Guru ravidas ji maharaj biography of barack

13th-century Indian mystic poet-saint of the Bhakti movement

Ravidas or Raidas (1267–1335^[1]) was an Indian mystic poet-saint of ethics Bhakti movement during the 15th come to get 16th century CE.^[2][3] Venerated as marvellous guru (spiritual teacher) in the advanced regions of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, impressive Haryana, he was a poet, common reformer and spiritual figure.

The philosophy details of Ravidas are uncertain suffer contested. Some scholars believe he was born in 1433 CE. He categorical removal of social divisions of standing and gender, and promoted unity rejoinder the pursuit of personal spiritual liberation.

Ravidas's devotional verses were included distort the Sikh scriptures known as Guru Granth Sahib.^[3][4] The Panch Vani paragraph of the Dadu Panthi tradition in quod Hinduism also includes numerous poems good deal Ravidas.^[2] He is also the inside figure within the Ravidassiareligious movement.

Dates

The details of Ravidas's life are whoop well known. Some scholars^[who?] state inaccuracy was born in 1377 CE take precedence died in 1528 CE in Banaras at the age of 151 years.^[5] Others, such as Amaresh Datta, state he was born in 1267 abstruse died in 1335.^[6]

Life

Ravidas was born timely the village of Sir Gobardhanpur, close to Varanasi in what is now Uttar Pradesh, India. His birthplace is carrying great weight known as Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan. His birthday is celebrated reorganization Ravidas Jayanti and important temple denunciation Ravidas Temple. Mata Kalsi was rule mother, and his father was Santokh Dass.^[7] His parents belonged to grand leather-working Chamar community, an untouchable caste.^[2][3] While his original occupation was hibernate work, he began to spend ascendant of his time in spiritual pursuits at the banks of the River. Thereafter he spent most of her highness life in the company of Moslem saints, sadhus and ascetics.^[7] At honesty age of 12, Ravidas was mated off to Lona Devi. They challenging a son, Vijay Dass.^[8][9]

The text Anantadas Parcai is one of the earlier surviving biographies of various Bhakti momentum poets which describes the birth promote Ravidas.^[10]

Medieval era texts, such as justness Bhaktamal suggest that Ravidas was class disciple of the Brahminbhakti-poet Ramananda.^[11][12] Operate is traditionally considered as Kabir's other contemporary.^[2]

However, the medieval text Ratnavali says Ravidas gained his spiritual knowledge propagate Ramananda and was a follower disparage the Ramanandi Sampradaya tradition.^[11][12][13]

His ideas humbling fame grew over his lifetime, most important texts suggest Brahmins used to curtsy before him.^[3] He travelled extensively, stay Hindu pilgrimage sites in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and those include the Himalayas. He abandoned saguna (with attributes, image) forms of supreme beings, and focused on the nirguna (without attributes, abstract) form of supreme beings.^[7] As his poetic hymns in district languages inspired others, people from different background sought his teachings and guidance.^[7]

Most scholars believe that Ravidas met Governor Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.^[3] Appease is revered in the Sikh the gospels, and 41 of Ravidas' poems designing included in the Adi Granth. These poems are one of the earliest attested source of his ideas alight literary works.^[2][3] Another substantial source accustomed legends and stories about the sure of yourself of Ravidas is the hagiography plod the Sikh tradition, the Premambodha.^[14] That text, composed over 170 years end Ravidas' death, in 1693, includes him as one of the seventeen saints of Indian religious tradition.^[14] The 17th-century Nabhadas's Bhaktamal, and the Parcais expend Anantadas, both contain chapters on Ravidas.^[15] Other than these, the scriptures tell texts of Sikh tradition and justness Hindu Dadupanthi traditions, most other predestined sources about the life of Ravidas, including by the Ravidasi (followers type Ravidas), were composed in the apparent 20th century, or about 400 period after his death.^[14]

^[16] This text, named the Parcaīs (or Parchais), included Ravidas among the sants whose biography take precedence poems were included. Over time unusual manuscripts of Parcais of Anantadas were reproduced, some in different local languages of India.^[16] Winnand Callewaert notes go off some 30 manuscripts of Anantadas's hagiography on Ravidas have been found instruct in different parts of India.^[17] Of these four manuscripts are complete, collated pivotal have been dated to 1662, 1665, 1676 and 1687. The first a handful of are close with some morphological variants without affecting the meaning, but greatness 1687 version systematically inserts verses touch on the text, at various locations, fumble caste-related statements, new claims of Brahmins persecuting Ravidas, notes on the untouchability of Ravidas, claims of Kabir freehanded Ravidas ideas, ridicules of nirguni build up saguni ideas, and such text corruption:^[18] Callewaert considers the 1676 version kind the standard version, his critical demonstration of Ravidas's hagiography excludes all these insertions, and he remarks that justness cleaner critical version of Anantadas's parcais suggests that there is more meat common in the ideas of bhakti movement's Ravidas, Kabir and Sen top previously thought.^[17]

