ScarlettFlannaga at 16:26, 24 January 2026

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{{Short description|Hindu saint-poet}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2022}}

{{Infobox Hindu leader
| honorific-prefix = ''Bhakta-Kavi-Śrī''
| name = ''Mahātmā Īsardāsa''
| honorific-suffix =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image = Mahatma Isardas Temple at Bhadres.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Temple of Mahatma Isardasji (left) along with [[Radha Krishna|Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa]] at his birth-place at Bhadresh; a village in [[Rajasthan]].
| birth_date = c. 1539 AD
| birth_place = Bhadresh, [[Rajasthan]], [[India]]
| death_date = c. 1618 AD
| death_place = [[Luni River]], [[Rajasthan]], [[India]]
| title =
| other_names = 
| birth_name =
| resting_place =
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
| nationality = Indian
| spouse = {{hlist|Devalbai|Rajbai}}
| children = {{unbulleted list|Jagoji Barhath|Chundoji Barhath|Gopaldasji Barhath|Jesaji Barhath|Kahanadasji Barhath}}
| mother = Amar Bai
| father = Suraji Barhath
| denomination = [[Vaishnavism]]
| school =
| lineage =
| sect =
| subsect =
| known_for = Poems, [[Krishna]]-[[Bhakti movements]]
| notable_works = {{unbulleted list|''Hariras''|''Deviyan''|''Hala-Jhala Ra Kundaliya''}}
| signature =
| institute =
| founder =
| philosophy = [[Bhagavata Purana|Bhagavata-Dharma]]
| guru = Śrī Pītāmbar Bhaṭṭa
| location =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| disciples =
| influenced =
| initiation_date =
| initiation_place =
| initiator =
| ordination = 
| website =
| honors = {{unbulleted list|''Mahātmā''|''Bhakta-Kavi-Śrī''}}
| teacher =
}}
{{Vaishnavism}}
{{Hindu philosophy}}

'''Mahatma Isardas''' ([[Sanskrit]]: भक्त-कवी-श्री महात्मा ईसरदास {{IAST3|Bhakta-Kavi-Śrī Mahātmā Īsardāsa}})
was a 16th-century Indian Hindu saint-poet, who is revered as a devotee of [[Krishna|Lord Krishna]] in [[Gujarat]] and [[Rajasthan]] states of India. He is associated with having done miraculous works, and due to his high devotion to [[Krishna]], he was called ''Īsara-so-parameśvara'' (''Īsardāsa'' is a manifestation of the Almighty himself).

Popular creations like ''[[Deviyan]]'' and ''Hariras'' (bhakti kavya) and ''Hala-Jhala ra Kundaliya'' (veer-ras kavya) are credited to Isardas. Also known as 'Sant Mahatma Isardas' by his devotees. The language of Isardas' compositions is [[Dingal]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Datta|first=Amaresh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ObFCT5_taSgC|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo|date=1987|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-260-1803-1|language=en}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Isardas Barhath was born in a [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnava]] [[Charan]] family in the 16th century c. AD 1539 (VS 1595) in Bhadresh village of [[Barmer district|Barmer]] district in [[Rajasthan]], [[India]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Trikha|first=Pradeep|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yXylLu3qQbsC&dq=%22Barhath+Isardas%22&pg=PA177|title=Textuality and Inter-textuality in the Mahabharata: Myth, Meaning and Metamorphosis|date=2006|publisher=Sarup & Sons|isbn=978-81-7625-691-9|language=en}}</ref> His father Suraji Barhath was a devotee of [[Krishna]]. His mother was Amar Bai. His parents died when he was a child, and thereafter he was brought up and educated by his paternal uncle Ashanand Barhath, a learned vedic-scholar himself.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dipikakar|first=Badriprasad Sankariya|url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.550689|title=Hariras|date=1960}}</ref>
<blockquote>''Panarāsau pichchāṇave, janamyā Isaradas | [[Charan|cāraṇa]] varaṇ chakār mean, uṇ din huanvo ujās ||''<ref>{{Cite book|last=Moti Lal Menariya|url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.404392|title=Rajsthani Bhasa Aur Sahitya|date=1936}}</ref></blockquote>
While living in Bhadresh, Isardas had two sons—Jagoji and Chundoji from his wife Deval Bai (first marriage). He got depressed after the death of Deval Bai. To distract his mind, in 1559, Ashanand took him on a pilgrimage to [[Dwarka]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Maheshvarii Hiiraalaal|url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.473900|title=Baarahath Iisaradaas|date=1985}}</ref>

