D R Bhagat
Many saints appeared on this Indian land on different periods especially during the period from 1200 to 1700 AD which is known as Bhakti Movement period in the history. Among the galaxy of such saints the name and fame of Guru Ravidas is of special mention. He was born in a very poor family of present day Varanasi on Magh Purnima day in 1377 AD. These were the days when caste discrimination in the society was on high level and the Pandits and Mullas were spreading dogmas among the gullible people in the name of religion. The purpose of taking birth of Sri Guru Ravidas was to take out the people from darkness of ignorance to light of real knowledge and to let them know the real purpose of life. From his very young age he was inclined towards spirituality and used to attend the discourses of holy people along with his mother. He was also admitted in the pathshala of Pandit Shardanand despite the opposition of Brahmans. Pandit Shradanand was very much impressed by his behavior and spiritual thoughts and he was confident that his pupil will become a great spiritual Guru. Guru Ravidas also gained the knowledge of some languages like Urdu, Persian and local language. His source of knowledge was mainly the company of holy people and his inner spiritual experience. He did not take any interest in the household affairs which became a cause of anxiousness of his parents. To get him involved in worldly affairs they got him married at a very young age but this also failed to detach him from spirituality. His parents separated him along with his wife so that he can take up the responsibility of feeding his family by adopting the family work of preparing and mending the shoes. Guru Ravidas continued his ancestral work to earn his living but his mind and thoughts always remained towards devotion to God.
As per Bhakatmal of Nabha Das Guru Ravidas was the disciple of Swami Ramanand and was one of his 12 principal disciples including Kabir. He traveled to different places in India to spread his message of love and devotion to God. He visited many places including Rajasthan, Gujrat, Maharashtra and Punjab. During these visits he met many holy persons. He also met Guru Nanak while his visit to Punjab. He preached the Nirguna Bhakti and opposed the Sarguna Bhakti. He said that God is within your own body and there is no use of going to forests or mountains and having a bath in Ganga to find God. In one of his couplets, he says
“kaba aur Kailas mein koon dhoondan Janha
Ravidas pyara ram to baitha man manha”
He also opposed the caste system prevalent in the society and said that no one is high or low on account of his birth or caste. He said that caste and creed are manmade distinctions and there are no barriers to offering devotion to God. A person becomes high or low only due to his good or bad deeds.
“Ravidas janam ke karne hoi na koi neech”
He also said that there is no use of going to temples or mosques to search God as He is omnipresent and can be searched only with devotion and purity of heart. In another couplets he says,
“turk maseet allah dhunde, dehre hindu ram gosain
ravidas dhundya ram rahim ko jahan maseet dehra nahin”
Having born in a low caste he was criticized for devotion to God. The Pandits of Kashi even complained before the king and requested him to stop Ravidas from preaching God. He was presented before the king and was asked to prove his spiritual power which he proved by drawing a deity brought by the king towards his side without touching the same which he did with his spiritual power in the presence of complaining pundits. The king was pleased and bowed his head before Guru in reverence. The people started listening the sermons of Guru Ravidas and many people became his disciples including some princes and princesses. There are certain legends attached to the saint. In one of the legends it is said that Mira Bai who was the disciple of Guru Ravidas was being taunted by the people of Mewar about the poverty of her Guru when she was herself a princess. Upon this Meera Bai decided to enrich her guru financially. She went to her guru and offered him a costly diamond so that he can become rich by selling the diamond and she can also get rid of taunts from the people about the poverty of her guru. Guru Ravidas replied politely and lovingly “my child I do not need the diamond whatever I have attained through my humble work I am satisfied with that. Moreover if the people are harassing you for coming to me then you may stay at home and do your devotion.”Mira Bai however continued pleading the guru to accept the diamond but he did not agree to accept it. Then Mira Bai decided to keep the diamond in his thatched roof thinking that he can take it later on and use it. But when Mirabai returned after few months she was surprised to see the Guru in the same condition of poverty. Mirabai found the diamond from the thatched roof where it was placed by her. Then she asked her guru politely why he did not make use of the gift which was offered to him as her love for the Guru. Guru Ravidas replied that he already had such an immense wealth that he needed no more. But the people do not have the idea of this immense wealth and this is why they ridicule you on my poverty. One more similar legend is regarding a Sadhu who came with a Paras to offer the same to Guru Ravidas and the Guru refused to accept the same. Guru Ravidas was blessed with the spiritual power from his childhood. One day Guru Ravidas in his childhood was playing with his friends. One of his friends was the son of his teacher Shardanand who suddenly collapsed. It is said that he was revived by Guru Ravidas with his spiritual power and everybody was surprised to see this miracle.
Guru Ravidas was saint, poet and social reformer who preached his message fearlessly to people of all castes and creeds. Brahmans who initially opposed him came to realize his greatness and many of them bowed before him in reverence. His sacred message spread everywhere around Varanasi and other places of the country. Many people belonging to royal families became his disciples. King Pipa of Benaras, Mirabai the queen of Mewar and Rani Jhali the queen of Chittor were among his disciples. But the Guru never accepted anything from them and remained contended on whatever he earned from his ancestral profession. While compiling the holy Guru Granth Sahib Guru Arjun Dev JI included 41 hymns of bani of Guru Ravidas in the Granth. He was a mystic poet whose devotional songs and verses had a lasting impact on the society as a whole. His bani is simple, sweet and understandable by the common people. Once Rani Jhali of Chittor who was the disciple of Guru Ravidas invited him to Chittor. Upon reaching Chittor, he was given a grand welcome and a procession was also arranged in his honor. Guru remained there for some time. He used to wear dhoti, apply tilak on his forehead and also used to wear Janue (sacred thread) which the Brahmans objected as this dress was specific for them. One day when the Brahmans were gathered there to oppose this, Guru Ravidas opened his chest and showed them the gold like shining natural thread. It is said that Brahmans present there were dazzled by its intense brightness for some time. He did it to show them the religious futility of the thread. It is also said that it was the last time when the people saw Guru Ravidas and after that he disappeared from this mortal world leaving behind his footprints and a legacy of love, affection and devotion for the mankind.
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