Founder
Early Life
Guru Jambeshwar or "jamboji" was born in an agrarian family of Pipaser, located in Nagaur district of Rajasthan. His father, Lohat Ji Panwar was childless even at the age of 50. The society made Lohat ji face various criticisms for being childless so he started worshipping Vishnu to bless him with children. With the blessings of Lord Vishnu, he was blessed with a son on the midnight of Bhadav vadi Aashtami, samvat 1508 (1451 CE). Guru Jambeshwer's birthday was on Janmashtmi, so he was also known as the Avatar of Krishna.
Until the age of 7, Guru Jambheshwar ji did not speak a word, which was a surprise to all his family members and the villagers, who almost considered it to be a disability. From childhood he used to herd cows and show his spiritual power to his fellow herdsmen. One day, Lohat ji called a priest who promised that after doing some rituals, Jambeshwar would start speaking. But due to the spiritual power of Jambheshwar ji, the lamp didn't light up. After this incident Guru Jambeshwar ji gave his First lecture or Shabad to the priest and it was about how to identify a guru. After 1458 CE , Jambeshwar Ji started giving his lectures and called them voice of vedas. [ref]
All history of Guru Jambheshwar Ji and Bishnoi sect is in the form of Samriti. Guru Jambeshwar ji gave many lectures but today only 120 of them are available. These 120 verses (shabd) are not in original form, they are scripted later on in Marwari dialect.
Shabadvani
All 120 verses or Shabadas are composed in a text which is called Shabad Vani. Shabd Vani consists of lectures of Guru Jambheshwar Ji on various topics. All 120 verses are of equal importance but here we will mention shabads on some selected topics.
Environmental Conservation
Across the globe Bishnois are highly known for their spirit and Devotion for Environment Conservation. Bishnois , who mostly live in arid regions of Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana have carved an unique niche for themselvesby sharing a symbiotic and cordial relation with surrounding fauna and flora notably the very elusive, chinkara. Sanatan or hindu culture highly focuses on conservation of nature. [ref]
Once a Hindu priest and a Maulvi were debating and claiming Guru Jambheshwar as Hindu and Muslim respectively. Both of them asked Guru Jambheshwar Ji that whether he is a hindu or a muslim?
While answering his question he states some qualities of a hindu. One of them is that cutting green trees is forbidden in hindu religion and one should not cut green trees. Amongst 29 principles, one is also about not cutting trees.[ref]
Bishnoi in funerals do not burn the bodies, they bury them in the ground. There are many reasons behind this, one may be availability of trees in desert areas because Guru Jambheshwar preaches this sect from the desert region of Rajasthan. Saving trees might be a reason for this practice.
Khejarli Massacre
The sacrifice made by Amrita Devi and over 350 others is a heart-rending example of their devotion. The Maharaja of Jodhpur wanted to build a new palace and required wood for it. To procure this his men went to the area around the village of Jalnadi to fell the trees. When Amrita Devi saw this she rushed out to prevent the men and hugged the first tree, but the axe fell on her and she died on the spot. Before dying she uttered the now famous couplet of the Bishnois, A chopped head is cheaper than a felled tree. People from 83 surrounding villages rushed to prevent the men from felling the trees and by the end of the day more than 350 had lost their lives. When the king heard about this, he was filled with remorse and came to the village to personally apologize to the people. He promised them that they would never again be asked to provide timber to the ruler, no khejri tree would ever be cut, and hunting would be banned near the Bishnoi villages. The village of Jalnadi thus came to be called Khejarli. The Bishnois will go to any extent to protect the wildlife and the forests around them.
Recently this sect was in the news due to the activities of some Mumbai film group that had gone on a hunting spree in their area targeting the black buck. The Bishnois, in keeping to their tradition, prevented them from doing so and lodged a complaint against two of them in the local police station.
The heartland of the Bishnois in the forests near Jodhpur is abundant in trees and wildlife. The landscape around here is greener than elsewhere and the animals, mainly antelopes, particularly the blackbuck and the chinkara, in these forests are not afraid of humans and are often seen near the villages eating out of the villagers hands. The Bishnois have indeed proved that human lives are a small price to pay to protect the wildlife and the forests around them. Though they are staunch Hindus they often do not cremate their dead but bury them, as they are not permitted to use wood for the cremation.There is a saying that goes "Sir santhe rooke rahe to bhi sasto jaan" this means that if a tree is saved from felling at the cost of ones head, it should be considered as a good deed. It is for this environmental awareness and commitment that the Bishnois stand apart from other sects and communities in India. [ref]
Protection Of Animals
After addressing the priest on the question of Hindu or Muslim, Guru Jambheshwar Ji addresses the Maulvi over the bad conduct with animals on the name of Holy sacrifice.
Guru ji asked Maulvi how you can kill an innocent animal? You are not aware of the pain an animal suffered. You have forgotten the path of your religion. [ref]
In the Bishnoi Villages of Rajasthan or elsewhere animal killing is totally prohibited. You can easily spot movement of animals freely in Bishnoi majority areas. Bishnoi is the community who put Salman Khan behind bars for killing Black Deer. Woman treats orphan animals as their own child. Guru Jambheshwar ji's one of 29 principles also condemn the killing and eating animals. [ref]
Worship Of One God
Guru Jambeshwar ji preaches for worship of one god. There was an incident, after listening to his knowledgeable lecture, someone asked him "Whom are you worshipping?" Then he answers
I am worshipping the one who is far away from birth and death, who has neither the mother nor the father. [ref]
Then he again asks "Whom we have to worship? Then he answers again by saying You may worship 9 Avatars of Vishnu. [ref]
In further lectures (shabads) he only focuses upon worship of Vishnu (Vishnu Vishnu Tu Bann Re Prani) and that is the only way to get out from this worldly rattrap.
The 29 Rules/Principles of Bishnoi Sect
- Observe a 30-day state of ritual impurity after child's birth and keep mother and child away from household activities. This is to avoid infection in children or mothers. Medical Science also suggests complete rest to mother after birth of a child
- Observe 5-day segregation while a woman is in her menses. This is also to give rest to women during her periods.
- Bathe daily in the morning before sunrise.
- Obey the ideal rules of life: modesty, patience, or satisfactions, cleanliness.
- Pray twice everyday (morning and evening).
- Eulogise god, Vishan, in the evening (Aarti)
- perform Yajna (Havan) with the feelings of welfare devotion and love.
- Use filtered water, milk, and cleaned firewood.
- Speak pure words in all sincerity.
- Practice forgiveness from the heart.
- Be merciful with sincerity.
- Do not steal nor harbor any intention to do so.
- Do not condemn or criticize.
- Do not lie.
- Do not indulge in disputes/debates.
- Fast on Amavasya.
- Worship and recite Bhagwan Vishnu in adoration.
- Be merciful to all living beings and love them.
- Do not cut green trees, save the environment.
- Keep away from crush lust, anger, greed, and attachment.
- Cook your food by yourself.
- Provide shelters for the abandoned animals to save them from being slaughtered in abattoirs.
- Do not sterilize bulls.
- Do not use or trade opium.
- Do not smoke or use tobacco or its products.
- Do not consume bhang or hemp.
- Do not consume alcohol/liquor.
- Do not consume meat, always remain purely vegetarian.
- Do not use the violet-blue colour extracted from the Indigo plant.
Guru Jambeshwar ji had also importantly asserted that only taking birth in a Bishnoi family does not make someone a Bishnoi, but the one who follows these 29 principles is rightfully a Bishnoi. Being a Bishnoi isn't based on birth, similar to the Varna system, but is based on merit and practice.
