Bhagat Sadhna

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Devotee Sadhna
Bhagat Sadhna Mosque.jpg
Full Name : Sadhna Qasai
Birth : 1180, village Sehwan in Hyderabad Sindh province
Profession : Butcher
Death : Sirhind, Punjab, India
Other Info: 1 verse in Guru Granth Sahib.


Sadhna Bhagat(PA: ਸਧਨਾ), also called Sadhna Qasai, was a North Indian poet, Saint Mystic and one of the devotees whose hymn was incorporated in Sri Adi Granth Sahib. Venerated in region of Punjab, among Sikhs, his devotional hymn and intellection within is widely quoted by most of preachers. Being butcher by profession, he was always annoyed by Religious Scholars, who keep such thought that a butcher could not attain spiritual enlightment. His one hymn is present in Adi Granth Sahib, in Raga Bilaval[1], in which he explained that believing in Karmic thought comes to an end after attaining spiritual wisdom (Gurmat) in addition to it he explained to remove an inflated feeling of pride within ourselves to know the Supreme. Sadhna travelling from Sindh reached Panjab during his last days of his life and preached around. At Sirhind, he breathed his last where a historic Mosque was built in his memory and preseved by Punjab Government. His followers are called Sadhna Panthis.[2]

Sadhna is considered to be a contemporary of Bhagat Namdev[2][3]. Satgur Ravidas, who studied Satgur Sadhna hymn admired him in his own hymns, as given below:

ਨਾਮਦੇਵ ਕਬੀਰ੝ ਤਿਲੋਚਨ੝ ਸਧਨਾ ਸੈਨ੝ ਤਰੈ ॥
Naam Dayv, Kabeer, Trilochan, Sadhana and Sain crossed over.

ਕਹਿ ਰਵਿਦਾਸ੝ ਸ੝ਨਹ੝ ਰੇ ਸੰਤਹ੝ ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਤੇ ਸਭੈ ਸਰੈ ॥੨॥੧॥
Says Ravi Daas, listen, O Saints, through the Dear Lord, all is accomplished. ||2||1||

Life Account

He was born in 1180 AD at village Sehwaan in Hyderabad Sindh province in a Muslim family[4][5][6]. As ancestors were butchers by profession, he continued the family profession of slaughtering goats and selling meat.

Using Shaligram Shilas as Weights

Sadhna came in contact with Vaishnav Saints, who gave him "Shaligram Shilas" to worship and stop slaughtering, but he used "Shaligram Shilas", as weights, in his profession, which annoyed Vaishnav Sadhus and Pundits of that time[4]. On one side He was of lower profession and caste, on other side, he belittling idol worship by using idol in flesh of animals which is consider as sin by them. Those religious scholars always had a discourse with him, in which Sadhna always outcome.

It is recorded that one of Vaishnav Saint took Shaligram Stones with them. Sadhna had no issues with this. It is said that Vaishnav saint continued worship Shaligram but had no internal pleasure, as he have seen in state, behavior and thoughts of Sadhna. With dashing hopes he returned Shaligram Stones, the Weights of Sadhna back. [7] He preached that Shaligrams does not have god. These are lifeless stones, what spiritual life they can give.

Lusty Woman and Sadhna Qasai

As Sadhna was young and good looking with strong body, during his travels, his looks please a young married Brahmin lady, who wanted to have sex with him. Sadhna said that he could not have relation with anyone out of his marriage moreover he could not maintain such relations with a married lady. She thought sadhna might be fearing of his husband. She killed her husband and told sadhna. Sadhna got shocked with her attitude left the area. The lady got to know that she did wrong, she burnt herself on husband's funeral pule. Sadhna quoted 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[8][9][10]

Collisions Due to Profession

The Mausaleum of Devotee Sadhna at Sirhind

Many vegetarian saints would tell him, "Sadhna, your profession of slaughtering and selling meat is not good. You shall have to repay by taking birth as a goat many times over."

Sadhna used to reply, "My ancestors have been following this profession for generations and so I have had to take it up as well. The Lord who has brought me into this world has given me this profession by sending me as a son in this family who have for many generations prectised this trade. Which profession is good or which is bad, I don't know. Only the One who gives us life knows better about it."

