Bhaktamal

Bhaktamal (Hindi: भक्तमाल, IAST: Bhaktamāla), written c. 1585, is a poem in the Braj language that gives short biographies of more than 200 bhaktas. It was written by Nabha Dass, a saint belonging to the tradition of Ramananda.^[1]^[2]^[3]^: 14

Though considered a hagiography by some, the work recounts no miraculous events, and is widely believed to be an unbiased account of bhaktas across all sectarian paths.^[2] The Bhaktamal gives the earliest reliable account of many bhaktas, and hence is considered an important source for literary and devotional history of northern India.^[2]For example, Bhaktamal mentions about peity of Ramanandi saint Shri Bhagwanji of Gurdaspur (in Punjab) and miraculous powers of his disciple Shri Narainji, who founded the Ramanandi Vaishnav temple named Thakurdwara Bhagwan Narainji in Pandori dham in Gurdaspur, Punjab.^[4]

In Bhaktamal, Goswami Nabha Das ji explains the lineage of Goswami Tulasidas ji, the author of Ramacharitmanas, and makes a mention of Shri Krishnadas Payahari ji of Galtaji and indirectly quotes his lineage too.

अनंतानंद पद परसि के लोकपालसे ते भये । गयेश करमचंद अल्ह पयहारी ॥
सारीरामदास श्रीरंग अवधि गुण महिमा भारी । तिनके नरहरि उदित ॥

“By touching the divine feet of Sri Anantānand, his disciples Sri Gayēśa, Sri Karamachand, Sri Alhadās , Sri Krishnadas Payahārī, Sri Sārīrāmadās, Sri śrīrangāchārya became equal to Loka-paals in virtues and glory! Thereafter Sri Narharidās appeared as the disciple of Sri śrīrangāchārya.”

— [Bhakta-maal, Chhappay 37 by Nabha das ji] ^[5]

Also in Bhaktamaal, Goswami Nabhadas has also mentions the four Vaiṣṇava Sampradaya in Chappay 28:^[6]

Bhaktamaal Chappay 28

रामानन्द उदार, सुधानिधि अवनि कल्पतरु । विष्णुस्वामी बोहित्थ सिन्धु संसार पार करु ॥ मध्वाचारज मेघ भक्ति सर ऊसर भरिया । निम्बादिति आदित्य, कुहर अज्ञान जु हरिया ॥ जनम करम भागवत धरम संप्रदाय थापी अघट । चौबीस प्रथम हरि बपु धरे त्यों चतुर्व्यूह कलिजुग प्रगट ॥२८॥ —Bhaktamal Chappay 28

^ Pinch, William R. (1996). "Ramanand and Ramanandis". Peasants and Monks in British India. University of California Press. pp. 48, 54–56. ISBN 9780520916302.
^ ^a ^b ^c Lochtefeld, James G. (2001). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M. New York, New York, United States of America: Rosen Publishing Group. p. 98. ISBN 9780823931798.
^ Mukherjee, Sumit (1998). A Dictionary of Indian Literature, Volume 1. Orient Blackswan. p. 42. ISBN 9788125014539.
^ Goswamy, B. N.; Grewal, J. S. (1969). The Mughal and Sikh Rulers and the Vaishnavas of Pindori: A Historical Interpretation of 52 Persian Documents. Indian Institute of Advanced Study.
^ "Goswāmi Tulasīdās". lordrama.co.in. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
^ "भक्तमाल । Bhaktmāl". lordrama.co.in. Retrieved 2023-12-10.

[pinch-1] Pinch, William R. (1996). "Ramanand and Ramanandis". Peasants and Monks in British India. University of California Press. pp. 48, 54–56. ISBN 9780520916302.

[lochtefeld-2] Lochtefeld, James G. (2001). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M. New York, New York, United States of America: Rosen Publishing Group. p. 98. ISBN 9780823931798.

[adoilvol1-3] Mukherjee, Sumit (1998). A Dictionary of Indian Literature, Volume 1. Orient Blackswan. p. 42. ISBN 9788125014539.

[4] Goswamy, B. N.; Grewal, J. S. (1969). The Mughal and Sikh Rulers and the Vaishnavas of Pindori: A Historical Interpretation of 52 Persian Documents. Indian Institute of Advanced Study.

[5] "Goswāmi Tulasīdās". lordrama.co.in. Retrieved 2023-05-20.

[6] "भक्तमाल । Bhaktmāl". lordrama.co.in. Retrieved 2023-12-10.

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