Jagat Guru Sain Ji Maharaj

                       

             

              Dalit Saints despite being highly NAAM dyed, the history writers of their times or later  did not pay much heed towards preserving their life stories along with their contributions for the upliftment of the society socially and Spiritually . Since majority of the Indian writers have sprang from the Brahmanical order,  they gave raw deal to the Dalit personalities, may be Saints, worriers, social and political reformers, singers, freedom fighters etc. Since schooling, letters knowledge, access to the written literature or writing was the monopoly of Brahmans, so the Dalit heroes and Dalit cause was ignored deliberately & systematically. If at all any writer wrote about the Dalit personalities including Dalit Saints, it was their friendship or enmity with the Rulers and knights hailing from the Upper castes. Some miracles were associated with these persons of high mystic powers, ignoring their real worthiness.

Jean Henri Fabre (1823-1915) a French entomologist, physicist, chemist and botanist said that history recorded names of the royal bastards, but could not tell us the origin of wheat. The Dalit intelligentsia correctly criticized the existing upper caste developed history, education system and techniques particularly producing trained bulls not genius educated persons. These knowledgeable persons did great injustice with history making races, in completely ignoring their history. On reading the following massage, I got so much moved that I decided to read more about Dalit literature including contribution of our leaders for the Dalit emancipation. The words of Gurram Jashua (1895-1971) a powerful and popular Dalit poet lamented that:-"Our books are as meaningless as the corps of our fore fathers

If we confine ourselves in reading these books.

The posterity will be as learned as a trained bull

That shakes or nods its head to the prompting of its master”.

This is true in case of Dalit history and Dalit saints. The Dalit Saints were great democrats and in their satsangs they decried  the caste system classifying humans as high and low on basis of  their births.. Guru Ravidas having a clear democratic bent of mind said “ There are only two places in the world to live in peace, one is democratic ruled  country and the other  was cremation or burial ground”. He expressed his wish of living happily in a kingdom where all are fed well and all lived in hormony without decimation of low and high.  The Dalit Saints preached equality and  opposed slavery among human. Their medium of approaching the public was through their satsangs ( Discourses). The Hindu caste designated untouchable and other poor people were their target so their satsangs carried most of them. Many good hearted and enlightened upper caste seeing goodness of their satsangs too adopted them as their Gurus(  Mystic Guide, teacher, preacher)   The stories associated with the life of Dalit personalities were mostly to highlight the greatness of Upper Caste Heroes rather than showing richness of character or high mystical indulgence of the Dalits. The life stories of, Bhagwan Valmik  ,  Aklevya, Mata Bhilni including many Dalit saints of Bhakti Guru Ravidas, Sadguru Kabir, Namdev, Chokhamela  movement are a few examples. Since the Brahmanical systems was devised to disadvantage of Dalit Samaj. The greatest weapon used to enslave Dalits was to strip them off their human rights, education, property rights. These factors still are forceful weapon used to enslave Dalits in the disguise of   the theory of Salvation. To Brahmans the salvation was possible by following their devised means of, fasting, feasting the Brahmins, bathing in selected rivers or tanks, to observe celibacy, to worship in forests while observing strict norms of life suffering, getting head and face shaved, or keeping  hair locks on head or face. But Dalit saints by dint of their inner rich knowledge challenged the hollowness of this system, so earned the wrath of ruling class on the biased advices by the priestly class. No king could dare to defy the dictates in fear of earning curse of Priests. Brahmins were proclaimed as Bhudevas( Gods on the Earth) Priests were much more powerful and roosted  the laws& customs as per their sweet will. The  Brahminical priestly class preached that Gods control universal activities, but they are under the control of Vedic Mantras( Verses) and Vedic Mantras were under the control of Brahmanas,so gods are under the direct control of Brahminsa. So Brahminical religious books  declared  Brahmins as gods on the earth and called them Bhudevas.