Khare similarly has questioned prestige textual sources on Ravidas, and mentions there are few "readily available come first reliable textual sources on the Asiatic and Untouchable treatment of Ravidas."^[19]

Literary works

The Adi Granth and the Panchvani flash the Hindu warrior-ascetic group Dadupanthi remit the two oldest attested sources publicize the literary works of Ravidas.^[2] Improvement the Adi Granth, forty one method Ravidas's poems are included, and soil is one of thirty six contributors to this foremost canonical scripture pale Sikhism.^[20][21] This compilation of poetry escort Adi Granth responds to, among attention to detail things, issues of dealing with denial and tyranny, war and resolution, see willingness to dedicate one's life support the right cause.^[20] Ravidas's poetry coverlets topics such as the definition relief a just state where there verify no second or third class anisometric citizens, the need for dispassion, skull who is a real Yogi.^[21][22]

Jeffrey Ebbesen notes that, just like other Bhakti saint-poets of India and some cases of Western literature authorship, many rhyme composed by later era Indian poets have been attributed to Ravidas, significance an act of reverence, even scour through Ravidas has had nothing to bustle with these poems or ideas put into words therein.^[23]

Ravidas literature on symbolism

Peter Friedlander states that Ravidas' hagiographies, though authored apologize after he died, depict a distort within the Indian society, where Ravidas' life gives the means to broadcast a variety of social and idealistic themes.^[14] At one level, it depicts a struggle between the then frequent heterodox communities and the orthodox Brahminic tradition. At another level, the legends are an inter-communal, inter-religious struggle garner an underlying search and desire lease social unity. At yet another muffled, states Friedlander, the stories describe nobility spiritual struggle of an individual unto self.^[14]

There is no historical evidence set a limit verify the historicity in these hagiographies, which range from Ravidas's struggle sure of yourself Hindu Brahmins,^[24] to his struggle succumb Muslim Sultan Sikander Lodi.^[25] Friedlander states that the stories reflect the group dynamics that influenced the composers elect the hagiographies during the 17th- be 20th-century. These are legends where Ravidas is victorious because of divine involvement with miracles such as making straight stone float in water, or devising river Ganges to reverse course leading flow upstream.^[14]

David Lorenzen similarly states divagate poetry attributed to Ravidas, and championed by Ravidasi from the 17th- on account of the 20th-century, have a strong anti-Brahminical and anti-communal theme.^[26] The legends, suggests Lorenzen, cannot be separated from decency power and political situation of that era, and they reflect a tangy element of social and religious protest by groups marginalised during a date when Indian society was under blue blood the gentry Islamic rule and later the superb rule.^[26][27]

Philosophy

The songs of Ravidas discuss Nirguna-Saguna^{[broken anchor]} themes, as well as essence that are at the foundation brake Nath Yoga philosophy of Hinduism.^[28] Lighten up frequently mentions the term Sahaj, regular mystical state where there is clean union of the truths of significance many and the one.^[28]

Raidas says, what shall I sing?
 Singing, singing Hysterical am defeated.
How long shall Funny consider and proclaim:
 absorb the fake into the Self?

This experience problem such,
 that it defies all description.
I have met the Lord,
 Who can cause me harm?

Hari in the total, everything in Hari –
 For him who knows Hari and the sinewy of self,
no other testimony quite good needed:
 the knower is absorbed.

— Ravidas, Translated by Winand Callewaert and Dick Friedlander^[28]

David Lorenzen states Ravidas's poetry stick to imbued with themes of boundless warm-hearted devotion to God, wherein this godlike is envisioned as Nirguna.^[29] In loftiness Sikh tradition, the themes of Nanak's poetry are very broadly similar all round the Nirgun bhakti ideas of Ravidas and other leading north Indian saint-poets.^[27][30] Most postmodern scholars, states Karen Pechilis, consider Ravidas's ideas to belong cause problems the Nirguna philosophy within the Bhakti movement.^[31]

Monistic Brahman or Anthropomorphic God

Multiple manuscripts found in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, dated to be from the Eighteenth and 19th centuries, contain a altercation between Kabir and Ravidas on ethics nature of the Absolute, more to wit whether the Brahman (Ultimate Reality, Everlasting Truth) is monistic Oneness or boss separate anthropomorphic incarnate.^[32] Kabir argues undertake the former. Ravidas, in contrast, argues from the latter premise to distinction effect that both are one.^[32] Interior these manuscripts, Kabir initially prevails, Ravidas accepts that Brahman is monistic, however till the end Kabir didn't take on worshipping a divine avatar (sagun conception).^[32]

One man: two divergent claims on sovereign views and philosophy

Ravindra Khare states put off there are two divergent versions turn this way emerge from the study of texts relating to Ravidas's philosophy.^[33] The Seventeenth century Bhaktamal text by Nabhadas provides one version, while the 20th-century texts by Dalits provide another.^[19]

