Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji : Message of the 15 Bhagats or saints (Part-3)

49. Message of the 15 Bhagats or saints (Part-3)

Bhagat Ravidas ji

Principal Teachings : As long as man remains engrossed in his own Ego, he remains away from God. The only way to get rid of this ego ,”the instinct of mine” is to meditate and recite the name of God in this age of darkness(Kalyug). He has clearly stated in on page 346 :

In the Golden Age of Sat Yuga, was Truth; in the Silver Age of Trayta Yuga, charitable feasts; in the Brass Age of Dwaapar Yuga, there was worship. In those three ages, people held to these three ways. But in the Iron Age of Kali Yuga, the Name of the Lord is your only Support.

A mortal should detach himself from this materialistic world and attach to the love of Almighty. As this true love is what becomes the true companion of the soul :

I am joined in true love with You, Lord. I am joined with You, and I have broken with all others. This true love of God, leads a man to the land of sorrow less bliss.

Bhagat Ravidas Ji was born in the year 1378 A. D. in Banaras (Kashi) U.P. India. His parents were Sri Santokha ji and Mata Karma Devi( Diari JI). His father was a religious shoemaker. No doubt Bhagat Ravidas ji was pre-destined to be a great saint but his religious inheritance contributed a lot too. When he was born, there was a great deal of degradation in society. The Brahmins had trampled up society in their Supremacy. The low caste untouchables had no rights whatsoever. They were not even allowed to read religious books, let alone act upon them. No untouchables were allowed to go to any temple of any God or Goddess for the purpose of worship. If however, someone dared, he was given very hard punishments. The huts of the untouchables were only allowed to be constructed on the Western side of the city or village. They were not allowed to take water from any well. If they were to pass or enter a city for some personal need or emergency, they had to hang a bell or gong around their neck and ring it when they entered the town so as to make their presence heard. This practice was established at the order of the Brahmins so that high caste Brahmins could get away from the path of untouchables. Even the shadow of an untouchable was not allowed to fall upon a Brahmin who considered himself pious and sacred. A shadow of low caste shoodar or untouchable could pollute a Brahmin. A low caste or untouchable person had to tie a big branch of a tree on his back so that his own foot prints could be erased by it because even the foot prints of an untouchable could pollute a Brahmin when the Brahmin had to walk on the foot prints of the untouchable. So in such a hatred filled and degraded society, Bhagat Ravidas ji tried to bring revolution through meditation and naam simran.

He succeeded by virtue of his noble character and highly pious life. He became a source of inspiration and lit the path of spirituality for Mira Bai and queen Jhala Bai and the King of Chatour (Rajasthan, India) who belonged to higher castes of Hindus. But the jealous and so called high caste Brahmins never stopped hating him. From time to time, on one or the other pretext, they tried to charge, harass, and land him in trouble. But Almighty God protected him in all aspects of his life. The omnipotent lord always helped and sheltered Bhagat Ravidas Ji. His reputation as a saint of high caliber spread in every nook and corner of the land. Bhai Gurdas Ji has described this in his seventeenth Pauri of the tenth vaar as stated below :

The tanner (Ravidas) became renowned as bhagat (saint) in all the four directions. In accordance with his family tradition he would cobble the shoes and carry away the dead animals. This was his outward routine but in reality he was a gem wrapped in rags chahu varanaa He would preach all the four varnas (castes). His preaching made them rapt in the meditative devotion for the Lord. Once, a group of people went to Kasi (Varanasi) to have their sacred dip in the Ganges. Ravidas gave one dhela (half a pice) to one member and asked him to offer it to the Ganges. A great festival of Abhijit naksatr (star) was on there where the public saw this wonderful episode. Ganges, herself taking out her hand accepted that paltry amount, dhela, and proved that Ravidas was one with Ganges. For bhagats (saints,) God is their mother, father and son all in one

Sri Guru Ram Das ji, too by recognizing the pious meditation of Bhagat Ravidas ji has ordered that although people hated Ravidas ji because he belonged to a low caste, yet with the grace of Simran(pray)and meditation of God, the four classes of society(Khatri, Brahmin, Vaish and Shoodar) bowed on the feet of Ravidas ji. As mentioned in Raag Suhi page 733 :

Ravidas, the leather-worker, praised the Lord, and sang the Kirtan of His Praises each and every instant. Although he was of low social status, he was exalted and elevated, and people of all four castes came and bowed at his feet

Bhagat Ravidas ji in his high spiritual status gives direction to the people of the world who have gone astray in Raag Gauri,”O mortals of the universe! You have divided society into so many categories of first, second, and third type due to your own ignorance. There is no high or low on the doorsteps of God and no caste is considered there. Only actions performed by people come into account there. In this world, you have banned so called untouchables at so many places; but in the city of God (Begampur) there is no ban on any one to enter based on caste. The enlightened souls can see their God anytime they want. There is neither fear, suspicion, anxiety, expression of grief, misery nor a tax to be paid. That place is such that only Grace of God resides there. No body has to fall victim to jealousy or rivalry there. You can impose restrictions upon me, but what will you do to me when I have become an inhabitant of that place? Nothing. Bhagat Ravidas Ji orders this on page 345 as stated below :

Begampur, 'the city without sorrow', is the name of the town. There is no suffering or anxiety there. There are no troubles or taxes on commodities there. There is no fear, blemish or downfall there. Now, I have found this most excellent city. There is lasting peace and safety there, O Siblings of Destiny. God's Kingdom is steady, stable and eternal. There is no second or third status; all are equal there. That city is populous and eternally famous. Those who live there are wealthy and contented. They stroll about freely, just as they please. They know the Mansion of the Lord's Presence, and no one blocks their way. Says Ravidas, the emancipated shoe-maker: whoever is a citizen there, is a friend of mine.