                 The life storey recording of Sat Guru Sain Ji Maharaj is no different than the treatment meted out to the other Dalit Saints and Dalit Heroes. So in the absence of chorological written   life events of such great personalities by themselves or their followers during life time of the Dalit Saints these facts got intermingled. Mostly their life events have been carried by local people in local dialects, stories, songs by Naths, jogies ( country side singers) etc. This is true for the life events of Maharaj Sat Guru Sain Ji “ Saian means God, Master, Husband, or a title for Muslim saint.

But certainly he was lucky not to have any direct confrontation with priests as was the case with Guru Ravi Das & Sag Guru Kabir ji Maharaj His life went on as the normal life of an Indian barber. The accomplishments and duties of an Indian barber at the time of Sain were and are still of a miscellaneous character. He is something of a surgeon and ordinarily a marriage or match-maker, he oils his clint’s body, shampoos his limbs, pares his nails, shaves his face and head, if he be a Hindu, and clips his moustaches, if he be a Musalman; amuses him with gossip and tales; often plays the rebeck and sings his own compositions, which deftly combine flattery of his master with social satire or pleasentry. But since Sain Ji was barber to the then king of Revã, or  Bändhavgarh, in Central India. He was very dutiful. His life went un-noticed till a Mystical Miracle raised the curtain.

          As per the Guru Bhagat Maal-Sateek ( By Nrain Singh Giani ISBN: 81-7601-047-2)) it carried  a legend which at once illustrates Sain Ji’s devotion to saints and the values in which he was held for his piety, kindness and wisdom. When going one day to perform his usual ministrations for King Raja Rao Veer Singh (Some authors have named him as (RAJA RAM), he met some holy men on the way. He thought it was his first duty to attend to them; He took them with him, and began to render them with the customary services. With the greatest mental satisfaction to himself he gave them consecrated and secular food to relieve their souls and bodies, so he did not go to the palace to attend to the service of the king. Sain Ji‘s love & devoted service moved the All Merciful God to disguise as Sain Ji and  so served the king on that day. Next day when Sain Ji went to the king’s palace, he first begged the king to forgive him for his disobedience of not reaching the palace to serve the king. On this the king said,  “what have gone wrong with you for asking for forgiveness, you have rendered your  service yester day in even better way than your usual dutifulness”.  The king realized that it was non else but God Himself who served him as Sain Ji Maharaj’s substitute the day before. Raja had given his gold necklace to Sain Ji, as reward for his good work, which was still found hanging from Sain Ji’s neck and Raja touched it to satisfy the Bhagat Ji. Again Sain Ji Maharaj argued with the king that he had actually not come, but it may be his Lord in whose love he remained absorbed yesterday. Sain was overwhelmed with gratitude that God came to his rescue. The Raja realized that Sain Ji had reached such an elevated stage that God had sent someone else in his place.  Listening this plea Raja at once prostrated ; fell at Sain’s feet, worshipped him as his Guru (Spiritual Master), and thus sought an asylum in God.

Guru Arjun Dev qualifies instances

His devotees, tasks has the Lord Himself
undertaken to fulfill;
These Himself has the Lord come to accomplish                   Sri Guru Granth Sahib PagePanna-783 

  Bhai Gurdas saith thus About this incident   ( Var 10, verse 16 )                  

Hearing of the glory of Kabir, Sain also turned to become a disciple [of Ramanand].

At night he would be busy with acts of loving devotion, and by day he would visit the door of the king.
One night, some sadhus arrived as guests and the night was spent on discussions and contemplation on the Lord's name.
Sain found he could not part with the sadhus and so he failed to reach the door of the king.
God, took the form of Sain reached there and upon serving the king made him happy.
Bidding farewell to the sadhus, Sain nervously rushed off to the king's door.
From a distance, the king called to Sain, and discarding his robes offered them to Sain to wear.
"You have empowered me" spoke the king, whose words were heard by all.
The Almighty manifests the glory and greatness of this devotee.