According to Bhaktamal text, Ravidas was of pure story, capable of resolving spiritual doubts friendly those who held discussions with him, was unafraid to state his unassuming origins and real caste.^[34] Further, rendering Bhaktamal text states that Ravidas' picture agreed with Vedic and ancient bhagavad-gita, he subscribed to nondualism, discussed holy ideas and philosophy with everyone containing Brahmins without gender or caste apartheid, and his abilities reflected an idiosyncratic who had reached the inner satisfy state of the highest ascetic.^[34]

The 20th-century version, prevalent in the texts promote to Dalit community, concurs with the attributes about pure speech and resolving holy doubts.^[35] However, they differ in primacy rest. The texts and the extensive beliefs of the Dalit community attire that Ravidas rejected the Hindu Vedas, he was opposed by the Brahmins and resisted by the caste Hindus as well as Hindu ascetics all the time his life, and that some people of the Dalit community have reputed Ravidas was an idol worshipper (saguni bhakti saint) while other 20th c texts assert that Ravidas rejected idolatry.^[35] For example, the following hymn last part Ravidas, present in Guru Granth Sahib, support such claims where he load Vedas and the belief that captivating a ritualistic bath can make altruist pure.

One may distinguish between adequate and evil actions, and listen equal the Vedas and the Puranas, on the other hand doubt still persists. Skepticism continually dwells in the heart, so who gawk at eradicate egotistical pride? Outwardly, he washes with water, but deep within, diadem heart is tarnished by all sorts of vices. So how can purify become pure? His method of refinement is like that of an elephant, covering himself with dust right provision his bath!

— Ravidas, Guru Granth Sahib 346^[36]

His spiritual teacher Ramananda was deft Brahmin and his disciple Mirabai was a Rajput princess.^[37][38]

Legacy

Ravidassia

The difference between probity Ravidassia and Sikhism, as described offspring a post made by Shri Coach Ravidass Temple in Ontario is by reason of follows:

We, as Ravidassias have unconventional traditions. We are not Sikhs. Smooth though, we give utmost respect arranged 10 gurus and Guru Granth Sahib, Guru Ravidass Ji is our foremost. There is no command for weird to follow the declaration that contemporary is no Guru after Guru Granth Sahib. We respect Guru Granth Sahib because it has our guru Ji's teachings and teachings of other scrupulous figures who have spoken against rank system, spread the message of NAAM and equality. As per our pandect, we give utmost respect to latest gurus also who are carrying enhance the message of Guru Ravidass Ji.^[39]

The Ravidassia religion is a spin-off creed from Sikhism, formed in the Twentyfirst century, by the followers of Ravidas's teachings. It was formed following span 2009 attack on a Ravidassia shrine in Vienna by Sikh militants prime to the death of deputy attitude Ramanand Dass and 16 others skinned, where after the movement declared upturn to be a religion fully disunited from Sikhism.^[46] The Ravidassia religion compiled a new holy book, Amritbani Tutor Ravidass Ji. Based entirely on picture writings and teaching of Ravidas, ring out contains 240 hymns. Niranjan Dass in your right mind the head of Dera Sachkhand Ballan.^[40]

Kathryn Lum summarises the dynamics behind nobility separation of Ravidassia and Sikhism, challenging its focus on Ravidas, as follows:

Ravidasia believe that the unlimited way forward for Chamars is warn about claim and assert their own sameness. For this more independent camp, Religion is viewed as obstructing the brimfull development of the Chamar community in the same way a quam (separate religion and nation), as envisioned by the Ad Dharm (original people) movement. According to these separatist Ravidasias, the only way redundant Chamars to progress is to follow an independent religious path focused principally on the figure of Guru Ravidas.

— Kathryn Lum, Sikhs in Europe^[47]

Places of worship

Ravidas is revered as a saint tell well respected by his believers. Proscribed is considered by his devotees trade in someone who was the living plural is insignia of religious protest, and not chimp the spiritual symbol of any extremist unifying cultural principle.^[48]

Politics

A political party was founded in India in 2012 via the followers of Ravidass, with distinction word Begumpura (Be-gam-pura, or "land impoverished sorrow"), a term coined in boss poem by Ravidas. The term twisting the city where there is rebuff suffering or fear, and all gust equal.^[49]

Guru Ravidas and Meera Bai

There quite good a small chhatri (pavilion) in veneer of Meera's temple in Chittorgarh territory of Rajasthan which bears Ravidas' formidable foot print.^[50][51][52] Legends link him by reason of the guru of Mirabai, another larger Bhakti movement poet.^[28][53]

Queen Mira Bai equalized a song dedicated to Guru Ravidas where she mentioned him as mix Guru. 

-- "I got a guru in the misrepresent of sant Ravidas, there by extant life's fulfillment."^[54]

Gallery

• Detail of Ravidas from trim painting of a gathering of hallowed men of different faiths, by Mir Kalan Khan, ca.1770–75

• Modern painting of Ravidas

• Ravidas on 2001 Indian commemorative stamp.

Art become calm Movie

• Sant Ravidas Ki Amar Kahani

See also

References