In previous articles we have established that Bhagat Ramanand and two of his disciples, Bhagat Kabir and Bhagat Ravidas met Guru Nanak Dev Ji and became his Sikhs. Therefore, we can assume that other followers of Bhagat Ramanand also became Sikhs. Bhagat Sain, Bhagat Pipa and Bhagat Dhanna are among these other followers of Bhagat Ramanand. This fact is further confirmed in the book Shri Bhaktmal, written by Nabha Daas in 1585
ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਰਘੁਨਾਥ ਜਯੋ ਦੁਨੀਆਂ ਸੇਤਰ ਜਗ ਤਰਨ ਕੀਓ
ਅਨੰਤਾਨੰਦ, ਕਬੀਰ, ਸੁੱਖਾ, ਸੁਰਸੁਰਾ, ਪਦਮਾਵਤੀ ਨਰ ਹਰਿ
ਪੀਪਾ, ਭਾਵਨੰਦ, ਰੈਦਾਸ, ਧੰਨਾ, ਸੈਨ, ਸਰਸੁਰੀ ਕੀ ਸਰਹਰਿ
Although we do not have as much evidence of meetings between these three Bhagats and Guru Nanak Dev Ji, we can confirm that they were at the very least contemporaries. We can also argue that if their leader (Ramanand) and their fellow Bhagats (Kabir and Ravi Das) met Guru Nanak Dev and became Sikhs, logic follows that they too would have met Guru Nanak and became Sikhs. Especially since their Bani is included within Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. In this article, we will look at some historical evidence and internal evidence from the Bhagats’ own Bani to argue that they met Guru Nanak Dev Ji and became Sikhs.
Bhagat Sain Ji has several different origins within scholarly circles. Without going into the details of them here, we can deduce that the Bhagat Sain whose Bani is within Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, must have been a contemporary of Guru Nanak simply because at one time he was a disciple of Bhagat Ramamand. And Bhagat Ramanand was a contemporary of Guru Nanak and adopted Guru Nanak Dev Ji as his Guru. Therefore, the belief that Bhagat Sain was born and lived in the 1300 and 1400s, before Guru Nanak Dev Ji cannot be true.
Bhagat Sain alludes to being a contemporary of Bhagat Ramanand in his Bani on Ang 695 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib:
ਰਾਮਾ ਭਗਤਿ ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦੁ ਜਾਨੈ ॥
Ramanand knows and is a devotee of Ram (God).
We have already covered Bhagat Ramanand’s meeting with Guru Nanak Dev Ji. This article can be read here. In that article is a quote from the Pran Sangli, a historical Sikh text, that describes the meeting between Guru Nanak and Ramanand:
ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਕਰਿ ਗੁਰ ਨਾਨਕ, ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਸ਼ਿਸ਼ਯ ਕੀਆ। ਖੰਡ ਮੰਡਲ ਕਾ ਬੀਚਾਰ ਦੀਆ।
Guru Nanak! Please bless me (Ramanand) and make me your Sikh. Give me the understanding all Khands and Mandals.
If Bhagat Ramanand met Guru Nanak Dev Ji and became his Sikh, it makes sense that Bhagat Sain also met Guru Nanak and became his Sikh. If other disciples of Bhagat Ramanand met Guru Sahib, received Naam and became Sikhs, Bhagat Sain must have also done the same.
Bhai Gurdas Ji in his Vaars mentions that Bhagat Sain heard the glory of Bhagat Kabir Ji and was moved towards doing Bhagti:
ਸੁਣਿ ਪਰਤਾਪੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਦਾ ਦੂਜਾ ਸਿਖੁ ਹੋਆ ਸੈਣੁ ਨਾਈ ।
Bhagat Sain could only have heard of Bhagat Kabir, if he lived during or after him. If he lived before Bhagat Kabir as some claim, then he could not have been inspired by Bhagat Kabir. We have already established that Bhagat Kabir Ji was a contemporary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji in this article. Following this logic, Bhagat Sain was also a contemporary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Thus, a meeting between Guru Nanak and Bhagat Sain was not impossible.
Furthermore, the scholar Ram Kumar Verma writes in the book Sant Kabir:
“…Sain is that very one whom is mentioned by Nabha Ji (in Shri Bhaktmal). He must have been a contemporary of Kabir and Ravidas”
Dr. G.S. Chauhan in his book Bani of Bhagats writes this about Bhagat Sain:
Saint Sain was contemporary of saint Kabir Das, saint Ravidas, saint Pipa and saint Dhanna. He was also a disciple of Swami Rama Nand Ji.
From this we can conclude that Bhagat Sain was a contemporary of Bhagat Kabir and Ravi Das Ji, and Bhagat Ramanand. He did not live a hundred years before Guru Nanak Dev Ji as some mistakenly believe. Consequently, he certainly must have met Guru Nanak Dev Ji and become his Sikh. It is only then that his Bani was accepted, because Gurbani says:
ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕਿਨੈ ਨ ਪਾਇਓ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕਿਨੈ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ॥
Without the True Guru, no one has obtained the Lord; without the True Guru, no one has obtained the Lord.