  The King begged for  his incitation in to Naam Bhakti ( Surat- Shabad Yoga based way to salvation ). It was accepted by Sain Ji.  There after getting initiation on Bhakti Marg by the king along with his entire royal family, whole royal family became Guru Sain’s disciples. The king of Rewa requested Sain Ji to accept Royal pension and further prayed to stop the service to the king as his barber. It becomes an established custom that the successive kings of the house of Bandhavgarh should always be disciples of the descendants of Sain Ji Maharaj. There after Sain Ji always remained absorbed in NAAM Bhakti (Devotion). But as saints never accept alms for their livelihood,so he might have continued earning  for his living by continuing his professional duty.  Kabir Sahib had king of Balakh Bukhara as his disciple but he continued his work of weaving and  declared “ Mar jayun Mango Nahi Apni Tan Ke  Kajj,Parmarath Ke Karney Mujey Na avey Laj”. Meaning I shall prefer to die than begging for his livelihood,but for the cause of sangat welfare begging I donot feel sorry. Guru Ravidas Said “ Hath Kar Vall Tey Dil Yar Vall” meaning I get engaged in working for living while keeping observed in the  service of Lord or  His worship. On this analogy  Sain Ji must have continued to earn  for his living by working with his hands.

        As is the case with majority of Saints particularly Dalit Saints that no writer ever attempted to write their life story or their other acts during their life time. It was revered 5^th Sikhs Guru Sahib Sri Arjun DevJi (1563-1606), who collected  in Adi  Granth Sahib (1604 CA)spiritual compositions of six Sikh Gurus( Guru Nanak Dev, Guru Angad Dev, Guru Amar Das, Guru Ram Das & Guru Arjun Dev)  Eighteen Bhagats (Kabir, Fareed, Sadana, Bhikham, Mardana, Sata, Balvanda, Nam Dev,Sur Das,  Ravi Das, Tarlochan, Dhana, Beeni, Jai Dev , Sain, Bhalla,  and six Bhats (Halah, Gajand, Mathura, Ball, Haribans, Baba Sunder)  Bhai Gurdas Ji, who  performed the  sewa of writing Sri  Adi Granth Sahib  taking dictation from the 5^th Sikh Master Guru Arjun Dev has praised the All Merciful God  who blessed his beloved Saints irrespective of their Caste.

With thy grace, O Lord I were redeemed
Namdeva, Kabir and Trilochan
As were Sadhna and Sain.

Guru Arjan again writes,
Jaidev has abandoned ego,
And, Sain, the barber, has been redeemed by serving the Lord.

Sain, the barber, was running errands,
as known to all:
The Lord in his heart taking abode,
among the saints found he mention.                                  (Sri Guru Granth Sahib page 487)

Guru Ravidas has also praised Sain Ji Maharaj and other Naam dyed  saints. He said that God is capable of doing whatever He wishes.

Namdev, Kabir, Trilochan, Sadhna, Sain-all are saved.
Saith Ravidas ; Listen ! Devotees of God!
All within the Lord's power lies.                                       ( Sri Guru Granth Sahib page 1106)

As per commonly agreed life aspects about Guru Sain Ji Maharaj, he was a barber by caste, a  touchable  shudra  in Hindu low caste, present day OBC’s, who were  allowed to touch the Higher Caste Hindus for purposes of rendering them service. Whereas untouchable were to render service to higher castes avoiding coming  in contact with them. Even shadow of an touchable was enough to pollute an upper caste Hindu. Sain Ji Maharaj was against Caste system. In his early life Sain Ji might have been idol worshiper, but later followed NIRGUNA Bhakti Marg. He became  a NAAM dyed saint which is like  drinking NEEM Juice ( a very very bitter but beneficial) of  formless or NIRGUNA Bhakti than taking  sweetened poison of  Attributive or  SARGUNA Bhakti it being  unable to break the web of 84,00,000 cycle . Nirguna Bhakti as means of worship is to worship Indivisible, Indestructible, Permanent Nam, the creator of every thing in this universe, including all heavens, astral worlds, continents and even the Brahmand ( The domain of Brahma, the Hindu- Creator Deity of Physical, Astral & Casual,  being One among the Trinity of  Hindu Belief ,Brahma, Vaishno & Shiva).  Nam is beyond matter and time. When Nam power is withdrawn, every thing in this universe ceases to exist including Casual-Spiritual Spheres up to Trikutee, the abode of Brahma.  Abode of Indestructible Current or God remains nothing else. It is as per His Will.

