Ravidasi
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The members of the Ravidassi religion believe in Guru Ravidas or Raidas as their founding prophet. The members are called Ravidasias who believe in Guru Ravidas to be their spiritual master and revere him as Satguru. He is considered one of the early northern India poet-Sants.
Guru Ravidas founded a spiritual movement in the fourteenth century in India. He was born in a downtrodden community known as Chamars, who were considered "untouchable". According to the inhumane practice of caste, the lowest strata were particularly attracted and initiated into the Ravidasi path by other Hindus. These people were recognised and named "Ad-Dharm" meaning the Primal Spiritual Way, and were a unique community, not adhering, collaborating, cohering and attributing to any other community i.e Muslims or Christians of that time.
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[edit] Founder
Guru Ravidas (or Raidas) is considered the founder of the Ravidasi religion by his followers, known as a Ravidasi. According to this religion, it is not a condition that a person be born in the Ravidasi community to become one.
[edit] Places of Worship
Technically a Ravidasia can meditate and reflect on God anywhere as Guru Ravidass stated that God dwells within the heart and is always around us.
However, there does exist places of worship which is known as a Gurdwara / Bhawan". It is a Strict requirement to cover one's hair and to remove footwear when entering a Gurdwara.
Outside a Gurdwara / Bhawan there is always a red flag upon which is written the Nishaan, and above it an electric lamp symbolising enlightenment from Guru Ravidas's teachings.
Langar, a Communal lunch, takes place inside the gurdwara and all are free to partake of it.
The Shri Guru Granth Sahib is installed as the focal point in the main worship room.
Arti takes place daily at the closing of the day's formal services, this consists of the famous Arti written by Guru Ravidas in which he tells God that only His name is sufficient. Translated as follows:
Thy Name Is My Aarti And Ablution, O Lord. Without God’s Name All Religious Paraphernalia Are False. Thy Name Is My Prayer-Mat, Thy Name My Saffron-Grater, And Thy Name Is The Saffron, Which I Sprinkle On Thee. Thy Name Is The Water, Thy Name The Sandal-Wood, And The Repetition Of The Name Is The Rubbing Thereof; This Is The Sandal Paste, Which I Take To Anoint Thee. Thy Name Is The Lamp, Thy Name The Wick, Thy Name Is The Oil, Which I Pour Therein. With Thy Name I Have Kindled The Light, With It’s Illumination My Entire Home Is Bright. Thy Name Is The String, Thy Name The Garland Of Flowers, Defiled Are All The Eighteen Loads Of Leaves, Offerings Of Ours. Why Should I Offer Thee What Thou Thyself Has Created? Thy Name Is The Whisk (Chawar) Which I Wave Over Thee. The Whole World Is Involved In The Eighteen Puranas, And The Sixty-Eight Places Of Pilgrimage, It Rotates Within The Four Forms Of Species. Thy Name Is The Aarti, Sayeth Ravidass And Thy True Name Itself Is Offered, O Lord, As The Ceremonial Food To Thee.
[edit] Religious Scripture
Inside the Guru Ravidass Gurdwara, Hymns from the Shri Guru Sikhya Sahib, also known as the Guru Granth Sahib are recited daily (as in any Gurdwara). The Guru Granth Sahib contains 41 hymns by Guru Ravidass, which fall under the following: Raga - Siri(1), Gauri (5), Asa(6), Gujari(1), Sorath(7), Dhanasari(3), Jaitsari(1), Suhi(3), Bilaval(2), Gaund(2), Ramkali(1), Maru(2), Kedara(1), Bhairau(1), Basant(1), and Malhar(3). One with slight variations is given in both Rag Sorath and rag Maru. The Guru Granth Sahib also includes the hymns of many other Gurus, Contemporaries and Disciples, including Guru Nanak,-(the founder of the Sikh religion) Guru Kabir, Baba Farid etc.. who preached a spiritual path to personal enlightenment. This book contains passages from the holy book Ravidas-Deep, which was presented in the court during British rule in India in recognition of the Ravidasia religion and the ‘Ad-Dharam’ community.
