7 - Mahaakavi Soor
Daas
Soor Daas has been a
great Kavi (poet) of all times in India. We know very little about his life.
We don't even know his real name given to him by his parents, because Soor
Daas is just only a title not a name. He was four brothers. Since he was
born blind, he was neglected from all around so much that people forgot his
name very soon and called him Soor Daas which means a blind man. His date of
birth is also no clear, 1478 or 1479 AD; and the year of death also not
certain, 1581 or 1584 AD. This was Akbar's period.
By the time he was 14
years old, he had developed a power and he could predict many things. Once
he found the son of a wealthy man. Pleased by this he built a cottage for
him near the tree under which he lived. Since he sang very sweetly, some
people bought him a string instrument. Some started coming to him regularly.
One day he saw Krishn
in his dream and people praying Him with Bhajans, so he got convinced that
Krishn was calling him. He set off for Vrindaa Van. People tried to stop him
and staying with them but he kept moving.
Once, on the way, he fell in a dry well.
Blind and injured he did not know how to come out of the well. He stayed
there for 7 days praying for help. Krishn
Himself came and
took him out of the well, gave him sight and His Darshan and asked him to ask
for any Var. Soor Daas Jee said - "I do not want to see any other thing of this world
after seeing you, besides give me your unbroken devotion throughout my life." Krishn said - "So be it." and Soor Daas Jee became blind again.
He was a devout Bhakt of the Baal Roop (child
form) of Shree Krishn. Once people told him that Vallabhaachaarya was coming
to Vrindaa Van. He stayed wsith Soor Daas for a few days, taught him about
Shree Krishn. Thus he became the disciple of Vallabhaachaarya. After getting
education from him he never married, he subsisted on meager donations and
sang Bhajans. He became famous as a singer and a devotee.
Samraat Akbar also
heard about him. One day Taansen sang a song of Soor Daas in Akbar's court.
Akbar was charmed by that song. Taansen told him that that song and tune was
of Soor Daas. Akbar invited him to his court, but Soor Daas politely
declined his offer saying - "I sing only in my beloved Lord Krishn's court."
He has written many
Pad in praise of child Krishn. The specialty of these poems is that being
blind he has described very minute details of a child's expression, how?
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