Sikh Theology
SPNer
- Oct 31, 2024
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Written by Gagan Singh
Background
Bhagat Ramamand is a crucial figure within the Bhagti movement in India. Of the Bhagats whose Bani appears within Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, five of them were the followers of Bhagat Ramanand before meeting Guru Nanak Dev Ji and becoming Sikhs.This is significant, because if Bhagat Ramanand adopted Guru Nanak Dev Ji as his Guru (which he did, as this article will prove), then it is logical to believe that many of his devotees also became Sikhs of Guru Nanak Sahib, including the Bhagats whose Bani appears within Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
Bhagat Ramanand was the 14th leader of a long line of spiritual gurus, started by Ramanuja. Ramanuja lived from approximately 1077–1157. He was a very famous Krishan worshipper, and Bhagat Ramanand was also a Krishan worshipper until he famously broke off from his lineage and started worshipping Ram. This is significant, because after breaking off from his lineage, Bhagat Ramanand had no guru. This point will become important later in this article when we examine the only Shabad of Bhagat Ramanand that appears within Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
Bhagat Ramanand had twelve famous disciples, some of which are: Ananta Nand, Narhari, Sursuranand, Bhava Nand, Sukha Nand, Padmavti (also called Sursari, a female disciple), Kulkarni, Bhagat Kabir, Bhagat Ravidas, Bhagat Dhanna, Bhagat Pipa, and Bhagat Sain. The last five Bhagats, have their Bani included within Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
Bhagat Ramanand has a lot of compositions attributed to him, but it seems a lot of these are fake. Originally he had two granths written in Sanskrit, however now there are over 17 granths attributed to him. When it comes to Hindi, Bhagat Ramanand has one Shabad within Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and several others that do not appear in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. There has also been an attempt to attribute more writing to him, which again appears to be fake.
Of the Hindi literature attributed to Bhagat Ramanand, we see a clear change in his worship. He starts off worshipping avtaars, as can be seen in his compositions such as Ram Rakhsha Mantar and Hanumaan Aarti, and then turns to Nirgun Bhagti, which aligns with the notion that he met Guru Nanak Sahib and became a Sikh. One of his later Shabads (which is not in Sri Guru Granth Sahib) mentions that one cannot be saved by Brahma, Vishnu or the 24 avtaars:
So it is clear that Bhagat Ramanand experienced a profound change that led him towards Nirgun Bhagti, and away from Sargun Bhagti of Krishan and Raam Chandar. Later in this article we will examine the one Shabad of Bhagat Ramanand that appears within Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, which will explain his turn away from Sargun Bhagti.
Bhagat Ramamand’s Timeline
Like other Bhagats, Bhagat Ramanand’s birth and death are widely contested among scholars and academics. There are several competing beliefs when it comes to his birth. The first, which is accepted by a few scholars and some followers of the Ramamand lineage, is 1356 Bikrami (1412–1413 CE). The second belief, which is accepted by some Western academics, is that Bhagat Ramanand lived between 1400 and 1470 CE. The third belief, which is the most popular among scholars, is that Bhagat Ramanand lived between the mid 14th century to the mid 15th century (approx. 1450–1550 CE), which would make him a contemporary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It is this date that we will accept, because it is the most logical for several reasons, which are explained below.It has already been established that Bhagat Kabir Ji and Guru Nanak Dev Ji were contemporaries and that they met. You can read my other article about this here: tiny.cc/GuruNanakBhagatKabir
It is also a well-known fact that before he met Guru Nanak, Bhagat Kabir’s guru was Bhagat Ramanand. We have evidence of this within Bhagat Kabir Ji’s writings that are not included within Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
In the Kabir Bijak Granth, Bhagat Kabir Ji writes:
Furthermore, within the Kabir Kasauti Granth, Bhagat Kabir Ji writes:
Therefore, Bhagat Kabir Ji’s guru prior to Guru Nanak Dev Ji was Bhagat Ramanand. Establishing Bhagat Ramanand’s timeline being between the 14th and 15th centuries CE, as he could not be Bhagat Kabir Ji’s guru unless he lived closer in time to Bhagat Kabir Ji who passed away in 1575 Bikrami (1519 CE).
It is important to note that these lines do not appear within Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, because they were written by Bhagat Kabir before he received ultimate Enlightenment. Before Bhagat Kabir Ji met Guru Nanak Dev Ji, he had several other gurus. Bhagat Ramanand was one of them.
Another important piece of evidence of Bhagat Ramanand’s timeline comes from a book written by a Muslim by the name of Maulana Rashidu titled Tazkra Tul Fukra. The original book was written in Persian. Maulana Rashidu was a contemporary of Bhagat Ramanand and in this book he writes about Muslim saints of his time. Within the book he has also written about some Hindu saints as well, including Bhagat Ramanand.
Maulana Rashidu wrote that Bhagat Ramanand was a renowned Hindu saint with hundreds of followers. He names Bhagats Kabir, Pipa and Ravidas as his followers as well. This piece of evidence is very important as a Muslim author has confirmed Bhagat Ramanand’s timeline as being the same as other famous Bhagats which would put it between the mid 14th century to the mid 15th century. This makes him a contemporary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Bhagat Ramanand Ji Meeting
Within Sikh literature a meeting between Bhagat Ramanand Ji and Guru Nanak Sahib has been recorded. A detailed conversation between Guru Sahib and Bhagat Ji is written in the Pran Sanagli Granth and some Janam Sakhis.The Pran Sangali is an old granth that is about 300 years old. It appears within some old copies of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and within some old Janam Sakhis. Various copies of the Pran Sangali have been found by historians and academics. Traditionally, it is believed that Guru Arjan Dev Ji sent Bhai Paira Mokha to Sri Lanka to bring back the Pran Sangali composition. It is believed that this composition was a written record of a conversation between Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Raja Shiv Nabh. Although, it was not put into Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, some parts of it were added to a Saroop by Bhai Banno under the heading of Rattanmala. It was also added to several Janam Sakhis, and in this way the Pran Sangali was preserved within Sikh literature. The Pran Sangali, however is not Gurbani and should not be treated as such. It is historical Sikh literature.
