Sant Trilochan: A Spiritual Luminary of his Time

“O Dear Lord, You, Yourself know everything; so prays Trilochan.

Trilochan was born (1267AD ) in the village Barsi, near the town of Sholapur in the Maharashtra state, though some scholars hold the view that he was born in Uttar Pradesh & that there was a Marathi influence on the language of his hymns as a consequence of his prolonged stay in Maharashtra. Trilochan was a contemporary & close friend of Bhagat Namdev (1270-1330).

His profound teachings and spiritual wisdom continue to inspire and guide people even today.

Bhagat Trilochan, a saint from medieval India, firmly believed in the supremacy and justice of the Almighty. Immersed in continuous remembrance of God, he was aptly named Trilochan, meaning ‘three-eyed,’ symbolizing his connection to the past, present, and future. Engaged in devotion and love, he composed hymns reflecting on worldly and spiritual aspects. Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru, included four of his hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred scripture of Sikhism.

https://www.deccanchronicle.com/opinion/op-ed/260319/mystic-mantra-bhagat-trilochan.html

Bhagat Trilochan’s hymns offer insights into a spiritual lifestyle and denounce unnecessary attachment and greed. He highlights the mind’s entanglement in materialism, forgetting the inevitability of aging and death. Trilochan compares human attachment to a lotus flower blooming in a family setting, cautioning against deceit. Ultimately, he reflects on the inevitable powerlessness in the face of death’s unstoppable force.

Influence on Guru Nanak

Guru Nanak was greatly influenced by Sant Trilochan’s spiritual insights and teachings. The profound wisdom imparted by Sant Trilochan resonated deeply with Guru Nanak and played a crucial role in shaping his own spiritual path. The teachings of Sant Trilochan helped Guru Nanak develop a deeper understanding of the divine and the interconnectedness of all beings.

Sant Trilochan’s teachings emphasized the importance of self-realization, love, and compassion. He emphasized the need to transcend the barriers of caste, creed, and societal divisions to attain spiritual enlightenment. His teachings aligned with Guru Nanak’s vision of a society based on equality, justice, and universal love.

Bhagat Trilochan not only condemned superstitions, useless rituals but also criticised fake sadhus. He argues that though outwardly, they wear the dress of a sanyasi but they have not cleansed the filth from within.

Legacy and Impact

Bhagat Trilochan Ji prioritized Bhakti (love and devotion) over selfish pursuits, believing that those preoccupied with wealth and possessions will never find true happiness. He dedicated himself to serving saints with utmost devotion and humanity. While his exact birthplace remains uncertain, some historians suggest Barsi near Sholapur, Maharashtra, while others point to Uttar Pradesh, though he spent most of his life in Maharashtra. The inclusion of two slokas of Kabir in a dialogue between Nam Dev and Trilochan indicates their contemporaneousness. Four shabads by Bhagat Trilochan appear in the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, where he critiques superficial rituals and false renunciation while emphasizing the purity of the heart. These insights are drawn from “Gurbani De Racheta” by Abnashi and Gurvinder Singh, highlighting Trilochan’s contemplation on the connection between one’s final thoughts and their consequences, as conveyed in his shabad in the Siri Guru Granth Sahib.

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