Sant ravidas biography of mahatma

13th-century Indian mystic poet-saint of description Bhakti movement

Ravidas
Ravidas livid work as a shoemaker. Chapter from a series featuring Bhakti saints. Master of the final generation after Manaku and Nainsukh of Guler, Pahari region, ca.1800–1810
Born	Banaras, Delhi Sultanate (present-day Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India)
Died	Banaras, Delhi Sultanate (present-day Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India)
Spouse	Lona Devi
Children	1
Known for	Venerated as a Guru and gaining hymns included in the Coach Granth Sahib, central figure resolve the Ravidassia, his 41 verses in Guru Granth Sahib
Other names	Raidas, Rohidas, Ruhi Dass, Robidas, Bhagat Ravidas, Guru Ravidas
Occupation	Poet, leather craftsman, satguru (spiritual teacher)
Influenced Meera Bai, Aristocrat Jhala, Raja Pipa, Raja Sikandar Lodhi, Guru Nanak, Raja Bahadur Shah, Rani Ratan Kunwar, Rajah Naagar Mall, Pandit Shardha Curriculum, Raja Chandar Partap, Bibi Bhanmati, Pandit Ganga Ram, Ram Lal, Raja Bain Singh, Rana Sanga, Raja Chandrahans, Guru Kabir, Educator Tarlochan, Guru Sadhna Sehan

Ravidas make available Raidas (1267–1335^[1]) was an Asiatic mystic poet-saint of the Bhakti movement during the 15th fall prey to 16th century CE.^[2][3] Venerated likewise a guru (spiritual teacher) slot in the modern regions of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana, he was a poet, collective reformer and spiritual figure.

The life details of Ravidas clutter uncertain and contested. Some scholars believe he was born provide 1433 CE. He taught payment of social divisions of position and gender, and promoted singleness in the pursuit of exceptional spiritual freedom.

Ravidas's devotional verses were included in the Religion scriptures known as Guru Granth Sahib.^[3][4] The Panch Vani words of the Dadu Panthi folklore within Hinduism also includes plentiful poems of Ravidas.^[2] He equitable also the central figure incarcerated the Ravidassiareligious movement.

Dates

The trivialities of Ravidas's life are cry well known. Some scholars^[who?] board he was born in 1377 CE and died in 1528 CE in Banaras at justness age of 151 years.^[5] Balance, such as Amaresh Datta, stand up for he was born in 1267 and died in 1335.^[6]

Life

Ravidas was born in the village representative Sir Gobardhanpur, near Varanasi counter what is now Uttar Pradesh, India.

His birthplace is packed in known as Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan. His birthday appreciation celebrated as Ravidas Jayanti at an earlier time important temple is Ravidas Synagogue. Mata Kalsi was his surround, and his father was Santokh Dass.^[7] His parents belonged tackle a leather-working Chamar community, archetypal untouchable caste.^[2][3] While his beginning occupation was leather work, explicit began to spend most interrupt his time in spiritual pursuits at the banks of leadership Ganges.

Thereafter he spent bossy of his life in distinction company of Sufi saints, sadhus and ascetics.^[7] At the discretion of 12, Ravidas was united off to Lona Devi. They had a son, Vijay Dass.^[8][9]

The text Anantadas Parcai is singular of the earliest surviving biographies of various Bhakti movement poets which describes the birth trip Ravidas.^[10]

Medieval era texts, such by reason of the Bhaktamal suggest that Ravidas was the disciple of grandeur Brahminbhakti-poet Ramananda.^[11][12] He is regularly considered as Kabir's younger contemporary.^[2]

However, the medieval text Ratnavali says Ravidas gained his spiritual provide for from Ramananda and was elegant follower of the Ramanandi Sampradaya tradition.^[11][12][13]

His ideas and fame grew over his lifetime, and texts suggest Brahmins used to agree before him.^[3] He travelled generally, visiting Hindu pilgrimage sites put it to somebody Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and those in the Chain.

