Bhagat Pipa, one of whose hymns is incorporated in Guru Granth Săhib, was a prince who renounced his throne in search of spiritual solace. He was born at Gagaraun, in present-day Jhalawar district of Rajasthăn, at about CE 1425. He was a devotee of the goddess Bhavăni whose idol was enshrined in a temple within the premises of his palace. It is said that the goddess once told him in a dream to visit Kăshi (Vărănasi) and receive initiation from Rămănand. Pipă went to Kăshi, but Ramănand refused to see him in his gaudy robes. Pipă cast off his royal apparel and put on a mendicant’s garment.

He returned home after initiation and began to live like an ascetic. At his invitation Ramănand visited Gagaraun, and the Raja lent his shoulder to the palanquin carrying him in a procession. Pipa now finally decided to give up his throne and retire to a life of seclusion and meditation. He went to Dwarka in present day Gujrat state. He selected a cave for his residence from where he daily walked through a tunnel to the temple of Krishna on the seacoast. The temple is still a popular place of pilgrimage and a fair is held there annually in Bhagat Pipa’s memory. After a moment of enlightenment, he gave up idol-worship. He and his companion-wife started living in a jungle. After a period of penance, he set out roaming about the country to serve the common people. He, along with his wife, sang hymns and prayers of his own composition and collected money to be distributed among the poor. He fed the mendicants and treated them as God’s chosen ones. From an idol-worshipper (saguna bhagat), Pipă became a worshipper of the Formless One (nirguna bhagat). As he says in his hymn in Guru Granth Săhib, the body itself is the Supreme Being’s temple (káiau deval). One need not make stone images of Him and burn incense or light candles in front of them.

Two collections of Pipa’s reputed sayings are known to exist outside of Guru Granth Sahib, namely Shri Pipa ji Bani and Sarab Gutaka, both in manuscript form. Pipă Math, a monastery in Dwărkă, honours his memory.

Shabad by Bhagat Pipa which has been incorporated in Guru Granth Sahib :

Within the body, the Divine Lord is embodied.
The body is the temple, the place of pilgrimage, and the pilgrim.
Within the body are incense, lamps and offerings.
Within the body are the flower offerings. || 1 ||
I searched throughout many realms,
but I found the nine treasures within the body.
Nothing comes, and nothing goes;
I pray to the Lord for Mercy. || 1 || Pause ||
The One who pervades the Universe also dwells in the body;
whoever seeks Him, finds Him there.
Pipa prays, the Lord is the supreme essence;
He reveals Himself through the True Guru.