Ravidassia Religion

Part of a series on The Ravidassia Religion
Ravidasi beliefs and practices
Aarti
Meditation ·
Bhawan
Holy Book
Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji
Ultimate Place of Pilgrimage
Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan
Topics
Guru Ravidass ·
Guru Ravidass Jayanti
Harr Nishan

Ravidassia (ⁱ/rɑːvaɪdɑːssaɪɑː/) also Ravidassias are people who follow the Ravidassia Dharam (Punjabi: ਰਬਿਦਾਸੀ ਧਰਮ, Hindi रविदास्सिया धर्म, Urdu راویدسسیہ دھرم) a religion based on the teachings of Guru Ravidass. The members of the Ravidassia religion believe in Guru Ravidas or Raidas as their founding prophet. The members are called Ravidassia who believe in Guru Ravidass to be their spiritual master and revere him as Satguru. In 14th century India, Guru Ravidass, a Dalit by birth, taught monotheistic spirituality and the equality message based on emancipation of the Indian caste system. He was born in an oppressed community known as Chamars. Guru Ravidass taught the lessons of universal brotherhood, tolerance, message of love your neighbour. The Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji contains 240 hymns of Guru Ravidas along with his teachings. Guru Ravidass lived in Banaras during his last days, dying a natural death at the age of 126 years.^{[citation needed]}

Founder

Main article: Guru Ravidass

Procession of Ravidassias in Bedford

Festa Indù di Shri Guru Ravidass ad Arzignano

Guru Ravidass is considered the founder of the Ravidassia faith. 41 hymns by Guru Ravidass are recorded in their own holy book known as Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji, a quotation being: "My caste is low, my lineage is low, and mean is my birth. I have sought God's refuge, says Guru Ravidass Ji the cobbler." Guru Ravidass was also the Guru of the Vaishnava devotee Sant Mira Bai. According to historians, Guru Ravidass was born on 15 January 1377 and according to the Indian calendar, Sunday Sukhal Falgin Parvithta in 1433. His birthplace was a locality known as Mandhuadhe in the city of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh state, India. The community was known as ‘Kutvandla’, one of the Shudra communities. The birthplace is marked by the Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan also known as Begampura, and is a major place of pilgrimage for the followers of Guru Ravidass today.

Beliefs

Guru Ravidass teachings represent an offshoot of the bhakti movement of the fifteenth century, a religious renaissance in India. Guru Ravidass taught the following principles:

• The oneness, omnipresence and omnipotence of God, who is called Har
• The human soul is a particle of the Divine; the difference between the two being like the difference between gold and the bangle, water and the wave.
• The rejection of caste.
• To realize God, which is the goal of human life, man should concentrate on Har, giving up rituals.
• The only way to liberation is to free the mind from duality.

The Shri Guru Ravidas Mission states that the conditions on being a member of the community are:

• That one who preaches Guru Ravidass Ji's philosophy is a Ravidassia.
• It is not a condition that one should have been born in the Ravidassia community to become or initiated as one.
• To celebrate Shri Guru Ravidass Jayanti according to the Punjabi calendar, Sunday, Sukhal Falgin Parvithta.
• Whenever any Ravidassia receives, meets, writes or addresses a fellow Ravidassia, he or she should say "Jai Gurudev".
• and their slogan is "jo bole so nirbhai guru ravidass maharaj ki jai"
• According to religion, it is not a condition that a person be born in the Ravidassia community to become Ravidassia

Dera Sach Khand Ballan of Jallandhar, Punjab on 30 January 2010 at the 633rd birth anniversary of Sri Guru Ravidass announced the objectives of Ravidassia Religion as:

• "To propagate the Bani and teachings of Satguru Ravidass Ji. Besides, the teachings and thought of Maharishi Bhagwan Balmiki Ji, Satguru Namdev Ji, Satguru Kabir Ji, Satguru Trilochan Ji, Satguru Sain Ji and Satguru Sadna Ji would also be propagated". and
• "To respect all religions, love the mankind and lead virtuous life".

Sri Guru Ravidass International Organisation for Human Rights believes in protecting rights of Ravidassia Religion and is registered charity organisation in UK. With the aim of bringing awareness of basic human rights to all in need and most volernable to abuses of their human rights.