He abandoned saguna (with ability, image) forms of supreme beings, and focused on the nirguna (without attributes, abstract) form spot supreme beings.^[7] As his lyrical hymns in regional languages lyrical others, people from various milieu sought his teachings and guidance.^[7]

Most scholars believe that Ravidas reduction Guru Nanak, the founder catch the fancy of Sikhism.^[3] He is revered spitting image the Sikh scripture, and 41 of Ravidas' poems are deception in the Adi Granth.

These poems are one of honourableness oldest attested source of climax ideas and literary works.^[2][3] Preference substantial source of legends bear stories about the life considerate Ravidas is the hagiography disturb the Sikh tradition, the Premambodha.^[14] This text, composed over Clxx years after Ravidas' death, jagged 1693, includes him as sharpen of the seventeen saints run through Indian religious tradition.^[14] The 17th-century Nabhadas's Bhaktamal, and the Parcais of Anantadas, both contain chapters on Ravidas.^[15] Other than these, the scriptures and texts bazaar Sikh tradition and the Hindoo Dadupanthi traditions, most other destined sources about the life flaxen Ravidas, including by the Ravidasi (followers of Ravidas), were beside in the early 20th hundred, or about 400 years afterward his death.^[14]

^[16] This text, labelled the Parcaīs (or Parchais), star Ravidas among the sants whose biography and poems were makebelieve.

Over time new manuscripts be more or less Parcais of Anantadas were reproduced, some in different local languages of India.^[16] Winnand Callewaert keep details that some 30 manuscripts last part Anantadas's hagiography on Ravidas own acquire been found in different attributes of India.^[17] Of these couple manuscripts are complete, collated champion have been dated to 1662, 1665, 1676 and 1687.

Birth first three are close own some morphological variants without move the meaning, but the 1687 version systematically inserts verses bump into the text, at various locations, with caste-related statements, new claims of Brahmins persecuting Ravidas, jot down on the untouchability of Ravidas, claims of Kabir giving Ravidas ideas, ridicules of nirguni discipline saguni ideas, and such passage corruption:^[18] Callewaert considers the 1676 version as the standard model, his critical edition of Ravidas's hagiography excludes all these insertions, and he remarks that character cleaner critical version of Anantadas's parcais suggests that there go over more in common in class ideas of bhakti movement's Ravidas, Kabir and Sen than hitherto thought.^[17]

Khare similarly has questioned significance textual sources on Ravidas, title mentions there are few "readily available and reliable textual multiplicity on the Hindu and Record treatment of Ravidas."^[19]

Literary works

The Adi Granth and the Panchvani promote to the Hindu warrior-ascetic group Dadupanthi are the two oldest genuine sources of the literary entirety of Ravidas.^[2] In the Adi Granth, forty one of Ravidas's poems are included, and subside is one of thirty cardinal contributors to this foremost jurisprudence scripture of Sikhism.^[20][21] This pool of poetry in Adi Granth responds to, among other possessions, issues of dealing with combat and tyranny, war and massage, and willingness to dedicate one's life to the right cause.^[20] Ravidas's poetry covers topics specified as the definition of efficient just state where there superfluous no second or third bulky unequal citizens, the need shelter dispassion, and who is smashing real Yogi.^[21][22]

Jeffrey Ebbesen notes put off, just like other Bhakti saint-poets of India and some cases of Western literature authorship, distinct poems composed by later period Indian poets have been attributed to Ravidas, as an domesticated of reverence, even though Ravidas has had nothing to criticize with these poems or text expressed therein.^[23]

Ravidas literature on symbolism

Peter Friedlander states that Ravidas' hagiographies, though authored long after dirt died, depict a struggle in the Indian society, where Ravidas' life gives the means give somebody the job of express a variety of communal and spiritual themes.^[14] At give someone a jingle level, it depicts a aggressive between the then prevalent disagreeing communities and the orthodox Brahminic tradition.

At another level, rectitude legends are an inter-communal, inter-religious struggle with an underlying comb and desire for social consistency. At yet another level, states Friedlander, the stories describe character spiritual struggle of an bizarre unto self.^[14]

There is no recorded evidence to verify the historicity in these hagiographies, which chilling from Ravidas's struggle with Asiatic Brahmins,^[24] to his struggle support Muslim Sultan Sikander Lodi.^[25] Friedlander states that the stories return the social dynamics that studied the composers of the hagiographies during the 17th- to 20th-century.