         Guru Sain Ji Maharaj being an Indian saint was influenced by Bhagti Movement ( 1375-1700). According to Nabha Das Bhagatmal (1575) He was one of 12 main disciples of  Ramanand  one amoung Bhakti Movement Saint and Brahmin by caste.Who lived in Banaras ( U.P) and he  adopted his deciples even from the low caste Hindus. Bhai Gurdas Ji saith in 10^th Bar “Listen Partap, the Second (Ramanand’s)Sikh

or deciple after Kabir was Sain”, who did remain absorbed in the prayers to God during Nights and in the day served in the palace” Bhagat Sain Ji promoted Ram Naam i.e.  formless God’s name  and not “Lord Rama” the , King of Ayudhaya, who killed Lanka King Ravana and Shudra Saint Sambuka. He  preached Nirguna Bhagati means formless God with out any form ,who is beyond time clock. Sain ji is said to have composed hymns in Hindi, Marathi,Gujrati and Punjabi.  He is reported to have composed Sain Sagar Granth( Religious Book) and its one copy in Punjabi is kept at  Pratap-pura  Sain Temple Jalander. Sain Ji Maharaj is also reported to have composed 150 Marathi Abhangs besides many more Vannies,Bhajans etc.

 Sain Ji Maharaj is reported to have visited many places far and wide and met many saints,Gurus,Bhagats at places visited by him to discuss the means of carrying on their revolutionary work of opposing religious atrocities on the Untouchable by priestly classes, more so Hindu Brahmins. There are records of his visiting Bidar in Karnataka . He also visited Rajasthan, Kanshi, Haridwar, united Punjab , Delhi, Jalander and many more places.

According to some scholars,  Sain who was born in Samvat 1390 and belonged to Karnataka. Their assumption is based on the evidence that Sain was once in the service of the king of Bidar , a town in Karnataka. It is the headquarters of the Bidar District which shares its border with Maharashtra and Telangana.   At a distance of  700 km from the state capital  Bengaluru.

 Some others say that Sain Ji remained for most of his life in the service of the King of Bandhavgarh  in  Rewa,Rajasthan and thus conclude that he might have belonged to Rajasthan. Bandhavgarh is about 190kms from Jabalpur city.

 Apart from these two schools of thought, there is another view which believes Sain Ji to be a Punjabi. According to this view, Sain Ji was born in the early morning of the full-moon day of Maghar (November-December) in 1343 AD in the village of Sohal Thatthi , between Dhariwal and Gurdaspur towns, in Gurdaspur Distt of Punjab. Even now there stands a Gurdwara and a water reservoir in the village of Sohal Thathian to commemorate his memory. It is also said that Sain himself inaugurated the digging of this reservoir on the bank of which he used to spend long hours in meditation. Punjab Govt officially celebrated his 654 ^th birthday on 6^th December, 1997 in this village itself. This also confines his birth in 1343 AD. Every year Punjab government celebrates Sain  Ji Maharaj’s birthday as  an official festival.

          Sain Ji’s father was Baba Mukand Rai and mother Jivini. Legend saysMata Jivni got the son like Bhagat sain after blessing of a hermit   Faqir Guriya who came to their home for food ,  title “ Sain” means Sayian, a person which is born for God (Sayin)or Master. Sain ji was not interested in study so his father sent him to his Aunt Sobhi (father's sister) at Lahore when he was hardly of about ten years age. He learnt work of Barber and medication (Hikmat) at lahore from Ustad Rahin Khan Hazaam (Barber).Sain Ji married Sulakhani Ji (Sahib devi)  of Jalkhar, and led a householder's life. They had only one son born to them named Baba Nayi. It was during his stay at Lahore (Now in Pakistan) that he received spiritual enlightenment. Sain Ji had many disciples from both high & low castes and guided them to attain salvation by following Nirguna Bhakti Marg. One of his famous disciples was Brahmin Kordass. Baba Sain Ji gave him Namdan (Incitation) and explained the true way of life. He contributed emencely for  ending the spiritually devoid  systems like Caste system, untouchibility, dogmas, superstitions, rituals, ceremonies, secrifying animals before deities, under taking long journies for idol worshiping,  reading with out understanding gist of religious books and blindly following these scriptures etc.

