern Karnataka.
• Warkaris worship Vitthaba (Vitthal), the presiding deity of pandharpur, Vittabha is a form of Lord Krishna.
• The term Warkari is made up of two words "Vari" means moving or going on pilgrimage  "Kari" means who undertakes it.

Sant Tukaram Maharaj

• Sant Tukaram Maharaj was a 17th-century Marathi poet, and Hindu saint, popularly known as Tuka, Tukobaraya, Tukoba in Maharashtra.
• He was a sant of Warkari (Varkari) sampradaya which venerates the god Vithoba. 
• He was part of the egalitarian, personalized Varkari devotionalism tradition.