Time to time, many great personalities were born in our country and also from ancient time to present days many foreigners have been visiting India for different purposes inter alia of which are learning of Indian languages, to gain in-depth knowledge about the biography of Indian saints, Indian culture etc. While I was in many countries, honestly informing many foreigners told me ‘India/your country is great/incredible’. In this article, I am presenting few lines about a great saint Shri Guru Ravidas Ji so that readers can refresh their knowledge about this great personality.
Shri Guru Ravidas Ji, also known as Raidas (flourished 15th or 16th century) was a spiritual person, poet, great human being associated with Indian bhakti movement. He was born in Varanasi in a so called ‘untouchable leather-working caste’, but his knowledge, wisdom, spiritual development and humanitarian activities were so high that many upper castes or other castes persons cannot stand near to his activities. I feel simply by caste one cannot be great; for greatness humanitarian activities are sine qua non.
Many researchers believe that Shri Ravidas ji met Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism and 41 of Shri Ravidasji’s poems were included in the Adi Granth.
Shri Ravidas ji was a prominent figure in the bhakti movement and a renowned poet of the Nirgun bhakti tradition that valued the worship of a formless God. Two researchers who have carried out extensive study on Shri Ravidas ji’s activities are Dr. Winand Callewaert and Dr. Peter Friedlander have published many books and articles on him. They have translated his songs also. One is presenting here. It may be mentioned that Prof Dr. Winand Callewaert is now retired but still teaches Sanskrit at the KU Leuven University in Belgium. He studied in India and obtained degrees in Hindi and Sanskrit. He has published many books and articles in English, Dutch and Hindi. Another scholar Dr. Peter Friedlander lived in India from 1977-1982 and learned Hindi in Varanasi. He then studied at SOAS London University and completed his PhD on the life and works of Saint Ravidas in 1991.
“Raidas says, what shall I sing?
Singing, singing I am defeated.
How long shall I consider and proclaim:
absorb the self into the Self?
This experience is such,
that it defies all description.
I have met the Lord,
Who can cause me harm?
Hari in everything, everything in Hari –
For him who knows Hari and the sense of self,
no other testimony is needed:
the knower is absorbed”.
(As mentioned already Shri Ravidas ji wrote and translated by Winand Callewaert and Peter Friedlander). The noteworthy point from the song is that “Hari in everything, everything in Hari” (Hari is name of a God/Bhagawan as per Hinduism).
Another researcher, David Lorenzen has mentioned Shri Ravidasji’s poetry is filled with themes of infinite loving to God, wherein this divine is intended as Nirguna. It is pertinent to mention that Nirguna bhakti is an unconditional devotion to God without any form (formless) whereas Saguna bhakti is devotion to an established deity who takes the form of an idol, an image or an incarnation. Guru Ravidas Ji was vocal against the Varna (caste) system and in his poetry, questioned caste hegemony, valued labour of all sorts, as well as a life of simplicity and morality. He initiated dialogs with upper caste Hindus about caste, social justice, love and forms of worship. He spread the message that “God created man and not man created God”, means everyone is created by the God and has equal rights on this earth. It is believed that because of his teachings and discourse many persons irrespective of castes (including upper caste) and rich or poor were his followers including the King and Queen of the Chittoor kingdom presently in Rajasthan.
Shri Guru Ravidas Ji undoubtedly was a great saint and rightly a temple has been constructed in his hometown, where he is worshipped every day. His songs are purely devotional and recited every morning and evening in the temple. His birthday is celebrated every year on Magh Purnima day i.e. at full moon day of Magh month of Indian calendar as a religious event with full enthusiasm, dedication and devotion.
Although, Shri Guru Ravidas Ji has passed away around 500 years ago (believed in 1520) but he will be in the heart of millions because of his spiritual, devotional and humanitarian activities. Also it is evident from his life that caste can never be a barrier to be a Saint and Guru.
I extend my respectful Pronam to such a Great Soul, Saint and Guru.
The following websites have been consulted while writing the article:
- https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ravidas
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravidas
- https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/8501/nirguna-bhakti
- https://www.manifestias.com/2019/11/05/saint-ravidas
Dr. Shankar Chatterjee
Former Professor& Head (CPME)
NIRD &PR (Govt. of India),
Hyderabad-500 030
Telangana, India
Email <shankarjagu@gmail.com>
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