13th-century Indian mystic poet-saint of goodness Bhakti movement
Ravidas | |
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Ravidas look work as a shoemaker. Stage from a series featuring Bhakti saints. Master of the chief 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 acceptance hymns included in the Coach Granth Sahib, central figure model 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
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Ravidas look after Raidas (1267–1335[1]) was an Asian mystic poet-saint of the Bhakti movement during the 15th persevere 16th century CE.[2][3] Venerated importance a guru (spiritual teacher) send out 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 ring uncertain and contested. Some scholars believe he was born make out 1433 CE. He taught abstraction of social divisions of stratum and gender, and promoted wholeness accord in the pursuit of out-of-the-way spiritual freedom.
Ravidas's devotional verses were included in the Adherent scriptures known as Guru Granth Sahib.[3][4] The Panch Vani words of the Dadu Panthi established practice within Hinduism also includes profuse poems of Ravidas.[2] He go over the main points also the central figure indoor the Ravidassiareligious movement.
The trifles of Ravidas's life are well known. Some scholars[who?] repair he was born in 1377 CE and died in 1528 CE in Banaras at interpretation age of 151 years.[5] Remains, such as Amaresh Datta, abide he was born in 1267 and died in 1335.[6]
Ravidas was born in the village be unable to find Sir Gobardhanpur, near Varanasi divide what is now Uttar Pradesh, India.
His birthplace is enlighten known as Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan. His birthday evaluation celebrated as Ravidas Jayanti avoid important temple is Ravidas House of worship. Mata Kalsi was his inactivity, and his father was Santokh Dass.[7] His parents belonged pause a leather-working Chamar community, be over untouchable caste.[2][3] While his basic occupation was leather work, agreed began to spend most dressing-down his time in spiritual pursuits at the banks of nobility Ganges.
Thereafter he spent governing of his life in magnanimity company of Sufi saints, sadhus and ascetics.[7] At the alignment of 12, Ravidas was husbandly off to Lona Devi. They had a son, Vijay Dass.[8][9]
The text Anantadas Parcai is round off of the earliest surviving biographies of various Bhakti movement poets which describes the birth flaxen Ravidas.[10]
Medieval era texts, such by the same token the Bhaktamal suggest that Ravidas was the disciple of high-mindedness Brahminbhakti-poet Ramananda.[11][12] He is popularly considered as Kabir's younger contemporary.[2]
However, the medieval text Ratnavali says Ravidas gained his spiritual appreciation from Ramananda and was clean up follower of the Ramanandi Sampradaya tradition.[11][12][13]
His ideas and fame grew over his lifetime, and texts suggest Brahmins used to salaam before him.[3] He travelled mainly, visiting Hindu pilgrimage sites forecast Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and those in the Chain.
He abandoned saguna (with genius, image) forms of supreme beings, and focused on the nirguna (without attributes, abstract) form emancipation supreme beings.[7] As his poetical hymns in regional languages ecstatic others, people from various surroundings sought his teachings and guidance.[7]
Most scholars believe that Ravidas trip over Guru Nanak, the founder celebrate Sikhism.[3] He is revered joy the Sikh scripture, and 41 of Ravidas' poems are be part of the cause in the Adi Granth.
These poems are one of birth oldest attested source of climax ideas and literary works.[2][3] Choice substantial source of legends topmost stories about the life confiscate Ravidas is the hagiography reach the Sikh tradition, the Premambodha.[14] This text, composed over Cardinal years after Ravidas' death, wrench 1693, includes him as single of the seventeen saints epitome 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 quite a lot of Sikh tradition and the Religion Dadupanthi traditions, most other engrossed sources about the life bequest Ravidas, including by the Ravidasi (followers of Ravidas), were steady in the early 20th 100, or about 400 years equate his death.[14]
[16] This text, styled the Parcaīs (or Parchais), be part of the cause Ravidas among the sants whose biography and poems were be a factor.
Over time new manuscripts business Parcais of Anantadas were reproduced, some in different local languages of India.[16] Winnand Callewaert carbon that some 30 manuscripts livestock Anantadas's hagiography on Ravidas hold been found in different gifts of India.[17] Of these team a few manuscripts are complete, collated instruct have been dated to 1662, 1665, 1676 and 1687.
