Sant Ravidas lived in Varanasi (Benares) and is generally thought to have been a younger contemporary of Kabir. In his poetry, he describes himself as a leather worker, someone whose contact with dead animals would have marked him as a dalit (or “untouchable”) in Indian society. Yet he is revered by both Sikhs and Hindus.
The two oldest sources of his work are the Sikh scripture, the Adigranth, and in the collections of songs compiled in the Dadu Panth.
According to some sources, Ravidas was initiated by Kabir’s famous guru Ramananda. And some traditions assert that Ravidas was, in turn, the guru of the great female poet-saint Mirabai.
Because of his low caste status, Ravidas has become an important figure for poor and oppressed people in India today, his followers calling themselves Ravidasis.
Sant Ravidas Jayanti or birthday anniversary is celebrated every year on Magh Purnima on full moon day of Magh month with great enthusiasm and happiness all over India however; people in Varanasi celebrate this occasion like a memorable event and festival.
It will be (647th) Sant Ravidas Jayanti in 2024 and will be celebrated on – 24th of February (Saturday).
Early Life
Guru, Sant Ravidas Ji was born in Harijan caste in the Varanasi to Kalsa Devi Ji and Baba Santokh Dass Ji in the Seer Goverdhanpur village, Varanasi, U.P., India in the 15th century.
He was very brave and highly devoted to God from his early childhood later he struggled with lots of problems created by upper caste people which he faced and let people realize about facts of life through his writings. He taught people that always love their neighbors without any discrimination.
During the early days of his teachings, his popularity was prohibited by the conservative Brahmins living in Kashi as he was also an untouchable guru. People complained regarding him in front of the king as a deformer of the social order. He was prohibited to talk about God and as well as advising or teaching people following him.
Man changa to kathoti mein Ganga
Once, some of his disciples and followers asked him to take the holy dip in the sacred river of Ganges but he denied it by saying that he had already promised to one of his customers to deliver shoes so he would not be able to join them. One of his disciples urged him repeatedly then he answered his beliefs about common saying “Man changa to kathoti mein Ganga” means our body needs to be holy by soul not by just taking bath into the holy river, if our soul and heart is pure and happy then we are completely holy even after taking bath in the water-filled in a tub at home.
His Involvement in Social Issues
He was a true messenger of God and he came on earth when it was necessary to save the real Dharma as at that time when social and religious patterns were distressing because of the lots of manmade discriminations over social beliefs, caste, color, and etc. He bravely faced all the discriminations and answered people about the real definition and beliefs of castes. He taught people that one is not known by his caste, religion, or believes in God, he is known only for his great actions (or karma). He also worked against the system of untouchability in the society by the higher caste people for lower caste people.
During his time, low caste people were neglected and were not allowed to do some common jobs in the society of higher caste people such as inhibited to go to the temples for prayer, inhibited to go to schools for study, restricted to visit the village during the daytime, they were allowed to live in huts instead of a proper house in the village and many more. After seeing such a social scenario, Guruji started giving spiritual messages to everybody in order to permanently tackle the bad situations of low caste people.
God created man and not man created God
He spread a message that “God created man and not man created God” means everyone is created by God and has equal rights on this earth. Regarding this social situation, Sant Guru Ravidas Ji has given various teachings to the people about the universal brotherhood and tolerance. The King and Queen of the Chittoor kingdom became his great disciples after being influenced by his teachings.
His Contribution to the Sikhism
His padas, devotional songs, and other writings (around 41 verses) are mentioned in the Sikh Scriptures, Guru Granth Sahib who was compiled by the 5th Sikh’s Guru, Arjan Dev. The followers of Guru Ravidas Ji’s teachings are commonly called Ravidassia and a collection of teachings called Ravidassia Panth.
The 41 holy writings of him which is included in the Guru Granth Sahib are mentioned in the following ways: “Raga – Siri(1), Gauri(5), Asa(6), Gujari(1), Sorath(7), Dhanasari(3), Jaitsari(1), Suhi(3), Bilaval(2), Gaund(2), Ramkali(1), Maru(2), Kedara(1), Bhairau(1), Basant(1), and Malhar(3).
ब्राह्मण मत पूजिए जो होवे गुणहीन,
पूजिए चरण चंडाल के जो होने गुण प्रवीन।।
कृस्न, करीम, राम, हरि, राघव, जब लग एक
न पेखा वेद कतेब कुरान, पुरानन,
सहज एक नहिं देखा
रविदास जन्म के कारनै,
होत न कोउ नीच नकर कूं नीच करि डारी है,
ओछे करम की कीच मन ही पूजा मन ही धूप,
मन ही सेऊं सहज स्वरूप।।
करम बंधन में बन्ध रहियो,
फल की ना तज्जियो आस कर्म मानुष का धर्म है,
सत् भाखै रविदास
Do not worship the Brahmin who lacks virtues; worship the feet of the Chandala who is virtuous. When you do not discriminate between Krishna, Karim, Rama, Hari, and Raghav, and do not differentiate between the Vedas, the Quran, and the Puranas, and see everyone as the same, Ravidas says, “No one is low or high due to their birth; it is the deeds that make one lowly or noble. Offer worship from the heart, offer prayers from the heart, and recognize the essence of simplicity. Remain bound in the actions, do not desire the fruits, and consider the fulfillment of duty as the human religion. Ravidas speaks the truth.”
Source: https://www.varanasi.org.in/ravidas