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				49. Message of the 15 Bhagats or saints (Part-3) Bhagat Ravidas ji Principal Teachings : As long as man remains engrossed in his own Ego, he remains away from God. The only way to get rid of this ego ,”the instinct of mine” is to meditate and recite the name of God in this age of darkness(Kalyug). He has clearly stated in on page 346 : In the Golden Age of Sat Yuga, was Truth; in the Silver Age of Trayta Yuga, charitable feasts; in the Brass Age of Dwaapar Yuga, there was worship. In those three ages, people held to these three ways. But in the Iron Age of Kali Yuga, the Name of the Lord is your only Support. A mortal should detach himself from this materialistic world and attach to the love of Almighty. As this true love is what becomes the true companion of the soul : I am joined in true love with You, Lord. I am joined with You, and I have broken with all others. This true love of God, leads a man to the land of sorrow less bliss. Bhagat Ravidas Ji was born in the year 1378 A. D. in Banaras (Kashi) U.P. India. His parents were Sri Santokha ji and Mata Karma Devi( Diari JI). His father was a religious shoemaker. No doubt Bhagat Ravidas ji was pre-destined to be a great saint but his religious inheritance contributed a lot too. When he was born, there was a great deal of degradation in society. The Brahmins had trampled up society in their Supremacy. The low caste untouchables had no rights whatsoever. They were not even allowed to read religious books, let alone act upon them. No untouchables were allowed to go to any temple of any God or Goddess for the purpose of worship. If however, someone dared, he was given very hard punishments. The huts of the untouchables were only allowed to be constructed on the Western side of the city or village. They were not allowed to take water from any well. If they were to pass or enter a city for some personal need or emergency, they had to hang a bell or gong around their neck and ring it when they entered the town so as to make their presence heard. This practice was established at the order of the Brahmins so that high caste Brahmins could get away from the path of untouchables. Even the shadow of an untouchable was not allowed to fall upon a Brahmin who considered himself pious and sacred. A shadow of low caste shoodar or untouchable could pollute a Brahmin. A low caste or untouchable person had to tie a big branch of a tree on his back so that his own foot prints could be erased by it because even the foot prints of an untouchable could pollute a Brahmin when the Brahmin had to walk on the foot prints of the untouchable. So in such a hatred filled and degraded society, Bhagat Ravidas ji tried to bring revolution through meditation and naam simran. He succeeded by virtue of his noble character and highly pious life. He became a source of inspiration and lit the path of spirituality for Mira Bai and queen Jhala Bai and the King of Chatour (Rajasthan, India) who belonged to higher castes of Hindus. But the jealous and so called high caste Brahmins never stopped hating him. From time to time, on one or the other pretext, they tried to charge, harass, and land him in trouble. But Almighty God protected him in all aspects of his life. The omnipotent lord always helped and sheltered Bhagat Ravidas Ji. His reputation as a saint of high caliber spread in every nook and corner of the land. Bhai Gurdas Ji has described this in his seventeenth Pauri of the tenth vaar as stated below : The tanner (Ravidas) became renowned as bhagat (saint) in all the four directions. In accordance with his family tradition he would cobble the shoes and carry away the dead animals. This was his outward routine but in reality he was a gem wrapped in rags chahu varanaa He would preach all the four varnas (castes). His preaching made them rapt in the meditative devotion for the Lord. Once, a group of people went to Kasi (Varanasi) to have their sacred dip in the Ganges. Ravidas gave one dhela (half a pice) to one member and asked him to offer it to the Ganges. A great festival of Abhijit naksatr (star) was on there where the public saw this wonderful episode. Ganges, herself taking out her hand accepted that paltry amount, dhela, and proved that Ravidas was one with Ganges. For bhagats (saints,) God is their mother, father and son all in one Sri Guru Ram Das ji, too by recognizing the pious meditation of Bhagat Ravidas ji has ordered that although people hated Ravidas ji because he belonged to a low caste, yet with the grace of Simran(pray)and meditation of God, the four classes of society(Khatri, Brahmin, Vaish and Shoodar) bowed on the feet of Ravidas ji. As mentioned in Raag Suhi page 733 : Ravidas, the leather-worker, praised the Lord, and sang the Kirtan of His Praises each and every instant. Although he was of low social status, he was exalted and elevated, and people of all four castes came and bowed at his feet Bhagat Ravidas ji in his high spiritual status gives direction to the people of the world who have gone astray in Raag Gauri,”O mortals of the universe! You have divided society into so many categories of first, second, and third type due to your own ignorance. There is no high or low on the doorsteps of God and no caste is considered there. Only actions performed by people come into account there. In this world, you have banned so called untouchables at so many places; but in the city of God (Begampur) there is no ban on any one to enter based on caste. The enlightened souls can see their God anytime they want. There is neither fear, suspicion, anxiety, expression of grief, misery nor a tax to be paid. That place is such that only Grace of God resides there. No body has to fall victim to jealousy or rivalry there. You can impose restrictions upon me, but what will you do to me when I have become an inhabitant of that place? Nothing. Bhagat Ravidas Ji orders this on page 345 as stated below : Begampur, 'the city without sorrow', is the name of the town. There is no suffering or anxiety there. There are no troubles or taxes on commodities there. There is no fear, blemish or downfall there. Now, I have found this most excellent city. There is lasting peace and safety there, O Siblings of Destiny. God's Kingdom is steady, stable and eternal. There is no second or third status; all are equal there. That city is populous and eternally famous. Those who live there are wealthy and contented. They stroll about freely, just as they please. They know the Mansion of the Lord's Presence, and no one blocks their way. Says Ravidas, the emancipated shoe-maker: whoever is a citizen there, is a friend of mine.

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