In 1917, Sant Sampooran Singh published a copy of the Pran Sangali in Hindi. Within the second part of this copy under chapter 13 the following heading is given:
Sant Sampooran Singh Ji has given a lengthy footnote underneath this heading. He writes that Guru Nanak Dev Ji was in Kashi (Varanasi), preaching Gurmat and doing so had defeated many famous pandits during debates. This had given Guru Sahib quite a name within the city. Ramanand had heard about Guru Sahib and asked his disciples where Guru Sahib was staying. After finding out where Guru Sahib was, Bhagat Ramanand along with many of his disciples came to meet Guru Sahib. After offering his respect he sat in Sangat and Guru Sahib with a lot of respect spoke to Bhagat Ramanand.
Giani Gurdit Singh the author of Itihaas Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji: Bhagat Bani Edition has also personally seen this conversation recorded within other historical books and writings. At the dera of Ajit Singh, the adopted son of Mata Sundri Ji, a copy of this conversation also exists under the care of some Udasis. This conversation also exists in copies of Janam Sakhis that are around 250–300 years old. The following conversation is recorded within the Pran Sangali that was compiled and published by Sant Sampooran Singh under Punjabi University Patiala in Lahore.
Conversation between Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Bhagat Ramanand
The conversation starts off with Bhagat Ramanand expressing that he is the slave of Satguru Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Bhagat Ramanand then asks about the Ek Shabad (Naam, Gurmantar), and asks Guru Sahib to explain it to him.
The conversation then goes on for a while, where Bhagat Ramanand asks Guru Nanak Dev Ji questions and Guru Sahib answers them. Presented below is an example of these questions and Guru Sahib’s answers:
These questions and answers go on for quite a bit and at the end Bhagat Ramanand says the following:
After their conversation was finished, Bhagat Ramanand bowed down at the feet of Guru Nanak Dev Ji stood and up said:
To this Guru Nanak Dev Ji said: Ramanand! You are an old Saint, you know everything! And Ramanand replied:
Hearing this, Guru Nanak Dev Ji asked Ramanand to bathe in the Ganga river. This was done to purify his body. Just as it is a requirement today to take a bath before receiving Amrit and Naam during an Amrit Sanchar, so to was the same Maryada followed then.
Guru Sahib then gave Naam to Bhagat Ramanand and made him a Sikh. Guru Sahib said:
Hearing this Bhagat Ramanand was very, very happy and became a Gurmukh. After receiving Naam and becoming a Sikh, Bhagat Ramanand went back to his house. Bhagat Kabir Ji then heard of this meeting and so Bhagat Kabir Ji to went to find Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
We have already read about Bhagat Kabir Ji’s meeting with Guru Sahib and how he too became a Sikh and received Naam.
Bhagat Ramanand’s Shabad in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
Bhagat Ramanand has one Shabad in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. It appears in Basant Raag on Ang 1195:Whether I went to Mandirs or other holy places, I found only stones and water. But you, Oh Lord, are everywhere.
I have searched through and read all other religious scriptures such as the Veds and Purans. I would only need to go to them, and to Mandirs and other holy places, if God was not within me.
Satguru, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji! I am a sacrifice to you! You have destroyed all of my doubts and confusion.
Ramanand’s Lord and Master is everywhere and he can be met through the Guru. Because the Guru’s Shabad (Naam, Gurmantar) destroys millions of Karams (bad deeds).
This Shabad makes it clear that Bhagat Ramanand went through a profound transformation after meeting Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The entire Shabad tells us about this transformation. At first, Bhagat Ramanand wandered around holy pilgrimage sites looking for Brahm (God). But after meeting Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, he found no reason to wander anymore because he found Brahm within himself.
Their are two lines that are very important in this Shabad.
The first is:
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਮੈ ਬਲਿਹਾਰੀ ਤੋਰ ॥
Here it is revealed that Bhagat Ramanand has a Guru, and it is Satguru Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. After leaving his original lineage, Ramanand did not have a guru. So him declaring that he is a sacrifice to his Guru is indeed crucial to establishing Guru Nanak Dev Ji as his Guru.
The second line is:
ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਕਾਟੈ ਕੋਟਿ ਕਰਮ ॥੩॥੧॥
Here Bhagat Ramanand confirms that he has received Gur Shabad. Gur Shabad is Naam Gurmantar that all Sikhs receive from Guru Sahib once they are accepted as Sikhs.
This Shabad confirms the above historical conversation between Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Bhagat Ramanand Ji. Bhagat Ramanand met Guru Nanak Dev Ji, became his Sikh and received Naam. It was only then did he receive true enlightenment and it is because of this that his Shabad was accepted into Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
From the Goindwal Pothi, Bhagat Ramanand’s Shabad
References
Dass, Nirmal: Songs of the Saints from the Adi Granth
Singh, Giani Gurdit: Itihaas Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji: Bhagat Bani Edition
Upadhyaya, Baldev: Bhagvata Sampradaya