Bhagat Pipa’s name has also been recorded as a disciple of Bhagat Ramanand. Therefore, he must also have been a contemporary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Bhagat Pipa was a king who gave up his worldly position in order to worship God. It is said that Pipa asked Ramanand to visit him in Rajasthan, and Ramanand brought with him 40 followers. Among these followers were Bhagat Kabir and Bhagat Ravi Das. After meeting Ramanand, Pipa became a Bhagat and left his position as a king and began to wander around Rajasthan with his wife Sita. For a time he settled down in a Mandir in the town of Toda. The king of this town was named Sur Sain. Being inspired by Pipa, he became his disciple.
A meeting between Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Bhagat Pipa is mentioned by Anant Das, the nephew (or grandson) of Bhagat Pipa. This meeting took place in Toda, Rajasthan. This is mentioned on page 159 of the Anant Das’ book: Parchi Anant Das.
A group of Sadhus had been travelling together and had reached Toda. Among this group was Guru Nanak Dev Ji. They were traveling to Kashi and required money and supplies. Anant Das writes the following about this meeting:
ਪੁਹਕਰ ਚਲੈ ਦੂਰਿ ਕੈ ਜਾਤੀ। ਬਹੁਤ ਨਿਸ਼ ਰਚੈ ਮਿਲੈ ਸੰਘਾਤੀ।
ਤੇ ਤੋਡਾ ਮਹਿ ਨਿਕਸੈ ਆਈ। ਪੀਪਹਿ ਅਪਨੀ ਪੀਰ ਜਨਾਈ।
ਸਵਾਮੀ ਖਰਚੋ ਹਮਰੋ ਨਾਹਿ। ਦੇਹੁ ਕਛੁ ਤੋ ਕਾਸ਼ੀ ਜਾਹਿ।
The mention of Guru Nanak is as such:
ਤਿਨਹਿ ਏਕ ਜੁਵਜਨ ਫ਼ਕੀਰੀ ਬਾਨੈ, ਪੰਚਨਦ ਦਿਸਿ ਯਹੁ ਪੀਪਾ ਪਹਿਚਾਨੈ।
ਗੈਰੂ ਬਰਣ ਮਦਮਾਤੇ ਨੈਨਾ। ਰਾਮ ਰਾਸ ਚਾਖੈ ਨਿਤ ਓਹੁ ਬੈਨਾ।
An editor and translator of the Anant Das’ book, Dr. B.P Sharma, has made a note about this section. The note translated to English is as follows:
Among these Bhagats was a light skinned and young Fakir. His eyes were drenched with the love of God. His tongue continuously repeated God’s name. This Fakir from Panj Nand (Punjab) had met up with the other pilgrims. Pipa had met all of the pilgrims with love but he especially met this Fakir with a lot of love. They did Kirtan on a Rabab. That fakir was indeed Guru Nanak, whose first Udasi began around 1552–1553. Pipa lived between 1482–1580.
This note is made on page 85 of Bhagat Ratanavli: Teeka Parchi Anant Das, by Dr. B.P Sharma. Dr. Sharma has placed Bhagat Pipa’s life time directly within Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s life.
From this meeting it becomes evident that Bhagat Pipa met Guru Nanak and specifically met him with more love and attention than the other travellers. They sat and did Kirtan together. It is here that Bhagat Pipa accepted Guru Nanak as his Guru. Why else would Bhagat Pipa write in Sri Guru Granth Sahib that by meeting the Satguru one can meet God:
ਪੀਪਾ ਪ੍ਰਣਵੈ ਪਰਮ ਤਤੁ ਹੈ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਹੋਇ ਲਖਾਵੈ ॥੨॥੩॥
There is only on Satguru: Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Gurbani is clear about this:
ਸਭ ਤੇ ਵਡਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ
It is clear that Bhagat Pipa met the Satguru. He says so himself in his Shabad. After meeting Satguru Nanak, Pipa finally met God.
Bhagat Dhanna has also been recorded as a disciple of Ramanand. He was born in Rajasthan in the year 1415 according to some accounts. This would make him approximately 54 years older than Guru Nanak. Meaning a meeting between the two would have been possible.
If we examine Bhagat Dhanna’s Bani within Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji it becomes clear that he places a great importance on meeting the Satguru.
Bhagat Ji says:
ਭ੍ਰਮਤ ਫਿਰਤ ਬਹੁ ਜਨਮ ਬਿਲਾਨੇ ਤਨੁ ਮਨੁ ਧਨੁ ਨਹੀ ਧੀਰੇ ॥
I wandered through countless incarnations, but mind, body and wealth never remain stable.