One day a mendicant (faqir or holy-man) came to him. He saw Sadhna weighing meat, using a black-stone as a weight and said, "O' Sadhna, you weigh meat with this Saligram (a fossil, worshiped as a symbol of Shiva), instead of worshipping it. This is bad."

Sadhna replied "This black-stone is my weight."

The mendicant said, "A butcher should not touch this Saligram. Give it to me. I shall worship it."

Sadhna gave the stone to the mendicant without any hesitation. The mendicant took the stone and went his way. On his way a thought came to his mind, "Before starting his everyday work, Sadhna used to bathe this Saligram with all his devotion, burn incense before it and pay obeisance to it. I am taking it away from a true devotee. This Saligram will never be pleased with my hypocritical worship."

At this thought, the mendicant went back and returned the stone to Sadhna, saying, "One day, the real Saligram will reveal itself to a true devotee like you."

After the departure of the mendicant, a longing for a glimpse of the Lord took root in Sadhna's mind. Whenever, he was free, he would start singing holy praises to the Lord: "For the love of a princess, - a man disguised himself as Vishnu. You saved the honour of that man full of lust and selfishness. Enlightener of the world, what merit is Yours if our deeds continue to pursue us? Why seek shelter with the tiger if a jackal makes meal of us? A rainbird suffers for want of a drop of water. What is the use if an ocean is found after its death? I am tired, how can I delay a glimpse of Thee? If, after drowning, a boat is found, who will then ride it? I am nothing, nothing is mine and there is no ego. O' Lord, save the honour of Sadhna, Thy servant, now."

Change in Sadhna's Life

Image Of Bhagat Sadhna

One evening, as Sadhna was washing up and cleaning his shop before closing, a customer came and said to Sadhna, "Weigh for me a leg of mutton."

Sadhna said, "There is no meat left now; I am just closing. Please come tomorrow and take it."

The customer said, "I need the meat badly now. I have very important guests and nothing to cook for them. Please, you must help me out. I am a loyal, regular and old customer of your family's business. You may charge double the price for it."

Sadhna said, "If I slaughter a goat now, it will rot by tomorrow."

The man said, "You have no need to slaughter a goat. Just cut one leg and give it to me."

Pressed by the customer, Sadhna went near the goat with a hatchet. As he approached the goat, he felt as if the goat was laughing. This shocked Sadhna.

Then the goat said, "O' Sadhna, in your worldly greed, today you are going to open a new account of pain and misery. We have been going through many thousands of cycles of births and deaths, but never before has any of us cut a limb off while the other was still alive. You are beginning a new level of cruelty!"

At this point, the hatchet fell out of Sadhna's hand and he turned to the customer to tell him of his helplessness. But there was no one there. He did not find any customer there. A thought came to Sadhna's mind, "It was the Lord Himself Who had come to reveal Himself to his devotee in the form of a customer."

With dedication and devotion, Bhagat Sadhna obtained salvation - "…. Kabir, …. Sadhana and Sain crossed over. Says Ravi Daas, listen, O Saints, through the Dear Lord, all is accomplished." (sggs Page 1106). 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. None of his holy songs have survived except the solitary hymn preserved in the Guru Granth Sahib, which keeps his memory alive.

Bhagat Sadhna & A Lady

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Bhagat Sadhna became wrapped up in the love of God, abandoned everything he possessed, and bent his steps towards the forest to enjoy the uninterrupted Worship of God.

On the way he saw some of his relations at a distance. He concealed himself and avoided them by taking another route in case any of them should put pressure on him to return.

On arriving in the evening at a village, he went into the house of a married man and asked for something to eat. The lady of the house on seeing Bhagat Sadhna Ji young and handsome fell in love with him. She prepared exquisite food for his repast and induced him to stay. At night she proposed to elope with him.

Bhagat Sadhna Ji spurned her, and said he would not do such a thing even though she were to cut his throat for refusing. Understanding by this that, if her hus¬band's throat were cut, Bhagat Sadhna Ji would be ready to accede to her wishes, she forthwith went and killed her husband.