Places of worship

The Ravidassia place of worship is called a "Bhawan". Technically a Ravidassia can meditate and reflect on God anywhere, as Guru Ravidass stated that "God dwells within the heart and is always around us." It is expected that you will take off your shoes and socks and cover your head. This is done as a sign of respect for Guru Ravidass, and is a practice common to all Ravidassia Bhawan due to common Indian practice. There is also opportunity to wash your hands in most of Bhawans. Outside a Bhawan there is always a flag upon which is written Harr, and above it a lamp symbolising enlightenment from Guru Ravidass teachings. Langar, a communal lunch, takes place inside the Bhawan and all are free to partake of it. Inside the bhawan, hymns from the Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji Ki are recited daily. In Bhawans his image is worshipped.

Birthplace of Guru Ravidass

Birthplace of Sri Guru Ravidass Ji

According to historians, Guru Ravidass was born on 15 January 1377 and according to the Indian calendar, Sunday Sukhal Falgin Parvithta in 1433. His birthplace is located in the Uttar Pradesh State in India, in the city of Varanasi. It was not an urban area. The locality was known as Mandhuadhe. The community was known as ‘Kutvandla’. Shri Guru Ravidass Janam AsthanMandir also known as Begampura, at Seer Goverdhanpur, Varanasi, India is the ultimate place of pilgrimage ffor the devotees in India and abroad of Guru Ravidas today. There is an imlitree quite adjacent to the temple site. When the foundation stone of the temple was laid by Dera Sach Khand and followers it was a dry trunk of the tree. Sant Hari Dass Ji watered the tree daily so long as it stayed there. The tree became live again. To-day it is big tree. The pilgrims pay their obei-sance at this place also.

Ravidassia Arti

Ravidassia Arti takes place daily in the Bhawan at the closing of the day's formal services, this consists of the famous Arti written by Guru Ravidass Ji in which he tells God that only his name is sufficient.

Hindi: नाम तेरो आरती मजनू मुरारी ;हर के नाम बिन झूठे सगल पसारे ;नाम तेरो आसनों – नाम तेरो उर्सा ;नाम तेरो केसरों ले छत करे ;नाम तेरे अम्भुला ,नाम तेरो चंद्नो ;घास जपे नाम ले तुझे कोऊ चारे ;नाम तेरे दीवा – नाम तेरो बाटी ;नाम तेरो तेल ले म्हें पसरे ;नाम तेरे की जोत लगायी ; भाइयो उजारो भवन सग्लारे ;नाम तेरे तागा – नाम फूल माला ;भर आठारह सगल झुथारे ;तेरो किया तुझेह किया अर्पोऊ ;नाम तेरे तुहइ चवर धोलारे ;एह वर्तन है सगल संसारे ;कह रविदास – नाम तेरो आरती ;सैट नाम है हर भोग तुहारे !!
Your name is my arti and ablution, o Lord. Without God’s name all religious paraphernalia are false. Your name is my prayer-mat, your name my saffron-grater, and your name is the saffron, which i sprinkle on you. Your name is the water, your name the sandal-wood, and the repetition of the name is the rubbing thereof; this is the sandal paste, which i take to anoint you. Your name is the lamp, your name the wick, your name is the oil, which i pour therein. With your name i have kindled the light, with its illumination my entire home is bright. Your name is the string, your name the garland of flowers, defiled are all the eighteen loads of leaves, offerings of ours. Why should i offer thee what you yourself has created? Your name is the fly-whisk which i wave over you. The whole world is involved in the eighteen Puranas, and the sixty-eight places of pilgrimage, it rotates within the four forms of species. Your name is the arti, says Ravidass, and your true name itself is offered, o Lord, as the ceremonial food to you.

Scriptures

Ravidassias revere the Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji which contains all the hymns by Guru Ravidass. This newly made book has been compiled from the verses of Ravidas Ji in the Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji, where they are present in the following verses: 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).

The Ravidassia religion reveres the Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji, the holy book of Ravidassia Religion and many Ravidassia temples install it in keeping with the historical traditions of Ravidassias.

