Bhagat Dhanna Ji was from Jatt category. Bhagat Dhanna Ji also known as Dhanna Bhagat, Dhanna Jatt, Dhanna Jat, Saint Dhanna, and Dhanna Bairagi. He was a disciple of Ramanand Ji. Often, when we do not examine the interpretation systems of Gurbani, we are making a mess of meaning. Dhanna Bhagat ji’s chanted words are read in Aarti but in ‘Dhanasari’ raga it has no connection with Aarti.
We read ‘Gopal tera aarta’, and authentically it is answered that Dhanna was a Jat, so he chanted the ‘aarta’ while others chanted the ‘aarti’, but it is not like that at all. The word Aarta is of Sanskrit origin, it means beggar, humble, modest. This word has nothing to do with Aarti. Dhanna ji is saying ‘Gopal tera arata, jo jan tumri bhagat karante tinke kaj swarta’. There are two words of Bhagat Dhanna ji in Guru Granth Sahib ji, one is in ‘Asan Di Vaar’ and the other in ‘Dhanasari Raga’.
An incident from his life
Bhagat Dhanna ji was working in his fields, and some Mahatmas came. Those Mahatmas were the sought-after Mahatma. Dhanna was a devoted hard worker. There are two classes in the world, one is a worker and the other is an ascetic. All the verses recorded in ‘Guru Granth Sahib Ji‘ are written by the working class who used to work and eat. Mahatma says, Dhanna Bhagat give us something to eat. Dhanna was a devout farmer, he used to cultivate, he filled that mahatama’s potli(pocket) from his harvest. Mahatma started walking carrying potli and Dhanna asked a question, saying Mahatma you asked for food and I gave it to you, now answer one of my questions, how does it pass, how does life pass?
Mahatma was wise but not like Dhanna Bhagat. He replied after thinking a lot, saying that we spend our lives in ‘patience’ and ‘thankfulness’. (This incident also happened with Ibrahim Adam, a revered figure in Islam. His answer consider to be very significant.. He also gave someone this answer that Islam considers patience and thankfulness to be the highest virtues.) Dhanna says how can he? They say if you get something, be thankful, if you don’t get it, be patient.
Dhanne Bhagat smiled and replied that even the dogs in my street do it, what are you doing? Mahatma asked how? Bhagat ji replied that if you give them bread, they will eat it, if not, they will sit. Mahatma was overcome with shame. He had given a great answer on his part, but now he is not raising his eyes. Next, by questioning the Dhanna Bhagat again, what do you do, how is your patience and gratitude? Dhanna replied that if we get it, we distribute it and if we don’t get it, we pray.
Dhanna Bhagat said that if do not get it, will pray, if get it, will distribute it. Next thing Dhanna Bhagat ji gives a very lovely order in his verse:
ਕੁੰਮੀ ਜਲ ਮਾਹਿ ਤਨ ਤਿਸੁ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਪੰਖ ਖੀਰੁ ਤਿਨ ਨਾਹੀ ।।
ਪੂਰਨ ਪਰਮਾਨੰਦ ਮਨੋਹਰ ਸਮਝਿ ਦੇਖੁ ਮਨ ਮਾਹਿ ।।
(When the female sea turtle has laid her eggs, she comes to the shore and checks the temperature of the sand. In the right temperature, it digs the hole with its small feet and after laying 90-110 eggs, fills the hole and goes back to the sea. Neither she breastfeeds the children nor does she come and sit on the dharna like a hen and how are the children coming out of the egg. After 110-125 days, the baby sea turtles break the eggs and hatch on their own. For the first 4 days they eat the egg shell, it supplies them with all the elements of life, with it they become able to walk, then on the fifth day they walk to the sea, then swim further to meet their mother.