BABA NAMDEV JI

2012-01-08T23:52:00.000-08:00

Bhagat Namdev Ji (29 October, 1270 - 1350) (Gurmukhi: ਭਗਤ ਨਾਮਦੇਵ) was born on October 29, 1270 in the state of Maharashtra village of Naras-Vamani, in Satara district (presently called Narsi Namdev). His father, a calico printer/tailor, was named Damshet and his mother's name was Gonabai. Most of the spiritual message of Bhagat Namdev, just like our gurus', emphasized the importance of living the life of a householder (grist jeevan) and that through marriage and having a family one could attain enlightenment. He emphasized that the truest form of bandage or devotional meditation, is to enter matrimony and jointly seek the holy experience Waheguru.

Background:

Namdev was married before he was eleven years of age to Rajabal, daughter of Govinda Sheti Sadavarte. They had four sons and one daughter. Janabai, the family's maidservant and a bhagat and poetess in her own right, records the tradition that Namdev was born to Gonabai as a result of her worship of Vitthala in Pandharpur. This present temple building was constructed by Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and the tank by its side was repaired by Rani Sada Kaur, mother-in-law of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
God's name was always on the lips of Bhagat Namdev Ji. He was asked by the king to show miracles. He refused to do so and was thrown before a drunk elephant to be crushed to death. God saved His own saint. When the Fifth Guru, Guru Arjan dev compiled the Guru Granth Sahib, he decided to give some recognition to the saints of the Bhakti movement. This is the reason that Guru Granth Sahib contains verses of fifteen such saints. In some cases Guru Granth Sahib is the only voice remaining for such saints over the years.

Namdev Bani:

ਰਾਗ੝ ਗਉੜੀ ਚੇਤੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਨਾਮਦੇਉ ਜੀਉ ਕੀ
रागढ़ गउड़ी चेती बाणी नामदेउ जीउ की
Rĝg ga▫oṛī cẖeṯī baṇī nĝmḝe▫o jī▫o kī
Raag Gauree Chaytee, The Word Of Naam Dayv Jee:
ੴ ਸਤਿਗ੝ਰ ਪ੝ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥
ੴ सतिगढ़र पढ़रसादि ॥
Ik▫oaŉkĝr saṯgur parsĝḝ.
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:
ਦੇਵਾ ਪਾਹਨ ਤਾਰੀਅਲੇ ॥
देवा पाहन तारीअले ॥
Ḏevĝ pĝhan ṯĝrī▫ale.
God makes even stones float.
ਰਾਮ ਕਹਤ ਜਨ ਕਸ ਨ ਤਰੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
राम कहत जन कस न तरे ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Rĝm kahaṯ jan kas na ṯare. ||1|| rahĝ▫o.
So why shouldn't Your humble slave also float across, chanting Your Name, O Lord? ||1||Pause||
ਤਾਰੀਲੇ ਗਨਿਕਾ ਬਿਨ੝ ਰੂਪ ਕ੝ਬਿਜਾ ਬਿਆਧਿ ਅਜਾਮਲ੝ ਤਾਰੀਅਲੇ ॥
तारीले गनिका बिनढ़ रूप कढ़बिजा बिआधि अजामलढ़ तारीअले ॥
Ŧĝrīle ganikĝ bin rūp kubijĝ bi▫ĝḝẖ ajĝmal ṯĝrī▫ale.
You saved the prostitute, and the ugly hunch-back; You helped the hunter and Ajaamal swim across as well.
ਚਰਨ ਬਧਿਕ ਜਨ ਤੇਊ ਮ੝ਕਤਿ ਭਝ ॥
चरन बधिक जन तेऊ मढ़कति भझ ॥
Cẖaran baḝẖik jan ṯe▫ū mukaṯ bẖa▫e.
The hunter who shot Krishna in the foot - even he was liberated.
ਹਉ ਬਲਿ ਬਲਿ ਜਿਨ ਰਾਮ ਕਹੇ ॥੧॥
हउ बलि बलि जिन राम कहे ॥१॥
Ha▫o bal bal jin rĝm kahe. ||1||
I am a sacrifice, a sacrifice to those who chant the Lord's Name. ||1||
ਦਾਸੀ ਸ੝ਤ ਜਨ੝ ਬਿਦਰ੝ ਸ੝ਦਾਮਾ ਉਗ੝ਰਸੈਨ ਕਉ ਰਾਜ ਦੀਝ ॥
दासी सढ़त जनढ़ बिदरढ़ सढ़दामा उगढ़रसैन कउ राज दीझ ॥
Ḏĝsī suṯ jan biḝar suḝĝmĝ ugarsain ka▫o rĝj ḝī▫e.
You saved Bidur, the son of the slave-girl, and Sudama; You restored Ugrasain to his throne.
ਜਪ ਹੀਨ ਤਪ ਹੀਨ ਕ੝ਲ ਹੀਨ ਕ੝ਰਮ ਹੀਨ ਨਾਮੇ ਕੇ ਸ੝ਆਮੀ ਤੇਊ ਤਰੇ ॥੨॥੧॥
जप हीन तप हीन कढ़ल हीन कढ़रम हीन नामे के सढ़आमी तेऊ तरे ॥२॥१॥
Jap hīn ṯap hīn kul hīn karam hīn nĝme ke su▫ĝmī ṯe▫ū ṯare. ||2||1||
Without meditation, without penance, without a good family, without good deeds, Naam Dayv's Lord and Master saved them all. ||2||1||

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