Sikh Bhagats
Who is a Sikh Bhagat
The term Bhagat refers to a Holy Person who leads a life of spirituality and dedication to God. A Bhagat is an Eastern equivalent to a Christian Saint, a Sant. The word Bhagat comes from the Sanskrit word Bhakti, which means devotion, love etc.
Throughout the history of India there have been saints and thinkers who were dissatisfied with the superstitions and the thousands of the religious vagaries of Hinduism. They gradually evolved a belief in one God and preceded Guru Nanak as does the dawn before sunrise.
The teachings of these Bhagats, whose words and teachings were included in the Holy Granth by Guru Arjan Dev are given the same prominence in the SGGS, the Sikh Holy Book as the teaching of the Ten Sikh Gurus. Guru Arjan Dev Ji selected the writings of both Hindus and Muslims with equal impartiality, according to their suitability of his purpose and religious reformation that was Sikhism.
Sikh Bhagats
The following 15 Bhagats have their Bani incorporated within the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (in chronological order):
- Bhagat Jaidev Ji
- Bhagat Namdev Ji
- Bhagat Trilochan Ji
- Bhagat Parmanand Ji
- Bhagat Sadhana Ji
- Bhagat Beni Ji
- Bhagat Ramanand Ji
- Bhagat Dhanna Ji
- Bhagat Pipa Ji
- Bhagat Sain Ji
- Bhagat Kabir Ji
- Bhagat Ravidas Ji
- Baba Sheikh Farid Ji
- Bhagat Bhikhan Ji
- Bhagat Surdas Ji
Contributions to Gurbani
# | Name | Identity | No. of Hyms |
1. | Kabir | Weaver | 292 hymns |
2. | Namdev | Calico printer from Maharashtra | 60 |
3. | Ravidas | Shoe maker from Uttar Pradesh | 41 |
4. | Trilochan | Brahmin from Maharashtra | 4 |
5. | Dhanna | Cultivator from Rajasthan | 4 |
6. | Sain | Barber from Uttar Pradesh | 1 |
7. | Jaidev | Poet from Bengal | 2 |
8. | Pipa | King from Uttar Pradesh | 1 |
9. | Surdas | Blind poet | 2 |
11. | Baba Farid | Muslim saint from Punjab | 134 |
11. | Parmanand | Maharashtra | 1 |
12. | Sadhna | Butcher from Sindh | 1 |
13. | Beni | 3 | |
14. | Ramanand | Uttar Pradesh | 1 |
15. | Bhikhan< | Sufi saint from Uttar Pradesh | 2 |