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 PIPA,
one of whose hymns is incorporated in the Guru Granth Sãhib, was
a prince who renounced his throne in search of spiritual solace. He was
born at Gagaraun, in present-day Jhalawar district of Rajasthãn,
about AD 1425. He was a devotee of the goddess Bhavãni whose idol
was enshrined in a temple within the premises of his palace. The goddess,
it is said, once told him in a dream to visit Kãshi (Vãrãnasi)
and receive initiation from Rãmãnand. Pipã went
to Kãshi, but Ramãnand refused to see him in his gaudy robes.
Pipã cast off his royal apparel and put on a mendicant’s
garment. He returned home after initiation and began to live like an ascetic.
At his invitation Ramãnand visited Gagaraun, and the raja lent
his shoulder to the palanquin carrying him in a procession. Pipa now finally
decided to give up his throne and retire to a life of seclusion and meditation.
He wept to Dwarkã (Gujarãt) where Lord Krishna, after the
Mahãbhãrata war, had spent the last years of his life. All
the twelve wives of.Pipa insisted on accompanying him, but he took along
only one, named Sitã, who was of a pious temperament. He selected
a cave for his residence from where he daily walked through a tunnel to
the temple of Krsna on the sea coast. The temple is still a popular place
of pilgrimage. and a fair is held there annually in Pipa’s memory.
After what he thought was a personal encounter with the Lord, he gave
up idol-worship. He and his companion-wife started living in a jungle.
After a period of penance, he set out roaming about the country to
serve the common people. He, along with his wife, sang hymns and prayers
of his own composition and collected money to be distributed among the
poor. He fed the mendicants and treated them as God’s chosen ones.
From an idol-worshipper (saguna bhakta) Pipã became a worshipper
of the Formless One (nirguna devotee). As he says in his hymn in the Guru
Granth Sãhib, the body itself is the Supreme Being’s temple
(káiau deval). One need not make stone images of Him and burn incense
or light candles in front of them.
Two collections of Pipa’s sayings are known to exist, namely Shñ
Pipa ji Bani and Sarab Gutaka, both in manuscript form. Pipã Math,
a monastery in Dwãrkã, honours his memory.
Shabad by Bhagat Pipa
Within the body, the Divine Lord is embodied.
The body is the temple, the place of pilgrimage, and the pilgrim.
Within the body are incense, lamps and offerings.
Within the body are the flower offerings. || 1 ||
I searched throughout many realms,
but I found the nine treasures within the body.
Nothing comes, and nothing goes;
I pray to the Lord for Mercy. || 1 || Pause ||
The One who pervades the Universe also dwells in the body;
whoever seeks Him, finds Him there.
Pipa prays, the Lord is the supreme essence;
He reveals Himself through the True Guru.
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