Ravidas (Raidas) — Bhakti Saint and Social Reformer

Introduction

Significance

When to Celebrate

What You'll Need

How to Prepare

1. 1Clean the puja space thoroughly; sprinkle Gangajal or clean water.
2. 2Place a clean white or saffron cloth on a raised platform (chowki).
3. 3Position the photo/murti of Sant Ravidas facing east or north.
4. 4Open the Guru Granth Sahib or Ravidas Bani to his hymns (e.g., Rag Sorath, Rag Gauri).
5. 5Arrange flowers, incense, lamp, water, and prasad neatly.
6. 6Light the lamp and incense before beginning.
7. 7Sit in a comfortable posture (sukhasana) facing the altar.
8. 8Invoke the Guru Parampara: Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Sri Guru Ravidas Ji.

How to Celebrate

1. 1Begin with three deep breaths; center the mind on the formless Divine (Nirankar).
2. 2Recite the Mool Mantar (Ik Onkar Sat Nam...) to invoke the Guru's presence.
3. 3Offer water (achaman) to the photo/murti with a spoon or panchapatra.
4. 4Apply a tilak of chandan/kumkum on the photo's forehead.
5. 5Offer flowers one by one, chanting 'Om Ravidasaya Namah' or 'Satguru Ravidas Ji Ki Jai'.
6. 6Wave the lit lamp (diya) in a clockwise circle (aarti) while singing the Ravidas Aarti.
7. 7Read or sing at least one complete hymn (shabad) of Ravidas from Guru Granth Sahib (e.g., Sorath Ravidas Ji, p. 658).
8. 8Reflect on the meaning: inner purity, equality, Begumpura vision.
9. 9Offer prasad; distribute to all present without distinction.
10. 10Conclude with Ardas (prayer) for universal welfare (sarbat da bhala).
11. 11Touch the feet of elders; seek blessings for humility and service (seva).

Mantras

Observance Rules

• •On Ravidas Jayanti, many devotees observe a sattvic fast (fruit/milk only) until evening puja.
• •Abstain from alcohol, meat, onion, garlic on the observance day.
• •Maintain silence (mauna) for a period while reading his hymns.
• •Perform seva (service) — langar, cleaning, helping the needy — as part of the vow.
• •Avoid criticizing others; practice the equality Ravidas taught.

Do's

• ✓Read/recite Ravidas's hymns with understanding and heartfelt devotion.
• ✓Treat all participants equally during langar/seva — no caste/gender seating separation.
• ✓Share his teachings on social equality and inner purity with younger generations.
• ✓Support Ravidasia community institutions (deras, schools, hospitals).
• ✓Visit Seer Goverdhanpur (Varanasi) or a local Ravidas temple if possible.

Don'ts

• ✗Do not treat Ravidas Jayanti as a mere cultural festival without spiritual reflection.
• ✗Do not discriminate in prasad distribution or seating — this contradicts his core message.
• ✗Do not confuse his nirguna bhakti with saguna idol-worship rituals alone.
• ✗Do not appropriate his legacy without acknowledging caste-oppression context.
• ✗Do not neglect the Guru Granth Sahib as the primary textual home of his bani.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• •Pronouncing 'Ravidas' as 'Ravidas' with heavy 'v' — correct is soft 'v' (रविदास).
• •Assuming he founded a separate religion — he is claimed by Hindus, Sikhs, and Ravidasia Dharm alike.
• •Overlooking his direct discipleship under Ramananda and links to Kabir.
• •Ignoring that 41 of his hymns are in Guru Granth Sahib, not a separate text.
• •Reducing 'Begumpura' to a metaphor without engaging its socio-political vision.

Regional Variations

• •Punjab: Grand processions (nagar kirtan), continuous Akhand Path of Ravidas Bani, massive langars at Ravidas Deras (e.g., Dera Sachkhand Ballan).
• •Uttar Pradesh (Varanasi/Seer Goverdhanpur): Pilgrimage to birthplace, special mela, boat rides on Ganges reciting his verses.
• •Maharashtra: Observed by Matang and Mahar communities; integrated with Ambedkarite Buddhist celebrations.
• •Diaspora (UK, Canada, USA): Ravidas Sabhas organize kirtan, seminars on caste equality, youth camps.
• •Ravidasia Dharm (distinct identity since 2009): Own scripture (Amrit Bani), guru lineage, separate marriage rites.

Frequently Asked Questions

References & Traditional Notes

• •Guru Granth Sahib: 41 hymns of Ravidas in Rags Sorath, Gauri, Asa, Dhanasari, etc. (Ang 658, 694, 733, 1106, 1293).
• •Bhaktamal (Nabhadas, c. 1585 CE) and Bhaktiras Bodhini (Priyadas, 1712 CE) — earliest hagiographical accounts.
• •Parcai (hagiographic poems) by Anantadas (c. 1600 CE) — detailed life narratives.
• •Amrit Bani Guru Ravidas Ji — canonical scripture of Ravidasia Dharm (compiled 20th century).
• •Scholarly works: Callewaert & Friedlander (1992), 'The Life and Works of Raidas'; Lorenzen (1995), 'Bhakti Religion in North India'; Juergensmeyer (1982), 'Religion as Social Vision'.

Related Topics