RAVIDAS
- MEDIEVAL HISTORY
News:
Prime Minister pays
tributes to Sant Ravidas on his birth anniversary
What's
in the news?
●
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
unveiled the statue of Sant Ravidas in Varanasi and offered floral tribute on
the occasion of his 647th birth anniversary.
Key
takeaways:
●
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that
India is moving rapidly on the path of development by adopting the messages of
Sant Ravidas.
Saint
Ravidas:
●
Saint Ravidas, also known as Guru Ravidas
or Bhagat Ravidas, was a revered saint, poet and social reformer in the Bhakti movement.
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Born in the late 14th century in Varanasi,
Uttar Pradesh, Guru Ravidas belonged
to a family of leatherworkers, traditionally regarded as a lower caste.
Discipleship:
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He was a disciple of Jagatguru Ramanand.
Spiritual
Guru:
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The Guru Ravidas is considered as a
spiritual Guru of the Meera Bai.
Spiritual
Teachings:
1.
Bhakti Movement:
●
Played a crucial role in the Bhakti
movement, which emphasised personal devotion to God as a means to salvation.
●
He influenced contemporaries like Meera
Bai, who regarded him as a spiritual mentor, showcasing his wide-reaching
impact on Bhakti and spiritual leaders of his time.
2.
Contributions to Guru Granth Sahib:
●
41 of his poems were incorporated into the
Sikh holy scripture, highlighting his impact on Sikh philosophy.
3.
Focus on Nirguna Bhakti:
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He advocated for the worship of a formless
God, moving away from idol worship towards an abstract understanding of the
divine.
4.
Ravidas-panthis:
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His disciples came to be known as
Ravidas-panthis and followers came to be known as Ravidassias.
5.
Philosophy of Sahaj:
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He also mentioned ‘Sahaj’, a mystical
state where there is a union of the truths of the many and the one.
6.
One God:
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He gained prominence due to his belief in
one God and his unbiased religious poems.
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He also rejected the idea that people
considered lower caste cannot meet God.
Social
Reforms:
1.
Advocate for Equality:
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Staunchly opposed caste discrimination and
untouchability, promoting a society based on equality and justice.
2.
Gender Equality:
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Emphasized the importance of treating all
genders equally, advocating for women’s rights and participation in spiritual
and social life.
3.
Abolition of Caste System:
●
His teachings challenged the traditional
caste hierarchy, advocating for a society where one’s birth did not determine
their spiritual or social standing.
4.
Begumpura:
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His idea of “Begampura” was considered as
his moral and intellectual achievement. Begampura was a city conceived by him.
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In that city, there will be no sorrow, no
caste and class.