Bhagat Dhanna Ji is among the 15 saints whose hymns have been included in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji while compiling Sri Adi Granth Sahib now called Sri Guru Granth Sahib included the (i) hymns of 15 saints belonging to different castes 11 Bhatt and four other holy men. Because of the inclusion of his hymns in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Bhagat Dhanna Ji is deeply respcted by the Sikhs.
Bhagat Dhanna Ji was born in a Jatt family in the village Dhuan in District Tonk of Rajasthan which was earlier called Rajputana. Bhai Gurdas Ji in his Varan has referred to his caste in the following words:
Dhanna Jat Udharia Sadhna jatt ajaat kasae (Var 12,Pauri 15)
The village Dhuan falls at 128 kms from the main Kota - Jaipur road. In this village at his sacred birth place now stands an elegant Gurdwara Sahib named Gurdwara Bhagat Dhanna Ji wherein a sarovar ( holy tank) also exists. Jathedar Baba Lakkha Singh Ji Kotewale i,e belonging to the city of Kota of Rajasthan ( Mob 94141-90215) started reconstruction of this holy place through kar seva which is still being continued. Baba Sher Singh Ji (Mobile 94143-48982) is incharge of supervision and S. Satnam Singh Ji (Mobile 82792-03924) is Head Granthi. The picture of the Gurudwara Sahib is being given at the end of this write-up. Sri Guru Granth Sahib is seated in this Gurdwara Sahib and all the programms which include kirtan (singing hymns) are organized as per Sikh tradition. In all the Gurdwaras of Bhagat Dhanna Ji Sri Guru Granth Sahib in seated.
Bhagat Dhanna Ji belonged to an ordinary family with fugal resources. But his father invited and served the sadhus (saint) at his residence. Therefore in his early childhood Bhagat Dhanna Ji got a chance to get acqainted with saintly persons and thus started search for spiritual peace in his early childhood. Because of the death of his father in his early childhood to earn livelihood for his family, he in addition to grazing the cattle of their own had to graze the cattle of other villagers.
There is some difference of opinion about the date of birth of Bhagat Dhanna Ji. The consensus is that he was born in Samvat 1473 that is year 1416 on Vaisakh 8 which is the second month of Desi calander which corresponds to mid-April mid-May of the Gregrarian calendar. In Gurdwara Bhagat Dhanna Ji in the village Dhuan , District Tonk, Rajasthan and all the Gurdwara Sahibs in India his birthday is celebrated on 20 April. Because of harvesting season in Gurdwara Bhagat Dhanna Ji in village Dhuan, as well as in all the other Gurdwara Sahibs his birthday is celebrated as a one-day program on 20 April. On this auspicious occasion the sangat comes from far and near to the village Dhuan to pay obeisance to the great Saint. However, every year in this Gurdwara Sahib as well as in all the other Gurdwara Sahibs a comprehensive three - day program is organized during March 1-3.
Bhagat Dhanna Ji belonged to an ordinary family with fugal resources. But his father invited and served the sadhus (saint) at his residence. Therefore in his early childhood Bhagat Dhanna Ji got a chance to get acqainted with saintly persons and thus started search for spiritual peace in his early childhood. Because of the death of his father in his early childhood to earn livelihood for his family, he in addition to grazing the cattle of their own had to graze the cattle of other villagers.
As revealed in the folk songs the villagers noticed even in his absence the cattle continued grazing.
On his way to the pastures for grazing cattle he came across a Brahman. He asked the Brahaman to give him an idol. Thinking that Bhagat Dhanna Ji was a naive Jatt, instead of giving him a proper idol gave him an unshaply broken earthern piece. For some time, he warshipped idols but leter on he gave up idol worship and started worshipping the all-powerful, all pervasive God Almighty.
In Sri Guru Granth Sahib three hymns of Bhagat Dhanna ji in two ragaas (musical measures) have been included, out of which two ragaas are in Asa Rag and one in Dhanasri Rag.
In one of his hymns (Page 487 of Sri Guru
Granth Sahib) he has emphasized circles that the person who is engrossed in greedy things enters the never ending circles of transmigration of soul.
His himn is :
*ik-oankaar satgur parsaad*
bharmat firat baho janam bilaanay tan man dhan nahee dheeray,
laalach bikh kaam lubadh raataa man bisray parabh heeray. ||1|| rahaa-o.,
bikh fal meeth lagay man ba-uray chaar bichaar na jaani-aa.,
gun tay pareet badhee an bhaantee janam maran fir taani-aa. ||1||
jugat jaan nahee ridai nivaasee jalat jaal jam fandh paray.,
bikh fal sanch bharay man aisay param purakh parabh man bisray. ||2||
gi-aan parvays gureh dhan dee-aa dhi-aan maan man ayk ma-ay.,
paraym bhagat maanee sukh jaani-aa taripat aghaanay mukat bha-ay. ||3||
jot samaa-ay samaanee jaa kai achhlee parabh pehchaani-aa.,
dhannai dhan paa-i-aa dharneedhar mil jan sant samaani-aa. ||4||1||
(SGGS, Page, 487)
This means that:
One Universal Creator God. By the Grace Of The True Guru: I wandered through countless incarnations, but mind, body and wealth never remain stable. Attached to, and stained by the poisons of sexual desire and greed, the mind has forgotten the jewel of the Lord. ||1||Pause||
The poisonous fruit seems sweet to the demented mind, which does not know the difference between good and evil. Turning away from virtue, his love for other things increases, and he weaves again the web of birth and death. ||1||
He does not know the way to the Lord, who dwells within his heart; burning in the trap, he is caught by the noose of death.He does not know the way to the Lord, who dwells within his heart; burning in the trap, he is caught by the noose of death.
