Bhagat Sain Ji is among the 15 Bhagats whose hymn Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji included
in Sri Adi Granth Sahib complied by him. Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, in addition to his own
hymns and the hymns of his four predecessor Gurus included the hymns of 15
Bhagats, 11 Bhatts and four others closely associated with the Sikh Gurus. These
Bhagats include:
(i) Bhagat Jaidev Ji (ii) Sheikh Farid Ji (iii) Bhagat Trilochan Ji (iv) Bhagat Namdev Ji
(v) Bhagat Sadhna Ji (vi) Bhagat Ramanand Ji (vii) Bhagat Ravidas Ji (viii) Bhagat
Kabir Ji (ix) Bhagat Sain Ji (x) Bhagat Dhanna Ji (xi) Bhagat Pipa ji (xii) Bhagat Beni
Ji (xiii) Bhagat Bhikhan Ji (xiv) Bhagat Surdas Ji and (xv) Bhagat Parmanand Ji.
Thus it is evident that this is the only Holy Scripture which includes the hymns of
Hindu and Muslim Saints belonging to various castes and creeds. In Sri Adi Granth
Sahib Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji added the hymns of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib
and this Holy Scripture is now known as Sri Guru Granth Sahib and is the eternal
Guru of the Sikhs. In Sri Guru Granth Sahib one hymn of Bhagat Sain Ji (SGGS,
P695) in Raag Dhanasri has been included.
There is some difference of opinion about the date and place of birth of Bhagat Sain
Ji. According to Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha he was the barber of Raja Ram, the King
of Bandhavgarh (now called Rewa) which now falls in the north-eastern part of
Madhya Pradesh. A few of his predecessors still live in Bandhavgarh. After
becoming a disciple of Bhagat Ramanand Ji (1300-1411) and worshipping God
Almighty he came to be included in the list of Bhagats. Some scholars believe that
the was a servant of the king of Bidar which now falls in Karnataka and became a
disciple of Sant Gianeshwar Ji but this argument does not carry any weight.
One thing is certain that he lived before Bhagat Ravidas Ji (SGGS, P1106) who in
one of his hymns has included his name among the five Bhagats (i) Bhagat Namdev
Ji (ii) Bhagat Kabir Ji (iii) Bhagat Trilocahn Ji (iv) Bhagat Sadhna Ji and (v) Bhagat
Sain Ji.
Bhagat Ravidas Ji says:
'naamdayv kabeer tilochan sadhna sain tarai'
In this hymn Bhagat Ravidas Ji says that through the grace of Dear Lord all is
accomplished and because of this Namdev, Kabeer, Trilochan Sadhna and Sain
crossed over.
According to Macauliffe "Sain was a disciple of Ramanand and consequently lived in
the end of the fourteenth and beginning of fifteenth centry of the Christian era. He
was a barber in the court of Raja Ram, King of Rewa, then called Bandhavgarh"
Giani Pratap Singh has also said that Bhagat Sain Ji was a barber in the court of
Raja Ram and due to the sangat of Ramanand Ji he turned towards worshipping
God Almighty." Macauliffe also writes that "the tendency of the age was towards
devotion and religious composition and Sain found leisure in the midst of his duties
to study the hymns of Ramanand, shape his life on the principles inculcated in them,
and successfully imitate their spirit and devotional fervour". Bhai Jodh Singh also re-
iterates the same fact and adds that every day he would go to the palace of Raja
Ram and got initiation from Ramanand Ji. He lived from the end of 14th Century and
lived in the beginning of 15th Century
The scholars who prepared Shabdarth Sri Guru Granth Sahib (i) Principal Teja Singh
(ii) Principal Bawa Krishan Singh and (iii) Professor Narayan Singh have stated that
'the barber Sain was a Bhagat among the disciples of Ramanand. He was a barber
in the court of King Raja Ram of Rewa'. Macauliffe has stated that Bhagat Sain Ji's
era is between the end of 14th and beginning of 15th century. Bhagat Ramanand Ji
was born in 1366 A.D. Because Bhagat Sain Ji received initiation at the hands of
Ramanand Ji after Kabir Ji, therefore, Bhagat Sain Ji's birth may be said to be
around 1398 and in the light of other facts it should be after 1366 A.D.
