Introduction To 'Bhagat Saints Of Guru Granth Sahib' By Shamsher Singh puri

Much remains to be written about Sikhism. The scholars of history and theology have produced reasonably good literature on he lives and circumstances of the Gurus but very little study has been made about the lives of Bhagat-Saints whose utterances have een included in the Adi Granth, the Sikh holy scripture and which make reasonable impact on the teachings of the Guru Granth Sahib.

The message of Guru Nanak and some of his successors has been preserved in the Adi Granth. The Fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev, who compiled the Adi Granth in 1604 A.D. had in mind to make it a universal scripture, not just for those who were of Guru Nanak's persuasion. Guru Arjan Dev compiled not only the sayings and teachings of the Sikh Gurus but also of Pirs and Saints who had strutted across the stage of spirituality with distinction during the twelfth to seventeenth centuries, when the interaction between Islam and Hinduism was intense.

Thus, the Adi Granth presents before us a parliament of preceptors and saints, who belonged to various classes and strata of society. Their concern was for the human being. Their message was universal. Their culture took within its compass the whole of humaeity, the humans of all castes, colors and creeds. The called the cultured human being a Gurmukn (virtuous) who was above lust, anger, greed, attachment, delusion (superstition), vanity, enmity, etc. and imbibed virtues of truth, continence (self-control) sweetness, contentment, modesty, straightforwardness, friendliness, compassion, fearlessness, purity, moderation, faith, generosity, humility, and forgiveness. The contributors of the Adi Granth were inheritors of a vast culture and knew both its virtues and limitations.

In Adi Granth (Guru Granth Sahib), the significance of the poise and balance in life has been stressed. There is equal stress on the physical and spiritual well-being of the individual and society and a balanced combination of knowledge, action and devotion. The individual should take great care of the body, which is the temple of God. But equal care should be taken for the spiritual development. For the health of the body and the spirit, the mind and intellect, should be kept healthy. Any strain on the body for the spiritual development or negligence of spirit for physical health is not advisable. In this context Bhagat Kabir says in the following 

Namdev says to Trilochan always repeat the name of the Lord. Do all the work with your hands and feet but always keep your mind absorbed in Him (Niranjan).