Bhai Almast

Bhai
Almast
Personal life
Born26 August 1553
Sri Nagar, Kashmir Sultanate (Present-day Jammu and Kashmir, India)
Died1643
Parent(s)Pt. Hardatt (father)
Mai Prabha (mother)
Religious life
ReligionSikhism
SectUdasi
Religious career
Based inNanakmatta
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Bhai Almast (26 August 1553 – 1643) was a Sikh preacher, leader of a branch of the Udasi Sampradaya, and the elder brother of Bhai Balu Hasna, another prominent preacher of the Udasi sect.[1]

Early life

Almast was born on August 26, 1553, in a Gaur Brahmin family of Srinagar (Kashmir) to Bhai Hardatt and Mai Prabha.[2] His birth name was Alu, but due to his inclination towards mysticism and disinterest in worldly affairs, he became known as Almast, which means "in a state of ecstasy." He was also referred to as Kambalia or Godaria because of his simple clothing made from a kambal or godari.

At a young age, Alu left home to seek spiritual knowledge and eventually ended up in Dera Baba Nanak in 1574, where he became a follower of Baba Shri Chand, the founder of the Udasi sect and the son of Guru Nanak. Almast served at the mausoleum of Guru Nanak and tended to goats for a living. Baba Gurditta, the eldest son of Guru Hargobind, later appointed Bhai Almast to spread the message of Guru Nanak in the eastern provinces.

Later life

In 1615, Bhai Almast established a shrine, known as Mangu Math, in Puri (Orissa), to commemorate Guru Nanak's visit to the Jagannath temple. He then moved to Nanak Mata in Gorakh Mata, where Guru Nanak had a discourse with Nath yogis under a pipal tree, and a shrine dedicated to Guru Nanak had been established. However, this site had been taken over by the yogis, who destroyed the Sikh shrine and burnt down the pipal tree. Bhai Almast sought help from Guru Hargobind, who restored the Sikh shrine and rejuvenated the pipal tree through miraculous means.

Missionary work

Eastern India

After this incident, Bhai Almast spent the rest of his life in Nanak Mata and sent out eight principal disciples to preach in various districts of eastern India. These disciples established Sikh shrines in places visited by Guru Nanak during his first Udasi or preaching journey.[3][4]

Sindh

Almast also traveled to Sindh, where he conducted missionary activities and successfully converted many Sindhis to the Udasipanth.[5] His place of residence was at Rohri, at the dhuni established by Sri Chand.[5] Those newly converted appended Ram or Das to the end of their names.[5] He died in 1643.

See also

References

  1. ^ Singh, Harbans (1992–1998). The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism. Vol. 4. Patiala: Punjabi University, Patiala. p. 377. ISBN 0-8364-2883-8. OCLC 29703420.
  2. ^ Singh, Harbans (1992). The Encyclopedia Of Sikhism Vol. I. Punjabi University, Patiala. p. 85-86. ISBN 81-7380-100-2.
  3. ^ Singh, Bhupender (2022-12-23). BABA NANAK SHAH FAKIR. Blue Rose Publishers. ISBN 978-93-5704-660-2.
  4. ^ "Gurudwara Almast Sahib - Nanakmata - World Gurudwaras". www.worldgurudwaras.com. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  5. ^ a b c Kalhoro, Zulfiqar Ali (14 December 2018). "Udasi Sikh Saints of Sindh". Originally published on The Friday Times, republished on Academia.edu.