Sarup Singh Alag in his book Parichai Sri Guru Granth Sahib has stated that Bhagat
Sain Ji was born in 1390 and left for his heavenly abade in 1440 A.D. In the light of
the fact that he was a contemporary of Bhagat Kabir Ji and received initiation at the
hands of Ramanand Ji, his date of birth as 1390 may be considered to be correct.
Contrary to the views of the above-mentioned scholars some scholars believe that
he was born in 1343 A.D. in Punjab in village Sohal Thathi in District Amritsar of
Punjab. His father's name was Baba Mukand Rai Ji and mother's name was Mata
Jiwni Ji. During his youth he went to Lahore to live with his father's sister Shobha
Daee and married Salakkhni and the couple was blessed with a son. Later he went
to Delhi. Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha also agrees that he was married and that his
predecessors still live in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. At Lahore he learned the work of
barbery and hikmat from Rahim Khan. After some time he went to Bandhavgarh and
joined the service in the court of King Raja Ram. According to Bhai Darbari Das
(Parchi Bhagat Sain Ji) he was married to Moorti who helped him in his occupation.
Mayharwaan Singh has also stated that "Bhagat Sain was a barber in the Court of
Kingdom of Rewa, Madhya Pradesh".
All the resources confirm this fact that he was a barber by birth and by occupation.
Bhai Gurdas Ji also confirms this fact that Bhagat Sain Ji was a barber:
"Sain hua adhiatmi: Sain neech kul ander nai".
(Vaar 12, Pauri 15)
Bhai Gurdas Ji further adds:
"kul Ravidas chamar hai, Sain snaati ander nai
(Vaar 25, Pauri 5)
Bhai Darbari Das also confirms the fact that Bhagat Sain Ji was a barber. He says
that "kul Ravidas chamar hai Sain Bhagat jaat ka nai"
Bhai Darbari Das also says:
Sain Bhagat jaat ka nai ll jis kaliyug bheetar bhagat kamai ll
(Page 484)
Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji in three of his hymns confirms the fact that Bhagat Sain Ji was
a barber:
Sain naaee butkaarree-aa oh ghar ghar suni-aa ll
hirday vasi-aa paarbarahan bhagtan meh gani-aa ll
(SGGS, P487-88)
which means and that Sain a barber, the village drudge, became famous in each and
every house. The Supreme Lord God dwelled in his heart and he came to be
counted among the devotees. Sri Guru Arjan Das Ji also says, "naeeu uDhaari-o
Sain sayv"
(SGGS, P1192)
Which means that Sain the barber was saved through his selfless service.
Praising Bhagat Sain Ji, Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji also says:
Bhalo kabeer daas daasan ko ootam sain jan naaee
(SGGS, P1207)
which means that Kabeer is good, the slave of the Lord's salves; the
humble barber Sain is sublime.
Bhai Gurdas Ji (Vaar 10, Pauri 16) narrates an anecdote about Bhagat Sain Ji. After
listening to the glory of God, Sain the barber became a Sikh. At night he would
worship and in the morning would go to the king's palace. One time it so happened
that in the house of Bhagat Sain Ji some hermits came as guests and the whole
night was spent in singing hymns. Bhagat Sain Ji could not leave the hermits to go to
the king's palace. The God Almighty himself went to the king's palace and served the
King. After the hymn singing next morning he shamefully went to the king's palace to
beg pardon for his absence. The King called him close to him, made him wear his
own royal dress. The king said that by doing very wonderful service yesterday you
have won my heart and all the people listened to him. The God Almighty eulogizes
the Bhagats before the world.
Bhai Darbar Das ji (Page 486-87) explains this anecdote slightly differently. He says
that Sain Ji could not go to the King's palace for three days because he was
absorbed in serving the hermits. After three days he went to the king and said to the
king that I could not serve him for three days, please forgive me for my this
disobedience. The king said, "O Sain Listen! for all the three days you came
regularly and gave me a bath." Sain Ji was astonished to hear this and said that I did
not come for three days. The king said you served me so well during these three
days which you had never done before. Sain Ji said someone else must have come
in my place. It must have been God Almighty himself. O King! you are lucky that you
got a holy glimpse of the God Almighty. This implies that God Almighty saves the
honour of his Bhagats. This also shows that Bhagat Sain Ji was a barber and while
performing his duties as a barber he had spiritual interests. To serve the hermits and
listen to their hymns was part of his habitual behaviour.