Gathering the poisonous fruits, he fills his mind with them, and he forgets God, the Supreme Being, from his mind. ||2||
The Guru has given the wealth of spiritual wisdom; practicing meditation, the mind becomes one with Him. Embracing loving devotional worship of the Lord, I have come to know peace; satisfied and satiated, I have been liberated. ||3||
One who is filled with the Divine Light, recognizes the undeceivable Lord God.Dhanna has obtained the Lord, the Sustainer of the World, as his wealth; meeting the humble Saints, he merges in the Lord. ||4||1||
Bhagat Dhanna Ji says:
ray chit chaytas kee na da-yaal damodar bibahi na jaanas ko-ee.
jay dhaaveh barahmand khand ka-o kartaa karai so ho-ee. ||1|| rahaa-o.
jannee kayray udar udak meh pind kee-aa das du-aaraa.
day-ay ahaar agan meh raakhai aisaa khasam hamaaraa. ||1||
kummee jal maahi tan tis baahar pankh kheer tin naahee.
pooran parmaanand manohar samajh daykh man maahee. ||2||
paakhan keet gupat ho-ay rahtaa taa cho maarag naahee.
kahai dhannaa pooran taahoo ko mat ray jee-a daraanhee. ||3||3||
(SGGS, Page 488)
Which means that: O my consciousness, why don't you remain conscious of the Merciful Lord? How can you recognize any other?You may run around the whole universe, but that alone happens which the Creator Lord does. ||1||Pause||
In the water of the mother's womb, He fashioned the body with ten gates.He gives it sustenance, and preserves it in fire - such is my Lord and Master. ||1||
The mother turtle is in the water, and her babies are out of the water. She has no wings to protect them, and no milk to
feed them.The Perfect Lord, the embodiment of supreme bliss, the Fascinating Lord takes care of them. See this, and understand it in your mind||2||The worm lies hidden under the stone - there is no way for him to escape.Says Dhanna, the Perfect Lord takes care of him. Fear not, O my soul. ||3||3||
Emphasizing the economic and social needs of human beings Bhagat Dhanna Ji says:
Gopaal tayraa aartaa.
jo jan tumree bhagat karantay tin kay kaaj savaarataa. ||1|| rahaa-o.
daal seedhaa maaga-o ghee-o.
hamraa khusee karai nit jee-o.
panhee-aa chhaadan neekaa. anaaj maga-o sat see kaa. ||1||
ga-oo bhais maga-o laavayree.
ik taajan turee changayree.
ghar kee geehan changee.
jan dhannaa layvai mangee. ||2||4||
(SGGS,Page 695)
Which means that :O Lord of the world, this is Your lamp-lit worship service.You are the arranger of the affairs of those humble beings who perform Your devotional worship service. ||1||Pause||
Lentils, flour and ghee - these things, I beg of You.My mind shall ever be pleased.Shoes, fine clothes, and the produced after tloughing the field seven times grain of seven kinds - I beg of
You. ||1|| A milk cow, and a water buffalo, I beg of You, and a fine Turkestani horse. A good wife to care for my home Your humble servant Dhanna begs for these things, Lord. ||2||4||
The main theme of Bhagat Dhanna Ji's bani is spiritual. The terminology of his sayings reflects deep spirituality. He has used words of Sanskrit language and Arabic language which means that he was well versed in these languages.
Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji has stated (Page 487-88 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib) that by listening to the stories of other saintly persons Bhagat Dhanna Ji became a saint.
Sri Guru Ram Das Ji and Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji in their hymns have referred to Bhagat Dhanna Ji's name. Sri Guru Ram Das Ji while clarifying that a person by repeating God’s name is blessed with the darshan of God Almighty has referred to Bhagat Dhanna ji name's.
While hailing the saints in general Bhai Gurdas Ji has also
referred to are security Bhagat Dhanna Ji.
In India all over the country Gurdwara Sahibs have been established in the fond memory of Bhagat Dhanna Ji. In all these Gurdwara Sahibs all the programms are organized as per Sikh tradition. In Phase 8 of Mohali, District Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Punjab, in the fond memory of Bhagat Dhanna Ji Gurdwara Bhagat Dhanna Ji was established in 1965. Baba Surinder Singh Ji (Mobile 98148-24392) is undertaking kar seva of this Gurdwara Sahib and he has provided valuable information for this write-up.
Dhann Dhann Bhagat Dhanna Ji
The references used in this write-up include (i) Encyclopaedia of Sikhism published by Punjabi University, Patiala, Part I,II,III and IV (1995,1996,1997,1998) (ii) Mahan Kosh by Bhai Khahn Singh Nabha (1930) (iii) Pandran Bhagat Sahiban by Sukhdev Singh Shant (2018) (iv) Divine Revelation by Sarbjinder Singh (2004) (v) Bhagat Dhanna Ji , Gobind Times by Bhai Trilochan Singh (Vir Ji) Vol 19, April- June No 4-6,2018 (vi) Guru Granth Sanket Kosh by Piara Singh Pardam and others (1994) (vii) Parchian Bhagtan Kian by Darbari Das (Bhai), Editor Gurcharan Singh Sek (1991) although reference has not been given at each place.
Dr. Amrit Kaur, Retd. Professor, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, India.