Sant Ravidas - Life History

Who was Sant Guru Ravidas ji?

Shri Sant Guru Ravidas ji was a great saint, philosopher, poet, social reformer and follower of God of 15th century.

He was a saint of a very great Nirguna sect who led the North Indian Bhakti movement. Through his writings of many devotional and social messages, he depicted the love of God for his devotees, followers, community and people of the society.

Sant Ravidas ji was a person who was worshiped as a messiah for the people. People still listen to great religious songs, couplets and verses day and night on the day of his birth anniversary.

Although he is respected all over the world, but in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Maharashtra, his Bhakti movement and devotional songs are given a different respect.

When is Sant Guru Ravidas Ji Jayanti celebrated?

Sant Guru Ravidas ji Jayanti is celebrated every year in India with great enthusiasm on Magha Purnima, the full moon day.

The people of Vanaras organize many beautiful programs on this occasion and celebrate this day as a festival. This day is also celebrated very beautifully in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

Every year this day is celebrated very grandly in Varanasi at “Shri Guru Ravidas Janmasthan Mandir, Seer Govardhanpur, Varanasi” where people from all over the world come to participate in this festival.

Few things about Sant Guru Ravidas ji

• Born: 1377 AD Seer Goverdhanpur, Varanasi
• Father: Shri Santokh Dasji
• Mother: Mrs. Kalsa Devi
• Grandfather: Shri Kalu Ram Ji
• Grandmother: Mrs. Lakhpati
• Wife: Mrs. Lona
• Son: Vijay Dasji
• Died: Varanasi 1540 A.D.

Early Life of Guru Ravidas Ji

Ravidas ji was born in a 15th century Dalit family in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. His mother's name was Mata Kalsa Devi Ji and his father's name was Santokh Das Ji.

Although his exact date of birth is not known till date, it is estimated that he was born between 1376, 1377, and 1399.

His father was the sarpanch in the kingdom of Raja Nagar Mal and also had his own shoe making and repair business. Ravidas ji was very fearless and since childhood, devotion to God was in his heart.

He also had to face the rules and difficulties created by many upper castes, which he has also mentioned in his writings.

The upper caste people and brahmins at the time of his education also complained during the time of the king that this Dalit man should be forbidden to take the name of God.

Guru Ravidas ji's teachings

As a child, Ravidas ji went to study in his guru, Pandit Sharda Nand Pathshala, but he was persuaded by some upper caste people to study there.

But seeing his thoughts, Pandit Sharda Nand also realized that Ravidas ji is very talented and he enrolled Ravidas ji in the school and started teaching him.

Ravidas ji was a very good and intelligent child and after getting education from Pandit Sharda Nand, he became a great social reformer. While studying in the school, the son of Pandit Sharda Nand ji became his friend.

One day both were playing hide and seek. Both had won once in the game. As it was evening, both of them made up their mind to play again the next day. The next day Pandit Sharda Nand's son did not come to play.

When he did not come for a long time, Ravidas ji went to his house. When they reached home, they came to know that their friend had died.

Everyone was crying sitting around the dead body of his friend. Then Ravidas ji went to the body of Pandit Sharda Nand ji's son and he said – It is not time to sleep now, let's play hide and seek.

Hearing this word, he became alive. Due to the powers that Guru Ravidas ji got from God, the child became alive by his words. Everyone was surprised to see this.

Married life of Guru Ravidas ji

He was getting away from his family business and parents because of his close love and devotion for the Lord. Seeing this, his parents got him married to Mrs. Lona Devi and they had a son named Vijay Das.

Even after marriage, he was not able to concentrate properly in his family business. Seeing this his father left him one day to see how Guru Ravidas ji could do his social work to help his family. After this he started living behind his house and started doing his social work.

Later Guru Ravidas ji became a devotee of Rama Roop and started expressing his feeling towards God by chanting the names of Ram, Raghunath, Raja Ram Chandra, Krishna, Hari, Govind.

Guru Ravidas ji and the city of Begumpur

Sant Guru Ravidas ji pioneered the city of Begumpur and showed the right path to the people. Describing the city of Begumpur as an ideal city in his couplets, he has described a city without difficulties, without fear, without any caste discrimination and poverty. And there is a place where - no one pays taxes, there is no worry, and there is no panic.

Guru Ravidas ji and Meera Bai

Sant Guru Ravidas ji is called the spiritual guru of Meera Bai. Meera Bai was the daughter of Raja of Chittoor and Raja of Rajasthan. She was very much influenced by the thoughts of Guru Ravidas ji and she also wrote some lines while respecting him –

• Guru milya ravidaas jee dinee gyaan kee gutakee.
• Chot lagee nijanaam haree kee mhaare hivare khatakee ..

Meera Bai was able to meet Guru Ravidas ji with her grandfather and was greatly influenced by his spiritual thoughts.