== Isardas and Jam Rawal ==
In 1560, while returning, both of them were invited to attend the court of [[Jam Rawal]] in [[Jamnagar]]. There Isardas introduced himself and displayed his poetic talent by reciting some [[Dingal]] verses he composed. Jam Rawal was very impressed with his talent and offered Isardas the position of ''Raj Kavi'' (poet-laureate). His uncle Ashanand returned to [[Marwar]] after some time.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rāṭhauṛa|first=Vikramasiṃha|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DA0MAAAAIAAJ&q=%E0%A4%88%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8|title=Māravāṛa kā sāṃskr̥tika itihāsa|date=1996|publisher=Rājasthānī Granthāgāra|language=hi}}</ref>

In [[Jamnagar]], Isardas studied the classics, especially the [[Bhagavad Gita|Bhagavata]] under Pitambar Bhatta, who was an erudite scholar of the Jam Rawal's court. Gradually the devotional aspects of his life developed to a sufficiently advanced stage. In his maturity, his fame soon spread all over [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]] and [[Gujarat]] which brought him plenty of wealth and land grants.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|last=Dādhīca|first=Rāmaprasāda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AmcyAAAAIAAJ&q=%E0%A4%88%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8|title=Rajasthani : bhasha-sahitya-samskrti|date=1986|language=hi}}</ref>

Isardas and [[Jam Rawal]] had a very close relationship. After learning about the demise of Isardas's first wife, king Jam Rawal arranged for the second marriage of Isar Das in a respected [[Charan]] family of Gujarat. He was about 22 years old at the time of his second marriage. He had three sons–Gopaldasji, Jesaji, and Kahanadasji and one daughter from his second wife, Rajbai. Rajbai was the daughter of a [[Charan]] of the Avsura branch, Panthabhai [[Gadhavi]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|last=B. L. Mali Ashanta|url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.551069|title=Rajasthani Sahitya Ka Itihas [ Madhyakal ]|date=1954}}</ref>

Jagat Temple was built by Jam Rawal in [[Dwarka]] on the insistence of Isardas, a devotee of [[Krishna]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite book|last=Trikha|first=Madhav Hada Translated by Pradeep|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QgsNEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22isardas%22&pg=PA54|title=Meera Vs Meera|date=2020-12-07|publisher=Vani Book Company|isbn=978-93-89915-90-7|language=en}}</ref>

Jam Rawal presented Isardas with 'Kod Pasav' and also awarded the villages of Sanchana, Rangpar, Virvadarka, Goondho, etc. as [[jagir]] (fief).<ref name=":4" />

== Miracles ascribed to Isardas ==
There are many legends/miracles popular among the devotees about Isardas, and also narrated in [[:hi:वंश भास्कर|Vansh Bhaskar]]. Some of them are:

=== Tax on Charans ===
The Sultan of [[Ahmedabad]] (Gujarat) imposed a tax of one lakh rupees on the [[Charan]]s, who were horse-traders by profession, thinking they were wealthy. Isardas guaranteed their bail but could not pay on time. The [[Sultan]] imprisoned Isardas and threatened to kill him after the new moon. It is said that Isardas stopped the rising of the moon. Sultan believed it to be a divine sign and Isardas was given a further period of one month. When the news of the imprisonment of Isardas reached the king of [[Kingdom of Jhalavad|Halvad]], [[Raisinhji I of Halvad|Rana Rai Singh]], he delivered the payment to the Sultan of Ahemdabad.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Charans.org|title=भक्त कवि ईसरदास|url=https://www.charans.org/isardas/|access-date=2021-07-03|website=Charans.org (चारण समागम)|date=24 August 2015 |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Isardas and Ahirs of Gujarat ===
Similarly, this Sultan also taxed the [[Ahir]]s of [[Kathiawar]] and threatened to convert them to Islam and make them Muslims in the event of non-payment. Isardas upon hearing the plight of Ahirs, again promised to pay the bail of one lakh rupees. Isardas requested [[Raisinhji I of Halvad|Rana Rai Singh]] of [[Kingdom of Jhalavad|Halvad]] again and he did this by selling gold from his treasury. This way Rai Singh repaid and rescued them. Isradas's compositions in [[Raisinhji I of Halvad|Rai Singh]]'s praise:<ref name=":7" />
<blockquote>''Kārāgrah sū kāḍhiyau, bīdag bījī bār । Aiyo rāyāansigh rā, ghar handā upagār ।।''</blockquote>
Another verse is as follows:
<blockquote>''Kar fālūan gochh ghaḍae snap kāḍhū, dhaṣhat tele hāth gharū। Rāyāansīh sarīso rājā, koī hove to dhīj karūan ॥॥''</blockquote>
Which translates:

'Taking the burning shell in the hand, Holding the snake in my hands, By putting my hand in burning hot oil, I can say to the world that there is no other king like [[Raisinhji I of Halvad|Rai Singh]] on this Earth'<ref name=":8">{{Cite book|last=Barhath|first=Ishardas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TRTSYY4Ki9oC&q=%22ishardas%22+%22charan%22|title=Ishardas Granthawali|date=2003-01-01|publisher=Sahitya Akademi Publications|isbn=978-81-260-1821-5|language=en}}</ref>

