There are two varying accounts of bhagat Sain's life. Some people hold that
he was an employee of the ruler of Bidar and a faithful devotee of Saint
Gyaneshwar. But according to the popular tradition he was a barber who served as
a personal attendant under Raja Ram, the ruler of Bandhawgadh.
Bhai Gurdas, who regards him as a follower of Gosai Ramanand says that under
Kabir's influence, Sain the barber became a bhagat. His nights were consecrated
to a loving adoration of the Lord while the days were devoted to the humdrum
duties at the King's darbar. Bhagat Sain as been classfied with the other
greater bhagats in the Siri Guru Granth Sahib,
With thy grace, O Lord I were redeemed
Namdeva, Kabir and
Trilochan
As were Sadhna and Sain.
Guru Arjan writes,
Jaidev has abandoned ego,
And, Sain, the barber, has been redeemed by
serving the Lord.
Deeply interested in bhagati, Sain was always found in the company of the
holy. Once a member of sadhus gathered together and went on reciting kirtan
throughout the night, thus preventing Sain from attending to his work. Next
morning when he went to the Raja and apologise for his absence from duty. The
Raja remarked that he had done his job well.
Sain was overwhelmed with gratitude that God came to his rescue. The Raja
realised that he had reached to such a elevated stage that God had sent
someone else in place. Thus the Raja and his entire family became the devotees
of Sain.
Extracted from Gurbani De Racheta by Abnash & Gurvinder Singh
Shabad by Bhagat Sain in the Siri Guru Granth Sahib
Sri Sain:
With incense, lamps and ghee,
I offer this lamp-lit worship
service.
I am a sacrifice to the Lord. || 1 ||
Hail to You, Lord, hail to You!
Again and again, hail to You, Lord King,
Ruler of all! || 1 || Pause ||
Sublime is the lamp, and pure is the wick.
You are immaculate and pure,
O Brilliant Lord of Wealth! || 2 ||
Raamaanand knows the devotional worship of the Lord.
He says that the
Lord is all-pervading, the embodiment of supreme joy. || 3 ||
The Lord of the world, of wondrous form,
has carried me across the
terrifying world-ocean.
Says Sain, remember the Lord,
the embodiment of
supreme joy!
(SGGS)
