Ravidas

Ravidas Biography

Sant Guru Ravidas as per the belief of his followers and scholars was born in 1450 in Varanasi, in a family that worked with dead animals leather and skin which is used to produce leather products. Incidentally, being a Charmkar was considered a sign of low caste according to the then system which made them an untouchable (Charmkaar caste). 

However, there is no doubt about the fact that he was a great religious poet and was one of the disciples of the Sant and poet Swami Ramananda. Sant Ravidas as a North Indian poet of mystic poets category was an active in the region of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. The Bhajans written by him left people who listened to him spell bound forever. He had such a control on devotional songs which were unforgettable. Ravidas had such a lasting charm through his Bhakti poetry that people forgot about his caste extra and accepted him as Guru. 

Songs and Bhajans of Sant Ravidas were included in the Sikh religious book Guru Granth Sahib. In fact, Ravidas had his impact upon the bhakti movement of Hindus and Sikhs both and was considered a social reformer and people looked at him as a spiritual guru. Sant Ravidas has millions of followers known as Raidassia Sect, who used to be part of Sikh religion.

The famous Sikh religious book ‘Panch Vani’ has text of traditional Dadupanthi sect also has number of poems from Sant Ravidas. The book consists of many other hymns posted there which are claimed to written by Ravidas. The sect beleives that Ravidass had taught the removal of social evils instrumental of caste and gender. Sant Ravidas is looked upon as a person who promoted unity and freedom from casteism. Sant Ravidas left this world in 1520 in the city of Varanasi. 

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Updated: October 18, 2015