=== Saving Karan Singh ===
Once, Karan, who was the son of [[Thakur (title)|Thakur]] Bija Saravaya of [[Amreli]] in the state of [[Junagadh State|Junagarh]], died of a snake bite. He was bitten on the day of his wedding to which Isardas was invited to attend. When he arrived and found out about the incident he was very saddened. Isardas started praying to the Lord and resurrected him.<ref name=":7" /> <blockquote>''Ghānantar mayanka haṇū sukra dhāvo, nar pālak rudra riṣh nivaḍa।''

''Ek bāragī karaṇ uṭhāḍo, branapaṭ taṇo prāgavaḍa ॥''

''Jo tū āi nahī jīvāḍai, saravahiyon dīnā cho sāma।''

''Tūjh taṇo oṣhad dhānantara, ke din fir āvasī kām ॥''

''Karaṇ jīvasī guṇ māne kavi, kei jagat chā sarasī kāj ।''

''Amī kevaṇ din arath āvasī, avis nahī jo sasiyar āj ॥''

''Ānṇe oṣhad karaṇ uṭhāḍo, jag sah māne sānch jim ।''

''Haṇumat lakhaṇ taṇī parasidh huva, kavaṇ mānasī hutī kim ॥''<ref name=":8" /></blockquote>

=== Isardas and Sanga Gaur ===
Once on his way to [[Dwarka]] (according to Kaviraja Muraridan, while going to [[Amreli]]), Isardas made a stop in a small village on the banks of the river Venu. He stayed at the home of a poor [[Rajput]] named Sanga Gaur for a night. Sanga was glad at the visit of a Charan Despite being poor, Sanga Gaur took great care of Isardas. And when Isardas started going the next day, Sanga prayed that he should accept a blanket as a gift. Isardas was moved and replied that he will come back in a few days and take the blanket. Meanwhile, Sanga came to the Venu river one day after grazing his animals. He was crossing the river when it flooded and it swept along Sanga with the animals and led to his drowning. While drowning, he called to the nearby standing people to tell his mother to offer a banket to Isardas when he returns. In a few days, Isardas arrived at Sanga's house where Sanga's mother prepared a meal for him. But Isardas asked, where is Sanga, I won't eat food without him. Hearing this, Sanga's mother, filled with grief, started crying. Finally, she narrated the tragedy that happened with her son at the river. Hearing this, Isardas stood up demanding to be taken at the spot where Sanga drowned. Isardas reached the crossing point at Venu river and started calling out loudly to Sanga. People gathered there heard Sanga replying that he was coming and in a while, Sanga came out alive from the water with his animals. They went home and ate together.<ref name=":7" />

There are few [[Dingal]] couplets relating this incident:
<blockquote>''Nadī bahuantī jāya, sād j sāangariya diyau।Kahajyāan morī māya, kavi ne dīje kāmalī ।।''<ref name=":8" /></blockquote>
Translates as: While going out into the river, Sanga said to his mother that she give a blanket to the poet.

== Hariras ==
[[Hariras]] is an influential [[Hindus|Hindu]] [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavite]] religious text in which absolute divinity has been described and praised in adulatory verses. Many people also read it regularly in [[Rajasthan]] and [[Gujarat]]. Numerous Gujarati as well as [[Hindi]] editions of Hariras have been published.<ref name=":0" />

Hariras is also read out to the dead, similar to the way shlokas from Shrimad [[Bhagavad Gita|Bhagvadgita]] are recited at someone's passing.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Śukla|first=Dineśa Candra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FhscAAAAIAAJ&q=%22hariras%22|title=Spiritual Heritage of Rajasthan|date=1992|publisher=Books Treasure|language=en}}</ref>

== Deviyan ==
[[Deviyan]] is a religious text of [[Shaktism]] meant for daily prayer routine. It is sung in praise of divinity in female form, [[Shakti]]. Deviyan is compared to the sacred text [[Devi Mahatmya]] .

