Varkari

Vārkari ( ; Marathi: वारकरी; Pronunciation: Marathi pronunciation:) meaning: 'The one who performs the Vari') is a sampradaya (religious movement) within Hinduism, geographically associated with the Indian state of Maharashtra. Varkaris worship Krishna as Vitthala (also known as Vithoba), the presiding deity of Pandharpur, regarded as a form of Vishnu, and his consort Rukmini as Rakhumai (also known as Rahi), regarded as a form of Lakshmi. Saints and gurus of the Bhakti movement associated with the tradition include Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Chokhamela, Eknath, and Tukaram, all of whom are accorded the title of sant. The Varkaris acknowledge and accept the oneness of Vishnu with other deities like Shiva, Shakti, and Ganesha, building upon the principles of Advaita Vedanta.