Bhagat Parmanand, a Mahărashtrian saint-poet, one of whose hymns is included in Guru Granth Săhib was probably born in 1483 CE. He is believed to have resided at Bărsi, situated to the north of Pandharpur, in present-day Sholăpur district of Mahărăshtra in India. Parmănand was a devotee of mythic Vishnu for many years and used in his songs the nom de plume Sarańg, the name of a bird ever thirsty for the rain­drop. He always longed for God whom he worshipped in the Vaisnavite manifestation of Krishna. He used to make, it is said, seven hundred genuflections daily to God on his uncovered, often bleeding knees. He believed for a long time that God could be worshipped as an image only, but later he had the realization that the nirguna Supreme, God unmanifest, is the only one who should be loved and prayed to. Parmanand’s one hymn incorporated in Guru Granth Sahib (p. 1253) puts forward this view. In this hymn, he disapproves of the ritualistic reading and hearing of the sacred books, if that has not disposed one to the service of fellow beings.

Shabad of Parmanand recorded in Guru Granth Sahib:

So what have you accomplished by listening to the Puraanas?
Faithful devotion has not welled up within you,
and you have not been inspired to give to the hungry. || 1 || Pause ||

You have not forgotten sexual desire,
and you have not forgotten anger; greed has not left you either.
Your mouth has not stopped slandering and gossiping about others.
Your service is useless and fruitless. || 1 ||

By breaking into the houses of others and robbing them,
you fill your belly, you sinner.
But when you go to the world beyond, your guilt will be well known,
by the acts of ignorance which you committed. || 2 ||

Cruelty has not left your mind;
you have not cherished kindness for other living beings.
Parmaanand has joined the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy.
Why have you not followed the sacred teachings? || 3 || 1 || 6 ||

O mind, do not even associate with those who have turned their backs on the Lord.