| Part of a series on The Ravidassia Religion |
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| Ravidasi beliefs and practices | |
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| Aarti | |
| Meditation · | |
| Gurdehera | |
| Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji | |
| Topics | |
| Guru Ravidas · | |
| Ravidas Jayanti | |
| Harr Nishan | |
Ravidassia are people who follow the Ravidassia Dharam (Punjabi: ਰਬਿਦਾਸੀ ਧਰਮ,Hindi रविदास्सिया धर्म,Urdu راویدسسیہ دھرم) a religion[1][2][3][4] based on the teachings of Guru Ravidas. The members of the Ravidasi 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. In 14th century India, Ravidas, 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 Ji taught the lessons of universal brotherhood, tolerance, message of love your neighbour. The earliest collection of these poems are available in Sri Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji Ki. It is said that Guru Ravidass Ji disappeared from the world, leaving behind only his footprints. Guru Ravidass Ji lived in Banaras during his last days, dying a natural death at the age of 126 years.
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Guru Ravidass Ji is considered the founder of the Ravidassia faith. 41 hymns by Shri Guru Ravidass Ji 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."[5] Guru Ravidass Ji 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 Ji today.
Guru Ravidass Ji's teachings represent an offshoot of the bhakti movement of the fifteenth century, a religious renaissance in India. Guru Ravidass taught the following principles:
The Shri Guru Ravidas Mission states that the conditions on being a member of the community are:
The Ravidassia place of worship is called a "bhawan".[6] 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 Ji, 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 Ji's 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 Gurdeheras his image is worshipped.[7]
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 for the followers of Ravidas today.
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 !!
Naam Tero Aarti Majanu Muraray;Har Ke Naam bin Jhuthey Sagal Pasarey;Naam Tero Aasno – Naam Tero Ursa;Naam Tero Kesro Le Chhat Karey;Naam Tere Ambhula,Naam Tero Chandno;Ghas Japey Naam Ley Tujhey Kou Charey;Naam Tere Deewa – Naam Tero Baati;Naam Tero Tail le Mahen Pasarey;Naam Tere Ki Jot Lagayi; Bhaio Ujaaro Bhawan Saglarey;Naam Tere Taaga – Naam Phool Mala;Bhar Aatharah Sagal Jhutharey;Tero Kiya Tujheh Kiya Arpou;Naam Tere Tuhi Chawar Dholarey;Eh Wartan hai Sagal Sansarey;Keh RAVIDASS – NAAM TERO AARTI;SAT NAAM HAI HAR BHOG TUHAREY.;
"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."
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 Ravidasi faith reveres the Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji, the holy book of Ravidassia Religion and many Ravidassi 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 Gurudwaras in all of the States in India and in major countries of the world
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 Rama Nand ji was murdered in Vienna recently by Sikh terrorists, he was well known for his highly personal style of mentoring, including his knowledge of each individual devotee's name worldwide. 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 who inturn lead and are heads of all ravidasias deras around the world. The Leader of the Ravidassia Dharam, known as the Gaddi Nasheen is Sant Niranjan Dass Ji alongside Sant Garib Dass Ji. Former leaders include Sant Hari Dass Ji, Sant Sarwan Dass Ji and Sant Baba Pippal Dass Ji.
The Ravidasi religious symbol is known as the Nishan Sahib. There is some discussion going on amongst some Ravidasias that the symbol should be Sohang or Har. Both 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:
The Ravidassia religious symbol is known as the "Harr" "ਹਰਿ" nishaan. Harr means "God" in Punjabi and is used in the Ravidassi context as the One God. The Gurmukhi transliteration of the name Harr is the main symbol of the Ravidassia Faith. Strictly speaking "Nishaan" means "symbol" and is used in Ravidasi context to mean their mantras passed down by their Sants. Another symbol is sohang or "sonh" "ਸੋੰਹੂ".
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. On the day there is an Path of Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji read, the Harr nishaan sahib is changed ceremonially, and there is a special 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.
The following slogans have been used in Ravidasi community worship since around 1490 CE and are still used today:
Whenever any Ravidassi receives, meets, writes or addresses another he or she is supposed to say "ਜੇ ਗੁਰੂਦੇਵ" “(Jai Gurudev)” "जय गुरुदेव ".
The Government of India has issued official postage stamps and postcards with the name of Sri Guru Ravidass Ji. The Posts and Telegraphs Department feels previleged to bring out a special commemorative stamp in honour and memory of his great Guru, and a reformer, Guru Ravidas