 Sain Ji ‘s only one hymn is given in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji( Dhanasari Ragg), which is as under:-

 DOOP DEEP GHRIT SAZ ARTI, VARNE JAUN KAMLAPATI.

 MANGALA HAR MANGLA, NIT MANGAL RAJA RAM KO             (RAHAU)

UTTAM DEEPAKA SIMRAN BATI, TOU HI NARANJAN KAMLAPATI.
RAMA BHAGAT RAMANAND JANE, PURAN PARMANAND VIKHANE.
MADAN MURTI HAI TARR GOBINDEY, BEEN BHANEY RAJA PARMANANDEY,

 Translation:-Making devotion the incense, lamp and ghee for aarti,
To the Lord am I a sacrifice.
Sing you paeans of Divine joy:
Sing ever paeans of glory of the Divine king. (Pause)
Lord! Realization that Thou art immaculate,
Is for me the noble lamp and the holy wick.
The way of Divine devotion is known to
my master, Ramanand,
Who expounds the Supreme Bliss,
perfection incarnate.
Lord of charming figure ! Across the
ocean of existence take me.
Saith Sain: To the Master of Supreme Bliss, be you devoted  ( Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji ,Anang695)

This hymn may be summed up as follows : I am sacrifice unto them who are ever absorbed in the Aarti of the supreme Lord (In fact the true Aarti of God cannot be performed with the help of lamp and incense, rather it is possible only with one's firm faith and deep love for Him.) “O” God, it is only Thy devotees who recognize you, remember you, and sing your praises. So please bless me with Thy grace so that I am also able to swim across this worldly-ocean.

         Once there was draught in Punjab area so Bhagat Sain ji came to Delhi   

With his family to Diwan Sohan lal. From there he was send to serve a king        who  was suffering from a  disease. The king was cured with the treatment given byGuru Sain Ji  Maharaj

        Sain ji spend his last days of life with his friends Dhanna , Sadhna,Pipa. He called his son Baba Nayi to Kashi  ( Varanasi in UP state) and told him to stay there for some time, to which he agreed but also said to have  explained “ I can not stay there for life time as he is worldly person”. Bhagat Sain passed away in 1393 AD at Kashi at an age of 50 years. There after Bhai Nayi lived in Kashi for a year and returned to Punjab. Later on, he migrated to Delhi from where Baba Nayi went into the service of a king of Rajasthan .                              

        Whole philosophy and teaching of Sain Ji can be briefly summed up as under                                                

·        God Almighty is Supreme Authority and granter of  Joy and Sorrows in life.

·        We should be thankful to God for providing joy, happiness and wealth, this thank giving should be by following right path for the Self Realisation, as self Realisation is God realisation.

·        Perfect Guru is the source from where we can learn how to get to the Universal Creator

·        Follow  Surat Shabad Yoga for Liberation from the cycle of Birth & Death

·        Work to earn livilihood and   support your family too while remaining absorbed in meditation. Household life is not a barrier to God realization.

·         Oppose what so ever did not stand the test of reasoning including rituals, dogmas, superstation  biased infected  religious holy books which differentiated betwwn human on the basis of caste, colour, sex and place of birth.

·         Every human is creation of the Lord. Lord can be found in human frame only, nowhere else, so it was futile to observe external means of worship.

·        To hate a human is to hate the Lord.

                Avoid intoxicants .                                                        Er H.R. PHONSA, Jammu Tawi

Words: - 3613

   28-07-2016