PIPA, one of whose hymns is incorporated in the Guru Granth Sahib, was a prince who renounced his throne in search of spiritual solace. He was born at Gagaraun, in present-day Jhalawar district of Rajasthan, around AD 1425. He was a devotee of the goddess Bhavani, whose idol was enshrined in a temple within the premises of his palace. The goddess, it is said, once told him in a dream to visit Kashi (Varanasi) and receive initiation from Ramanand.
Pipa went to Kashi, but Ramanand refused to see him in his gaudy robes. Pipa cast off his royal apparel and put on a mendicant’s garment. He returned home after initiation and began to live like an ascetic. At his invitation, Ramanand visited Gagaraun, and the raja lent his shoulder to the palanquin carrying him in a procession.
Pipa now finally decided to give up his throne and retire to a life of seclusion and meditation. He went to Dwarka (Gujarat), where Lord Krishna, after the Mahabharata war, had spent the last years of his life. All twelve wives of Pipa insisted on accompanying him, but he took along only one, named Sita, who was of a pious temperament. He selected a cave for his residence from where he daily walked through a tunnel to the temple of Krishna on the seacoast.
The temple is still a popular place of pilgrimage, and a fair is held there annually in Pipa’s memory. After what he thought was a personal encounter with the Lord, he gave up idol worship. He and his companion wife started living in a jungle. After a period of penance, he set out roaming about the country to serve the common people.
He, along with his wife, sang hymns and prayers of his own composition and collected money to be distributed among the poor. He fed the mendicants and treated them as God’s chosen ones. From an idol worshipper (Saguna Bhakta), Pipa became a worshipper of the Formless One (Nirguna devotee). As he says in his hymn in the Guru Granth Sahib, the body itself is the Supreme Being’s temple (kahi-u devata).
One need not make stone images of Him and burn incense or light candles in front of them. Two collections of Pipa’s sayings are known to exist, namely Shri Pipaji Bani and Sarab Gutaka, both in manuscript form. Pipa Math, a monastery in Dwarka, honours his memory.
References:
- Taran Singh, ed., Guru Granth Ratnavali. Patiala, n.d.
- Pratap Singh, Giani, Bhagat Darshan. Amritsar, 2001 BK
- Macauliffe, Max Arthur, The Sikh Religion. London, 1909
Pipa’s Spiritual Journey to Nirguna Devotion, tracing his transformation from a royal idol‐worshipper to a formless, devoted ascetic:
The Early Life of Pipa
- Royal Beginnings:
Pipa was born around AD 1425 at Gagaraun, in what is now the Jhalawar district of Rajasthan. As a prince, he enjoyed the privileges of royalty—living in a palace where the goddess Bhavani was venerated with an idol enshrined within its premises. - Devotion to the Goddess:
In his youth, Pipa was a devout worshipper of Bhavani. His early spiritual life was centered on sacral images, rituals, and idol worship. This connection, however, was destined to undergo a dramatic transformation. - Divine Message and the Call to Transformation:
Legend holds that the goddess Bhavani appeared to him in a dream. In that vision, she directed him to journey to Kashi (Varanasi) and receive initiation from the revered mystic Ramanand. This dream—or divine utterance—set in motion a journey that would ultimately redefine his spiritual orientation.
The Turning Point on the Road to Asceticism
- The Pilgrimage to Kashi:
Pipa undertook the pilgrimage as advised; however, when he arrived in Kashi, the revered Ramanand refused to see him in his opulent, gaudy robes. This rejection was pivotal—it signified that mere royal wealth and regal attire were impediments on the spiritual path. - Renunciation of Royal Attire:
Responding to this stern lesson, Pipa shed his royal garments and embraced the simple, humble attire of a mendicant. This act of renunciation marked his conscious decision to prioritize inner transformation over worldly status. - The Initiation Experience:
After being initiated by Ramanand, Pipa began his ascetic lifestyle. Not only did he adopt a life of seclusion and meditation, but he also invited Ramanand back to his homeland, an invitation that symbolically reunited the spiritual master and his devotee on Pipa’s own terms.
Embracing Nirguna Devotion
- The Journey to Dwarka:
Determined to further his spiritual quest, Pipa left behind all remnants of his royal past. He traveled to Dwarka (Gujarat), the land where the great Lord Krishna spent his final years after the Mahabharata war. Despite the insistence of all his twelve wives to accompany him, he chose only one—Sita, known for her pious temperament—emphasizing that true devotion required focusing on the inner self and not on worldly attachments. - The Transformation from Saguna to Nirguna:
In Dwarka, after what he perceived as a profound personal encounter with the Divine, Pipa gave up idol worship altogether. Traditionally a saguna bhakta (one who worships a form), he evolved into a nirguna devotee—one who venerates the Formless One.
As encapsulated in his hymn in the Guru Granth Sahib, he proclaimed that the body itself is the temple of the Supreme. In rejecting the need for external images, incense, or candles, he pointed to a path of devotion that is entirely internal. - A Life of Service and Humility:
Following his renunciation, Pipa and his wife led a life marked by penance and itinerant service. They roamed and sang their own hymns and prayers, collected alms, and distributed these to the poor. By serving his fellow beings, Pipa not only embodied the essence of nirguna devotion but also demonstrated that the true worship of God is expressed through selfless service.
Legacy and Spiritual Significance
- Transformation as an Inspirational Model:
Pipa’s journey from royal idol worship to nirguna devotion serves as a timeless example within the Sikh tradition and beyond. His life illustrates that transcending external rituals and embracing the formless aspect of the Divine is the true path to liberation. - Hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib:
The inclusion of one of Pipa’s hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib underscores his spiritual significance. His words—emphasizing the body as the temple of God—continue to inspire devotees to look inward rather than seek external representations of the Divine. - Enduring Memory:
Pipa Math, a monastery in Dwarka, stands as a living memorial of his life, and annual pilgrimages to the temple he frequented ensure that his legacy endures. His transformation reiterates the Sikh conviction that the ultimate goal is union with the formless, all-pervasive God, achieved through inner renunciation and selfless service. Concluding Reflections
Pipa’s Spiritual Journey to Nirguna Devotion is a compelling narrative of transformation—a shift from the tangible, form-based worship of idols to the embrace of a formless, all-encompassing devotion. His life teaches that true spiritual awakening comes only when the ego is transcended, and the devotee internalizes the divine light without the mediation of external symbols. His legacy remains a beacon for those seeking to break free from the cycles of worldly attachment and to experience a direct, heartfelt communion with the Supreme.