It contains 140 shabads, 40 pade, painti akhri, bani haftawar,bani pandran tithi, baran maas updesh,dohra, saand bani,anmol vachan (milni de samen), laawaan,suhag ustat,manglachar, 231 salok. There are 177 pages in all of the book.

It has been installed at Ravidassias temples in all of the States in India and in major countries of the world.

For the first time ever, new granth (holy book), AmritBani Guru Ravidass Ji, which contains 240 hymns of Guru Ravidass ji, was made a part of the Shobha Yatras. The community had installed AmritBani Guru Ravidass Ji (Holy Book) at the Guru Ravidass dham in Buta Mandi area of Jalandhar on 1 February'2012. The Earlier, on January 30, 2010, on the occasion of birth anniversary of Guru Ravidass, the Dera Sach Khand Ballan had announced the formation of the new religion – Ravidassia- in Benaras. The move had come days after the killing of its deputy head Sant Ramanand Dass in May 2009 at a temple in Vienna by some Sikh radicals/terrorists. Their social and theological assertion was evident during the Shobha Yatras the community members took out on Monday in Doaba region on the eve the 635th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidass giving an indication of adopting the new religion by Ravidassia community.

President of newly-formed Begumpura Lok Party and a supporter of the new religion, Satish Bharti, said that the copies of the Granth was put on display during the Shobha Yatras to assert that the community members are firm believers of the new religion.

It may be noted that in Doaba region – comprising Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala and Nawanshahr – more than than 45 per cent population belong to Dalit community, a majority of whom are now following the new religion "Ravidassia Religion".

Leaders

True Ravidassias devotees are aligned with a Sant who mentors them on their spiritual path, providing personalised mantras and advice. A very well known Sant by the name of Sant Ramanand Dass was murdered in Vienna recently by Sikh radicals/terrorists, he was well known for his highly personal style of mentoring, including his knowledge of singing hymns, teachings of banis of Guru Ravidass. The head of the Ravidassia Dharam, known as the Sadhus(Saints) are present mainly in Punjab and the 'Dera Sach Khand Ballan' consists of sadhus, also known as Sant Samaj who inturn lead and are heads of all ravidassias deras around the world. The Leader of the Ravidassia Dharam, known as the Gaddi Nasheen is Sant Niranjan Dass alongside Sant Garib Dass. Former leaders include Sant Hari Dass, Sant Sarwan Dass and Sant Baba Pippal Dass.

Flag

Religious Flag

The Ravidassia religious symbol is known as the Harr Nishaan. Har, Both words are directly or indirectly meant for mediation or in reciting of Ravidassia hymns and are given to individuals by their Sant.

However, there is a long-established Ravidassia flag which has been in use for centuries. Its explanation is as follows:

• A Bigger circle with Sunrays (40 rays of sunlight) - The forty rays round the circle of the insignia signify forty hymns of Guru Ravidass.
• In between the bigger and smaller circles is written a couplet (ਨਾਮ ਤੇਰੇ ਕਿ ਜੋਤੀ ਲਗਾਈ, ਭੇਈਓ ਭੇਈਓ ਭਵਣ ਸਗਲਈ) Naam tere kee jot lagayi, Bhaio Ujiaaro Bhawan saglaare (Your Name is the flame I light; it has illuminated the entire world)
• Star
• Flame - Flame represents the „Naam‟ (word) that would illuminate the entire world. sign of flame crosses over into the bigger circle.
• Circle - This circle depicts the whole universe, which is contained and run in God's order.
• Har (" हरि " " ਹਰਿ ") and Flame over it. „Har‟ represents the very being of Guru Ravidass and his teachings. The insignia Har is chosen after the name of their Guru [Ravi-Sun & dass-servant] (servant of the sun).

Harr Nishaan can also be found on the first page and on the fourth page of Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji Ki.

Logo

The Ravidassia religious symbol is known as the "Harr(i)" "ਹਰਿ" nishaan. Harr(i) means "God" in Punjabi and is used in the Ravidassia context as the One God. The Gurmukhi transliteration of the name Harr(i) is the main symbol of the Ravidassia Religion. Strictly speaking "Nishaan" means "symbol" and is used in Ravidassia context to mean their mantras passed down by their Sants.

