Bhagat Parmanand

Bhagat Parmanand (pronunciation:[bʱæɡætpaɾmaːnũnd]) was aVaishnavamystic andsaint-poet,one of whose hymns is included in theGuru Granth Sahib.

Early life

Parmanand was born in aGaur Brahminfamily ofKannauj(located in present-dayUttar Pradesh) in 1483,he is believed to have resided atKannauj.Other sources describe him as being from present-dayMaharashtra.

Legacy

Parmãnand was a devotee ofVishnuand used in his songs thenom de plumeSarañg, the name of a bird ever thirsty for the raindrop. Parmanand always longed for God whom he worshiped in theVaishnavitemanifestation ofKrsna.He used to make, it is said, seven hundred genuflections daily to God on his uncovered, often bleeding, knees. He believe for a long time that God could be worshiped as an Image only, He was the great devotee of lord Shri Nath ji (another name of Shri Krishna).shri Vallabhacbarya was his Guru. Parmanand Das belonged to pushti sampraday. Another Bhakt Surdas ji was his Guru Bhai. Parmanand das ji and Surdas ji both take initiation from the same guru i. e. shri vallabhacharya ji. Parmanand's one hymn incorporated in theGuru Granth Sahib(p. 1253) subscribes to this view. In this hymn, he disapproves of the ritualistic reading and hearing of the sacred books If that has not disposed to the service of fellow beings. He commends sincere devotion which could be imbibed from the company of holy saints. Lust, wrath, avarice, slander have to be expunged for they render allseva,i.e. service, fruitless.

Poetry

This is the 1 Shabad from Parmanand in theSri Guru Granth Sahib:

• SGGS Page 1253

So what have you accomplished by listening to thePuranas?

Faithful devotion has not welled up within you, and you have not been inspired to give to the hungry. ((1)(Pause))

You have not forgottensexual desire,and you have not forgottenanger;greedhas not left you either.

Your mouth has not stopped slandering and gossiping about others. Your service is useless and fruitless. ((1))

By breaking into the houses of others and robbing them, you fill your belly, you sinner.

But when you go to the world beyond, your guilt will be well known, by the acts of ignorance which you committed. ((2))

Cruelty has not left your mind; you have not cherished kindness for other living beings.

Parmaanand has joined the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. Why have you not followed the sacred teachings? ((3)(1)(6))

Parmanand was the follower of vishnu.

References

Bibliography

• Excerpts taken fromEncyclopedia of Sikhismby Harbans Singh. Published by Punjabi University, Patiala
• The Sikh Religion, Vol 6,,Max Arthur MacAuliff, Oxford University Press, 1909.