Mvjceng at 19:05, 7 May 2026

2026-05-07T19:05:30Z

New page

{{Short description|16th-century Ramanandi Hindu religious leader}}
{{Infobox Hindu leader
| name = Krishnadas Payahari
| image = File:Galta ji temple surrounded by hills on all sides..jpg
| caption =
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| death_place =
| guru = Bhakt Anantananda
| literary_works = ''Brahmgita'', ''Premtattva Nirupan'', ''Jugalman Charit''
| sect = [[Ramanandi Sampradaya|Ramanandi]] [[Sri Vaishnavism]] (deity Rama), [[Hinduism]]
| honors = ''Payahari Baba''
| known_for =
| disciples = ''Shri Bhagwanji'' of [[Thakurdwara Bhagwan Narainji|Pindori dham]],
''[[Kilhadev|Shri Kilhadeva]]'' of [[Galtaji|Galtaji dham]],
''Shri Agradasji'' of Raiwasa dham,
''Raja Prithvi Singh'' of [[Kingdom of Amber|Amber]] and his wife ''Rani Apurva Devi'', ''[[Bawa Lal Dayal]]'' of [[Dhianpur|Dhianpur Dham]], ''[[Baba Ram Thaman Shrine|Baba Ram Thaman]]'' of [[Kasur]]
}}
{{Hindu philosophy}}
'''Krishnadas Payahari''' ({{langx|sa|कृष्णदास पयहारी|Kṛṣṇadās Payahārī|lit= }}), also known as '''Payahari Baba''' was a Ramanandi Hindu saint and disciple of Anantananda, one of the twelve disciple of [[Ramananda]] (the founder of [[Ramanandi Sampradaya]]).<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Bakshi |first=Shiri Ram |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=22puAAAAMAAJ&q=Krishnadas+Payohari |title=Jaipur State Rulers and Their Diplomacy |date=2000 |publisher=Deep & Deep Publications |isbn=978-81-7629-223-8 |language=en |quote=Payohari Krishnadas was the disciple of Anantananda who was a disciple of Ramananda, the founder of the Rama Bhakti school in northern India . In the Galta Gaddi Payohariji was succeeded by his disciple Kilhadevaji who in turn was...}}</ref> Krishnadas Payohari was the founder and first [[Mahant]] of Gaddi of [[Galtaji|Galtaji dham]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Dalmia |first1=Vasudha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nnvXAAAAMAAJ&q=Krishnadas+Payohari |title=Charisma and Canon: Essays on the Religious History of the Indian Subcontinent |last2=Malinar |first2=Angelika |last3=Christof |first3=Martin |date=2001 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-565453-0 |pages=197 |language=en |quote=The Rāmānandīs of Galta were the custodians of the famous monastery situated on the hill of Galta (near Jaipur) which had been founded by Krishnadas Payohari in the sixteenth century, the guru of Prithvi Singh of Amber.}}</ref> Jaipur (one of the 36 ''Dwara''/Gates of [[Vaishnavism|Vaishanavism]] held by Ramanandis). He came to Galta early in the 16th century.<ref name="Rajsthanthroughtheages4">{{cite book|last1=Gupta|first1=R. K.|last2=Bakshi|first2=S. R.|title=Rajsthan through the ages - Vol 4. Jaipur rulers and administrators|year=2008|publisher=Sarup & sons|isbn=978-81-7625-841-8|pages=118|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DLQeSBLpUwsC}}</ref> He was the guru of [[Prithvi Singh I|Prithvi Singh]], ruler of [[Jaipur State|Amber]] (Jaipur) and his wife Apurva Devi (Bala Bai).<ref name=":0" /> He was also guru of Raja Jagat Singh of [[Kullu]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Official website for Kullu Dussehra|url=http://kulludussehra.hp.gov.in/history-of-kullu-dussehra/|access-date=2021-06-15|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Life ==
Krishnadas Payahari was born in a ''Dahima Brahmin''<ref>{{Cite thesis |title=Garland of devotees: Nābhādās' Bhaktamāl and modern Hinduism |url=https://doi.org/10.7916/D8VH5TN9 |publisher=Columbia University |date=2011 |doi=10.7916/d8vh5tn9 |language=en |first=James P. |last=Hare}}</ref> ([[Dadheech Brahmins|Dadhich Brahmin]]) family of Rajasthan. He was a followed [[Brahmacharya|bramcharya]] right from his childhood. It is believed that he used to consume only milk for his sustenance since his birth, hence he was also known as ''Payahari/Payohari'', literally meaning one who thrives on milk.<ref>{{Cite web |title=पयहारी कृष्‍णदास |url=http://hi.krishnakosh.org/%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80_%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E2%80%8D%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8 |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=hi.krishnakosh.org |language=hi |quote=पयहारी कृष्‍णदास जी गालव-ऋषि आश्रम के प्रसिद्ध संत थे। आपने आजन्‍म पय (दूध) का ही आहार किया, जिससे आप पयहारीबाबा के नाम से विख्‍यात हैं। आपकी जाति दाहिमा (दाधीच) ब्राह्मण थी। आप बालब्रह्मचारी थे। उदासीनता (वैराग्‍य) की तो पयहारी कृष्‍णदा मर्यादा ही थे। |archive-date=2019-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209022141/http://hi.krishnakosh.org/%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80_%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E2%80%8D%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''[[Bhaktamal]]'' (lit. rosary/garland of devotees) written by [[Nabha Dass]] mentions an incident about life of Krishnadas Payahari where he showed his disciple, Prithviraj Kachhawaha, darshan of [[Krishna|Dwarikanath Krishna]] while remaining in Amber.{{Blockquote|<poem>आमेर अछत कूरम कौ द्वारिकानाथ दरसन दियौ। श्रीकृष्णदास उपदेस, परम तत्त्व परचौ पायौ॥

