Nanua Bairagi
Nanua Bairagi, also known as Nanua Bhagat and Jamala Singh, was a renowned mystic, humanitarian and Sikh warrior of Punjab.
Nanua as a humanitarian and spiritual mentor of Bhai Kanhaiya
Nanua was also the spiritual mentor of Bhai Kanhaiya, who in turn started Sewapanthi mission.Nanua as a poet-mystic
As a Darbari Kavi, or court poet, of Sikh gurus, his poetry left an imprint on the poetry style of Bulhe Shah. One of his famous hymns is given as follows:I am Naught, O Lord, Thou art All!
I have seen all cloth, each shred,
To find all textures the self-same cotton.
Rama's light of love falls over all:
Fear not then dreadful Kala.
Rama runs through every nerve,
And Sohang, Sohang cry the pores!
I am naught, O Lord, Thou art All!
Sohang is apabransha of Upnishadic Soham (Sanskrit) which means "I am He". This is also termed as mahavakya in Upnishads and represents final union or gnosis of soul with Brahman, or the over-soul.
It is thus clear that Nanua's poetry synthesized both Vedantic and Sufi monisms into distinctly Sikh devotional practice, informed by direct discipleship and service of Sikh masters. Which speaks volumes about his stature as a poet and his place among the preeminent Sikh mystics whose place in Sikhism is second only to ten Sikh Gurus.