“The gentle nectar stream of Jaydev’s divine voice, which was suppressed in the harshness of time, reappeared in the sweetness of the local language as soon as it found an opening, emerging from the cuckoo-like voice of Vidyapati in the groves of Mithila, and later began to flourish among the karil shrubs of Braj, watering the wilted hearts. Eight veenas, marked with the stamp of the Acharyas, rose to sing the divine love-play of Shri Krishna, among which the highest, sweetest, and most melodious resonance was from the veena of poet Surdas.”
The great devotee of Krishna and immortal singer Surdas Ji was born in 1478 into a Saraswat Brahmin family. His father’s name was Pandit Ramdas. Scholars differ regarding his place of birth. Some believe that he was born in the village of Runakta, but the majority of scholars and the general public accept that Surdas Ji was born in the village of Sihi, situated near Braj, close to Delhi. Surdas’s parents were poor. He had three elder brothers. Being blind, he was neglected. Hence, after growing up a bit, he left home.
There is a disagreement about whether Surdas Ji was blind from birth or became blind later. Based on certain scholars and evidence, it seems likely that he became blind later. A legend states that Surdas used to compose and sing songs even in childhood. One day, while sitting by the river composing a song, he saw a very beautiful young woman bathing. He was captivated by her beauty, and the attraction overwhelmed his mind. When he snapped out of it, he was filled with remorse for having strayed from his spiritual path. In a fit of emotion, he vowed to rid himself of the eyes that had led him astray. He broke off a thorny plant that secreted poisonous milk and used its thorns to gouge out his eyes. He even poured the poisonous sap into his eyes. Thus, he became blind. Later, he was named Surdas. It is believed that his childhood name was Vilb Mandal. Another view is that his name was Surdhwaj.
Education:
Regarding Surdas Ji’s education, it is known only that he used to live under a pipal tree near a pond, four kos from his village Sihi, immersed in composing verses. From the finesse of his verse construction, it is clear that he had received a good education. It’s not known who taught him music, but he was an excellent singer.
Works:
Sur Sagar, composed in twelve books, is his greatest work. In addition, Sahitya Lahari and Sur Saravali are also prominent works. The way Vatsalya Rasa (parental love), Sanyog (union), and Viyog (separation) in Shringar Rasa (erotic sentiment) are expressed in Sur’s poetry is rare elsewhere.
It is said that after leaving home, Surdas stayed under the pipal tree, immersed in devotion, and villagers would come to him for auspicious predictions. It is believed that once a landlord’s cow went missing, and following Surdas Ji’s directions, it was found. Pleased, the landlord built him a small hut. From then on, he began living in that hut. Later, he left the place and went to Mathura. There, he found the company of saints, which accelerated his journey of devotion. On the banks of the Yamuna at Gaughat, he would constantly practice poetry and music. For him, poetry and music were one. At Gaughat, people began calling him Saint Surdas.
It is believed that the goddess Saraswati resided in Surdas’s voice. No one could match his sweet singing. Around 1509–10, Surdas met Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya. It is said that Vallabhacharya was enchanted by Surdas’s music and recited the Subodhini to him. During this period, Vallabhacharya accepted Surdas Ji as his disciple. He took him to Gokul and then to Govardhan. Not only that, he entrusted Surdas with the responsibility of singing kirtan in the temple of Shrinath Ji. Although Surdas could not see the world with his physical eyes, with the grace of his Guru Vallabhacharya, he began to perceive the inner world. He would have the vision of Lord Shrinath Ji and compose new verses dedicated to him. He would sing these compositions in front of devotees and practitioners in the classical style. The unparalleled work Sur Sagar was also composed during this time.
Before meeting Guru Vallabhacharya, Surdas used to sing devotional songs full of humility, such as:
“I am a fool, wicked traveler.”
“We are lowly sinners.”
“Our Lord, please don’t dwell on our faults.”
After hearing these songs, Vallabhacharya said:
“Why do you whimper like this, Sur, being who you are? Sing something of Hari’s name and glory!”
Then he began to describe Lord Krishna’s childhood pastimes to his youth and beyond, in the graceful style of the book Sur Sagar. This work is filled with the moods of friendship (sakhya), parental love (vatsalya), and sweetness (madhurya). Sur not only described the leelas (divine plays) of Krishna but also composed the verses in classical meters and sang them freely in different ragas and raginis. After temple rituals, groups of devotees would sing these songs. The devotional songs of Sur and the leelas of Krishna would fill the hearts of people gathered in the temple like nectar in the flowers of the garden. In this way, Sur turned from servitude-based devotion (dasya bhakti) to friendship-based devotion (sakhya bhakti). Scholars have called Surdas’s devotion as Sayujya Bhakti (non-dualistic union with God).
Surdas Ji’s spiritual journey progressed from Sagun (form-based) to Nirgun (formless). Almost all his compositions are filled with Sagun devotion. He was a Sagun devotee. In the Bhramar Geet section of Sur Sagar, with verses like “Nirgun kaun des kau baasi?”, he criticizes Nirgun and elevates Sagun. However, with Guru’s grace, when he attained knowledge of the Anahat Naad (divine sound), he became absorbed in the worship of the Nirgun Brahma. Upon realizing the Supreme Truth, there was no difference between Sagun and Nirgun. It is said that one of his Nirgun-based verses, “Taji man Hari vimukhani ko sang”, was included in the Guru Granth Sahib.
There is also a popular belief that Tansen once brought Akbar to visit Surdas Ji. In comparison to Surdas’s music, Tansen’s singing seemed lacking. Because Tansen was bound to Akbar and sang for him, but Surdas became empty, and in that emptiness, the Lord Himself descended in the form of song. Though Surdas could not see outwardly, he described Lord Krishna’s physical appearance in his songs as if he could see his external ornamentation.
Guru Devotion:
It is said that once Surdas Ji was deeply immersed in praising Radharani. At that time, one of the Ashtachhap poets, Chaturbhujdas, asked him—“You have composed countless divine verses, their emotional depth and spiritual heights are unparalleled, but one thing troubles my heart—why have you never mentioned your Guru Vallabhacharya Ji in your verses?” Surdas Ji beautifully replied that all those verses are indeed his Guru’s glory. He does not consider his Guru separate from God. Then he sang:
“My firm faith is in these feet.
Without the moonlight of Shri Vallabh’s toenails, the whole world is in darkness.
There is no other means in this dark age to achieve salvation.
Says Sur, I am blind in both eyes, a slave without price.”
It is believed that after this, meditating on God, he merged into Him. The Veena of Sur, which resonated for 105 years, became silent. He left this physical world in the year 1583. His mortal body was merged into the five elements in the village of Parsoli. At the time of Sur’s passing, Goswami Vitthalnath, overwhelmed with grief, said:
“The ship of the Pushtimarg is departing; whoever wants to take something from it, take it now.”
Sources:
Bhramar Geet Saar, editor Acharya Ramchandra Shukla; Bharatiya Sant Parampara – Baldev Vanshi; Hindi Sahitya Ka Itihaas – Dr. Nagendra; nityastudypoint.com
