Dadu Dayal Ji (Hindi: संत दादूदयालSaint Dādūdayāl, 1544—1603) was a poet-sant from Gujarat, India, a religious reformer who spoke against formalism and priestcraft.
Etymology
"Dadu" means brother, and "Dayal" means "the compassionate one".[2]
Early life
Dadu was born in 1544 in Ahmedabad city of Gujarat state of India.[3][1][4]
Teachings and legacy
Dadu Dayal was a spiritual man.[5] His work is known as Dadudayal ki Vani / Dadudayal -Ra Duha. He believed in God[6] because At the age of seven Kabir met him. After meeting with him, he uttered this speech:- Jin moku nij naam diya, soi Satguru hamaar | Dadu doosra koi nahin, Kabir Sirjanhaar |[7] His many compositions were to establish harmony between Hinduism and Islam.[8]
Dadu Dayal later moved to Naraina, near JaipurRajasthan, where he gathered around himself a group of followers, forming a sect that became known as the Dadupanth.[9][1]
Sri founded by Ramananda, Dadupanthis are one of those 7 martial akharas of Vaishnavite in the sec of Ramanada
Brahma founded by Madhava
Ridra founded by Vishnusuvamin
Sanakadi founded by Nimbarka.
Followers of Vaishnavism are also called Bairagi or Vairagi. Among the Bairagi, those who became part of the military akharas were organised in the 7 akharas founding dates of most of which are unclear. Each of the akhara accepted members from all 4 sects of vaishnavism. Bairagi military akharas generally did not follow the prohibition against eating meat or taking of narcotics.[11]
Dadu Anubhav Vani
Dadu's compositions in Braj language were recorded by his disciple Rajjab and are known as the Dadu Anubhav Vani, a compilation of 5,000 verses. Another disciple, Janagopal, wrote the earliest biography of Dadu.[9][12] Dadu alludes to spontaneous (sahaja) bliss in his songs. Much of the imagery used is similar to that used by Kabir, and to that used by earlier SahajiyaBuddhists and Nathyogis. Dadu believed that devotion to God should transcend religious or sectarian affiliation, and that devotees should become non-sectarian or "Nipakh".[13] He has something to say about that:[14]
So kāfir jo bolai kāf;
dil apna nahim rakhe sāf...
The infidel is one who tells a lie;
One whose conscience is not clear...
Dadupanthi Thambas
Dadu had 100 disciples that attained samadhi. He instructed additional 52 disciples to set up ashrams, 'Thambas' around the region to spread the Lord's word.
Dadu ji spent the latter years of his life in Naraiana, a small distance away from the town of Dudu, near Jaipur city.[15]
Five thambas are considered sacred by the followers; Naraiana, Bhairanaji, Sambhar, Amer, and Karadala (Kalyanpura). Followers at these thambas later set up other places of worship.
Dadupanthi Martial Akharas
Armed martial akharas were first likely formed by the Dadupanthi Guru Jait Sahib (1693 - 1734 CE) when he recruited armed Naga sadhus. In 1733, Dadupanthis were tax paying farmers in Jaipur State and martial Naga Sadhus were employed to enforce the payment of taxes. In 1793, Dadupanthis and Jaipur State had an agreement under which Dadhupanthis provided 5000 armed soldier sadhus to defend the Jaipur State. During the 1857 rebellion, Dadupanthis acted as mercenaries who helped British raj.
Prominent Dadupanthis
Present status
Dadupanth has continued in Rajasthan to the present-day and has been a major source of early manuscripts containing songs by Dadu and other North Indian saints.[9]
Nayak, Sujatha (1996). "Dadu Dayal". In Sivaramkrishna, M.; Roy, S. (eds.). Poet-Saints of India. New Delhi: A Sterling Paperback. pp. 90–100. ISBN81-207-1883-6.
Sant Dadu Dayal: Encyclopaedia of Saints Series (Volume 25). Eds. Bakshi, S. R.; Mittra, Sangh (2002). New Delhi: Criterion Publications. ISBN81-7938-029-7
Upadhaya, K. N. (1980). Dadu the Compassionate Mystic. Punjab: Radha Soami Satsang Beas.