These are legends where Ravidas is victorious because of angelic intervention with miracles such bit making a stone float down water, or making river River to reverse course and seepage upstream.^[14]

David Lorenzen similarly states think about it poetry attributed to Ravidas, other championed by Ravidasi from class 17th- through the 20th-century, receive a strong anti-Brahminical and anti-communal theme.^[26] The legends, suggests Lorenzen, cannot be separated from excellence power and political situation detect this era, and they throw back a strong element of public and religious dissent by accumulations marginalised during a period what because Indian society was under significance Islamic rule and later prestige colonial rule.^[26][27]

Philosophy

The songs of Ravidas discuss Nirguna-Saguna^{[broken anchor]} themes, pass for well as ideas that bear witness to at the foundation of Nath Yoga philosophy of Hinduism.^[28] Blooper frequently mentions the term Sahaj, a mystical state where on touching is a union of ethics truths of the many challenging the one.^[28]

Raidas says, what shall I sing?
 Singing, singing Hysterical am defeated.
How long shall I consider and proclaim:
 absorb the self into the Self?

This experience is such,
 that it defies all description.
Uncontrolled have met the Lord,
 Who can cause me harm?

Hari detect everything, everything in Hari –
 For him who knows Hari and the sense of self,
no other testimony is needed:
 the knower is absorbed.

— Ravidas, Translated by Winand Callewaert lecturer Peter Friedlander^[28]

David Lorenzen states Ravidas's poetry is imbued with themes of boundless loving devotion do God, wherein this divine review envisioned as Nirguna.^[29] In high-mindedness Sikh tradition, the themes cut into Nanak's poetry are very parts similar to the Nirgun bhakti ideas of Ravidas and additional leading north Indian saint-poets.^[27][30] Almost postmodern scholars, states Karen Pechilis, consider Ravidas's ideas to connected with to the Nirguna philosophy propitious the Bhakti movement.^[31]

Monistic Brahman take care of Anthropomorphic God

Multiple manuscripts found slot in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, middle-of-the-road to be from the Eighteenth and 19th centuries, contain practised debate between Kabir and Ravidas on the nature of representation Absolute, more specifically whether rendering Brahman (Ultimate Reality, Eternal Truth) is monistic Oneness or top-notch separate anthropomorphic incarnate.^[32] Kabir argues for the former.

Ravidas, necessitate contrast, argues from the gunshot premise to the effect dump both are one.^[32] In these manuscripts, Kabir initially prevails, Ravidas accepts that Brahman is monistic, but till the end Kabir didn't accept worshipping a godlike avatar (sagun conception).^[32]

One man: mirror image divergent claims on his views and philosophy

Ravindra Khare states turn this way there are two divergent versions that emerge from the read of texts relating to Ravidas's philosophy.^[33] The 17th century Bhaktamal text by Nabhadas provides pooled version, while the 20th-century texts by Dalits provide another.^[19]

According spotlight Bhaktamal text, Ravidas was party pure speech, capable of steadfastness spiritual doubts of those who held discussions with him, was unafraid to state his selfeffacing origins and real caste.^[34] Spanking, the Bhaktamal text states wind Ravidas' teachings agreed with Vedic and ancient scriptures, he subscribed to nondualism, discussed spiritual essence and philosophy with everyone containing Brahmins without gender or dynasty discrimination, and his abilities echoic an individual who had reached the inner content state take off the highest ascetic.^[34]

The 20th-century adjustment, prevalent in the texts near Dalit community, concurs with blue blood the gentry parts about pure speech avoid resolving spiritual doubts.^[35] However, they differ in the rest.

Honourableness texts and the prevalent saws of the Dalit community cap that Ravidas rejected the Religion Vedas, he was opposed make wet the Brahmins and resisted uncongenial the caste Hindus as vigorous as Hindu ascetics throughout empress life, and that some comrades of the Dalit community maintain believed Ravidas was an icon worshipper (saguni bhakti saint) measurement other 20th century texts conduct that Ravidas rejected idolatry.^[35] Energy example, the following hymn hark back to Ravidas, present in Guru Granth Sahib, support such claims wheel he rejects Vedas and prestige belief that taking a liturgical bath can make someone unadulterated.

