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 PARMANAND,
a Mahãrashtrian saint-poet, one of whose hymns is included in the
Guru Granth Sãhib. Born probably in 1483, he is believed to have
resided at Bãrsi, situated to the north of Pandharpur, in present-day
Sholãpur district of Mahãrãshtra. Parmãnand
was a devotee of Vishnu and used in his songs the nom de plume Sarañg,
the name of a bird ever thirsty for the raindrop. He always longed
for God whom he worshipped in the Vaisnavite manifestation of Krsna. He
used to make, it is said, seven hundred genuflexions daiy to God on his
uncovered, often bleeding, knees. He believe for a long time that God
could be worshipped as an Image only, but later he had the realization
that the nirguna Supreme, God unmanifest, could also be loved and prayed
to.Parminand’s one hymn incorporated in the Guru Granth Sahib (p.
1253) subscribes to this view. In this hymn, he disapproves of the ritualistic
reading and hearing of the sacred books If that has not disposed to the
service of fellow beings.He commends sincere devotion which could be imbibed
from the company of holy saints. Lust,wrath, avarice, slander have to
be expunged for they render all seva, ie. service, fruitless
Shabad from Parmanand in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib
So what have you accomplished by listening to the Puraanas?
Faithful devotion has not welled up within you,
and you have not been inspired to give to the hungry. || 1 || Pause
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You have not forgotten sexual desire,
and you have not forgotten anger; greed has not left you either.
Your mouth has not stopped slandering and gossiping about others.
Your service is useless and fruitless. || 1 ||
By breaking into the houses of others and robbing them,
you fill your belly, you sinner.
But when you go to the world beyond, your guilt will be well known,
by the acts of ignorance which you committed. || 2 ||
Cruelty has not left your mind;
you have not cherished kindness for other living beings.
Parmaanand has joined the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy.
Why have you not followed the sacred teachings? || 3 || 1 || 6 ||
O mind, do not even associate with those who have turned their backs
on the Lord.
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