Ravidas was a North Indian mystic poet-sant of the bhakti movement during the 15th to 16th century CE. He was a member of the untouchable caste and his devotional songs and verses made a lasting impact on Indian society and are still widely popular and revered today.
Very little is known about Ravidas’ life and much of the information available is based on legend and folklore. According to tradition, he was born in the city of Varanasi in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. He was said to be born into an untouchable caste, but despite this he was a spiritual leader and teacher who spread his message of equality and devotion through his songs and poems.
Ravidas’ poetry was written in the local dialect of North India and was meant to be sung and recited by the common people. His verses were filled with simple and straightforward language, and often dealt with themes of love, devotion, and compassion for all beings. He challenged the prevailing caste system and the discrimination of untouchables in his writings, and advocated for the equality of all people regardless of their social status or background.
Ravidas’ teachings and poetry had a profound impact on the bhakti movement in India and he is considered one of its greatest saints. Today, his poems are still widely recited and his teachings are still followed by millions of people in India and around the world. His devotional songs and verses have been collected and compiled into a holy book known as the Guru Granth Sahib, which is considered one of the most important religious texts in Sikhism.
Ravidas was a mystical poet and saint of the bhakti movement who challenged the prevailing caste system and advocated for equality and devotion for all beings. His devotional songs and verses continue to be popular and widely revered in India and around the world, and his legacy continues to inspire millions of people.
Ravidas‘s early education
Ravidas also known as Sant Ravidas, was a legendary spiritual leader and poet who lived in the 15th century in India. He was born into a Dalit (formerly known as “Untouchable”) family and was raised in poverty.
Growing up in poverty, Ravidas had to work as a cobbler to support his family from a young age. However, despite the financial struggles and the lack of formal education, Ravidas’ devotion to spirituality and his connection to the divine allowed him to cultivate a deep understanding of the world and the human experience.
Despite his lack of formal education, Ravidas was an insightful and intelligent person. He was known for his wisdom and deep understanding of the human experience. He had a strong connection with nature and was fascinated by the beauty and intricacy of the world around him.
As he grew older, Ravidas began to write poems and hymns, expressing his spirituality and his views on the world. These poems, known as the Bijak, became a source of inspiration for millions of people and are still studied and revered today.
Ravidas’s early education was limited but he was able to gain knowledge and wisdom through his own experiences and from the teachings of his elders. He became a spiritual leader and poet, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and bring comfort to people even today.
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Why was Ravidas named Ravidas?
Ravidas was a saint and poet of the Bhakti movement in India who lived in the 15th century. It is believed that he was named after the Hindu deity Rama, as “Ravi” means “sun” in Sanskrit, and “das” means “servant” or “slave”. So, the name Ravidas means “servant or slave of Rama”. The name reflects his devotion to Rama and the central role that his spirituality played in his life. Ravidas is revered as a spiritual teacher by many people, especially those who follow the Bhakti tradition, and his teachings continue to be popular in India to this day.
Is Ravidas Sikh or Hindu?
Ravidas was a 15th-century Indian saint and poet who was considered a Bhakti saint by both Hindus and Sikhs. He was born into a lower caste in India and was known for his teachings of equality and rejection of the caste system.
Ravidas’s poetry is included in the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, and he is considered one of the greatest saints of the Bhakti movement. In Hinduism, he is regarded as a saint and his followers are part of the Ravidassia religion, which is distinct from both Hinduism and Sikhism.
So, it depends on how you look at it. From one perspective, Ravidas could be considered both a Hindu and a Sikh saint, while from another perspective, he could be considered a saint of a separate religion, Ravidassia.
What is the contribution of Ravidas?
Ravidas was a 15th-century Indian mystic, saint, and poet who is considered one of the greatest saints of the Bhakti movement. His teachings and poetry focused on the rejection of the caste system and the promotion of equality, compassion, and love for all human beings, regardless of their social status or background.
Some of his contributions include :-
Poetry :- Ravidas wrote many poems and hymns in the local dialect, which were later compiled into a collection called the Shabad Granth. His poems are considered devotional in nature and emphasize the importance of a personal relationship with God.
Teachings :- Ravidas taught that everyone, regardless of their caste or social status, had equal access to God and that one could attain spiritual liberation through devotion and love for the divine.
Promoting equality :- Ravidas was a strong advocate for the rights of the marginalized and oppressed, and he spoke out against the caste system, which was prevalent in Indian society at the time. He encouraged people to reject the notion of superiority and inferiority based on birth and to embrace a spirit of equality and compassion.
Legacy :- Ravidas’s teachings and poetry continue to be an important part of Indian religious and cultural tradition, and his legacy continues to inspire millions of people around the world. The Ravidassia religion, which is based on his teachings, has millions of followers and is recognized as a separate religion in India.
Overall, Ravidas’s contributions to Indian spiritual and cultural traditions are significant and continue to influence people to this day.
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Who is the God of Ravidas?
Ravidas worshiped a formless and all-pervading divine being, who he considered to be the source of all creation and the ultimate reality. He referred to this divine being as “Satnaam,” which means “the true name.”
In his teachings and poems, Ravidas emphasized the importance of devotion and love for this divine being and encouraged people to seek a personal relationship with God. He taught that the path to spiritual liberation was through the devotion of the heart and that this could be achieved by anyone, regardless of their caste or social status.
So, to summarize, the God of Ravidas is a formless and all-pervading divine being referred to as “Satnaam,” and he emphasized the importance of devotion and love for this divine being in his teachings and poems.