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{{Short description|Indian writer, poet and singer}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox religious biography
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
| name = Surdas
| image = Surdas.jpg
| alt = Surdas
| caption = A commemorative postage stamp on Surdas issued by India Post on 1st October 1952
| birth_date = uncertain, somewhere between 1478 and 1483
| birth_place = Gram Sihi, [[Faridabad]], [[Haryana]]
| death_date = uncertain, somewhere between 1579 and 1584
| death_place = [[Braj]]
Parsauli(परसौली)
| known_for = Influencing the [[Bhakti movements]], [[Sant Mat]], Hymns in the [[Guru Granth Sahib]]
| literary_works = ''Sur Sagar'', ''Sur Saravali'', ''Sahitya Lahari''
| philosophy = [[Bhakti]]
| father = Ramdas Saraswat<ref name="knowledgeocean.in">{{Cite web|url=https://knowledgeocean.in/biography-of-surdas-in-hindi-jivan-parichay-%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8-%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE-%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A8-%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%AF/3290/|title = सूरदास का जीवन परिचय - Biography of Surdas in Hindi Jivan Parichay| date=16 September 2020 }}</ref>
| mother = Jamunadas<ref name="knowledgeocean.in"/>
}}
{{hinduism_small}}
{{Sikhism sidebar}}

'''Surdas''' ([[IAST]]: Sūr, [[Devanagari]]: सूर) was a 16th-century blind [[Hindu]] devotional [[poet]] and [[singing|singer]], who was known for his works written in praise of [[Krishna]], the supreme lord.<ref name=Klaustermaier>{{cite book|author=Klaus K. Klostermaier|title=A Survey of Hinduism: Third Edition| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E_6-JbUiHB4C&pg=PA215| date=2007-07-05| publisher=SUNY Press| isbn=978-0-7914-7082-4|page=215}}</ref> He was a [[Vaishnava]] devotee of Lord Krishna, and he was also a revered poet and singer. His compositions glorified and captured his devotion towards lord Krishna. Most of his poems were written in the Braj language, while some were also written in other dialects of medieval Hindi, like Awadhi.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2018-06-17 |title=Surdas Biography - Surdas Poems - Life History in English |url=https://indiathedestiny.com/icons/poets-writers/surdas-biography/ |access-date=2022-04-26 |website=India the Destiny |language=en-US}}</ref>

There are many theories about Surdas, but most popularly, he is said to have been blind from birth. During his time, lived another saint by the name of [[Vallabhacharya]]. Vallabhacharya was the founder of the Pushti Marg Sampraday, and his successor, Vithalnath, had selected eight poets who would help him to further spread the glory of lord Krishna, by composing works of music. These eight poets were known as the "Astachap", and Surdas is believed to be the foremost among them due to his outstanding devotion and poetic talent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Surdas Saint-singer and Poet |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/mind-matters/surdas-saint-singer-and-poet |access-date=2022-04-26 |website=Free Press Journal |language=en}}</ref>

The book ''Sur Sagar'' (Sur's Ocean) is traditionally attributed to Surdas. However, many of the poems in the book seem to be written by later poets in Sur's name. The Sur Sagar in its present form focuses on descriptions of Krishna as the lovely child of [[Gokul]] and [[Vraj]], written from the ''[[gopis]]''' perspective.

==Biography==

There is disagreement regarding the exact birth date of Surdas, with the general consensus among scholars holding it to be in the year 1478.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}} The birthday of Surdas is celebrated as Surdas Jayanti in the Vaishnav calendar, on the 5th day of the Hindu month of Vaishakh.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Surdas Jayanti 2022: Date, Celebration, Katha & Significance |url=https://rgyan.com/en/festival-detail/surdas-jayanti-celebrations-story-significance |access-date=2022-05-01 |website=rgyan.com}}</ref> We are uncertain of his exact date of death, but it is considered to be somewhere between 1561 and 1584. (Age 101 years).<ref name=":0" /> There is some disagreement regarding the birthplace of Surdas too, as some scholars say he was born in the village Ranukta or Renuka which lies on the road passing through Agra to Mathura, while some say he was born in a village called [[Sihi]], near Delhi.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amruta |first=Patil |date=March 15, 2022 |title=Surdas - Prominent Bhakti Saints - Art and Culture Notes |url=https://prepp.in/news/e-492-surdas-prominent-bhakti-saints-art-and-culture-notes}}</ref> ''[[Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature|The Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature]]'' suggests a much earlier birth year of 1258 into a Brahmin family of Uttar Pradesh.''<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo, Volume 1 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |year=1987 |isbn=9788126018031 |pages=79 |quote=}}</ref>''

According to one theory, Surdas was blind from birth and neglected by his poor family, forcing him to leave his home at the age of six. Later, he met [[Vallabha Acharya]] and became his disciple. Under Vallabha Acharya's guidance and training, Surdas memorized the Shrimad Bhagvata, studied the Hindu scriptures, and gave lectures on philosophical and religious subjects. He remained celibate throughout his life<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sant Surdas - Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia |url=http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Sant_Surdas |access-date=2022-05-02 |website=www.hindupedia.com|date=18 December 2016 }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Surdas (Sur Das, Soordas) |url=https://chandrakantha.com/biodata/surdas.html |access-date=2022-05-02 |website=chandrakantha.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Poetic works ==
Surdas is best known for his composition the ''Sur Sagar''. Most of the poems in the composition, although attributed to him, seem to be composed by later poets in his name.
Sursagar in its 16th century form contain descriptions of [[Krishna]] and [[Radha]] as lovers; the longing of Radha and the [[gopi]]s for Krishna when he is absent and vice versa. In addition, poems of Sur's own personal bhakti are prominent, and episodes from the [[Ramayana]] and [[Mahabharata]] also appear. The Sursagar's modern reputation focuses on descriptions of Krishna as a lovable child, usually drawn from the perspective of one of the cowherding gopis of Braj.