The Lord of Dvārikā gave darśana to Pṛthvīrāja Kachavāhā while he remained in Amer. Kṛṣṇadāsa Payahāri gave him upadeśa and caused him to know the highest essence."
</poem>|Bhaktamala<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nābhādāsa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qk4hAAAAMAAJ&q=%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B0+%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%9B%E0%A4%A4+%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE+%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8C+%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A5+%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%A8+%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8C%E0%A5%A4+%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8+%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B8,+%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE+%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5+%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%9A%E0%A5%8C+%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8C%E0%A5%A5 |title=Śrībhaktamāla |date=1962 |publisher=Tejakumāra-Presa Bukaḍipo |language=hi |quote=आमेर अछत कूरम कौ द्वारिकानाथ दरसन दियौ। श्रीकृष्णदास उपदेस, परम तत्त्व परचौ पायौ॥}}</ref>}}

== Lineage ==
Krishnadas Payahari belonged to Ramanandi sampradaya and was a disciple of ''Anantananda'' who was one of the twelve disciples of Ramananda''.''<ref name=":1" /> Krishnadas Payahari had twenty three main disciples out of whom the three prominent were Agradas, Kilhadev and Bhagwan of [[Thakurdwara Bhagwan Narainji|Pandori dham]] in Gurdaspur. Agradas became guru of the Vaishnav saint Nabha dass who was the author of ''Bhaktamal''.

In ''Bhaktamal'', while explaining the lineage of [[Tulsidas]], the author of [[Ramcharitmanas|''Ramacharitmanas'']], Nabha das makes a mention of Krishnadas Payahari and indirectly his lineage too.

{{Blockquote|<poem>अनंतानंद पद परसि के लोकपालसे ते भये । गयेश करमचंद अल्ह पयहारी ॥
सारीरामदास श्रीरंग अवधि गुण महिमा भारी । तिनके नरहरि उदित ॥

“By touching the feet of Anantānand, his disciples Gayēśa, Karamachand, Alhadās, Krishnadas Payahārī, Sārīrāmadās, śrīrangāchārya became equal to Loka-paals in virtues and glory! Thereafter Narharidās appeared as the disciple of śrīrangāchārya.”
</poem>|[Bhakta-maal, Chhappay 37 by Nabha das ji]
<ref>{{Cite web |title=Goswāmi Tulasīdās |url=https://lordrama.co.in/goswami-tulsidas.html |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=lordrama.co.in |language=en}}</ref>}}

