A butcher by profession,
Saadhna was born in the village of Sehvaan (Sindh) and was a contemporary
of Naamdev. One ballad is attributed to Saadhna in the Adi Guru
Durbar. Saadhna died at Sirhind (Punjab).
Saadhna
An old painting of Saadhna surrounded
by a congregation of followers and singing devotional Hymns
Beni
Although the dates of Beni's existance
are not known precisely, the language he uses ascribes him to an
early period in history. He is mentioned in Bhai Gurdas Ji's Vaaran
as a soul who devoted himself entirely to the service of the Almighty:
'The Gurmukh Beni, would sit alone and
enter a trance.
Performing greats acts of spirituality yet he told none [to
avoid egotism].
Arriving back home, when asked where he was, he replied "...to
the doors of his King [the Lord]".
His wife asked for items for the house but he would avoid
this and this is how he spent his time.
One day, during while in deep contemplation and focus, a miracle
occured.
The Lord, visited Beni as a King to keep the greateness of
the devotee [Beni].
Upon becoming happy, he comforted all and spent lots of money.
He [the Lord] came from there to Beni and loved him greatly.
This is the manner of how the Lord applauses His followers.'
(Bhai Gurdas Ji, Vaar 10, Verse 14)
3 of his hymns can be found in Adi Guru
Durbar and speak of cultivating love for the Almighty and being
against hippocrisy.
Ramanand (1366 to 1467)
Ramanand was the son of Bhoor Karm (father)
and Sushila (mother) born in a village in Uttar Pardesh. He was
placed in the schooling of Archaarya Raagvand, a follower of the
Sadhu Varn Asharam who believed that lower castes were not allowed
to pray to the Almighty.
Ramanand
Leader of the Ramanuj sect, he was the fifth in line from
the Ramanuj, a great Hindu Sadhu (holy man). Today the
followers of this sect are known as 'Ramanandis' or 'Raamvats'
However, this all changed under the guidance of Swami
Raghvcharya of the Ramanuj Movement (circa 1017 to 1137), where
Ramanand became a devotee of Raam. Preaching his
teachings at Kanshi (Varnasi, also known as "Benaras), a centre
for devotees of the Bhakti movement, many great
saints such as Ravidas, Sain,
Dhanna, Pipa and Kabir
came to listen avidly.
Amongst his works are 'Sri Ramrachan Padti',
'Matnbuj Baskar' and 'Sri Vaishnav'.
One of his ballads can be found in the Adi Guru Durbar that speaks
of the Almighty being everywhere, and not being isolated to a place
or as a possesion of a peoples.
Ramayan
A painting depicting a scene from the epic Ramayan where
Lord Raam defeats the demon King Ravan with the help of the monkey
army