Surdas also composed the ''Sur Saravali'' and ''Sahitya Lahari''. In contemporary writings, it is said to contain one lakh verses, out of which many were lost due to obscurity and uncertainty of the times. It is analogical to the festival of ''(Holi)'', where the Lord is the Great Player, who, in his playful mood, creates the universe and the Primerial man out of himself, who has the three ''[[gunas]]'', namely ''[[Sattva]]'', ''[[Rajas]]'' and ''[[Tamas (philosophy)|Tamas]]''. He describes 24 incarnations of the Lord interspersed with the legends of [[Dhruva]] and [[Prahlada]]. He then narrates the story of the incarnation of Krishna. This is followed by a description of the ''[[Vasanta (Ritu)|Vasant]]'' (Spring) and Holi festivals. ''Sahitya Lahari'' consists of 118 verses and emphasises on ''[[Bhakti]]'' (devotion).

Sur's compositions are also found in the [[Guru Granth Sahib]], the holy book of the [[Sikh]]s.

==Influence==
===Bhakti Movement===
Surdas was a part of the [[Bhakti movement]] spreading across the [[Indian subcontinent]]. This movement represented spiritual empowerment of the masses. The corresponding spiritual movement of the masses first happened in [[South India]] in the seventh century and spread to [[North India]] in the 14th-17th centuries.

===Braj Bhasha ===
Surdas's poetry was written in a dialect of [[Hindi]] called [[Braj Bhasha]], until then considered to be a very plebeian language, as the prevalent literary languages were either [[Persian language|Persian]] or [[Sanskrit]]. His work raised the status of the Braj Bhasha from a crude language to that of a literary one.<ref name=":1" />

==Philosophy==
Eight disciples of [[Vallabha Acharya]] are called the ''[[Aṣṭachāp]]'', (Eight seals in Hindi), named after the oral signature ''chap'' written at the conclusion of literary works. Sur is considered to be the foremost among them.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.britannica.com/art/Astachap|title=Aṣṭachāp {{!}} Hindi poets|last=The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica|date=June 18, 2009|work=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=2018-01-18|language=en}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
Several films have been made about the poet's life. These include:<ref name="RajadhyakshaWillemen1999">{{cite book|last1=Rajadhyaksha|first1=Ashish|last2=Willemen|first2=Paul|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian cinema|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopaediaofi0000raja|url-access=registration|access-date=12 August 2012|year=1999|publisher=British Film Institute|isbn=9780851706696}}</ref> ''Surdas'' (1939) by Krishna Dev Mehra, ''[[Bhakta Surdas]]'' (1942) by [[Chaturbhuj Doshi]], ''Sant Surdas'' (1975) by [[Ravindra Dave]], ''Chintamani Surdas'' (1988) by Ram Pahwa.

The legend of the blind poet [[Vilwamangalam Swamiyar|Bilwamangala]] (identified with Surdas) and Chintamani has also been adapted several times in Indian cinema. These films include:<ref name="RajadhyakshaWillemen1999"/> ''[[Bilwamangal]]'' or ''Bhagat Soordas'' (1919) by Rustomji Dhotiwala, ''Bilwamangal'' (1932), [[Chintamani (1933 film)|''Chintamani'']] (1933) by Kallakuri Sadasiva Rao, [[Chintamani (1937 film)|''Chintamani'']] (1937) by [[Y. V. Rao]], ''Bhakta Bilwamangal'' (1948) by Shanti Kumar, ''Bilwamangal'' (1954) by [[D. N. Madhok]], ''Bhakta Bilwamangal'' (1954) by Pinaki Bhushan Mukherji, [[Chintamani (1956 film)|''Chintamani'']] (1956) by [[P. S. Ramakrishna Rao]], ''Chintamani'' (1957) by M.N. Basavarajaiah, ''[[Chilamboli]]'' (1963) by G. K. Ramu, ''Bilwamangal'' (1976) by Gobinda Roy, ''Vilvamangal Ki Pratigya'' (1996) by Sanjay Virmani.

==See also==
* [[Main Naahin Maakhan Khaayo]]
* [[Sant Mat]]
* [[Bhajan]]
* [[Sant Surdas (Sihi) metro station]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|nm11509579}}

{{Writers of Guru Granth Sahib}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hindu poets]]
[[Category:Sant Mat]]
[[Category:16th-century Hindu religious leaders]]
[[Category:Vaishnava saints]]
[[Category:Hindi-language poets]]
[[Category:Hindu revivalists]]
[[Category:Sikh Bhagats]]
[[Category:Indian centenarians]]
[[Category:Bhakti movement]]
[[Category:15th-century Indian scholars]]
[[Category:15th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Poets from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Scholars from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:1478 births]]
[[Category:1561 deaths]]
[[Category:Blind poets]]

Surdas - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article