It is said that the Ramanandi saint of Punjab ''Shri Bhagwanji'' became disciple Krishnadas Payahari ji, who initiated him into Ramanandi tradition.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Burchett |first=Patton E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ASd2DwAAQBAJ&dq=Pindori&pg=PT162 |title=A Genealogy of Devotion: Bhakti, Tantra, Yoga, and Sufism in North India |date=2019-05-28 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-54883-0 |language=en |quote=According to the tradition of Pindori Dhām, a major Rāmānandī center in the Gurdaspur district of Panjab, the young Bhagvān-jī met Kṛṣṇadās Payahārī at Galta while on a pilgrimage. Payahārī is said to have converted him to Vaiṣṇavism}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
Krishnadas is remembered as the first Ramanandi who established the Ramanandi centre at Galtaji in Rajasthan and hence strengthened ''Ram Bhakti'' (devotion of the god [[Rama]]) in [[Northern India]]. The memory of Krishnadas Payahari's influence as a Vaishnav saint is one that extends even beyond Galta in Rajasthan and the [[Kullu Valley]] in Himachal.

=== Founder of Galtaji Peeth ===
Built within a mountain pass in the [[Aravalli Hills]] 10 km east of [[Jaipur]], located is the shrine of Galtaji peeth which is one of the 52 ''dwaras'' (gates) of Vaishnavism. Since the early 15th century Galtaji had been a retreat for Hindu [[Asceticism|ascetics]] belonging to the [[Vaishnava]] Ramanandi Samaprdaya. Payahari Krishnadas came to Galta in the early 15th century and became head of Galta gaddi replacing earlier [[yogi]]s in the place. The fame and popularity of Galtaji increased and it has become a major pilgrimage for Ramanandi Hindus.

=== Establishment of Sita-Rama and Narasimha icons ===
Krishnadas Payahari was instrumental in establishing two deities: Sita-Rama (Rama with his consort Sita) and [[Narasimha]]''.'' Sita-Rama was one of the four deities which protected, secured and legitimized [[Kachhwaha|Kachawaha]] rulers. The icon of Sita-Rama is to this day housed at ''Sita-Ram-dwara'' located in the precincts of [[City Palace, Jaipur|City Palace of Jaipur]].

The image of Narasimha, which was presented to Raja Prithvi Singh of Amber, is housed at old fort of Amber.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Taknet |first1=D. K. |author-link=D. K. Taknet |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5tCeDAAAQBAJ&dq=Krishnadas+Payohari&pg=PA35 |title=Jaipur: Gem of India |last2=IntegralDMS |date=2016-07-07 |publisher=IntegralDMS |isbn=978-1-942322-05-4 |language=en |quote=Images of Narasimha were presented to him by the abbot of Galtaji, Sant Krishna Das Payohari, and can be seen today enshrined at the Narasimha temple located in the old fort of Amber.}}</ref>

=== Initiation of Bhagwan of Pandori dham, Gurdaspur, Punjab ===
As per Ramanandi tradition, Krishnadas Payahari selected a local [[Dogras|Dogra]] Khajuria Brahmin known as Bhagwan, to spread Vaishnavism in [[Punjab]] plains and Hindu hill states of [[Jammu division|Jammu]] and [[Himachal Pradesh|Himachal]]. Bhagwan was born at [[Kahnuwan]] in [[Gurdaspur district|Gurdaspur]] and established the Ramanandi centre at Pandori Mahantan village, also located in Gurdaspur. During his childhood, Bhagwan went to Galtaji for pilgrimage, where he met Krishnadas Payahari. Krishnadas initiated him into Ramanandi Vaishnavism and made him a disciple.<ref name=":2" /><ref>Fenech, L. E. (2020). The Image of Guru Nanak in Dadu-Panthi Sources. Religions, 11(10), 518. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel11100518. Retrieved on 7 May 2026 from: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/11/10/518</ref>