On returning to Bhagat Sadhna Ji she told him what she had done, and repeated her immoral pro¬posal. Bhagat Sadhna Ji replied, 'O unworthy woman, you have lost your reason; how can I agree to what you propose?' In her despair she raised loud cries and invented a false accusation against him:

'I believed this person to be a holy man, and accordingly entertained him. He has now killed my husband, and made improper overtures to me.' Bhagat Sadhna Ji was arrested and taken before a magistrate. When asked what he had to say, he, with the meekness and unwillingness to throw blame on others, pleaded guilty to the charge. He thought to himself, 'Since God has placed me in this position, no one will accept my denial.' He then composed the following hymn :—

Even though You, O God, consign me to hell, I shall not dispute it or turn away from it.
Even though You bestow heaven on me, I shall not rejoice or praise it.
If You reject me, I cannot constrain You; if You accept me, I shall not be puffed up with excessive joy.
He by whom You stand shoulder to shoulder is dyed with You.
Let him whom You order cheerfully burn his body.
My mind desires not death, yet You may, if it please You, put me in the fire.
What the Beloved desires ought to be the heart's desire also.

The judge sentenced Bhagat Sadhna Ji to have his hands cut off. The punishment was duly carried out, and Bhagat Sadhna Ji was then discharged. He set out without a frown on his forehead notwithstanding his barbarous mutilation.

Bhagat Sadhna Ji's devotions proved so successful that it is said, akaal purakh blessed him with new hands which sprouted from his body.

The author of Bhagat Mal has said, 'So efficacious is the love of Waheguru'

Some brief about Sadhna bani

The beginning of this shahbad is talking about the son of a poor man who heard that a king's daughter wanted to marry Vishnu. This young man then dressed up to look like the God Vishnu. The princess on seeing this youngman fell in love with him.

As time went on, her father's kingdom was attacked by another king, who had an ever larger army and kingdom. When the princess saw the forces of the other king, approaching her father's kingdom she told everyone that she had Vishnu with her and that he would save all the people in her father's kingodom.

The poor man's son who was dressed up as Vishnu, heard what the princess was saying. He got very worried and scared. What could he do, he wasn't the lord vishnu and possessed no power to defend himself let alone a whole kingdom. As a consquence of this, the boy fell to the ground crying and begged the Lord Vishnu to save him and everyone in the kingdom.

The boy prayed with so much devotion and faith and love, that Vishnu listened to his prayers and helped the army of the girl's father defeat the much larger army of the invading king. Vishnu as a result saved all the people of the kingdom, including the boy who begged for his mercy.

This Shahbad is a conversation that Bhagat Sadhna Ji is having with Waheguru about his present situation.

In the first two lines of this shahbad, Bhagat Sadhna Ji is narrating the story above to Waheguru. He is asking Waheguru why he hasn't come to save him when he came and saved the poor man's son:

QUOTE
ਨ੝ਰਿਪ ਕੰਨਿਆ ਕੇ ਕਾਰਨੈ ਇਕ੝ ਭਇਆ ਭੇਖਧਾਰੀ ॥
For a king's daughter, a man disguised himself as Vishnu.

ਕਾਮਾਰਥੀ ਸ੝ਆਰਥੀ ਵਾ ਕੀ ਪੈਜ ਸਵਾਰੀ ॥1॥
He did it for sexual exploitation, and for selfish motives, but the Lord protected his honor. ||1||

Waheguru told Bhagat Sadhna Ji that it was written in Bhagat Ji's destiny that he would die this way.

Bhagat Sadhna Ji then repeated the next two lines. In these next two lines Bhagat Ji is asking Waheguru why he did not change his destiny so he wouldn't have to suffer such a horrific death. The lion is a meant to represent Akaal Purakh and the Jackal is a representation of the King who had ordered the execution of Bhagat Sadhna Ji in this way

QUOTE
ਤਵ ਗ੝ਨ ਕਹਾ ਜਗਤ ਗ੝ਰਾ ਜਉ ਕਰਮ੝ ਨ ਨਾਸੈ ॥
What is Your value, O Guru of the world, if You will not erase the karma of my past actions?

ਸਿੰਘ ਸਰਨ ਕਤ ਜਾਈਝ ਜਉ ਜੰਬ੝ਕ੝ ਗ੝ਰਾਸੈ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Why seek safety from a lion, if one is to be eaten by a jackal? ||1||Pause||

Akaal Purakh hearing the pleas of Bhagat Sadhna Ji then told him, that after death he would be given salvation and a place in Sachkhand.

