Bhagat Ramananda was born in a Brahmin family in 1366 AD. Bhagat Ramananda left home as a youth and became an ascetic before settling in Varanasi to study Vedic texts and Ramanuja’s philosophy of Vishish-Advait, the South Indian sub-school of Vedantic Monism. Bhagat Ramanand is seen as a bridge between the Bhakti movement of south and north India. During Bhagat Ramanand’s times, caste differentiation had weakened the entire foundation of Indic society. He broke norms by inducting low-caste disciples and those from the Muslim faith. Recommending the pursuit of devotion through knowledge of the inner self, Bhagat Ramanand discouraged austerities and ritualism, deeming them meaningless.

Bhagat Ramanand’s spiritual message is inscribed in his 1 sabad (verse) in Guru Granth Sahib.

Bhagat Ramanand - Sabad 1

kat jaieeaai re ghar laago ra(n)g ||

Raag Basant Hindol, Bhagat Ramanand, Guru Granth Sahib, 1195