Bhagat Sain Ji not only chose the Bhagti Marg but was also well versed in the hymns
of other Bhagats. It may be said that before the anecdote about being absent in the
king's service he must have received initiation from Bhagat Ramanand Ji and had
engrossed himself in prema-bhagti.
The hymn of Bhagat Sain Ji in Sri Guru Granth Sahib is in Dhanasri Raag is as
follows: (P695)
Saree Sain Ji,
saree sain.
Dhoop deep gharit saaj aartee.
vaarnay jaa-o kamlaa patee ll੧ll
manglaa har manglaa ll
nit mangal raaja raam raaay ko. ll੧ll rahaao ll
ootam dee-araa nirmal baatee ll
tuheen niranjan kamlaa paatee ll੨ll
raamaa bhagat raamaanand jaanai ll
pooran paramanand bakhanai ll੩ll
madan moorat bhai taar gobinday ll
sain bhanai bhaj parmaananday ll੪ll੨ll
This hymn means that: This is the aarti with incense, lamps and ghee, I offer this
lamp-lit worship service. I am a sacrifice to the Lord of Lakshmi. Hail to You, Lord
hail to You! Again and Again, hail to you, Lord King, Ruler of all! Sublime is the lamp,
and pure is the wick. You are immaculate and pure, O Brilliant Lord of Wealth!
Raamaanand knows the devotional worship of the Lord. Remember the Lord who is
all-prevading, the embodiment of supreme joy. The Lord of the world, of wondrous
form, has carried me across the terrifying world-ocean. Remember the Lord, the
embodiment of supreme joy!
In other words he says that for me this is the aarti of incense, diva and ghee, the
song of happiness of God Almighty I sing everyday, O God! Supreme Lord you are
above material things. Guru Ramanand knows the bhagti of Ram. He explains God
Almighty in the form of complete and great happiness. The beautiful God, He gives
salvation to the human beings. He is the owner of the world. Telling about God
Almighty Bhagat Sain Ji says worship the giver of supreme happiness. We should
worship God Almighty without incense, ghee, diva or other material things. God
Almighty himself is symbolic of all these material goods. Worshipping Him is His
aarti. His name is inclusive of all these material things. Bhagat Sain Ji praises his
Guru Ramanand Ji by mentioning his name and in a way explains that the Guru
himself tells the method of worshipping and attainment of Supreme bliss. Bhagat
Sain Ji himself never used incense, ghee or diva while worshipping and has given
the same instruction to us. He says that it is only due to the grace of God that one
can become one with God Almighty. In worshipping God the use of material goods is
meaningless.
In conclusion it can be said that Bhagat Sain Ji told us that to attain God Almighty we
should do good deeds and have pure heart (ootam deeara nirmal baati, tu hi niranjan
kamlapati). God forgives those who apologize and prays Him and He saves their
honour.
The references used in this write-up include:- (i) The Encyclopedia of Sikhism
published by Punjabi University Patiala, Part I, II, III, IV (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998) (ii)
Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha's book Mahan Kosh (iii) Sukhdev Singh Shant's book
Pandran Bhagat Sahiban (2018) (iv) Sarbjinder Singh's book Dhur Ki Bani (2004) (v)
Guru Granth Sanket Kosh by Piara Singh Padam and others (1997) (vi) Dharbari
Dass (Bhai) Editor Dr. Gurcharan Singh Sek, book Parichian Bhagtan Kian Bhai
Darbar Dass (1991) (vii) M.A. Macauliffe's book The Sikh Religion (2009) and (viii)
Sarup Singh Alag's book Parichai Sri Guru Granth Sahib (2016) although reference
has not been given at each place.
DHAN DHAN BHAGAT SAIN JI!
Dr. Amrit Kaur Retd. Professor Punjabi University Patiala, Punjab, India
Email: amritkaurchd40@gmail.com