[edit] Relationship with Sikhism
Many followers are located in Punjab where the main religion is Sikhism. Legend has it that Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of the Sikh religion, might have met with Guru Ravidass ji, during his travels. It is believed that it was at this stage that Guru Ravidass handed over his Hymns to Guru Nanak Dev. Both spoke against man made discrimination based on Caste, Colour and Creed, and preached ideas of Equality and Socialism, and this is evident from Hymns incorporated in the Shri Guru Granth Sahib. A belief that was later carried out by the later Sikh Guru's.
[edit] Places of pilgrimage
According to historians, Guru Ravidas was born on 15th January 1377 and according to the Indian calendar, Sunday Sukhal Falgin Parvithta in 1433. The birth place is located in the Uttar Pradesh State in India, in the city of Benares. It was not an urban area. The locality was known as Mandhuadhe. The community was known as ‘Kutvandla’ one of the Shudhra communities. Begumpura otherwise known as Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan Mandir, at Seer Goverdhanpur, Varanasi, India is the ultimate place of pilgrimage for the followers of Ravidas today. Guru Ravidass disappeared from this world around 1527 AD, leaving behind only his footprints.
[edit] Religious flag
The Ravidasi religious symbol is known as the Nishaan, distinct from the Sikh Nishan Sahib. Strictly speaking "Nishaan" means "symbol" and is used in Ravidasi context to mean their mantras passed down by their Sants. There is some discussion going on amongst some Ravidasias that the symbol should be Sohang or Har. Both of these words are directly or indirectly meant for mediation or in reciting of Ravidasia hymns, and are given to individuals by their Sant.
However, there is a long established Ravidasi flag which has been in use for centuries, its explanation is as follows:
- Centre
Chaar Janju (four sacred threads) The Brahmin’s usually put these on according a few scriptures. Guru Raidas demolished this by arguing on the basis of logic and spirituality. He explained the four different states of time relating to four disciplines and rituals of religion Dharma.
- Square (The Heavy Stone)
According to legend, Raidas made the heaviest stone float on the River Ganges. The logic behind this miracle is the enlightenment and overall uplift of every individual. Lack of knowledge and wisdom one sinks to depths of darkness, knowledge makes the stone and steel float.
- Sunrays (Thirty four rays of Sunlight)
As a downtrodden people, the Dalit were not allowed to be educated or could afford to be so. The Guru Raidas spoke and communicated in local dialect, and established 34 words script which later became modified by a Sikh Guru and was known as the Gurmukhi script at a later stage. This enabled the Dalit to enjoy and progress in understanding and communicating their philosophy. The Ravidassi Guru's name is Ravi, meaning sun. The universe is illuminated due to the suns otherwise it would be in darkness. The second half of his name is Dass meaning "servant," therefore the Satguru of the Ravidassi religion is the "Servant of Illumination." By following his example, Ravidasia people are striving to become enlightened, as was their Guru.
- Circle
The whole universe - the sacred Kara or "Bangle" and the [[Charanamrit}} or Bowl of holy water. This circle depicts the whole universe, which is contained and run in God's order. Guru Ravidas produced the holy water in a round bowl. The circle also represents the round golden bangle presented to him by Mirabai his follower.
[edit] Slogans & chants
The following slogans have been used in Ravidasi community worship since around 1490 CE, and are still used today:
- “Jo Bole So Nirbhey” - “Shri Guru Ravidas Maharaj Ki Jai”.
- “Jo Bole So Nirbhey” – “Ravidasia Dharma Ki Jai”.
- “Jo Bole So Nirbhey – Sadh Sangat Ki Jai”.
Whenever any Ravidasi receives, meets, writes or addresses another he or she is suppose to say “Jai Gurudev”.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
^ Adi Granth 29, cited in Hawley, John S. and Jurgensmeyer, Mark (eds.), Songs of the Saints of India (2005) p.17, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-505221-8
^ Guru Ravidass Marg, Harnam Singh Lakha, Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha UK undated.
[edit] External links
- Shri Guru Ravidas Mission London
- Guru Ravidas Site
- Gur Ravidas Sabha UK
- Guru Ravidass Sabha.Com
- The Writings of Raidas in Gurmukhi
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