Bhagat Sadhna Ji then replied in the next two lines of the Shabad:

QUOTE
ਝਕ ਬੂੰਦ ਜਲ ਕਾਰਨੇ ਚਾਤ੝ਰਿਕ੝ ਦ੝ਖ੝ ਪਾਵੈ ॥
For the sake of a single rain-drop, the rainbird suffers in pain.

ਪ੝ਰਾਨ ਗਝ ਸਾਗਰ੝ ਮਿਲੈ ਫ੝ਨਿ ਕਾਮਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ॥2॥
When its breath of life is gone, even an ocean is of no use to it. ||2||

On hearing this Waheguru told his beloved Bhagat Ji to smile and be in chardee kala as he was about to merge with his maker.

Bhagat Ji started to smile at this point and the executioners began to wonder if Bhagat Ji had gone mad. Bhagat Ji on seeing the executioners then loudly uttered the following two lines of the shabad:

QUOTE
ਪ੝ਰਾਨ ਜ੝ ਥਾਕੇ ਥਿਰ੝ ਨਹੀ ਕੈਸੇ ਬਿਰਮਾਵਉ ॥
Now, my life has grown weary, and I shall not last much longer; how can I be patient?

ਬੂਡਿ ਮੂਝ ਨਉਕਾ ਮਿਲੈ ਕਹ੝ ਕਾਹਿ ਚਢਾਵਉ ॥3॥
If I drown and die, and then a boat comes along, tell me, how shall I climb aboard? ||3||

Bhagat Ji then uttered the last two lines of the Shabad just before he went back home:

QUOTE
ਮੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਛ੝ ਹਉ ਨਹੀ ਕਿਛ੝ ਆਹਿ ਨ ਮੋਰਾ ॥
I am nothing, I have nothing, and nothing belongs to me.

ਅਉਸਰ ਲਜਾ ਰਾਖਿ ਲੇਹ੝ ਸਧਨਾ ਜਨ੝ ਤੋਰਾ ॥4॥1॥
Now, protect my honor; Sadhana is Your humble servant. ||4||1||

Bani Of Bhagat Sadhna

This one Shabad of Bhagat Sadhna in the holy Guru Granth Sahib is written in the Bilawal Raga; it is prayer to God to protect the honour of His devotees. In the SGGS on Page 858:

ਬਾਣੀ ਸਧਨੇ ਕੀ ਰਾਗ੝ ਬਿਲਾਵਲ੝ ॥ ੴ ਸਤਿਗ੝ਰ ਪ੝ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥

banee saDhnay kee raag bilaaval: ik-oNkaar satgur parsaad.
The Word Of Sadhana, Raag Bilaaval: One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:

ਨ੝ਰਿਪ ਕੰਨਿਆ ਕੇ ਕਾਰਨੈ ਇਕ੝ ਭਇਆ ਭੇਖਧਾਰੀ ॥ ਕਾਮਾਰਥੀ ਸ੝ਆਰਥੀ ਵਾ ਕੀ ਪੈਜ ਸਵਾਰੀ ॥੧॥

nrip kanniaa kay kaarnai ik bha-i-aa bhaykh-Dhaaree. kaamaarathee su-aarthee vaa kee paij savaaree. ||1||
For a king's daughter(Buddhi=Intellect), a soul disguised himself in body. The soul who became Self Willed and selfish , is protected by lord. ||1||

ਤਵ ਗ੝ਨ ਕਹਾ ਜਗਤ ਗ੝ਰਾ ਜਉ ਕਰਮ੝ ਨ ਨਾਸੈ ॥ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਰਨ ਕਤ ਜਾਈਝ ਜਉ ਜੰਬ੝ਕ੝ ਗ੝ਰਾਸੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

tav gun kahaa jagat guraa ja-o karam na naasai. singh saran kat jaa-ee-ai ja-o jaNbuk garaasai. ||1|| rahaa-o.
What is Your value, O Jagat Gura(Carier of World's Wisdom i.e Supreme) if You will not my actions(Karma)? Why seek safety from a lion, if one is to be eaten by a jackal? ||1||Pause||

