Surdas facts for kids

Surdas was a famous blind Hindu poet and singer from the 16th century. He was known for his beautiful songs and poems that praised the Hindu god Krishna. Most of his works were written in Braj Bhasha, a special dialect of Hindi.

People believe Surdas was inspired by the teachings of Vallabha Acharya, whom he might have met around 1510. Many stories say he was blind from birth. He became one of the most important poets among a group called the Aṣṭachāp, which means "eight seals." These poets would put their special "seal" or signature at the end of their songs.

His most famous book is Sur Sagar (Sur's Ocean). Even though it's named after him, some poems in it might have been written by other poets later on. The Sur Sagar mainly describes Krishna as a loving child, often from the viewpoint of the gopis, who were cowherd girls devoted to Krishna.

Who Was Surdas?

Historians aren't completely sure about Surdas's exact birth and death dates. Most agree he was born between 1478 and 1483, and passed away between 1579 and 1584. There's also some debate about where he was born. Some say it was a village called Ruuncata, while others believe it was Sihi, near Delhi.

A popular story says that Surdas was blind from birth and his family didn't pay much attention to him. Because of this, he left home when he was only six years old. He went to live by the Yamuna river. Later, while on a trip to Vrindavan, he met Vallabha Acharya and became his student.

His Amazing Poems

Surdas is best known for his collection of poems called the Sur Sagar. While many poems are linked to him, some might have been added by other poets later. The Sur Sagar from the 16th century describes Krishna and Radha as lovers. It also talks about how much Radha and the gopis missed Krishna when he was away.

Besides these, the book also includes Surdas's own personal songs of devotion (called bhakti). You can even find stories from famous Hindu epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata in it. Today, the Sur Sagar is most famous for its sweet descriptions of Krishna as a lovable child. These stories are often told from the perspective of the cowherding gopis from Braj.

Surdas also wrote two other important works: the Sur Saravali and Sahitya Lahari. The Sur Saravali is said to have had many thousands of verses, though many were lost over time. It compares God to a great player who creates the universe. It also describes 24 different forms of God and tells stories of famous devotees like Dhruva and Prahlada. The book also talks about the spring festival of Vasant and (Holi).

The Sahitya Lahari has 118 verses and focuses on Bhakti, which means deep devotion to God. Some of Surdas's songs are even found in the Guru Granth Sahib, which is the holy book of the Sikh religion.

His Impact on India

The Bhakti Movement

Surdas was an important part of the Bhakti movement that spread across India. This movement helped ordinary people feel closer to God through devotion and love, rather than just strict rituals. It started in South India in the 7th century and became very popular in North India between the 14th and 17th centuries.

Braj Bhasha Language

Surdas wrote his poems in Braj Bhasha, a dialect of Hindi. Before him, Braj Bhasha was seen as a simple, common language. The main languages for writing important literature were Persian or Sanskrit. Surdas's beautiful poetry helped raise the status of Braj Bhasha. His work showed that it could be a rich and important language for literature.

His Philosophy and Group

The Astachap Poets

Eight special students of Vallabha Acharya were known as the Aṣṭachāp, meaning "Eight Seals." They were called this because they would add their unique "seal" or signature to their poems. Surdas is thought to be the most important among these eight poets. However, some people wonder if his connection to this group was created by the group members themselves later on. Many of the other poets in the Astachap clearly had strong ties to the group.