Bhagat Dhanna Ji, a pious and devout Sikh Bhagat, was born in the village of Dhuan in the Tonk region of Rajputana in 1415 AD. From a young age, he displayed remarkable simplicity, hard work, and straightforwardness. Bhagat Dhanna Ji loved the company of scholars and saints and served the needy and holy men with dedication, considering them as embodiments of God. His strong devotion and commitment led him to become a follower of Bhagat Ramanand and eventually embrace the worship of Nirgun Brahm, realizing the futility of idol worship.
Guru Arjan Dev Ji, in his praise of Bhagat Dhanna Ji, has stated that he applied himself to devotional worship, and the Lord of the Universe blessed him personally. Dhanna, along with other low-caste leatherworkers such as Nam Dev, Jai Dev, Kabeer, Ravi Daas, and Sain, was blessed by Guru Arjan Dev Ji for joining the humble Saadh Sangat and meeting the Merciful Lord.
The Bhakti movement in India reached its pinnacle during the 14th and 15th centuries, during which men of God who belonged to poor families and lower castes earned spiritual heights and gained widespread fame. Bhagat Dhanna was one such devotee of God who found inspiration in the spiritual grandeur of Kabir, the moral position of Ravidas, the oneness of Sain, and the fame of Namdev. These experiences ignited a deep longing in Dhanna’s heart to realize God.
Bhagat Dhanna Ji was a farmer by profession and remained ever-absorbed in God, even while occupied with various jobs to earn his livelihood. It was his unwavering devotion that ultimately enabled him to have a glimpse of the Timeless Lord, even in a stone. When a Brahmin advised him to consider the stone as the Lord Himself, Dhanna offered sacramental food to the stone, believing it to be the Lord. When the Lord did not accept his offer, Dhanna refused to touch the food and remained on a fast until the Lord accepted it. Bhai Gurdas narrated the entire episode in a beautiful verse, highlighting Dhanna’s noble character and unwavering faith in the Lord.
Bhagat Dhanna Ji in Guru Granth Sahib
In the sacred Sikh scripture, we find three sublime hymns by the devout Dhanna, sung in the melodic Asa and Dhanasari measures. Dhanna’s poignant words call out to humanity, reminding us that we have spent countless lives wandering aimlessly, disconnected from our Creator. The ephemeral pleasures of material wealth and possessions have poisoned our hearts, leading us further away from the Divine. It pains Dhanna deeply to witness how easily our minds are seduced by sinful passions, and how we fail to recognize the value of Naam-Simran – the recitation of the holy name. For only by gathering the wealth of the Divine Name can we hope to elevate our spirits and come closer to the Divine.
In another hymn, Dhanna exhorts us to have unwavering faith and devotion to God, for only through these can we hope to achieve union with Him. Dhanna’s boundless faith in God is evident in the examples he gives. He reminds us that God is all-knowing, bringing forth even the tiniest creatures from within the rocks, nurturing the unborn child in the mother’s womb. Everything in this universe happens by His will, and we need not fear, but rather love and revere Him as our nourisher and Patron Father.
