Shri Guru Ravidas Vishva

Published: 1st Mar, 2021

Context

President Kovind recently addressed 'Shri Guru Ravidas Vishva Mahapeeth Rashtriya Adhiveshan in Delhi.

About

Key-points made by the President

India's constitutional values of social justice, freedom, equality and fraternity are in line with Guru Ravidas's philosophy of life.
The Guru not only paved the way for the welfare of his contemporary society but also of future generations.
Guru Ravidas did not exclude any person or class of society from the periphery of his compassion and love.

Who was Guru Ravidas?

Guru Ravidas was born in the 14th century, to a low caste family, in Seer Goverdhanpur, UP. He was among the first people to fight for basic human rights and tried to spread the message of equality by opposing the Indian caste system.
Contribution to Sikhism: He taught spirituality and contributed 41 devotional poems and songs in Guru Granth Sahib. It is believed that his teachings were studied by Sikh Gurus as well.
He was one of the most famous and leading stars of the nirguna sampradaya (sant parampara).
He was also one of the prominent leaders of the North Indian Bhakti movement and taught spirituality and tried to bring forward a message of equality message based on freedom from the oppression of the Indian caste system.

Bhakti movement

The movement started in the 9th century A.D. by Shankaracharya which continued up to 16th century A.D. by a number of Hindu devotees, preachers and religious reformers.
Main Features of the movement:
- Unity of God or one God though known by different names
- Bhakti, intense love and devotion, the only way to salvation
- Self-Surrender
- Condemnation of rituals, ceremonies and blind faith
- Rejection of idol worship by many saints
- Open- mindedness about deciding religious matters
- No distinction of different castes, higher or low
- Need of a guru for guidance advocated by some
- Preaching’s through local or regional languages and travelling from place to place for spreading the religious message

Association with Meera Bai: Sant Guru Ravidas Ji is considered as a spiritual Guru of Meera Bai.
- She was the queen of Chittoor and daughter of one of the famous kings in Rajasthan naming Rao Dudaji.

Guru Ravidas’s Jayanti

Guru Ravidas’s Jayanti is celebrated as the birthday of Guru Ravidas.
It is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Magh according to Hindu calendar and will fall on 27th February in 2021.

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