Maluk Das
Maluk Das (1574–1682) was an Indian devotional poet of India. He was born in Kada, near Allababad. Themes of his songs such as social reform, religious tolerance, goodwill among men, equality and the oneness of God, resemble other singers of the Bhakti movement such as Kabir and Guru Nanak . Maluk Das believes in God as a formless Being and the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, Who, at the same time, pervades through each and every shape. Maluk Das addresses Him by several names, e.g. Nirankar (That which has no shape), Avinashi (That which does not perish), Allah, Parameshwar, Jyoti Saroop (The form of Light), Parmanand (The absolute Joy), Sirjanhaar (The Creator), etc.[1]
The Emperor Aurangzeb recognised Sant Maluk Das' value and donated two villages to Malukdas and his disciples. Maluk Das made no distinction of caste or creed;
"In the house of God there is no caste or creed. Whoever worships God is with Him"
(jati pati puchhe nahi koi, Hari ko bhajay so Hari ka hoi)
A Muslim Officer (Adhi) sent by Aurangzeb to Maluk Das wa given the name Meer Mahdav, a combination of the Muslim name Meer and the Hindu word Madhav. His grave stands near Maluk Das's own.
Yogiraj Nanak, the successor of Sant Maluk Das, writes;
He imbibed the universal religion. He saw God and went beyond, that is how he could say "I do not repeat the name of god, nor do I prayer, but God is does all this in me while I am at peace.
and
The Good, The True, The Beautiful (Satyam, Sivam, Sundaram) -Great men have seen God through any one of these aspects, but Sant Maluk Das absorbed all three aspects and went beyond.
His birthplace and grave have been refurbished by Swami Yogiraj Nanak Chand.
References
nirankar means the one without ego. Nirakar means the one without a shape or form The correct spelling is Jyoti swaroop for the Light that is the absolute Self.
Sources
- Karine Schomer, W. H. McLeod (eds), The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India, Motilal Banarsidass, 1987 ISBN 8120802772.
- T. Phillips, The Missionary's Vade Mecum, Or, A Condensed Account of the Religious Literature, Sects, Schools, and Customs of the Hindus in the North West of India, J. Thomas, 1847.
- George Small, A Handbook of Sanskṛit Literature: with Appendices Descriptive of the Mythology, Castes, and Religious Sects of the Hindus, 1866.
- Rajmani Tigunait, From Death to Birth: Understanding Karma and Reincarnation, Himalayan Institute Press, 1997 ISBN 0893891479.
- The Concept of God in Maluka's Poetry