ਲਾਲਚ ਬਿਖੁ ਕਾਮ ਲੁਬਧ ਰਾਤਾ ਮਨਿ ਬਿਸਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਹੀਰੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Attached to, and stained by the poisons of sexual desire and greed, the mind has forgotten the jewel of the Lord. ||1||Pause||
Speaking about his life, Bhagat Ji says that he wandered and wandered but never found peace or God. He was engrossed in worldly desires and full of vices. How did he find peace then? Through his Guru:
ਗਿਆਨ ਪ੍ਰਵੇਸੁ ਗੁਰਹਿ ਧਨੁ ਦੀਆ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਮਾਨੁ ਮਨ ਏਕ ਮਏ ॥
The Guru has given the wealth of spiritual wisdom; practicing meditation, the mind becomes one with Him.
Who is this Guru? Can Bhagat Dhanna be referring to anyone other than Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji here? Of course not! Gurbani is clear that there is no other Guru than Satguru and Satguru is Guru Nanak. Gurbani does not believe in multiple Satgurus or give credibility to other gurus.
There is only one Guru according to Gurmat and that is Guru Nanak Dev Ji. If anyone gave Bhagat Dhanna the wealth of spiritual wisdom, i.e. Naam and Gian, it was Guru Nanak Dev Ji. And that is who Bhagat Dhanna Ji is referring to in the above Pangti.
In the following Shabad of Bhagat Dhanna’s (with editing done by Guru Arjan Dev Ji) we see that Bhagat Dhanna was inspired by his fellow Bhagats. Not only was he inspired by them, but as we have read in this article, he was also their contemporary and fellow Sikh of Guru Nanak. They were all Gur-Bhais. That is why he has written about them so lovingly.
ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸੰਗਿ ਨਾਮਦੇਉ ਮਨੁ ਲੀਣਾ ॥ ਆਢ ਦਾਮ ਕੋ ਛੀਪਰੋ ਹੋਇਓ ਲਾਖੀਣਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Naam Dayv’s mind was absorbed into God, Gobind, Gobind, Gobind. The calico-printer, worth half a shell, became worth millions. ||1||Pause||
ਬੁਨਨਾ ਤਨਨਾ ਤਿਆਗਿ ਕੈ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਚਰਨ ਕਬੀਰਾ ॥ ਨੀਚ ਕੁਲਾ ਜੋਲਾਹਰਾ ਭਇਓ ਗੁਨੀਯ ਗਹੀਰਾ ॥੧॥
Abandoning weaving and stretching thread, Kabeer enshrined love for the Lord’s lotus feet. A weaver from a lowly family, he became an ocean of excellence. ||1||
ਰਵਿਦਾਸੁ ਢੁਵੰਤਾ ਢੋਰ ਨੀਤਿ ਤਿਨਿ ਤਿਆਗੀ ਮਾਇਆ ॥ ਪਰਗਟੁ ਹੋਆ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਹਰਿ ਦਰਸਨੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੨॥
Ravi Daas, who used to carry dead cows every day, renounced the world of Maya. He became famous in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, and obtained the Blessed Vision of the Lord’s Darshan. ||2||
ਸੈਨੁ ਨਾਈ ਬੁਤਕਾਰੀਆ ਓਹੁ ਘਰਿ ਘਰਿ ਸੁਨਿਆ ॥ ਹਿਰਦੇ ਵਸਿਆ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਭਗਤਾ ਮਹਿ ਗਨਿਆ ॥੩॥
Sain, the barber, the village drudge, became famous in each and every house. The Supreme Lord God dwelled in his heart, and he was counted among the devotees. ||3||
ਇਹ ਬਿਧਿ ਸੁਨਿ ਕੈ ਜਾਟਰੋ ਉਠਿ ਭਗਤੀ ਲਾਗਾ ॥ ਮਿਲੇ ਪ੍ਰਤਖਿ ਗੁਸਾਈਆ ਧੰਨਾ ਵਡਭਾਗਾ ॥੪॥੨॥
Hearing this, Dhanna the Jaat applied himself to devotional worship. The Lord of the Universe met him personally; Dhanna was so very blessed. ||4||2||
Gurbani is clear that without Satguru no one can be saved. There is only one Satguru when it comes to Gurmat: Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. So without becoming a Sikh of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, one cannot be completely liberated. How then, can Sri Guru Granth Sahib contain the Bani of those Bhagats who were not completely saved? It is impossible! Bhagat Sain, Bhagat Pipa and Bhagat Dhanna met Guru Nanak Dev Ji and became his Sikhs.
References:
Verma, Ram Kumar: Sant Kabir
Chauhan, G.S: Bani of Bhagats
Das, Anant: Parchi Anant Das
Sharma, Dr. B.P: Bhagat Ratanavli: Teeka Parchi Anant Das
Singh, Giani Gurdit: Itihaas Sri Guru Granth Sahib: Bhagat Bani Edition
Written By: Bhai Gagan Singh
