Surdas was a revered Hindu devotional poet and singer in the 16th century, known for his compositions that praised Lord Krishna. He was a devout follower of Vaishnavism and his poems expressed his deep devotion towards Lord Krishna. Most of his works were written in Braj language, while some were in other dialects of medieval Hindi, such as Awadhi.
Legend has it that Surdas was blind from birth. During his time, another saint named Vallabhacharya founded the Pushti Marg Sampraday, and his successor Vithalnath chose eight poets, known as the "Astachap," to compose works of music that would spread the glory of Lord Krishna. Surdas was considered the foremost among them due to his exceptional devotion and poetic talent.
Traditionally, the book Sur Sagar, meaning "Sur's Ocean," is attributed to Surdas. However, many of the poems in the book were likely written by later poets in Sur's name. The Sur Sagar mainly focuses on describing Lord Krishna as the charming child of Gokul and Vraj, from the perspective of the gopis.
Surdas' exact birthdate is uncertain, with scholars generally agreeing it was in 1478. His birthday, known as Surdas Jayanti, is celebrated on the 5th day of the Hindu month of Vaishakh in the Vaishnav calendar. There is also disagreement about his birthplace, with some scholars claiming it to be the village of Ranukta or Renuka on the road from Agra to Mathura, while others suggest he was born in Sihi, near Delhi.
According to one theory, Surdas was born blind and neglected by his family. He left home at the age of six and became a disciple of Vallabha Acharya. Under Vallabha Acharya's guidance, Surdas studied Hindu scriptures and gave lectures on philosophical and religious subjects. He remained celibate throughout his life.