ਝਕ ਬੂੰਦ ਜਲ ਕਾਰਨੇ ਚਾਤ੝ਰਿਕ੝ ਦ੝ਖ੝ ਪਾਵੈ ॥ ਪ੝ਰਾਨ ਗਝ ਸਾਗਰ੝ ਮਿਲੈ ਫ੝ਨਿ ਕਾਮਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ॥੨॥

ayk boond jal kaarnay chaatrik dukh paavai. paraan ga-ay saagar milai fun kaam na aavai. ||2||
For the sake of a single rain-drop, the rainbird suffers in pain. When its breath of life is gone, even an ocean is of no use to it. ||2||

ਪ੝ਰਾਨ ਜ੝ ਥਾਕੇ ਥਿਰ੝ ਨਹੀ ਕੈਸੇ ਬਿਰਮਾਵਉ ॥ ਬੂਡਿ ਮੂਝ ਨਉਕਾ ਮਿਲੈ ਕਹ੝ ਕਾਹਿ ਚਢਾਵਉ ॥੩॥

paraan jo thaakay thir nahee kaisay birmaava-o. bood moo-ay na-ukaa milai kaho kaahi chadhaava-o. ||3||
Now, my life has grown weary, and I shall not last much longer; how can I be patient? If I drown and die, and then a boat comes along, tell me, how shall I climb aboard? ||3||

ਮੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਛ੝ ਹਉ ਨਹੀ ਕਿਛ੝ ਆਹਿ ਨ ਮੋਰਾ ॥ ਅਉਸਰ ਲਜਾ ਰਾਖਿ ਲੇਹ੝ ਸਧਨਾ ਜਨ੝ ਤੋਰਾ ॥੪॥੧॥

mai naahee kachh ha-o nahee kichh aahi na moraa. a-osar lajaa raakh layho saDhnaa jan toraa. ||4||1||
I(Mann) am nothing, I(Chitt) have nothing, and nothing belongs to me(Vanish Ego). Now, protect my honor; Sadhana is Your Knower. ||4||1||

There is also a reference to Bhagat Sadhana together with several other Bhagats in the SGGS on page 1106:

ਨਾਮਦੇਵ ਕਬੀਰ੝ ਤਿਲੋਚਨ੝ ਸਧਨਾ ਸੈਨ੝ ਤਰੈ ॥ ਕਹਿ ਰਵਿਦਾਸ੝ ਸ੝ਨਹ੝ ਰੇ ਸੰਤਹ੝ ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਤੇ ਸਭੈ ਸਰੈ ॥੨॥੧॥

naamdayv kabeer tilochan saDhnaa sain tarai. kahi ravidaas sunhu ray santahu har jee-o tay sabhai sarai. ||2||1||
Naam Dayv, Kabeer, Trilochan, Sadhana and Sain crossed over. Says Ravi Daas, listen, O Saints, through the Dear Lord, all is accomplished. ||2||1||

Bhagat Sadhna's Bani

Bhagat Sadhna's bani can be found in the following ANG (page) of Guru Granth Sahib:

  • Bhagat Sadhna, pg. 858


References

  1. ^ Page 858, Adi Granth
  2. ^ a b A glossary of the tribes and castes of the Punjab and North-West, HA ROSE
  3. ^ Sikh Religion Vol 6- Macaufliffe
  4. ^ a b Page 235, Selections from the Sacred Writings of the Sikhs- By K. Singh, Trilochan Singh
  5. ^ Fareedkoti Teeka, Pundit Tara Singh Narotam
  6. ^ Mahankosh, Kahn Singh Nabha
  7. ^ Bhagat Sadhna Ji, Dr Dharampal Singhal
  8. ^ Asiatick researches, or, Transactions of the society instituted ..., Volume 16, By Asiatick Society (1828, Calcutta, India)
  9. ^ Sketch on the religious sects of the Hindus: Volume 1 - Page 181 Horace Hayman Wilson, Reinhold Rost - 1861)
  10. ^ History of the sect of Mahĝrĝjas: or Vallabhĝchĝryas, in western India By Karsandás Múljí, Ralph T. H. (Ralph)
  • Image with thanks to www.sikhpoint.com
These are the 15 Bhagats of Sikhism

Bhagat Beni | Bhagat Bhikhan | Bhagat Dhanna | Sheikh Farid | Bhagat Jaidev | Bhagat Kabir | Bhagat Namdev | Bhagat Parmanand | Bhagat Pipa | Bhagat Ramanand | Bhagat Ravidas | Bhagat Sadhna | Bhagat Sain | Bhagat Surdas | Bhagat Trilochan