This verse of [[Keshavdas Gadan]], a contemporary saint-poet, is very popular on the subject of [[Hariras]]:
<blockquote>''Jag prājalato jāṇa, agha dāvānala ūparān । Rachiyo rohaḍ rāṇa, mamad harī ras sūravat ॥<ref name=":4" />''</blockquote>

== Death ==

After living in [[Gujarat]]-[[Kathiawar]] for 49 years till the age of 65, Isardas decided to return to his birthplace and spent the rest of his life there. Accordingly, he traveled and reached Bhadresh from Kathiawar. After spending some time in [[Bhadresh]], he built a hut on the banks of river [[Luni River|Luni]] and lived there.<ref name=":3" />

He continued to do [[Bhagavata|Bhagavat]]-bhajan throughout for the remaining time. Mahatma Isardas entered ''Jalsamadhi'' at about 80 years of age, in AD 1618 (Vikram Samvat 1675).<ref name=":5" />

== Legacy ==
Mahatma Isardas was revered by and had considerable influence on kings, royals, nobles as well as common people.<ref name=":1" />

18th-century saint-poet [[Pirdan Lalas]] himself regarded Isardas as his {{'}}''Bhava-Guru''{{'}} (spiritual preceptor) and {{'}}''Manas-Guru''{{'}}.<ref name=":0" /> Pirdan's compositions in this regard:<blockquote>''Īsāṇanda guru chit māan āanṇāan, vaidavyās nāan pachhe vaṣhāṇāan । —Guṇ Nārāiṇ Neh''<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>
<blockquote>''Chaḍhaiyā chhe chanchale, alap guru Isar āpe। Āratī alab ārādhanā Isarajī nā āratī ॥ —Guṇ Alap Ārādh''<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>
<blockquote>''Bārahaṭha ane rishi barābarī, vedavyās Īsar baḍā ॥॥॥''

''Īsar bāraṭh isau rame bainkuanṭha main rāanmati।''

''Īsar bāraṭh isau gyāanna govid jisī gati ।''

''Īsar bāraṭh isau alaṣh rāshe siri ūpari ।''

''Īsar bāraṭh isau idhakamā nimo aparanpari |''

''Tu huo dās īsar taṇoan, manachhā vāchhā doṣh dahi।''

''Kisan rā pāv bheanṭaṇ kare, guru Īsar rā gyāana grahi ॥''

''—Guṇ Gyāana Charit''<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>
<blockquote>''Arijaṇ ne akarūr vyās ripi bāraṭ īsar ।''

''Sinikādikhi samarāan, birid pe bāraṭ īsara।''

''Brahma sataguru huantā vaḍo, īsaradās anūp ।''

''—Guṇ Ajanpājāp''<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>
[[Suryamal Misran]] had mentioned Mahatma Isardas in his voluminous work [[:hi:वंश भास्कर|Vansh Bhaskar]] as a saint and poet with epithets such as {{'}}''Kalikālabhāgavat Mūurddha Maṇi Dvārahaṭh Sukavīshvara''{{'}} and {{'}}''Mahābhakteshwaradāsa''{{'}}.<ref name=":9">{{Cite book|last=Śekhāvata|first=Saubhāgyasiṃha|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E61jAAAAMAAJ&q=%22isardas%22+%22charan%22|title=Īsaradāsa nāmaka vibhinna Cāraṇa kavi|date=1980|publisher=Rājasthāna Sāhitya Samiti|language=hi}}</ref>

In his [[Bhaktamal]], poet [[Nabha Dass|Nabhadas]] had also mentioned the name of Mahatma Isardas among fourteen [[Charan]] saints.<ref name=":0" />

Many later poets were influenced by ''Hariras'' and ''Deviyan'', sacred texts of the [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavites]] and the [[Shaktism|Shaktas]] respectively, prominent among whom were Surajanji (Katha Harigun), Udoji Adinga (Vishnu Charit), Muni Man (Gyanrasa), and Veni Ram (Jinarasa), .<ref name=":9" />

[[Kaviraja Bankidas Asiya|Kaviraj Bankidas Asiya]], [[Suryamal Misran]], and several other poets were influenced by the ''veer-ras'' kavya (martial poetry) composition, Hala-Jhala ra Kundaliya.<ref name=":9" />

== Works ==
The major compositions of the poet are as follows:<ref name=":6">{{Cite book|last=Bhati|first=Dr Narayansingh|url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.401053|title=Dingal Geet Sahitya|date=1961}}</ref>

# ''Harirasa''
# ''Chota Harirasa''
# ''Guna Bhagwat Hansa''
# ''Garud-Purana''
# ''Vala-Leela''
# ''Ninda Stuti''
# ''Deviyan''
# ''Guna Aagama''
# ''Guna Vairaat''
# ''Sama Parva''
# ''Rasa Kailasa''
# ''Hala-Jhala Ra Kundaliya''
# ''Daan Leela<ref name=":6" />''

== References ==
{{reflist}}



{{DEFAULTSORT:Isardas}}
[[Category:Marwar]]
[[Category:Jamnagar]]
[[Category:1539 births]]
[[Category:1618 deaths]]
[[Category:Hindu poets]]
[[Category:Indian Hindu saints]]
[[Category:Hinduism in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Gujarati-language poets]]
[[Category:Cultural history of Gujarat]]
[[Category:People from Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Dingal poets]]

Mahatma Isardas - Revision history

ScarlettFlannaga at 16:26, 24 January 2026