PARMANAND, a Maharashtrian saint poet, one of whose hymns is included in the Guru Granth Sahib. Born probably in 1483, he is believed to have resided at Barsi, situated to the north of Pandharpur, in present day Sholapur district of Maharashtra. Parmanand was a devotee of Vishnu and used in his songs the nom de plume Sarang, the name of a bird ever thirsty for the raindrop. He always longed for God whom he worshipped in the Vaisnavite manifestation of Krsna. He used to make, it is said, seven hundred genuflexions daily to God on his uncovered, often bleeding, knees.
He believed for a long time that God could be worshipped as an image only, but later he had the realization that the nirguna Supreme, God unmanifest, could also be loved and prayed to. Parmanand`s one hymn incorporated in the Guru Granth Sahib (p. 1253) subscribes to this view. In this hymn, he disapproves of the ritualistic reading and hearing of the sacred books if that has not disposed one to the service of fellow beings. He commends sincere devotion which could be imbibed from the company of holy saints. Lust, wrath, avarice, slander have to be expunged for they render all seva, i.e. service, fruitless.
References :
1. Sahib Singh, Bhagat Barn Satik. Amritsar, 1959
2. Gurdit Singh, Giani, Itihas Sri Guru Granth Sahib (Bhagat Barn Bhag). Chandigarh, 1990
Bhagat Parmanand: DevoteeSaint in the Guru Granth Sahib
Introduction
Bhagat Parmanand is celebrated as a saintpoet whose inspiring hymn found in the Guru Granth Sahib asserts that the mere recitation or listening to sacred texts is insufficient if it does not spark a genuine transformation within the devotee. His verse challenges one to move beyond ritualistic observances into a life marked by sincere compassion and selfless service.
Biographical Background & Spiritual Devotion
Believed to have been born in 1483 into a Kanyakubja Brahmin family (with some accounts linking him to the devotional milieu of Maharashtra), Parmanand embraced a life steeped in spiritual fervor. He was noted to have performed up to seven hundred prostrations daily—an act symbolizing his relentless yearning for the Divine. Adopting the nom de plume “Saarang” (after the bird always thirsty for the raindrop), his devotional expressions bridged traditional Vaishnavite sentiment with the emerging Sikh ideals, which emphasize that real worship blossoms only when it transforms into selfless service.
The Hymn of Bhagat Parmanand in the Guru Granth Sahib
Below is one rendition of the hymn as incorporated in the Guru Granth Sahib (Page 1253). (Note: Variations in transcription exist; the following reflects one commonly referenced version.)
In Gurmukhi
ਸਾਰੰਗ ੫
ਸਾਰੰਗ: ਇਕ ਓਅੰਕਾਰ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦ ॥
ਤੇ ਨਰ ਕਿ ਆ ਪੁਰਾਣ ਸੁਣ ਕੇਨਾ?
ਅਨਪਾਵਨੀ ਭਗਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਉਪਜੇ, ਭੁੱਖੈ ਦਾਨ ਨ ਦੇਣਾ। (1)
ਕਾਮ ਨਾ ਭੁੱਲਿਆ, ਨਾ ਗੁੱਸਾ ਛੁੱਟਿਆ, ਲੋਭ ਵੀ ਬਸ ਨਹੀ ਛੁੱਟਿਆ।
ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਬੋਲ ਵਧੇਰੇ ਨਿੰਦਨਿੰਦ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤੇ ਸੇਵਾ ਹੈ ਨਿਸ਼ਕਾਮ ਤੇ ਅਸਾਰ। (1)
ਘਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਘੁੱਸਪ੍ਰਵੇਸ਼ ਕਰਕੇ, ਚੋਰੀ ਕਰਨ ਨਾਲ, ਤੁਸੀਂ ਪੇਟ ਭਰ ਲੈਂਦੇ ਹੋ, ਏ ਪਾਪੀ। (2)
ਪਰ ਜਦੋਂ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਅੰਤਿਮ ਸੰਸਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਛੱਡ ਕੇ ਜਾਵੋਗੇ, ਤਾਂ ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਦੋਖ ਚੜ੍ਹ ਜਾਏਗਾ, ਕਰਮਾਂ ਦੇ ਅਗਿਆਨਤਾਸ ਨਾਲ। (2)
ਦਇਆ ਅਤੇ ਮਿਹਰ ਦਾ ਖਿਆਲ ਨਹੀਂ, ਜਿੰਦਗੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਹਿਮ ਨਹੀਂ ਪਾਇਆ।
ਪਾਰਮਾਨੰਦ ਸਾਧ ਸੰਗਤ ਨਾਲ ਮਿਲ ਗਿਆ। ਤੂੰ ਕਿਉਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਪਵਿਤ੍ਰ ਸਿੱਖਿਆ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਚਲਦਾ? (3)(1)(6)
In English (Translation)
Saarang 5
Saarang: One Universal Creator God, by the Grace of the True Guru.
So what have you accomplished by listening to the Puranas?
True devotion has not arisen within you, and you have not been inspired to feed the hungry. (1)
You have neither forgotten sexual desire nor subdued your anger; greed remains unexpunged.
Your speech continues unabated in slander and gossip, and your acts of service are useless and fruitless. (1)
By breaking into the houses of others and stealing, you fill your belly, O sinner. (2)
But when you depart from this world, your guilt will be manifest through the ignorant acts you committed. (2)
Compassion and kindness have not taken root in your heart.
Parmanand has joined the Company of the Holy (Saadh Sangat). Why, then, do you not follow the sacred teachings? (3)(1)(6)
Legacy and Enduring Impact
Bhagat Parmanand’s hymn underscores a vital lesson found throughout Sikh spirituality: ritual without internal transformation and compassionate action bears no fruit. His verse remains a stirring reminder that genuine devotion is measured not by external observances, but by the readiness to serve humanity selflessly. For students of both traditional Vaishnava devotionalism and Sikh thought, his hymn continues to offer a profound perspective on the essence of true spiritual practice.
This inclusion in the Guru Granth Sahib ensures that his message––urging the abandonment of mere ritualistic formalities in favor of heartfelt service––resonates across generations and inspires adherents to seek a deeper, more meaningful connection with the Divine.