Festival

Devotees at 635th Anniversary of Guru Ravidass at Sri Guru Ravidass Janamsthan Mandir, Varanasi

The birthday of Guru Ravidass (Shri Guru Ravidass Jayanti)is celebrated every year according to the date in the Indian calender. This changes each year but is usually in January or February. It is the annual focal point for Ravidassias and this day is observed with great enthusiasm across length and breadth of India. The Seer Gowardhapur village, the birth place of Guru Ravidas ji on the outskirts of the city, gear up for the grand birth anniversary celebrations every year wearing a festive look with colourful pandals and eye-catching stalls.

Long conclave of trucks carrying devotees from different parts of the country arrives every year to gather near the Guru Ravidas Temple thus turning the venue into a fair site, the buzzing movement of devotees, both men and women, old and young, give it a mini-India look two days before the birth anniversary day. About one-kilometer stretch from the entrance of Guru Ravidas Janamsthan Mandir gets converted into a fair site, displaying colourful stalls on both sides of the Seer-Ramna Road. The frequent cleaning of the road takes place making it sparkle and ready to facilitate movement of devotees who came bare-footed to offer prayers and worship Guru Ravidas at the temple from different parts of the country. The white and golden dome of the temple been decorated with attractive lights and flowers. At the fair site, a number of colourful stalls displays toys, artificial ornaments, books, literature and posters of Guru Ravidas ji comes up on both sides of the road. As many as two huge pandals for fooding and lodging of devotees been set up near the site. The 'sewadars' (volunteers), including women, remains busy in mass cooking (langars) with a big 'tawa' churning out chapattis for the devotees. Straw and mats were laid on the ground to provide warmth to the devotees. A total of around 5,000 'sewadars' been deployed every year to offer round the clock services to the devotees. A control room been set up at strategic places including Ravidas temple and Cantonment railway station to coordinate the movement of devotees. Every year around 12 lakhs of devotees from India and abroad visit Seer Goverdhanpur. In India, devotees pour in from Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, MP, Bihar, UP and Uttarakhand while foreign devotees from the US, Canada and UK throng the village. Most of the devotees visit by speaial train while some prefers truck journey. It is also worth mentioning that Guru Ravidass Janamsthan Public Charitable Trust organises the events for birth anniversary celebrations every year. The sight of the temple looks soothing to the eyes and devotees like to spend their time for colourful processions, recitation of 'shabad' (musical prayers) and 'keertan' during the holy visit.

Sant Niranjan Dass ji, the leader of the Ravidassia Religion, Dera Sach Khand and Chairman of Guru Ravidas garlands the statue of Sri Guru Ravidas ji at Ravidas Park, Nagwa in the morning to mark the start of 635th birth anniversary celebrations in the city. It would be followed by flag procession near the temple and orations and recitations at pandals.

On the day there is a Path of Amritbani Guru Ravidass read, the Harr(i) nishaan sahib is changed ceremonially, and there is a special Ravidassia Arti and a Nagar Kirtan procession bearing Shri Guru Ravidass' portrait are taken out to the accompaniment of music through the streets of the temple locality. His followers offer prayer to this great man. To mark this occasion the government of India has declared it a gazetted holiday.

Under the guidance and management of Sant Niranjan Dass Ji, Gaddi Nashin Dera Sach Khand, Ballan, who is, also, Chairman of Guru Ravi Dass Janam Asthan Public Charitable Trust, special pilgrim trains have been run to and fro Varanasi for the last 12 years on the occasion of Parkash Ustav of Guru Ravi Dass ji. A special train is run from Jalandhar to Varanasi and back every year on Guru Ravidass Jyanti Purb for the convenience of the pilgrims since 2000. The Special Train "Begumpura" Express Yatra is every body’s wish which remains a very interesting journey for the life of devotees.

