Guru Jambheshwar

Shree Guru Jambeshwar Bhagwan (born 1451 in a remote Rajasthani village Pipasar), also known as Jambho ji, was the founder of the Bishnoi sect. He preached the worship of Hari (a name for Lord Vishnu). He taught that God is a divine power that is everywhere. He also taught to protect plants and animals as they are important in order to peacefully coexist with nature.

He is the founder of Bishnoism, at Samrathal Dhora on the eighth day of the black fortnight of the month of Kartika (Indian lunar Calendar) in 1485 A.D.

Jambho ji, was born in a Rajput family of Panwar clan in a remote village Pipasar in 1451 A.D. He was the only child of his parents i.e. father, Lohat ji Panwar and mother, Hansa Devi. For the first seven years of his life, Jambho ji was considered silent and introverted. He spent 27 years of his life as a cow herder like Lord Krishna, with whom he shared a birthday.

At an age of 34, Jambho ji founded the Bishnoi sect. His teachings were in the poetic form known as Shabadwani. Although he preached for the next 51 years, travelling across the country, only 120 Shabads, or verses of Shabadwani, are available at present. Even these 120 shabads are a source of great wisdom and are sufficient for an individual to understand and follow his path.

Bishnoism, as mention earlier revolves around 29 commandments. Out of these 29 commandments, 8 prescribe to preserve biodiversity and encourage good animal husbandry. Seven commandments provide directions for healthy social behaviour. Ten commandments are directed towards personal hygiene and maintaining basic good health. The other four commandments provide guidelines for worshipping God daily.

The Bishnoi community observes socio-religious gatherings known as Melas twice a year at Mukam, where Guru ji’s mortal frame was consigned to the earth in 1536 A.D.

Jambho ji was a great visionary, who had foreseen the consequences of man’s actions destroying nature for economic development. He saw the need for environmental protection and weaved his principals into religious commandments so that people can internalise those principals easily.

The sect was founded by Shree Guru Jambeshwar Bhagwan (b. 1451) after wars between Muslim invaders and local Hindus. He had laid down 29 principles to be followed by the sect. Bish means twenty and noi means nine. Thus, Bishnoi translates as Twenty-niners. Killing animals and felling trees were banned.The Prosopis cineraria tree (Prosopis cineraria), is also considered to be sacred by the Bishnois.

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