SURDAS, one of the medieval Indian bhakta poets whose verses have been incorporated in the Guru Granth Sähib. Sürdãs, whose original name was Madan Mohan, is said to have been born in 1529, in a high-ranking Brãhman family. As he grew up, he gained proficiency in the arts of music and poetry for which lie had a natural talent. He soon became a celebrated poet, singing with deep passion lyrics of Divine love. He attracted the attention of Emperor Akbar who appointed him governor of the parganah of Sandilà. But Sürdãs heart lay elsewhere. He renounced the world and took to the company of holy men dedicating himself solely to the Lord. He died at Banãras. A shrine in the vicinity of the city honours his memory.
The Guru Granth Sahib contains one hymn by Bhakta Sürdäs, in the Sãrañg measure. In fact, it is not a complete hymn but a single line: 0 mind, abandon the company of those who turn away from God. It is believed to be the refrain of a complete hymn composed by Sürdãs in which he described one who had turned away from God as an incorrigible sinner for whom there was no hope of redemption. Guru Arjan omitted the rest of the hymn probably because it ran counter to the Sikh belief in Gods grace even for the worst of sinners. He therefore composed a hymn to explain and supplement the single line of Sürdãs. Its refrain is : Men of God abide with the Lord.
Surdàs whose verse figures in the Guru Granth Sãhib is to be differentiated from the blind poet of the same name who wrote Sür Sagar.
Excerpts taken from Encyclopedia of Sikhism by Harbans Singh .
Published by Punjabi University, Patiala
Sikh Bhagats
Baba Sheikh Farid Ji
Bhagat Kabir Ji
Bhagat Ravidas Ji
Bhagat Beni Ji
Bhagat Namdev ji
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Bhagat Parmanand ji
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Bhagat Pipa ji
Bhagat Surdas ji
Bhagat Jaidev ji
Bhagat Ramanand Ji
Bhagat Trilochan ji