NARAYANA, well known centre, Dadu Dvara, of the Dadupanthi sect of sadhus founded by saint Dadu (1544-1603) of the Bhakti movement, half a kilometre from Naraina railway station and 71 km from Ajmer (26° 27`N, 74° 42`E). Guru Gobind Singh visited this Dadu Dvara in the course of his travels through Rajasthan in 1706. He was received by Mahant Jait Ram, then head of the cloister. The Guru saluted the samadh of Dadu with his arrow to which the Sikhs took exception. They said that this was contrary to his own teaching which forbade the Sikhs to bow before idols, graves and samadhs. The Guru explained that he had done it intentionally in order to test whether his Sikhs were vigilant enough to ensure strict observance of Sikh rules of conduct by all, high and low. The Sikhs imposed a fine on the Guru for this breach of religious discipline which the Guru readily paid. A platform called Thara Sahib was later constructed around the group of three banyan trees consecrated by the Guru`s brief sojourn under them. It is a marble topped stone structure just outside the entrance to the Dadupanthi temple.
Naraina 70 km from Jaipur enroute Sambhar in the town of Naraina is the principal seat of the Acharya of Dadu Sect. Dadu means brother, and Dayal means the compassionate one. The founder, Dadu Dayal Maharaj born in 1544 AD is believed to be an incarnation of Sanat Kumar (the mind born son of the creator of universe-Lord Brahma). Dadu Dayal breathed his last at Naraina near Sambhar in 1603 A.D. He was a great mystic and spiritual master belonging to Nirguna Bhakti tradition as advocated by saints like Kabir, Guru Nanak, Meera Bai and Ravidas who all viewed the Lord as the ineffable absolute without shape or form. The Dadu Anubhav Vaani is a compilation of 5,000 verse of Dadu ‘ s composition recorded by his disciple Rajjab.
Bhairana
It is the place where mortal remains of the Saint Dadu Dayal were taken for the last rites. The place popularly known as Dadu Khol or Dadu Ganga having a large memorial is also a sacred spot where ashes of saints, sadhus and Dadupanthis (devotees of the Dadu Sect) are scattered.
References:
1. Gian Singh, Giani, Twarikh Gurduarian. Amritsar, n.d.
2. Narotam, Tara Singh, Sri Guru Tirath Sangrahi. Kankhal, 1975
