Sadhna Bhagat(PA: ਸਧਨਾ), also called Sadhna Qasai, was a North Indian Muslim 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 intellect 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 enlightenment. His one hymn is present in Adi Granth Sahib, in Raga Bilaval, 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 traveling from Sindh reached Punjab 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.
Sadhna is considered to be a contemporary of Bhagat Namdev. Satgur Ravidas, who studied Satgur Sadhna hymn admired him in his own hymns, as given below:
ਨਾਮਦੇਵ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਤਿਲੋਚਨੁ ਸਧਨਾ ਸੈਨੁ ਤਰੈ ॥
Naam Dayv, Kabeer, Trilochan, Sadhana and Sain crossed over.
ਕਹਿ ਰਵਿਦਾਸੁ ਸੁਨਹੁ ਰੇ ਸੰਤਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਤੇ ਸਭੈ ਸਰੈ ॥੨॥੧॥
Says Ravi Daas, listen, O Saints, through the Dear Lord, all is accomplished. ||2||1||
Sikhs admire and follow the teachings of Sadhna. On Gurmat, Kabir, Nanak, Ravidas, Bhatts etc. all are same and all are treated as Gurus - "spiritual guides". Sikhs bow before Guru Granth Sahib which include the teaching of many who had the same thoughts and views about Almighty. Almighty himself spoke through his Bhagat's, revealing the holy Hymn.
Life
He was born in 1180 AD at village Sehwaan in Hyderabad Sindh province in a Muslim family. As ancestors were butchers by profession, he continued the family profession of slaughtering goats and selling meat.
Bhagat Sadhna |
Using Shaligram Shilas for weighing flesh
Sadhna got "Shaligram Shilas" and used them, as weights, in his profession i.e Butcher. Shila refers to a Vaishnava (hindu) aniconic representation of Vishnu, in the form of a spherical, usually black-coloured stone found in the sacred river Gandaki, The Shilas (Ammonite fossils) are worshipped as manifestations of Vishnu Himself, identifiable from other stones by special markings, believed to resemble Vishnu's paraphernalia such as mace, conch, lotus and disc (chakra). Sadhna annoyed Vaishnav Sadhus and Pundits with this act. On one side, He was of lower profession and caste, on other side, he belittling their 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 and gave them calmly. Vaishnav saint continued worship Shaligram but got no internal pleasure and extreme wisdom, as he have seen in state, behavior and thoughts of Sadhna. With dashing hopes he returned Shaligram Stones, the Weights of Sadhna back. Sadhna preached that "Shaligrams Stones" does not have god as these are lifeless stones, what spiritual life they can give to living being.
Change in Sadhna's life
It is recorded in few historical sources, that Once, in evening, Sadhna was washing up and cleaning his shop before closing, a customer came and asked for leg of mutton. Sadhna replied that he is just closing the shop and will give leg in morning. Customer urged that he required it badly and said not to cut whole goat and just cut the leg of it and give to him. 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 guided him that 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 and he is 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 that It was the Lord Himself Who had come to reveal Himself to his devotee in the form of a customer. It is said that he left profession of butcher
Collision with Brahmin's Wife
As Sadhna was young and good looking with strong body, during his travels, his looks please a young married Brahmin lady. Sadhna said that he could not have relations with anyone out of his marriage, and he could not maintain such relations with a married lady. She thought sadhna might be scared of her husband. Without understanding Sadhna's thoughts, She killed her husband and told Sadhna. Sadhna was shocked with her attitude left the area after sermonizing her. The lady felt ashamed, she burnt herself on husband's funeral pyre, so that people continued thinking her to be Sati-Savitri.
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.
According to few authors, He came to Punjab after this incident.
Another story, narrates that the woman complained about Sadhna to the local adminstration. Sadhna was arrested and taken before a magistrate. 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 but this claim is vague.
Preaching Gosphel
Sadhna has travelled through various parts of indian subcontinent and possibility is that he also met and accompanied Bhagat Namdev. Bhagat Ravidas mentioned his name in his hymn with other Devotees, which means he was one of known Gurmukh of the times. The people who followed Sadhna are known as Sadhna Panthis. Sadhna Panthi is considered as Vaishnav Sect, but Sadhna does not hold views of Vaishnava Sect. Even every devotee whose hymns are incorporated in Adi Guru Granth Sahib are wrongly called Vaishnav Saints or followers of Vaishnavism, by some scholars. This is practically wrong because of difference in thoughts in their hymns and Vaishnav tradtion.
Sadhna preached Gurmat in regions of Punjab and Uttar Pardesh.
Writings
Bhagat Sadhna's bani can be found at Ang 858 of the Guru Granth Sahib:
It is present after hymns of Bhagat Ravidas, under title Baani Sadhnae ki Raag Bilaval(ਬਾਣੀ ਸਧਨੇ ਕੀ, ਰਾਗ ਬਿਲਾਵਲ).
