Shri Guru Ravidass Ji's Biography

SHRI GURU RAVIDASS JI was born in the fifteenth century at KANSHI (BANARAS) in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. His birthday comes every year at PURAN MASHI in the month of MAGH. His mother's name was MATA KALSI JI and his father's name was BABA SANTOKH DASS JI.

Guru Ravidass Ji was born in a humble family which was considered untouchable as per the social order prevailing at that time in Hindu society. Guru Ji spearheaded the fight against man-made discrimination based on caste, colour or creed and preached the lofty ideas of socialism, secularism, equality and fraternity.

From very childhood, he was very much devoted to worship Real God. The caste Brahmans created many problems for him. Guru Ji had to appear before King Nagarmal so many times. In the end, the King was convinced and became a follower of Guru Ravidass Ji.

Guru Ravidass Ji taught the lessons of universal brotherhood, tolerance, message of love your neighbour, which got more importance in today's world.

Guru Ravidass Ji fulfilled Guru Nanak Dev Ji's request by donating old manuscripts, which contained a collection of Guru Ravidass Ji's verses and poems. The earliest collection of these poems are available in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. It was compiled by Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Guru of the Sikhs. There are 41 verses of Guru Ravidass Ji in the Sikh Holy Book, Guru Granth Sahib.

It is said that Guru Ravidass Ji disappeared from the world, leaving behind only his footprints. Some believe that Guru Ravidass Ji lived in banaras during his last days, dying a natural death at the age of 126 years.

Shri Guru Ravidas Ji was the founder of this religion in the fourteenth century in India. Its aim was to sustain the whole of creation, not just one particular species or group. Guru Ji was born in a down trodden community known as Shrudhra’s (the Untouchables). According to the inhumane practice of castes, the lowest strata were particularly attracted and initiated into the Ravidasia religion. These people were recognised and named 'Ad-Dharm' a unique community, not adhering, collaborating, cohering and attributing to any other community i.e Hindu, Muslims, Christians or Sikhs that time.

As it is evident through the histrionic records that every religion took ages in reaching its organised or present form after the departure of its founder. It has been exceptional difficult for Ravidasia’s to attain an organised religious form because of the poverty, illiteracy, lack of awareness, economic dependency and numerous manmade hindrances created by other religious communities and cults.

A question being asked to the 'Ad-Dharam' community is why didn’t they join other existing religions? It is ironic that there has never been only one religion in the world. Religions are the creation of internal rivalries, fear, uncertainty, over powering, domination, cultural, territorial, political obsolete rituals, traditions and other conflicts. People don’t abandon their identity, history, existence and intellect even after joining or adopting any new or old religion. It is an everlasting, haunting and self-evolving natural quest prevailing in every individual to become one with its origin, socially and spiritually. It is the pivotal aspect for all the progress of human race and foundation of every religion. In this context Shri Guru Ravidas ji is just like Moses for Jew’s and Mohammed for Muslims, Christ for Christians, Lord Buddha for Buddhists and Ten Guru’s for Sikhs and so on. The only single common aspect of these religions is the belief in God. Whenever Ravidasia’s experience inappropriate reverence and status towards Shri Guru Ravidas Ji, as in any religion it leads to reorganising to survive, exist and to continue to identify itself as the Ad-Dharam community. If other can/did, then why not Ravidasia’s? In fact it should have been done centuries ago, but it is never too late.

Guru Ravidass Ji taught the lessons of universal brotherhood, tolerance, message of love your neighbour, which got more importance in today's world.

Guru Ravidass Ji fulfilled Guru Nanak Dev Ji's request by donating old manuscripts, which contained a collection of Guru Ravidass Ji's verses and poems. The earliest collection of these poems are available in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. It was compiled by Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Guru of the Sikhs. There are 41 verses of Guru Ravidass Ji in the Sikh Holy Book, Guru Granth Sahib.

It is said that Guru Ravidass Ji disappeared from the world, leaving behind only his footprints. Some believe that Guru Ravidass Ji lived in banaras during his last days, dying a natural death at the age of 126 years.

CONTRIBUTION TO SIKHISM

The 41 hymns of Shri Guru Ravidassji included in the Guru Granth Sahib fall under:

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). one with slight variations is given in both Rag Sorath and rag Maru

Inspite of his low caste, Guru Ravidass rose to a position of great honour through a life of simplicity and piety. He never felt ashamed of his pedigree and faced fearlessly the pandits, who were proud of their high caste. He told them the spiritual greatness is achieved through a loving devotion to the Lord. He boldly proclaims,

O people of the city, everyone knows I am a cobbler by trade and tanner by caste
One of the low caste, and yet within my heart I meditate upon God.
I am haunted day and night by the thought Of my low birth, society and deeds
O God! the Lord of the Universe!
O life of my life - forget me not I am ever Thy slave.

He was such a faithful Guru that once he gave a farthing (Damri) to some sadhus, who were going to Hardwar, requesting them to offer it to Ganga Mai on his behalf. They say that when the sadhu presented the damri sent by Guru Ravidass, Ganga stretched out her hands to receive it. He was greatly respected during his life time to the extent that even veteran pandits of Kanshi bowed before him. Tradition has it that Queen Jhalan of Mewar became a follower of Guru Ravidass. But despite close contacts with an affluent section of the society, he chose to live austerely.

They say that someone once offered him a paras (the philosopher's stone that turns cheaper metal into Gold) and assured him he could get any amount of wealth by making use of it. Guru Ravidass Ji asked him to place it in a corner. When he came to Guru Ravidass again after some months, he found the saint still lurking in poverty. He asked the Guru why he had not utilized the paras. Guru Ravidass remarked that for him, "God's Name alone was the paras, that was the "kamdhen" and "chintamani".