Guru Ravidas was a mystic sant, philosopher, poet, social reformer of the Bhakti movement. He is well-known by many other names such as Raidas, Rohidas, and Ruhidas. Guru Ravidas was born in Harijan caste in the Varanasi to the Mata Kalsa Devi and Baba Santokh Dass in the Seer Goverdhanpur village, Varanasi, UP, Bharat on Magh Purnima, 1433 Vikram Samvat corresponding 1377 C.E. of Gregorian calendar. However, his birth date has been a matter of debate but his devotees unanimously celebrate his birthday on Magh Purnima every year.
His father was working as a Sarpanch at Raja Nagar Mal’s Kingdom and had his own business of shoes making and repairing. His birthday anniversary is celebrated at full moon (Magh Purnima) of the Magh month by the people. He was very brave and highly devoted to the God from his early. He taught people that always love your neighbors without any discrimination.
His Early Education
In his childhood he went to the Pathshala of his Guru, Pt. Sharda Nand. In the Pathshala, he became friend of the son of Pt. Sharda Nand. One day both of them were playing together the game hide and seek. First time Ravidas had won the game and second time his friend won the game. In the next turn, it was the time of Ravidas again to hide and seek by his friend but they were unable to complete the game because of the night then they decided to continue in the next morning. Next morning Guru Ravidas came but his friend did not. He waited for long time and then went to his friend’s home to get him and saw that his friend’s parents and neighbours were weeping.
He asked about his friend and was shocked after hearing the news of his friend’s death at that night. He was brought by the Pt. Sharda Nand to the place of dead body of his friend, he asked to his friend that it is not sleeping time, it is time get up and play the game of hide and seek. As Guru Ravidas was blessed by the spiritual powers from the birth, his friend got alive after hearing his words. The parents and neighbours of his friend were very surprised by seeing that surprising moment.
His love and devotion towards the God was one of the main reasons of his distraction from his family business and his parents got worried about it. They got him married to Lona Devi. She gave birth to their son Vijaydas.
Even after his marriage he was not able to completely concentrate on his family business. Finally, he left the family business and devoted himself to the service of society and the God.
His Association with Meera Bai
Sant Guru Ravidas is considered as a spiritual Guru of the Meera Bai who was the queen of Chittoor. She was very impressed by the teachings of Guru Ravidas and became his follower
“Guru milya Ravidas dini gyan ki gutki.
Chot lagi nijnam hari ki mharey hivrey khatki”.
His Involvement in Social Issues
He taught people that one is not known by his caste, religion or belifs, heis known only for his great actions (or karma). He also worked against the bane of untouchability in the society.
After witnessing caste discrimination, Sant Ravidas started giving spiritual messages to everybody in order to permanently address this social fault-line.
He spread a message that “God created man and not man created God” means everyone is created by the God and has equal rights on this earth. 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 which was compiled by the 5th Sikh’s Guru, Arjan Dev. The followers of Guru Ravidas’s teachings are commonly called as Ravidassia and 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).
Attempts to convert him in to Islam
Assuming if Sant Ravidas is converted in to Islam, millions of his devotees will also become Muslims, there was a lot of pressure on him for conversion from Muslim rulers, but we find the reverence and loyalty of Sant Ravidas unbreakable. Sadna Pir had come to convert him into Islam. But influenced by his devotion and spiritual practice, Sadna Pir became a Hindu and became his disciple by the name Ramdas.
Sikandar Lodi used both- temptation and pressure- to make him a Muslim, sending people to him, but his answer was straightforward. He repeatedly expressed his faith, devotion and faith in Hindu Dharma. His vision and thinking were clear. Sikandar Lodi threatened to punish sant Ravidas when he refused to convert. Ravidas replied boldly: “I am not a submissive child. I will not give up my Dharma till end of my life, let me tell you the truth.
Followers of Ravidas believe that after living longer years Ravidas Ji gave up his body on his own. he breathed his last in Varanasi in 1540 AD.
