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Mat, literally means the “point of view" or the “conviction of the sants and sages.” Historically, the Santmat movement was not a homogenous movement; but the term is a generic label for the Sant movement in the northern part of India, beginning around the 12th century. The early sants, such as Kabir, Raidas, Namdev and Mirabai, represented a shift in religious and social attitudes—on the one hand, freedom from sectarian boundaries and ritualistic confinements; on the other hand, direct communion with the Divine without mediation of any authority or liturgy.
The word sant is derived from the Sanskrit word sat (Truth, Reality). The root meaning is ‘one who knows the truth' or 'who has experienced Ultimate Reality.' Thus, a sant is a person who has achieved Shanti (inner tranquility) as a result of union with the Divine, as in mystical enlightenment.
The word sant is translated “saint” in English. However, both in etymology and definition, there are significant differences that get lost in translation. The English word saint is derived from the Latin word sanctus, which has come to mean a "good person whose life is moral,” or a “holy being.” Thus, in English a saint is thought of as a “spiritual exemplar,” and the word has been attached to a wide variety of gurus and holy men and women.
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