‘Bhagat’ means devotee and is derived from the Sanskrit term Bhakti, which signifies dedication and love. Bhagats developed a belief in a single God. There are 15 Bhagats whose bani is included in Adi Granth Sahib. The Adi Granth was compiled by the fifth guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji.
Bhai Dhanna Ji is one of the most well-known, and his simple story of devotion lives forever. Dhanna Bhagat, also known as Dhanna Jaat or Dhanna Jatt, Dhanna Bairagi, or Sant Dhanna (born 1415), was a mystic poet and Vaishnav devotee whose hymns are included in Guru Granth Sahib.
He was born into a Hindu Jat family of the Dhaliwal tribe in the village of Chouru in Tehsil Phagi, in the Jaipur district of Rajasthan, India. He was a follower of Sant Guru Ramananda, a bhakti poet.
The story of Bhagat Dhanna Ji
Once Dhanna a simpleton came across a pundit's house. To his surprise, the pundit was feeding a stone idol. This puzzled Dhanna, so he decided to ask the pundit about it. However, the pundit was feeling hungry and didn't want to entertain Dhanna's simple inquiries.
The pundit replied that he was just feeding God. Dhanna was intrigued and asked, "Really! What does God give you when you feed it?"
The pundit, growing more impatient, answered that God gave everything asked for and further asked Dhanna to leave. Dhanna liked the idea of giving a little food and receiving everything in return. He asked the pundit if he could also have a God to feed.
The pundit's hunger became more evident as his stomach growled. In a hurry, he grabbed a stone from the ground and said, "Here! Feed this first, then you can eat. Goodbye!"
With the stone in his hand, Dhanna hurried home. As soon as he arrived, Dhanna prepared the best meal he could for God. Placing it in front of the stone, he prayed to God and offered food. Then, he said ‘God, please eat. Afterwards, I have many things to discuss with you. I need a new cow, for example. But for now, please eat."
Dhanna sat in front of the stone and waited. And waited. And waited. After a while, growing impatient, Dhanna said, "Listen, God, I don't have time for your silence. Come and eat immediately! I have many chores to do."
Hours passed, and Dhanna began to think that maybe God was upset with him. He tried to persuade God to forgive him, saying, "Look here, God, I haven't eaten in a while. It's possible that I've done something to annoy you, but we can discuss it better after we've eaten."
The night grew darker, and Dhanna pleaded, "God, I'm at my wit's end. Either eat your food or I will...," but Dhanna couldn't come up with a threat, so he just stomped his foot in frustration.
Daylight came, and Dhanna was disoriented. Sometimes he cursed God, other times he hugged God, and sometimes he cried. Two long and hungry nights passed in this manner. Then, early in the morning on the third day, when Dhanna was too weak to curse anymore, a divine presence decided to intervene. Waheguru, the almighty, chose to play its role.
Waheguru appeared inside the stone, manifesting the most beautiful human form Dhanna had ever seen. It radiated with light and life. Dhanna forgot all his fatigue, anger, and hunger, and simply stared in awe at Waheguru.
Waheguru emerged from a stone and apologized to Dhanna for being late. He explained that he had been occupied with a couple of universe creations but requested Dhanna to kindly warm up the food. Dhanna, keeping an eye on Waheguru, warmed up the food and served it to him. Waheguru happily ate and also fed Dhanna. By then, it was daytime. Dhanna expressed his exhaustion to God, mentioning that he hadn't slept for two nights and all he wanted was to rest. He remarked that sitting in the stone couldn't be that tiring. Dhanna proposed that Waheguru should feed the cows while he took a short nap.
When Dhanna woke up, he discovered that Waheguru had completed all the farm chores and had prepared a delicious yoghurt drink for him. Dhanna expressed his gratitude, feeling a deep connection with God. He even compared God to his best friend and felt that they were incredibly similar. Dhanna suggested they go and work on the farm together. With his arms around Waheguru, Dhanna fell deeply in love and couldn't resist being in God's presence. They spent the next few days inseparable, working together on the farm. Even at night, Dhanna would hold Waheguru's hand and listen to the songs God sang until he drifted off to sleep.
A week later, a pundit passed by Dhanna's hut. Dhanna approached him and expressed his gratitude for introducing him to God. The pundit, in a hurry, mentioned attending a conference called KPPARR (Keeping Poor Poor And Rich Rich). Dhanna insisted that the pundit should try the yoghurt drink made by God. The pundit became intrigued when Dhanna mentioned that God made the best yoghurt drink.
The pundit witnessed someone pushing the cows on the farm, even though there was no one to be seen. He inquired about this mysterious presence, and Dhanna informed him that it was God. Dhanna also mentioned God's singing, which further intrigued the pundit. Dhanna realized that the pundit couldn't see God and promised to discuss it with God.
After the pundit departed, Dhanna approached Waheguru and asked why the pundit couldn't see him. Waheguru explained that the pundit had no interest in seeing God and was more focused on the illusion of Maya-the material wealth. Dhanna wondered how one could see God, and Waheguru informed him that purity was required. In this age, reciting the True Word, Sat Naam was the easiest way to attain purity.
Dhanna wondered why he could see God without having recited Sat Naam. Waheguru touched Dhanna's forehead, and Dhanna had an inner realization. He saw that in his past lives, he had made numerous religious efforts, enduring hardships and practising strict discipline. However, his spiritual progress had been minimal. In his previous life, he encountered a knowledgeable guru who had taught him to recite Sat Naam. Just one lifetime of reciting the True Word had purified him.
Overwhelmed, Dhanna prostrated himself before Waheguru, seeking forgiveness for treating him as an equal. Waheguru embraced him, soothing him with comforting songs. Waheguru explained that it was time for him to depart, as Dhanna's perception of him was merely superficial. The real meeting with God happened within, and Dhanna needed to resume reciting Sat Naam to experience that connection.
Waheguru disappeared into thin air, and Dhanna, now enlightened, refrained from cursing God. He immediately began reciting Sat Naam with every breath.
Within days, Dhanna met WaheGuru in WaheGuru's real form - the formless one - inside.He sensed the presence of the One all around him. The intensity of his emotions was so extraordinary that no words could capture the sheer wonder and awe he experienced.
Bhagat Dhanna later wrote poems about his encounter.We can read or sing them anytime, recalling his story of meeting God with innocence and devotion through chanting the Naam.
Within the Adi Granth , we discover a tapestry of three splendid hymns crafted by Bhagat Dhanna Ji. His unwavering commitment to the Divine resonates deeply within the heart of Guru Arjan Dev Ji ,who has profound admiration for him. Dhanna's life and legacy cast a brilliant light upon the religious annals of India. His spiritual prowess stands as a testament strength found in steadfast faith and unyielding devotion. Let us follow Dhanna's footsteps and pursue the ultimate aim of seeking eternal unity with the Divine.
*Based on a blog published on Seeker of One, May 30, 2008