Surdas Jayanti 2023: Miracles In The Life Of Surdas, The Blind Devotee Of Krishna

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Surdas Jayanti is celebrated to commemorate the birth of poet Surdas who was a devotional poet and musician. He was an important part of the Bhakti movement. Surdas composed thousands of Bhajans out of which only 8000 are available.

He was referred to as the ocean of devotion by Vallabhacharya, his guru. He is believed to have been blind from birth. He had a vatsalya Bhakti bhava towards Lord Krishna and dedicated his poety to him. He is also called Bhakt Kavi Surdas. His birthday is being celebrated on 25 April 2023.

Surdas' Past Birth

The ashtachhapa poets of vallabhacharya cult, were actually supposed to be gopas, that is, Krishnas companions in their last birth. Akrura, the closest companion of Krishna, was born as Surdas as per the curse of Krishna. Once Krishna for some time, showed more interest in Rukmini and had neglected Satyabhama totally. Satyabhama felt neglected and threatened to commit suicide if Krishna did not appear before her the next instant. Akrura, feeling sorry for her situation, assumed the form of Krishna and stood before her. Krishna actually headed to her antahpura and understood the scenario fully. Angry with Akrura and Satyabhama, he cursed both of them, to be born as a blind devotee and a servant maid respectively.

Surdas' Miracles

Gold Coins And Rat Menace

Surdas as a child, was an adept in interpreting omens correctly and helped people recover lost things. Once his father, who was a priest in a temple, had lost the two gold coins given to him for conducting a ritual, due to the menace of two rats inside the temple. Surdas, saw this all in his mind's eye, and took his father to the place where the rats had hidden those two coins.

Landlord's Lost Cow

He also helped a landlord in finding his cow. As a response the Landlord got a hut constructed for him. Realizing that this would slowly spread his name amongst the villagers and would not allow him to focus on his God, he left the village and came to Runakta. Life went on like this till he met Vallabhacharya at Gau Ghat. He became a devoted follower of the acharya who appointed him as musician of the Srinath Mandir in Gokul.

When Surdas Fell Into The Well

Once it so happened that Surdas fell into a well and prayed to Krishna for help. Krishna and Radha who were just passing this area, lifted him up from the well at which point, Surdas grasped Radhas anklets. When she asked him to give it back to her, hefirmly said he could not return them as he could not recognize anyone due to his visual blindness. So, Krishan blessed him with a clear vision using which Surdas was able to see Krishna and finally pleaded to make him blind again as he did not want to see the world in any way. He had the darshan of the best thing in the world, his dear Krishna.

Tested By Vallabhacharya's Son

One more time, He underwent a test when Vallabha Acharyas son asked him to describe the idol of krishna. He asked Surdas to deck Krishna idol in a garland of pearls. Surdas laughed, and said that the idol did not have any dress on it and a garland on an idol without a dress, made him sing a song about this, and people applauded.

Meeting With Akbar

Once Surdas was asked by Akbar to visit his court for a reason. When Akbar asked Tansen his court musician, if there was anyone who could surpass Tansen in singing, Tansen just uttered the word, Surdas. Akbar sent words for Surdas. Akbar did not insist on making Surdas sing his praises and hence Surdas sang Krishna's songs which left Akbar impressed.

Due to a serious health affliction at 103 years of age, he died and attained the divine feet of Krishna.

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