Naamdev (1270 to 1350)

It is said that Naamdev was born to Damsheti (father) and Gonabahi (mother) in the village of Narasvamani (Satar district, Maharastra). He married Rajabal, daughter of Govinda Sheti Sadvateh at 11 years of age, and had 4 sons and a daughter.

Bhagat Naamdev
Following in the footsteps of his father, Naamdev became a tailor
and later became the disciple of Jnaanadev who taught him the ways of devotion to Vishnu

Naamdev became a disciple of Vishnu (the "Preserver" under the Trinity) under Jnaandev (a great saint of the 'Bhakti Movement') and later spend most of his time in a village called Ghuman (Gurdaspur District, Punjab). A story expounded by Macauliffe in the last century goes as follows:

Vishnu, the preserver
The preserver, seen here holding a conch shell (symbol of origin
of existance), a mace (symbol of the power of wisdom), a 'Sudharshan chakra'
(symbol of creation and destruction), and a Lotus flower (symbol of harmony from chaos)

According to his autobiographical ballad known as 'Tirathvah', Naavdev lived in Pandharpur where he spent his time singing praises of the Almighty. Naamdev's works are to be found in the text 'Naamdevachee Katha' written in Hindi.

During the Sikh Misl period, Akali Nihang Jassa Singh Ramgharia would construct a Mandhir at Ghuman in respect of Naamdev. 60 Hymns composed by Naamdev are found within Adi Guru Durbar.

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