ਭ੍ਰਮਤ ਫਿਰਤ ਬਹੁ ਜਨਮ ਬਿਲਾਨੇ ਤਨੁ ਮਨੁ ਧਨੁ ਨਹੀ ਧੀਰੇ ॥ ਲਾਲਚ ਬਿਖੁ ਕਾਮ ਲੁਬਧ ਰਾਤਾ ਮਨਿ ਬਿਸਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਹੀਰੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਬਿਖੁ ਫਲ ਮੀਠ ਲਗੇ ਮਨ ਬਉਰੇ ਚਾਰ ਬਿਚਾਰ ਨ ਜਾਨਿਆ ॥ ਗੁਨ ਤੇ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਬਢੀ ਅਨ ਭਾਂਤੀ ਜਨਮ ਮਰਨ ਫਿਰਿ ਤਾਨਿਆ ॥੧॥ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਜਾਨਿ ਨਹੀ ਰਿਦੈ ਨਿਵਾਸੀ ਜਲਤ ਜਾਲ ਜਮ ਫੰਧ ਪਰੇ ॥ ਬਿਖੁ ਫਲ ਸੰਚਿ ਭਰੇ ਮਨ ਐਸੇ ਪਰਮ ਪੁਰਖ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਮਨ ਬਿਸਰੇ ॥੨॥ ਗਿਆਨ ਪ੍ਰਵੇਸੁ ਗੁਰਹਿ ਧਨੁ ਦੀਆ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਮਾਨੁ ਮਨ ਏਕ ਮਏ ॥ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਭਗਤਿ ਮਾਨੀ ਸੁਖੁ ਜਾਨਿਆ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤਿ ਅਘਾਨੇ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਭਏ ॥੩॥ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਮਾਇ ਸਮਾਨੀ ਜਾ ਕੈ ਅਛਲੀ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਪਹਿਚਾਨਿਆ ॥ ਧੰਨੈ ਧਨੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਧਰਣੀਧਰੁ ਮਿਲਿ ਜਨ ਸੰਤ ਸਮਾਨਿਆ ॥੪॥੧॥ {ਪੰਨਾ ੪੮੭}
Dhanna humbly offers his prayers (Aarti) to the Lord, asking for His blessings to fulfill the needs of a householder. He asks for a home to live in, a wife to carry on the lineage, a mare to ride, and the simple pleasures of lentils, flour, ghee, and spices to fill his belly. He seeks a cow and a buffalo for their milk, and a good Arab mare. In his faithful simplicity, Dhanna even asks for a wife who is a good housekeeper.
Lord, I am Your humble servant in affliction.
Those who are devoted to You, You fulfill their desires.
I ask for the simple pleasures of life to delight my heart.
I ask for shoes and clothing, grain grown on well-plowed land.
I seek a cow and a buffalo in milk, and a good Arab mare.
And above all, I ask for a wife who is a good housekeeper.
These are my simple needs, O Lord. May Your blessings fulfill them.
Short Stories of Bhagat Dhanna Ji
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The Story of the Rice Bowl
One day, Bhagat Dhanna Ji was sitting under a tree when a poor farmer came to him and asked for his help. The farmer had no food to feed his family and was in desperate need of help. Bhagat Dhanna Ji, without any hesitation, gave him his rice bowl, which was his only possession at the time.
The farmer was touched by Bhagat Dhanna Ji’s kindness and was filled with gratitude. He took the rice bowl and went home, but when he opened it, he found it filled with gold coins. The farmer immediately went back to Bhagat Dhanna Ji and told him what had happened. Bhagat Dhanna Ji replied, “I gave you my rice bowl because you needed it more than I did. It was not me who gave you the gold coins, but it was the divine who saw your need and fulfilled it.”
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The Story of the Milkmaid
Bhagat Dhanna Ji was once visiting a nearby village when he saw a milkmaid milking a cow. He approached her and asked for some milk, but the milkmaid replied, “I am sorry, but I cannot give you any milk. I am poor and this is the only cow I have, and I need all the milk to sell in the market.”
Bhagat Dhanna Ji was moved by the milkmaid’s honesty and devotion toward her work. He said to her, “You are truly blessed to have such devotion towards your work. The divine is pleased with your honesty and devotion, and He will bless you with more than you can ever imagine.” The milkmaid was touched by his words, and from that day onwards, her cow began to produce twice the amount of milk that it used to.
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The Story of the Sweets
Bhagat Dhanna Ji was once invited to a rich merchant’s house for a feast. When he arrived, he was greeted with a variety of sweets and delicacies, but he refused to eat any of them. The merchant was offended by his refusal and asked him why he wasn’t eating.
Bhagat Dhanna Ji replied, “I cannot eat these sweets because they are made with money earned through dishonest means. The divine does not bless those who earn their wealth through deceit and lies.” The merchant was ashamed of his actions and promised to change his ways. He started earning his wealth through honest means and became a devout follower of Bhagat Dhanna Ji’s teachings.
Final Words
The life of Dhanna, the humble Jat who adorned his existence with piety, devotion, and love for the Divine, serves as a shining example for mankind. Though he lived six centuries ago, his spirit and teachings continue to resonate in our hearts today. Some believe that he and Guru Nanak Dev crossed paths during the latter’s first preaching journey, but history shows that their timelines did not overlap. Nevertheless, Dhanna’s life and legacy are a source of immense pride for India’s religious history, and his spiritual merit is a testament to the power of unwavering faith and devotion. Let us follow in Dhanna’s footsteps and strive towards the ultimate goal of God-realization.
