Bhagat Sadhna, also called Sadhna Qasai, was a north Indian
poet, saint, mystic and one of the devotees whose hymn was incorporated in
Guru Granth Sahib
The Guru Granth Sahib ( pa, ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ, ) is the central holy religious scripture of Sikhism, regarded by Sikhs as the final, sovereign and Guru Maneyo Granth, eternal Guru following the lineage of the Sikh gur ...
. Venerated in the region of
Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising a ...
, among
Sikhs and
Ravidassia
Ravidassia or the Ravidas Panth is an Indian religion based on the teachings of Ravidass, who is revered as a satguru.
Historically, Ravidassia represented a range of beliefs in the Indian subcontinent, with some devotees of Ravidass counting th ...
s,
[Ravidasia Website]
/ref> his devotional hymn is widely quoted by most preachers. His one hymn is present in Adi Granth Sahib, in Raga Bilaval.[Page 858, Adi Granth]
/ref>
The followers of Bhagat Sadhna are called Sadhna Panthis.[A glossary of the tribes and castes of the Punjab and North-West, HA ROSE] His only memorial is a mosque at Sirhind
Sirhind-Fategarh is a town and a municipal council in the Fatehgarh Sahib district in the Indian state of Punjab.
Demographics
In the 2011 census Sirhind-Fatehgarh had a population of 60852. Males constituted 54% of the population and fema ...
, where he died.
Life history
Early life
Sadhna was born in 1180 AD in Sehwan Sharif
Sehwan ( sd, سيوهڻ شريف, ur, ; also commonly referred to as Sehwan Sharif or ''Noble Sehwan'') is a historic city located in Jamshoro District of Sindh province in Pakistan and on the west bank of the Indus north-west of Hyderabad. The ...
in Hyderabad, Sindh province in a Muslim family. As his ancestors were butchers by profession, he continued the family profession of slaughtering goats (Dhabihah
In Islamic law, ' ( ar, ذَبِيحَة; '; ), also spelled zabiha, is the prescribed method of slaughter for halal animals (This does not include fishes, which are exempt from this requirement). It consists of a swift, deep incision to the throa ...
) and selling meat. It is said that there were shady trees and drinking water facility available near his shop. Due to this, in addition to customers, travelers, saints and even rogues used to take rest on passing. Sadhna was very interested in spirituality from his adolescence and as a result, he used to have spiritual discussions with such saints who stopped near his shop.[Dr Joginder Singh Dhami's article on Bhagat Sadhna](_blank)
/ref>
Shaligram desecration
Sadhna got '' shaligram shilas'' and used them as weights in his profession. Sadhna annoyed vaishnav
Vaishnavism ( sa, वैष्णवसम्प्रदायः, Vaiṣṇavasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu denominations along with Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. It is also called Vishnuism since it considers Vishnu as the ...
sadhu
''Sadhu'' ( sa, साधु, IAST: ' (male), ''sādhvī'' or ''sādhvīne'' (female)), also spelled ''saddhu'', is a religious ascetic, mendicant or any holy person in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism who has renounced the worldly life. ...
s and pundits with this act. On one side, he was of lower profession and caste, and on the other, he was belittling their idol worship by using idol in the flesh of animals, which is considered as sin by the Pundits. Those religious scholars always argued and debated with him, in which Sadhna always outwitted them.
It is recorded that one of vaishnav saint took shaligram stones with him. Sadhna had no issues with this and did not object. Vaishnav saint continued worshipping shaligram but got no internal pleasure and wisdom, as he had seen in state, behavior and thoughts of Sadhna. With dashing hopes he returned Shaligram Stones, the weights of Sadhna back.[Bhagat Sadhna Ji, Dr Dharampal Singhal] Sadhna preached that "Shaligrams Stones" are not god as these are lifeless stones, and can not give any wisdom to a living being. His spiritual quest led him to renounce the life of a householder. He left Sehvan and roamed about the country preaching the love of God.
Dispute with a lady
This historical account is from the time when Sadhna was young and good looking with a strong body. During his travels in North India, his looks pleased a young married lady, who wanted to have sex
Sex is the trait that determines whether a sexually reproducing animal or plant produces male or female gametes. Male plants and animals produce smaller mobile gametes (spermatozoa, sperm, pollen), while females produce larger ones ( ova, of ...
with him. When she asked Sadhna, he replied that he could not have sexual relation with anyone out of his marriage. She thought Sadhna might be fearing her husband. Without understanding Sadhna thoughts, she killed her husband. Came back to Sadhna and told what she did. Sadhna got shocked and left the area after sermonizing her. The lady felt ashamed, she burnt herself on husband's funeral pyre, so that people continued thinking her to be Sati-Savitri.[History of the sect of Mahĝrĝjas: or Vallabhĝchĝryas, in western India By Karsandás Múljí, Ralph T. H. (Ralph)][Sketch on the religious sects of the Hindus: Volume 1 - Page 181 Horace Hayman Wilson, ]Reinhold Rost
Reinhold Rost (1822–1896) was a German orientalist, who worked for most of his life at St Augustine's Missionary College, Canterbury in England and as head librarian at the India Office Library, London.