Concepts and Terminologies
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Some key concepts to understand in hymn are:
1. ਨਰਿਪ ਕੰਨਿਆ (nrip kanya): Daughter of the king
2. ਇਕ ਭਇਆ ਭੇਖਧਾਰੀ (ik bhaya bhekhdhari): "The One", took form
3. ਜਗਤ ਗਰਾ (jagat gura): Knower of three worlds
4. ਕਰਮ ਨ ਨਾਸੈ (karam na nase): Finishes the thought of karmas
5. ਝਕ ਬੂੰਦ (Ek boond): The one drop
6. ਮੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਛ ਹਉ ਨਹੀ (main naahin hau naahin): Neither me nor I
7. ਸਧਨਾ ਜਨ ਤੋਰਾ (sadhna jan tora): Sadhna - the knower of you
No Concept of Vishnu
The very first line is interpreted, not in context with gurmat:
ਨਰਿਪ ਕੰਨਿਆ ਕੇ ਕਾਰਨੈ ਇਕ ਭਇਆ ਭੇਖਧਾਰੀ ॥
For a king's daughter, a man disguised himself as Vishnu.
ਕਾਮਾਰਥੀ ਸਆਰਥੀ ਵਾ ਕੀ ਪੈਜ ਸਵਾਰੀ ॥੧॥
He did it for exploitation, and for selfish motives, but the God protected his honor. ||1||
In previous Interpretations, the interpreters moved out of subject of Adi Granth Sahib and blend Vaishnav mythology with Gurmat thought, especially Pundit Tara Singh Narotam (Fareedkoti Teeka), who is followed by others. There is a mature thought within Sikhs, that words and concepts in Gurbani are defined well in gurbani itself and every hymn is interrelated.
While interpreting some typical words, concepts and depth, interpreters mix up perplexing mythology with the Gurmat thought, and bring Sikh thought back to thoughts of religious scholars. Those who were feeding on the souls, by giving them wrong knowledge about spirituality. As he have only one hymn, situated in Adi Granth, and there is utmost chance of misinterpretations, when we use mythology or other thoughts while answering it so we take references from his contemporaries and writings of other Gurmukhs in same Granth, tackling the same subject.
The above line is related to the soul, which takes form in developing its intellect (buddhi). The soul became self willed and selfish, but when it followed the way of Gurmat, the soul is protected by God itself.
Bani
The beginning of this sabad 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 young man 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 kingdom.
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 consequence 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 sabad is a conversation that Bhagat Sadhna Ji is having with Waheguru about his present situation.
In the first two lines of this sabad, 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:
ਨਰਿਪ ਕੰਨਿਆ ਕੇ ਕਾਰਨੈ ਇਕ ਭਇਆ ਭੇਖਧਾਰੀ ॥
For a king's daughter, a man disguised himself as Vishnu.
ਕਾਮਾਰਥੀ ਸਆਰਥੀ ਵਾ ਕੀ ਪੈਜ ਸਵਾਰੀ ॥1॥
He did it for exploitation, and for selfish motives, but the God 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
ਤਵ ਗਨ ਕਹਾ ਜਗਤ ਗਰਾ 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 ਜੰਬਕ ਗਰਾਸੈ ॥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 sabad:
ਝਕ ਬੂੰਦ ਜਲ ਕਾਰਨੇ ਚਾਤਰਿਕ ਦਖ ਪਾਵੈ ॥
For the sake of a single rain-drop, the rainbird suffers in pain.
ਪਰਾਨ ਗਝ ਸਾਗਰ ਮਿਲੈ ਫਨਿ 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 Chardi 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 sabad:
ਪਰਾਨ 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 sabad just before he went back home:
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 sabad 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 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 858:
ਬਾਣੀ ਸਧਨੇ ਕੀ ਰਾਗ ਬਿਲਾਵਲ ॥ ੴ ਸਤਿਗਰ ਪਰਸਾਦਿ ॥
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:
ਨਰਿਪ ਕੰਨਿਆ ਕੇ ਕਾਰਨੈ ਇਕ ਭਇਆ ਭੇਖਧਾਰੀ ॥ ਕਾਮਾਰਥੀ ਸਆਰਥੀ 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 ਗਨ ਕਹਾ ਜਗਤ ਗਰਾ ਜਉ ਕਰਮ ਨ ਨਾਸੈ ॥ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਰਨ ਕਤ ਜਾਈਝ ਜਉ ਜੰਬਕ ਗਰਾਸੈ ॥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 ਚਾਤਰਿਕ ਦਖ ਪਾਵੈ ॥ ਪਰਾਨ ਗਝ ਸਾਗਰ ਮਿਲੈ ਫਨਿ 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||
ਪਰਾਨ 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||
Mausoleum of Bhagat Sadhna, Inner View |
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 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 1106:
ਨਾਮਦੇਵ ਕਬੀਰ ਤਿਲੋਚਨ ਸਧਨਾ ਸੈਨ ਤਰੈ ॥ ਕਹਿ ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ਸਨਹ 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||
Memorial
The Mosque of Sadhana Kasai is situated in north-west of the Sirhind-Ropar Railway Line, with railway line. The entire mosque is built of Sirhindi bricks. The paintings in the mosque represent the 'T' art form.
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