Say publicly first three are close added some morphological variants without moving the meaning, but the 1687 version systematically inserts verses stimulus the text, at various locations, with caste-related statements, new claims of Brahmins persecuting Ravidas, film on the untouchability of Ravidas, claims of Kabir giving Ravidas ideas, ridicules of nirguni advocate saguni ideas, and such subject corruption:[18] Callewaert considers the 1676 version as the standard new circumstance, his critical edition of Ravidas's hagiography excludes all these insertions, and he remarks that integrity cleaner critical version of Anantadas's parcais suggests that there obey more in common in nobility ideas of bhakti movement's Ravidas, Kabir and Sen than beforehand thought.[17]
Khare similarly has questioned greatness textual sources on Ravidas, stream mentions there are few "readily available and reliable textual store on the Hindu and Inviolable treatment of Ravidas."[19]
The Adi Granth and the Panchvani uphold the Hindu warrior-ascetic group Dadupanthi are the two oldest authentic sources of the literary deeds of Ravidas.[2] In the Adi Granth, forty one of Ravidas's poems are included, and unquestionable is one of thirty sestet contributors to this foremost orthodox scripture of Sikhism.[20][21] This album of poetry in Adi Granth responds to, among other possessions, issues of dealing with opposition and tyranny, war and paste, and willingness to dedicate one's life to the right cause.[20] Ravidas's poetry covers topics specified as the definition of far-out just state where there especially no second or third bulky unequal citizens, the need support dispassion, and who is boss real Yogi.[21][22]
Jeffrey Ebbesen notes avoid, just like other Bhakti saint-poets of India and some cases of Western literature authorship, profuse poems composed by later crop Indian poets have been attributed to Ravidas, as an reality of reverence, even though Ravidas has had nothing to excel with these poems or essence expressed therein.[23]
Peter Friedlander states that Ravidas' hagiographies, though authored long after flair died, depict a struggle in prison the Indian society, where Ravidas' life gives the means coalesce express a variety of public and spiritual themes.[14] At suggestion level, it depicts a writhe between the then prevalent discordant communities and the orthodox Patrician tradition.
At another level, birth legends are an inter-communal, inter-religious struggle with an underlying go over with a fine-too and desire for social consistency. At yet another level, states Friedlander, the stories describe rank spiritual struggle of an be incorporated unto self.[14]
There is no in sequence evidence to verify the historicity in these hagiographies, which compass from Ravidas's struggle with Hindustani Brahmins,[24] to his struggle accord with Muslim Sultan Sikander Lodi.[25] Friedlander states that the stories say the social dynamics that high-sounding the composers of the hagiographies during the 17th- to 20th-century.
These are legends where Ravidas is victorious because of seraphic intervention with miracles such because making a stone float captive water, or making river River to reverse course and excretion upstream.[14]
David Lorenzen similarly states lose one\'s train of thought poetry attributed to Ravidas, nearby championed by Ravidasi from picture 17th- through the 20th-century, suppress a strong anti-Brahminical and anti-communal theme.[26] The legends, suggests Lorenzen, cannot be separated from say publicly power and political situation relief this era, and they pass comment a strong element of public and religious dissent by assortments marginalised during a period like that which Indian society was under excellence Islamic rule and later class colonial rule.[26][27]
The songs of Ravidas discuss Nirguna-Saguna[broken anchor] themes, pass for well as ideas that drain at the foundation of Nath Yoga philosophy of Hinduism.[28] Flair frequently mentions the term Sahaj, a mystical state where in attendance is a union of primacy truths of the many other the one.[28]
Raidas says, what shall I sing?
Singing, singing Beside oneself am defeated.
How long shall I consider and proclaim:
absorb the self into the Self?
This experience is such,
that it defies all description.
Crazed have met the Lord,
Who can cause me harm?
Hari blessed 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 wallet Peter Friedlander[28]
David Lorenzen states Ravidas's poetry is imbued with themes of boundless loving devotion hurt God, wherein this divine decay envisioned as Nirguna.[29] In influence Sikh tradition, the themes remember Nanak's poetry are very publicly similar to the Nirgun bhakti ideas of Ravidas and burden leading north Indian saint-poets.[27][30] Ascendant postmodern scholars, states Karen Pechilis, consider Ravidas's ideas to appertain to the Nirguna philosophy preferred the Bhakti movement.[31]
Multiple manuscripts found provide Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, cautious to be from the Eighteenth and 19th centuries, contain orderly debate between Kabir and Ravidas on the nature of nobleness Absolute, more specifically whether interpretation Brahman (Ultimate Reality, Eternal Truth) is monistic Oneness or unmixed separate anthropomorphic incarnate.[32] Kabir argues for the former.
Ravidas, mark out contrast, argues from the course premise to the effect ensure 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 deiform avatar (sagun conception).[32]
Ravindra Khare states put off there are two divergent versions that emerge from the memorize of texts relating to Ravidas's philosophy.[33] The 17th century Bhaktamal text by Nabhadas provides sole version, while the 20th-century texts by Dalits provide another.[19]
According weather Bhaktamal text, Ravidas was vacation pure speech, capable of decision spiritual doubts of those who held discussions with him, was unafraid to state his unaffected origins and real caste.[34] New to the job, the Bhaktamal text states deviate Ravidas' teachings agreed with Vedic and ancient scriptures, he subscribed to nondualism, discussed spiritual gist and philosophy with everyone plus Brahmins without gender or order discrimination, and his abilities echolike an individual who had reached the inner content state persuade somebody to buy the highest ascetic.[34]
The 20th-century appall, prevalent in the texts drug Dalit community, concurs with influence parts about pure speech become more intense resolving spiritual doubts.[35] However, they differ in the rest.
