Er T R Bhagat
Shri Guru Nabha Dass was a great Saint and thinker and author of Bhaktamal, the great sacred scripture. This great Guru wrote about many religious leaders from Satya Guru to Kali Yuga. On his birthday on the 8th of April 1537, millions of followers still remember him and celebrate his birthday with great fervour and gaiety. He was born at village Bhadrachalam in district Khammam, Telangana. His mother was Janaki Devi and his father was Ramdass, now known as Ramdassu. They belonged to Mahasha, Doom, Dumna community now known as Nabha-Dassia. Their professional work was to make baskets of cane and they were musicians. They were strong devotees of Lord Rama, because Rama’s temple was situated at Bhadrachalam, now known as Rambhadrachalam. His parents initially had no children due to which villagers used to taunt them. They prayed for Lord Rama to bless them with a son, who should be learned, intellectual and a theologian. Then a son was born to them. He was first called Narayan Dass and was a devotee of Lord Rama. His parents died when he was five years old. He lived alone in the village and worshipped in the temple. He used to play on bank of the river with his friends and also change sand Ladoos into sweet Ladoos with blessings of God.
Once Saint Shri Agar Dass and Keel Dass were passing through near Ram Bhadrachalam hills. They saw Narayan Dass under a tree. They asked him, “Who are you? Why are you sitting here?” Narayan told them, “I am made of five elements blessed by God”. They were surprised to hear his spiritual reply. They asked him if he wanted to go to their temple. Keel Dass scattered water on his eyes, then he opened eyes and got a blessing. They brought him into the temple at Ghalta Dham at Jaipur. One day, Guru Agardas was not concentrated in Satsung because his one disciple (Hari Dass), who was a businessman was going through a ship and his ship was sinking beneath a cyclone. He prayed to save his ship. Narayana Dass was looking at his Guru who was not concentrating in the Satsung. He rapidly flapped the fan to save the ship. Narayana Dass said to his Guru, “your focus on Satsung freed the ship from cyclone”. Guru opened his eyes and told him, “How did you understand my internal feeling? You are a great holy saint and now your name will be Nabha Dass, and from now you will not operate fan. You will write life history of holy saints who come on earth from Sat-Yuga to Kal-Yuga”.
Nabha Dass left for a religious journey throughout India. He went first to Rambhadrachalam to take the blessing from his parent’s temple and the temple of Lord Rama. He returned to Dhianpurdham, Pandoridham, Damtaldham. Then he went to Kullu Manali where his grand Guru Shri Krishna Pyahari Dass had a lodge, situated in deep forest. King Shri Jagat Singh and his wife were there and the queen was suffering from skin disease. She had no relief from doctors. The queen believed in saints, but the king did not. Grand guru Shri Krishana heard their problem. His Guru told Nabha Dass to take her near the sacred spring and take three dips in sacred spring. After this, her skin disease was cured. Both king and queen were happy and fell on the feet of the saints. They said, “You are great holy saints, we want to present you a gift”. Krishana Pyahari Dass said replied, “You may have to celebrate ten days festival on Dusshera at Kullu in respect of Lord Rama.” From that day Kulu Dusshera began to venerate both saints.
Nabha Dass came to Punjab through Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Jammu where his community lived. One day King Raja Maan Singh went to forest to hunt with 10,000 Sainiks. They were exhausted. They saw a saint lodge and marched there. The King went in to take a blessing from saints. Agardas told Nabha Dass to give him Prasad of banana. When Nabha Dass give him a banana, Raja Maan Singh said, “First parsad should be given to my Sainiks and then to me.” Nabha Dass called the Sainiks and gave them all bananas. The king was surprised that he was able to give ten-ten bananas to soldiers, while only 10 bananas were in the basket. The King was again surprised to see this miracle. He fell down on his feet for seeking blessings and gave 1600 acres of land in donation for Dham and made a gate named Agardass, Nabha Dass. The gate is still situated at Revasha Dham. Guru Nabha Dass died in 1643. He is venerated because his sacrifice was for the whole people. His other notable works are Ramashtayam, Astayam and Ramcharitarkepaad in Braja.
(The author is a retired
Chief Engineer R&B and
Vice President BJP J&K).