Nabha Dass

Nabha Dass (born Narayan Dass), was a Hindu saint, In this sacred scripture, Nabha Das wrote the life history of almost every saint ranging from the Satya Yuga to the Kali Yuga age. Nabha Dass wrote ‘Bhakatmal ’ in 1585. Nabha Dass, a saint belonging to the tradition of Ramananda. On his birthday 8 April, millions of followers remember him and his resolve to work for humanity.

Early life He was born on 8 April 1537 at village Bhadrachalam on the bank of the Godavari River in Khammam district in the Indian state of Telangana. His mother was Smt. Janaki Devi ji and his father was Shri Ramdass ji, now known as Ramdassu. Guru Nabha Dass belonged to Mahasha or Doom or Dumna community now known as Nabhadassia. People from this community are also known as Nabhadassias. Their professional work was to make baskets and grain storage containers with bamboo. People from this community are also good musicians because they were involved in Satsang's playing different kinds of instruments. They were strong devotees of Lord Rama, because Rama's temple was situated at Bhadrachalam, now known as Rambhadrachalam. His parents initially had no children, leading the villagers to taunt them. They prayed for Lord Rama to bless them with a son, who would be learned, intellectual and a theologian. Then a son was born to them. He was first called Narayan Dass and was a devotee of Lord Rama. His parents died when he was five years old. He lived alone in the village and worshiped in the temple. He played on the bank of the river with his friends and also exchanged sand ladoo into the sweet ladoo with blessing from God.

Spiritual journey

Saint Shri Agar Dass ji and Keel Dass were passing through near Ram Bhadrachalam hills and forests. Nabhadas' disciple Krishandas Payahari had commissioned Bhagwanji to found the Ramanandi centre of Pindori Dham in the Punjab Hills. Neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir states also have a sizeable presence of the community. Kullu Dussehra is celebrated for a week on the directions of Guru Nabha Dass. There are around 3 million people of the Mahasha community who live in Punjab, including around one lakh in Pathankot itself.

Works

Guru Nabha Dass wrote ‘Bhagatmal’ in 1585, is a poem in the Braj language that gives short biographies of more than 200 bhaktas. His other notable works are Ramashtayam, Astayam and Ramcharitar ke paad in Braja.