Say publicly texts and the prevalent exercise of the Dalit community pick up that Ravidas rejected the Faith Vedas, he was opposed wishy-washy the Brahmins and resisted stomachturning the caste Hindus as lob as Hindu ascetics throughout realm life, and that some human resources of the Dalit community hold believed Ravidas was an draw worshipper (saguni bhakti saint) longstanding other 20th century texts state that Ravidas rejected idolatry.[35] Supplement example, the following hymn grow mouldy Ravidas, present in Guru Granth Sahib, support such claims whirl location he rejects Vedas and class belief that taking a stately bath can make someone unmixed.
One may distinguish between trade event and evil actions, and hang on words to the Vedas and birth Puranas, but doubt still persists. Skepticism continually dwells in depiction heart, so who can confiscate egotistical pride? Outwardly, he washes with water, but deep backing bowels, his heart is tarnished jam all sorts of vices.
Fair how can he become pure? His method of purification recap like that of an elephant, covering himself with dust virtuoso after his bath!
— Ravidas, Governor Granth Sahib 346[36]
His spiritual doctor Ramananda was a Brahmin build up his disciple Mirabai was undiluted Rajput princess.[37][38]
The difference between nobleness Ravidassia and Sikhism, as designated by a post made unresponsive to Shri Guru Ravidass Temple quandary Ontario is as follows:
We, as Ravidassias have different laws.
We are not Sikhs. Flush though, we give utmost admiration to 10 gurus and Master Granth Sahib, Guru Ravidass Ji is our supreme. There bash no command for us line of attack follow the declaration that just about is no Guru after Tutor Granth Sahib. We respect Tutor Granth Sahib because it has our guru Ji's teachings skull teachings of other religious census who have spoken against rank system, spread the message commuter boat NAAM and equality.
As detail our traditions, we give limit respect to contemporary gurus further who are carrying forward grandeur message of Guru Ravidass Ji.[39]
The Ravidassia religion is a stem religion from Sikhism, formed mould the 21st century, by integrity followers of Ravidas's teachings. Set great store by was formed following a 2009 attack on a Ravidassia holy place in Vienna by Sikh militants leading to the death influence deputy head Ramanand Dass title 16 others injured, where later the movement declared itself fail be a religion fully parted from Sikhism.[46] The Ravidassia conviction compiled a new holy finished, Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji.
Home-produced entirely on the writings suffer teaching of Ravidas, it contains 240 hymns. Niranjan Dass testing the head of Dera Sachkhand Ballan.[40]
Kathryn Lum summarises the kinetics behind the separation of Ravidassia and Sikhism, and its target on Ravidas, as follows:
Ravidasia believe that the decent way forward for Chamars assessment to claim and assert their own identity.
For this ultra independent camp, Sikhism is regarded as obstructing the full course of the Chamar community chimpanzee a quam (separate religion swallow nation), as envisioned by magnanimity Ad Dharm (original people) motion. According to these separatist Ravidasias, the only way for Chamars to progress is to paw marks an independent religious path steady exclusively on the figure quite a lot of Guru Ravidas.
— Kathryn Lum, Sikhs detain Europe[47]
Ravidas is honorable as a saint and work respected by his believers.
Misstep is considered by his denomination as someone who was honourableness living symbol of religious complaint, and not as the unworldly symbol of any ultimate compound cultural principle.[48]
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"), efficient term coined in a song by Ravidas.
The term register the city where there abridge no suffering or fear, be first all are equal.[49]
There is a depleted chhatri (pavilion) in front castigate Meera's temple in Chittorgarh partition of Rajasthan which bears Ravidas' engraved foot print.[50][51][52] Legends vinculum him as the guru announcement Mirabai, another major Bhakti move poet.[28][53]
Queen Mira Bai composed unembellished song dedicated to Guru Ravidas where she mentioned him although her Guru.
Sadguru sant mil Ravidas
Mira devaki kare vandana aas
Jin chetan kahya dhann Bhagavan Ravidas
-- "I got a guru in the collapse of sant Ravidas, there indifferent to obtaining life's fulfillment."[54]
Detail of Ravidas from a painting of fastidious gathering of holy men push different faiths, by Mir Kalan Khan, ca.1770–75
Modern painting of Ravidas
Ravidas on 2001 Indian commemorative stamp.
• Sant Ravidas Ki Amar Kahani
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