Saint Shri Guru Ravidas
Context:
The Prime Minister recently paid tribute to Saint Shri Guru Ravidas on his birth anniversary
He emphasizes that the "spirit of justice and compassion" in his teachings forms the foundation of the government's welfare schemes
Guru Ravidas was a 15th-century mystic poet-saint of the Bhakti Movement, born in Varanasi.
He is a central figure in the Ravidassia religion and revered in Sikhism
Social Reforms & Philosophy
Born into the "Chamar" (leather worker) caste, which was considered "untouchable," Ravidas unleashed a frontal attack on the caste-based system of social exclusion.
He challenged the Brahmanical monopoly on spiritual knowledge by asserting that a person's worth is determined by their deeds (Karma), not their birth (Jati).
He used Bhakti (devotion) as a unique method of social protest.
By achieving high spiritual status despite his low caste, he defied the oppressive social structures of his time.
His famous maxim, "Man Changa to Kathouti Me Ganga" (If the mind is pure, the Holy Ganges is in your washing bowl), emphasized internal purity over external rituals.
Concept of “Begumpura”:
"Begumpura" literally translates to the "City without Sorrow".
It was Ravidas's vision of an ideal, utopian state.
Features of Begumpura:
Casteless and Classless.
Economic Freedom
Political Freedom
This concept is considered one of the earliest imaginings of a casteless, stateless, and egalitarian society in Indian literature, preceding modern concepts of democracy and socialism.
Inclusion in Guru Granth Sahib:
His spiritual poetry, known as Bani, was accorded the highest status by the Sikh Gurus.
40 of his hymns (Shabads) are incorporated into the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhism.
His compositions are set to various Ragas (musical measures), including Raga Gauri, Raga Asa, and Raga Sorath, ensuring his message of equality is sung and preserved eternally.