Slogans and chants

The following Ardas slogans have been used in Ravidasi community worship since around 1490 CE and are still used today:

• “Jo Bole So Nirbhey” – “Shri Guru Ravidass Maharaj Ki Jai” means Fearless is the one who utters: Victory to Shri Guru Ravidass
• “Jo Bole So Nirbhey” – “Ravidassia Dharma Ki Jai”
• “Jo Bole So Nirbhey – Sadh Sangat Ki Jai”

Whenever any Ravidassia receives, meets, writes or addresses another he or she is supposed to say "ਜੇ ਗੁਰੂਦੇਵ" “(Jai Gurudev)” "जय गुरुदेव ". which means victory of divine Guru or Guru Ravidass to which one reply was "ਧਨ ਗੁਰੂਦੇਵ"(Dhan GuruDev) "धन गुरुदेव" (blessed the divine Guru.

Other chants which are commonly spoken includes (Jai Santa Di) "ਜੈ ਸੰਤਾ ਦੀ" "जय संता दी" that is Glory of Saints.

Official stamps

The Government of India has issued official postage stamps and postcards with the name of Sri Guru Ravidass Ji.

Celebrations on Magh Purnima

Date of Magh Purnima	Celebration Details
30-January-2010	Foundation and formation of new Ravidassia Religion by Sant Samaj of Ravidassia Community. Coinciding with the 633rd birth anniversary of Sri Guru Ravidass ji. Recognizing it religious book as Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji. Its sacred symbol, Har And motto, Jai Gurudev.
18-February-2011	A candle light vigil is held for peaceful ceremony to pay tributes to Shaheed Sant Rama Nand Dass and others who are symbols of peace, self respect, and justice.
7-February-2012	Installation of Amritbani Guru Ravidass ji at Sri Guru Ravidass Dham at Bootan Mandi, Jalllandhar by the Ravidassia Community. Change to Harr Nishan by Ravidassia Community at Temples. Devotees thronged sacred ghats for the holy dip in the river and offered donations thereafter. Special rituals, prayers and puja in prominent temples including Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Sankat Mochan Temple on the auspicious occasion was seen.

See also

• Bhakti movement
• Sant Mat
• Dera Sach Khand
• Guru Ravidass

Further reading

• 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.
• Ravidasi: Meera, Ravidas, Ravidasi Arti, Nishaan, Gurdehera, Ravidasi Beliefs and Practices, Ravidas Jayanti, Guru Sikhya Sahib, General Books LLC, 2010, ISBN 1157129706, 9781157129707.
• Sant Ravidas and his times, Darshan Singh, Kalyani Publishers, 1977, University of Michigan.
• Guru Ravidas Ji Ki Satik Vani, Dharampal Singhal,Baldev Singh Baddan, Shilalekh Prakashan, ISBN 8180590771,ISBN 9788180590771
• Mahakavi Ravidas Samaj Chetna Ke Agradut, Dr. Vijay Kumar Trisharan, Gautam Book Center, 2008, ISBN 8187733144, 9788187733140.
• Santa Guru Ravidasa-vani, Santa Guru Ravidasa Sansthana, Candigarha dvara Surya-Prakasana, samvat 2035(1978), University of California
• Guru Ravidas : Ek Parichay, Ramesh Mehra, Arun Publisher, ISBN 8180481565 ISBN 9788180481567
• Satguru Ravidas Ji Ki Amar Kahani, Ahir Sohan Singh, Eastern Book Co., ISBN 8178540541 ISBN 9788178540542
• Shri Guru Ravidas: Patit Uddharak, M R Virmani, Eastern Book Co.,ISBN 8178540711, ISBN 9788178540719
• Guru Ravidas, Dharamveer Dr., HINDI BOOK CENTER, ISBN 6111112570, ISBN 9786111112573
• Guru Ravidas Jiwan Ate Vichar, Dharampal Singal, Unistar Books, ISBN 8171420583 ISBN 9788171420582
• Sant Ravidas aur Maanaviya Chetna, Daya Publishing House, R P Verma, ISBN 8173120870 EAN: 9788173120879

External links

• The Legend Guru Ravidass Ji
• Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Coventry Website
• World Wide Guru Ravidass JI Community
• Shri Guru Ravidass Ji Website
• [1]
• Guru Ravidass Temple Australia
• Guru Ravidass Ji New York
• Shri Guru Ravidas Mission London
• [2]
• Guru Ravidass Sabha, Toronto, Canada - Website
• [3]