Bhagat Ramanand

Bhagat Ramanand is considered a pioneer of the Bhakti movement in the Indian subcontinent. He is also regarded as the bridge between the Bhakti movement of the South and North. Though a Brahmin by birth, he did not entertain any sense of pride in his caste. The scene above depicts Bhagat Ramanand and Bhagat Pipa who received divine enlightenment by the grace of Bhagat Ramanand.

Bhagat Ramanand was a follower of Bhagat Raghavacharya of the Ramanuj Movement. In the later part of his life, Ramanand commanded more respect than even his own Guru and came to be known as an exponent of Bhakti (God worship).

Born in 1366 CE, Ramanand was the son of Bhoor Karma and Sushila. He was spiritually inclined from his early childhood. He was a Tamilian by birth. Acharya Raghavnand, showed him the path of Yog sadhna. Ramanand also visited places of pilgrimage such as Kashi, where, as a mark of respect, people built a memorial that stands there to this day. After his pilgrimage, Ramanand realised that God can be worshipped by everyone whereas his Guru Archarya Raghavnand, who came from the Sadhu Varna Ashrama believed that not everyone was entitled to perform Puja Bhagati.

Hence, he started preaching his gospel in Kashi and imbued many devotees with the spirit of Bhagati. Kabir is the most renowned amongst his disciples. Ravidas, Sain, Dhanna and Pipa are also believed to be his followers even though all of them were not his contemporaries.

Consequently, the spiritual life of those so-called low people got elevated. In the society, which was then bound in the shackles of the caste-system, such utterances had revolutionary effects. As it was, Brahmins were the only community which had the birth right to perform various rituals & observances connected with religion. But the liberal attitude adopted on the part of Ramanand led the Vairagi (a renouncer) tradition to accept him as their prominent Acharya (Hindu religious teacher). In this way, a new sect among the Vairagis under the name of Ramadatt came into being. This sect stressed celibacy, physical prowess & intense devotion to God. Gradually, Ramanand drifted from Vaishnavism to the worship of One Formless Lord. Ramanand had several disciples who guided mankind on the way to bhagati (worshipping). Bhagat Pipa was one of his prominent disciples. Pipa was a king who gave up his ego & came under the patronage to seek spiritual guidance. As a king, he served his subject to their utmost welfare. Bhagat Ramanand also wandered about in Pipa's kingdom for some time. On the basis of his first-hand knowledge, he testified that was as a good a saint as he was a ruler. In his regime, all subjects enjoyed peace, justice and material comforts irrespective of caste or class.

Ramanand was a learned man. Many of the books which are supposed to have been written by him such as Sri Vaishnava, Matanbuj Bhaskar, Sri Ramarachan Padhti are still available. One of his hymns has been included in Guru Granth Sahib under Rag Basant.

Shabad of Ramanand in Guru Granth Sahib :

• Where should I go?
• My home is filled with bliss.
• My consciousness does not go out wandering.
• My mind has become crippled. || 1 || Pause ||

• One day, a desire welled up in my mind.
• I ground up sandalwood, along with several fragrant oils.
• I went to God’s place, and worshipped Him there.
• That God showed me the Guru, within my own mind. || 1 ||

• Wherever I go, I find water and stones.
• You are totally pervading and permeating in all.
• I have searched through all the Vedas and the Puraanas.
• I would go there, only if the Lord were not here. || 2 ||

• I am a sacrifice to You, O my True Guru.
• You have cut through all my confusion and doubt.
• Raamanand’s Lord and Master is the All-pervading Lord God.
• The Word of the Guru’s Shabad eradicates the karma of millions of past actions. || 3 || 1 ||

(SGGS, 1195)