Baba Biram Das



Baba Biram Das was born at Lakhnaur Sahib and is considered to be one of the greatest Udasi sants. His birth date is mentioned as 1636. However, the exact date of birth is not confirmed. His actual name was Ratan Das. He was son of Mata Gujri's paternal uncle (ਚਾਚਾ ਜੀ) Baba Biram Das had a very strong bond with Mata Gujri since they had spent their childhood together with each other. He was also the maternal uncle (ਮਾਮਾ ਜੀ) of Guru Gobind Singh. From childhood, Baba Biram Das was immensely engrossed in his devotion towards God.

Meeting Guru Ji at Anandpur Sahib
Baba Biram Das went to Anandpur Sahib to meet Mata Gujri and Guru Gobind Singh. Baba Biram Das only used to wear a 'Langot' and he came to meet Guru Gobind Singh in the Langot. (He used to wear only Langot but later, Baba Ji would stay with nothing on them and engrossed themselves completely in the devotion of God.) When they reached Guru Gobind Singh, Guru Ji looked and carefully towards Baba Ji and asked ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕੋਣ ਹੋ ਤੇ ਕਿਥੋਂ ਆਏ ਹੋ? (Who are you and from where have you came?), Guru Ji asked very humbly. Then Baba Ji said " ਦਸ਼ਮੇਸ਼ ਜੀ ਅਸੀਂ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਮਾਮਾ ਜੀ ਹਾਂ ਤੇ ਲਖਨੌਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਤੋਂ ਆਏ ਹਾਂ" (I am your maternal uncle and i have came from Lakhnaur Sahib). Upon hearing this, Guru Ji bowed (Matha Tekna) to Baba Biram Das and then Guru Ji took them inside their palace and Baba Ji stayed with Guru Gobind Singh and Mata Gujri for a few days and then Baba Ji went back to Lakhnaur Sahib. When Baba Biram Das left Anandpur Sahib, Mata Gujri asked Guru Gobind Singh "ਲਾਲ ਜੀ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਮਾਮਾ ਜੀ ਦੀ ਹੁਣ ਦੀ ਤੇ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਜਨਮਾਂ ਦੀ ਕਮਾਈ ( ਭਜਨ ਬੰਦਗੀ) ਬਹੁਤ ਹੈ, ਤੇ ਓਹ ਇਸ ਆਸ ਤੇ ਆਏ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਓਹਨਾ ਤੇ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰੋਂਗੇ, ਤੁਸੀਂ ਓਹਨਾ ਦੇ ਚਰਨਾ ਚ ਸੀਸ ਰਖ ਕੇ ਮਥਾ ਵੀ ਟੇਕ ਦਿਤਾ ਪਰ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਦ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਟੀ ਫੇਰ ਵੀ ਨਹੀ ਕੀਤੀ, ਇਹ ਕਿਓ (Your maternal uncle has done lot of bhakti both in his current birth and even previous births and he came here with the hope that you would shower your grace on him, you even bowed your head in front of him but didn't shower your grace on him, why so?) Guru Ji replied " ਮਾਤਾ ਜੀ ਮਥਾ ਅਸੀਂ ਆਪਣੇ ਮਾਮਾ ਜੀ ਨੂੰ ਟੇਕਿਆ ਸੀ ਤੇ ਭਾਵੇਂ ਓਹਨਾ ਦੀ ਭਜਨ ਬੰਦਗੀ ਬਹੁਤ ਹੈ ਪਰ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਲੈਣ ਵਾਸਤੇ ਮਾਮਾ ਬਣ ਕੇ ਨਹੀ ਦਾਸ ਬਣ ਕੇ ਆਉਂਦੇ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਹੈ ".(I bowed my head to my maternal uncle and even though he has lot of devotion for God but if one wants to seek blessings, he has to come as a servant not as maternal uncle.)

Samadhi
When Baba Biram Das came to know about why he was not given blessings (ਕਿਰਪਾ ਦ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਟੀ) by Guru Ji, He did intense Tapa and entered into Samadhi. Ratan Das got engrossed so much into Samadhi that snakes made their 'Beermi' (House) around Ratan Das Ji. Baba Ji got famous in the region and started to be known as 'Beermi Wale Sadhu' and from that day onwards, he started to be known as Baba Biram Das.



Becoming Brahmgyani
A lot of time passed and Baba Biram Das was still in Samadhi. One day, Guru Gobind Singh called Baba Biram Das to Hazur Sahib, Nanded by his spiritual powers. Baba Ji then went to Guru Gobind Singh. There, Guru Ji showered grace on Baba Biram Das on the bank of the river Godavari and Baba Ji became Brahmgyani and Guru Ji told Baba Ji to go back to Punjab and guide people towards God. Baba Biram Das' age at the time Guru Ji showered grace on him was 89. The last time Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Baba Biram Das met physically was 1706. Baba Biram Das received this Brahmgyan at Gurudwara Ratangarh Sahib.



Death
It is said that Baba Biram Das left his mortal body on the day of Vaisakhi about near 4:00 in the morning. This is the most popular and widely accepted view among local people and devotees and his age is said to be 321 years. Some scholars don't agree with this as even Baba Sri Chand did not have such a long legendary lifespan. Baba Biram Das was a celibate and didn't father any children throughout his life.