Talk:Sūrdās, the blind Sant (1478 – 1573 CE)

By Vishal Agarwal

Another Sant who lived a little before Tulsīdās was the Sant Sūrdās. Sant Sūrdās was born blind. Since his childhood, he was very interested in following groups of wandering musicians who sang the praises of Devīs and Devatās. One day, he decided to follow a wandering party and left his home. He sang beautiful songs to Bhagavān, and fed himself by donations given by kind devotees. A rich man was one day so impressed with his bhajans that he had a hut constructed for the blind musician, and requested Sūrdās to live in it.

Sant Vallabhācārya, a great Bhakta of Kṛṣṇa, also heard about Sūrdās. He thought, “How wonderful it would be if Sūrdās were to sing the praises of Kṛṣṇa?” He approached Sūrdās and taught him about the life of Kṛṣṇa from the Hindu scripture called Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Sūrdās acknowledged him as his Guru, and thereafter, decided to devote his life to singing the praises of Kṛṣṇa.

Sūrdās composed a new devotional song on Kṛṣṇa every morning and then sang it at the Śrīnath-jī Maṇḍir in Mathurā. His beautiful lyrics and songs became popular very fast, and he became a living legend. Once, Tānsen, the greatest singer of those times, sang one of Sūrdās’ songs in the royal court of Emperor Akbar who ruled much of India from 1556 to 1605 CE. The Emperor was saying, that the entire world belongs to Kṛṣṇa, and therefore he did not want any part of it. Sūrdās also said that the court of Kṛṣṇa in the Maṇḍir was greater than all royal courts.

Akbar was impressed by the Bhakti of the Sant, and offered to give him any gift he asked for. To his surprise, Sūrdās merely requested, “Emperor, please do not ask me again to come to the royal court.” Akbar realized that Sūrdās was a great saint, and therefore he left respectfully.

One day, Sūrdās fell into a well. He sang out to Kṛṣṇa. Miraculously, a couple appeared soon and pulled him out of the well. Sūrdās realized that the couple was none other than Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Moved by the devotion of Sūrdās, Rādhā came back to see Sūrdās, who immediately caught her feet to get her blessings. Rādhā was able to get away, but in the process, her anklets fell off. She asked Sūrdās to return them, but he insisted, “How do I know they are yours because I cannot see.”

Rādhā restored his vision, and at once, he saw none other than Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa and Rādhā in front of him. Kṛṣṇa requested Sūrdās to ask for some boons because He was very pleased with the devotion of the Saint. But Sūrdās asked for only one thing – “Please make me blind again. I have seen my Lord with my own eyes. And now I do not wish to see anything else.”

Kṛṣṇa insisted that this would be unfair to Sūrdās. He could keep his vision and also ask for something else. But Sūrdās insisted – “No, please make me blind again. But give me the boon that I always remain devoted to you as your servant.”