=== Institutionalizing Kullu Dussehra ===
The [[Kullu Dussehra]] tradition has links with Ramanandi traditions of Krishnadas Payahari and his disciple of Bhagwan of Gurdaspur. Krishnadas managed to persuade Raja Jagat Singh of Kullu<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kanika Agarwal |date=2013-08-23 |title=Kullu Dussehra: Divine assembly |url=https://www.ixigo.com/kullu-dussehra-divine-assembly-story-1105631 |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=ixigo Travel Stories |language=en-US |quote=The story goes that a Vaishnav saint, Krishnadas, advised Raja Jagat Singh (1637-62) of Kullu to somehow obtain the idols of Lord Ram and Sita, which were enshrined in Ayodhya’s Tretanath Temple, if he wished to be cured of leprosy.}}</ref> to bring Raghunath murti (from ''Tretanath temple'' [[Ayodhya]]), in whose honour Kullu Dusshera is celebrated. He also established a centre at [[Naggar]] in Kullu.<ref>{{Cite book |last=BANERJEE |first=P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hvCSDwAAQBAJ&q=Pindori+kullu&pg=PR130 |title=THE LIFE OF KRISHNA IN INDIAN ART |publisher=Publications Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting |isbn=978-81-230-3008-1 |language=en |quote=He is said to have also gone to Kullu and established a center at Nagar}}</ref>

== Disciples ==
Krishnadas Payahari's disciples included famous personalities in Ramanandi Hindu history. Many of his disciples were from Jammu, Himachal & Punjab region.

# [[Kilhadev]]a was his prominent disciple who later on became second head of Galtaji peeth.
# Agradeva who is associated with Raiwasa dham and who was guru of Nabha Dass was also Payahari's foremost disciple.
# Bhagwanji, a Dogra Khajuria Brahmin, was the founder of [[Thakurdwara Bhagwan Narainji|Thakurdwara at Pandori dham]] in Gurdaspur, Punjab.
# [[Bawa Lal Dayal]], a Hindu Ramanandi Khatri saint from Punjab and founder of [[Dhianpur]] Dham and several daughter branches in India.
# [[Baba Ram Thaman Shrine|Ram Thaman]], a Hindu Ramanandi Khatri from Punjab who was founder of Ramanandi seat in West Punjab.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-06 |title=संत परंपरा: वैष्णव भक्ति केंद्र गलताजी मठ |url=https://www.jansatta.com/national/galtaji-peetha-located-hills-of-aravali-one-of-the-gates-of-saint-swami-ramanandji-established-tradition-of-vaishnava-devotion-in-north-india/1458889/ |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=Jansatta |language=hi |quote=गुरु नानक जी के मौसेरे भाई और रामानंदी संत बाबा राम थमन जी भी कृष्णदास पायोहारी की परंपरा से ही थे। बाबा राम थमन जी ने वर्तमान पाकिस्तान में कसूर से 20 किलोमीटर दूरी पर कालूखेड़ा नामक स्थान पर एक मठ की स्थापना की थी। स्वतंत्रता से पूर्व देश में बैसाखी पर सबसे बड़ा मेला इसी मठ पर भरता था।}}</ref>
# Raja Prithviraj of [[Amber Fort|Amber]] who was father of Bharmal.
# Rani Apoorva Devi, wife of Raja Prthiviraj of Amber.

== Literary works ==
There are three texts which have been attributed to Krishnadas Payahari and these include: ''Brahmgita'', ''Premtatva Nirupan'', ''Jugalman Charit''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Dr Bhagwati Prasad |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.401266 |title=Rambhakti Me Rasik Sampraday |date=1957}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Hinduism|India|Religion|Philosophy}}
* [[Ramananda]]charya
* [[Ramanandi Sampradaya]]
* [[Kilhadev]]a
* [[Galtaji|Galta ji dham]]
* [[Thakurdwara Bhagwan Narainji]]
* [[Nabha Dass|Goswami Nabha Das]]
* [[Bhaktamal]]a

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:16th-century Indian people]]
[[Category:16th-century Hindu religious leaders]]
[[Category:16th-century Hindu philosophers and theologians]]
[[Category:Indian Hindu spiritual teachers]]
[[Category:Indian Vaishnavites]]
[[Category:Vaishnava saints]]
[[Category:Bhakti movement]]

Krishnadas Payahari - Revision history

Mvjceng at 19:05, 7 May 2026