After that she started going to listen to all the religious discourses of Guru Ravidas ji. Due to this she got absorbed in the devotion of God and started singing devotional songs.

Some social issues of Guru Ravidas ji

He was sent by the Lord to the earth to fulfill the real social and religious work and to remove all the discrimination created by the human beings. Guru Ravidas ji is known for his great deeds towards Karma.

In his time, Dalit people were very much ignored and kept away from other caste people in the society. They were not allowed to worship in temples and children were discriminated against even in schools.

At such a time, Guru Ravidas ji gave a new spiritual message to the people of the Dalit society so that they could fight with such difficulties.

At such a time, Guru Ravidas ji gave a new spiritual message to the people of the Dalit society so that they could fight with such difficulties.

Contribution of Guru Ravidas ji to Sikhism

41 verses written by him, devotional music and others have been written in the Sikh scriptures. Guru Granth Sahib who was the 5th Sikh Guru was a follower of Guru Ravidas ji and for this reason he was called Ravidassia and the Sikh given by him is called Ravidassisa Panth.

Sacred articles of Guru Ravidas ji mentioned in Guru Granth Sahib

• Siri – 1
• Gauri – 5
• Asa – 6
• Gazari – 1
• Sorath – 7
• Dhanasari – 3
• Jaitsari – 1
• Soohi – 3
• Bilawal – 2
• Gond – 2
• Ramkali – 1
• Die - 2
• Kedar – 1
• Bhairu – 1
• Spring – 1
• Malhar – 3

Guru Ravidas ji always used to tell his disciples that never be greedy for money. Money is not permanent, it is better to work hard and earn to live.

Story of Guru Ravidas ji and Brahmins

Once upon a time, Guru Ravidas ji was called to the court of King of Kashi. The Brahmins had complained to him that Guru ji is a hypocrite and he should not even touch God, far from worshiping God.

After that the king told Guru Ravidas ji and the brahmins that both of you should come to the banks of the river Ganges with the idol of your Thakur ji. The one whose idol of God will float in water and will not sink is the true devotee.

The Brahmins brought a small idol which they had covered with cotton. Guru Ravidas ji had brought a 40 kg idol which was made of square. At first the Brahmins left their idol in the water, but the idol quickly drowned in the water. After that Guru Ravidas ji slowly released the idol of Thakur ji in the water and it started swimming.

Seeing this people started touching the feet of Guru Ravidas ji and from that day Kashi Naresh as well as other people started respecting Guru ji.

God Gifted Power to Treat Leprosy

It is said that Guru ji used to give holy water from a pot kept with him to people to drink. Once a wealthy Seth, pretending to drink, threw water that fell on his clothes.

When Seth went to his house, he donated those clothes to a leprosy patient. When that leprosy patient put on that cloth, it is said that he became disease free very soon. But that Seth got afflicted with leprosy and even after getting a lot of medical treatment, he could not get cured.

In the end he also went to Guru Ravidas ji and apologized to the Guru. Guru ji forgave that Seth and with his blessings cured that Seth soon.

A Incident of Kumbh Festival

Once upon a time, Pandit Ganga Ram met Guru Ravidas ji and honored him. When he was going to Kumbh Mela, Guru ji gave a small coin to Ganga Ram and asked him to come by giving it to Mother Ganga. He took that coin and he went to Haridwar. He took a bath in the Ganges and was coming back without giving the coin.

Then he fainted on the way and when his eyes opened, he remembered that he forgot to give the coin to Mother Ganga.

He again went to the river Ganges and started shouting out loud Mata-Ganga, Mata-Ganga, when Mata Ganga appeared and Pandit Ganga Ram gave him that coin. In return, Mother Ganga gifted a gold bangle/bracelet to Guruji.

Ganga Ram did not give that bangle to Guru Ravidas ji and gave it to his wife. One day his wife went to sell the bracelet. But the cunning merchant showed that bracelet to the Maharaj and the Queen. But the king and queen asked to bring the bracelet of the other hand along with that bracelet.

After that the pandit was very angry and he was also ashamed because of doing such a wrong thing. After that he went to Guru Ravidas ji and apologized for his mistake. He explained it in couplets and said –

• moon changa to kathautee mein ganga
  

That is, you will get the second pair of bracelets in this water pot because Ganga is situated here too. Everyone was astonished to see this power of Guru ji.

Babur and Guru Ravidas ji

According to history, it is said that Babur was the first king of the Mughal Empire. He knew the spiritual power of Guru Ravidas ji and one day he went to meet him with Humayun.

As soon as he touched Guru Ravidas ji's feet, instead of blessing him, he punished him because Babur had killed many innocent people. After that there was a change in Babur's mind and he engaged in good social work for Delhi and Agra.

How did Sant Guru Ravidas ji die?

Some of his followers say that he died naturally at the age of 120-126 years. Although some people believe that he died in 1540 AD in his place of birth in Varanasi.