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?