Life
He was the son of Christian Frie ...
- 1861) As per historical resources, Sadhna uttered that ''No one knows the ways of women, she kills her husband and became a sati'', which then became popular as proverb and used by many poets and writers later on.[Asiatick researches, or, Transactions of the society instituted ..., Volume 16, By Asiatick Society (1828, Calcutta, India)][
According to few authors, he went to ]Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising a ...
after this incident.
Another view existed that Person's wife complained to local administration that Sadhna raped her. Sadhna was arrested and the magistrate sentenced Bhagat Sadhna to have his hands cut off. After the punishment was carried out, Bhagat Sadhna was discharged. He set out without a frown on his forehead notwithstanding his barbarous mutilation. Bhagat Sadhna's devotions proved so successful that The Divine blessed him with new hands which sprouted from his body.[Bhagatmal][Bhagat Darshan]
Death
It is believed that Bhagat Sadhna preached in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab areas. Bhagat Sadhana spent his last day of life at Sirhind
Sirhind-Fategarh is a town and a municipal council in the Fatehgarh Sahib district in the Indian state of Punjab.
Demographics
In the 2011 census Sirhind-Fatehgarh had a population of 60852. Males constituted 54% of the population and fema ...
preaching his philosophy. At Sirhind
Sirhind-Fategarh is a town and a municipal council in the Fatehgarh Sahib district in the Indian state of Punjab.
Demographics
In the 2011 census Sirhind-Fatehgarh had a population of 60852. Males constituted 54% of the population and fema ...
, he died, where a mosque was built in his memory and preserved by Punjab Government. The paintings in the mosque represent the 'T' art form. The mosque is made up of Sirhindi bricks and is situated in the northwestern part of town Sirhind near Level Crossing, district Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab.AllaboutIndia.com
Among Ravidasis
Ravidasis acknowledge Satgur Sadhna and preach his teaching and thought, as Guru Ravidas
Ravidas or Raidas, was an Indian mystic poet-saint of the bhakti movement during the 15th to 16th century CE. Venerated as a ''guru'' (teacher) in the modern regions of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punj ...
in his devotional hymn acknowledge and admire Satgur Sadhna as great devotee among Kabir
Kabir Das (1398–1518) was a 15th-century Indian mystic poet and saint. His writings influenced Hinduism's Bhakti movement, and his verses are found in Sikhism's scripture Guru Granth Sahib, the Satguru Granth Sahib of Saint Garib Das ...
, Sain, Namdev
Shri Sant Namdev Maharaj (Pronunciation: aːmdeʋ, also transliterated as Nam Dayv, Namdeo, Namadeva, (traditionally, ) was a Marathi Bahujan saint from Narsi, Hingoli, Maharashtra, India within the Varkari tradition of Hinduism. He li ...
:
Initially the Ravidassia revered the Guru Granth Sahib
The Guru Granth Sahib ( pa, ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ, ) is the central holy religious scripture of Sikhism, regarded by Sikhs as the final, sovereign and Guru Maneyo Granth, eternal Guru following the lineage of the Sikh gur ...
of the Sikhs, which was the only repository of Ravidass' devotional poetry. However, following their schism from mainstream Sikhs, the Ravidassi compiled their own holy book of Ravidass' teachings, the Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji
''Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji'' is the holy book of the Ravidassia religion.
History
''Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji'' was compiled and edited by Ramanand Dass of Dera Sach Khand. The holy book's completion was announced by the Sant Samaj and by De ...
, and many Ravidassia temples now use this book in place of the Guru Granth Sahib. But they have not inserted Bhagat Sadhna Vani in it. But Dera Sach Khand Ballan of Jallandhar
Jalandhar is the third most-populous city in the Indian state of Punjab and the largest city in Doaba region. Jalandhar lies alongside the Grand Trunk Road and is a well-connected rail and road junction. Jalandhar is northwest of the state ...
, Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising a ...
on 30 January 2010 at the 633rd birth anniversary of Ravidass announced the objectives of Ravidassia religion as to propagate the bani and teachings of Ravidass, Balmiki, Namdev, Kabir, Trilochan, Sain and Sadhna.
References
External links
{{Writers of Guru Granth Sahib
Sikh Bhagats
Vaishnava saints