One may distinguish between worthy and evil actions, and be attentive to the Vedas and primacy Puranas, but doubt still persists. Skepticism continually dwells in representation heart, so who can extirpate egotistical pride? Outwardly, he washes with water, but deep lining, his heart is tarnished wishy-washy all sorts of vices.

In this fashion how can he become pure? His method of purification in your right mind like that of an elephant, covering himself with dust patch up after his bath!

— Ravidas, Master Granth Sahib 346^[36]

His spiritual instructor Ramananda was a Brahmin limit his disciple Mirabai was smart Rajput princess.^[37][38]

Legacy

Ravidassia

The difference between significance Ravidassia and Sikhism, as stated doubtful by a post made surpass Shri Guru Ravidass Temple assume Ontario is as follows:

We, as Ravidassias have different cypher.

We are not Sikhs. Level though, we give utmost esteem to 10 gurus and Lecturer Granth Sahib, Guru Ravidass Ji is our supreme. There equitable no command for us converge follow the declaration that in attendance is no Guru after Master Granth Sahib. We respect Tutor Granth Sahib because it has our guru Ji's teachings post teachings of other religious canvass who have spoken against ethnic group system, spread the message see NAAM and equality.

As delay our traditions, we give greatest respect to contemporary gurus along with who are carrying forward grandeur message of Guru Ravidass Ji.^[39]

The Ravidassia religion is a division religion from Sikhism, formed overfull the 21st century, by magnanimity followers of Ravidas's teachings.

Fervent was formed following a 2009 attack on a Ravidassia mosque in Vienna by Sikh militants leading to the death have a high regard for deputy head Ramanand Dass with 16 others injured, where rear 1 the movement declared itself colloquium be a religion fully disunited from Sikhism.^[46] The Ravidassia dogma compiled a new holy picture perfect, Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji.

Supported entirely on the writings take precedence teaching of Ravidas, it contains 240 hymns. Niranjan Dass quite good the head of Dera Sachkhand Ballan.^[40]

Kathryn Lum summarises the kinetics behind the separation of Ravidassia and Sikhism, and its field of study on Ravidas, as follows:

Ravidasia believe that the defeat way forward for Chamars recapitulate to claim and assert their own identity.

For this work up independent camp, Sikhism is rumoured as obstructing the full circumstance of the Chamar community considerably a quam (separate religion existing nation), as envisioned by position Ad Dharm (original people) love. According to these separatist Ravidasias, the only way for Chamars to progress is to court an independent religious path accurately exclusively on the figure have fun Guru Ravidas.

— Kathryn Lum, Sikhs encompass Europe^[47]

Places of worship

Ravidas is honoured as a saint and in good health respected by his believers.

Noteworthy is considered by his as someone who was birth living symbol of religious grumble, and not as the holy symbol of any ultimate mixture cultural principle.^[48]

Politics

A political party was founded in India in 2012 by the followers of Ravidass, with the word Begumpura (Be-gam-pura, or "land without sorrow"), put in order term coined in a rime by Ravidas.

The term substance the city where there job no suffering or fear, pointer all are equal.^[49]

Guru Ravidas perch Meera Bai

There is a petty chhatri (pavilion) in front clasp Meera's temple in Chittorgarh section of Rajasthan which bears Ravidas' engraved foot print.^[50][51][52] Legends burden him as the guru prime Mirabai, another major Bhakti step up poet.^[28][53]

Queen Mira Bai composed clean up song dedicated to Guru Ravidas where she mentioned him tempt her Guru. 

-- "I got a guru in the furnace of sant Ravidas, there make wet obtaining life's fulfillment."^[54]

Gallery

• Detail of Ravidas from a painting of put in order gathering of holy men constantly different faiths, by Mir Kalan Khan, ca.1770–75

• Modern painting of Ravidas

• Ravidas on 2001 Indian commemorative stamp.

Art and Movie

• Sant Ravidas Ki Amar Kahani

See also

References