Great Indian Yogi Sant Ravidas
Sant Ravidas was born in the year 1450 Sunday in a Cobbler family, at village Mandua near Banaras. He was also known by the names of Raidas, Rohidas, Rududas etc. Rahan was his father and mother’s name was Karmadevi. Sant Ravidas was married to Bhagwati. Sant Ravidas used to help his father in making footwear from childhood. One day Sant Ravidas was going with his friends when one upper caste person shouted out at them and said that you are untouchables and why didn’t you call out to say that you are passing this way. Everybody stood silently but after some time Sant Ravidas said to him, “We announced our arrival but why you didn’t?” The upper caste person did not like the behavior of Sant Ravidas.
The friends of Sant Ravidas told him , “We are from lower caste and do not expect the upper caste people to respect us.”, Sant Ravidas said, “ If people hate us so much then why do we sit quietly and bear such humiliation.” His friends pacified him and told him that they had the same feelings. Sant Ravidas worried that how long they might suffer such humiliation and started thinking about this incidence. One day, Sant Ravidas met with Sanyasi (monk). Sant Ravidas asked him that he wanted to know about himself and the Almighty who created him and others. The Sanyasi replied that the day you come to understand who you are, you will know the Almighty. After this, Sant Ravidas started his penance and when he got the knowledge, he accepted his parents and his wife as his Guru.
They told him that the Almighty exists in all the things. If you see God in only the idols and in no other place, then the Idol is staying between you and the Almighty. Limiting it to any name such as Jesus, Allah, and Rab is a big mistake. In a short span, the followers of Sant Ravidas spread far and wide .People from distant location came to meet him and seek his blessings. He preached that one should not be ashamed of the caste one belongs to. He advised to continue work with sincerity and do not bow down before anyone other than the Almighty. His teachings and preaching helped the weak and the downtrodden to live with respect and courage.
Due to his great work & efforts, many other Saints such as Sant Kabir, Sant Meerabai, Sant Sena etc came to meet him. He was highly revered by the many kings such as the king of Kashi, Raja Hardev Singh and king of Delhi, Sikandar Lodhi. Sant Ravidas was Guru of many people such as Sant Meerabai, wife of Prince Bhojraj, the son of Ranasingh of Chittor & the Jodhpur royal family. Sant Ravidas is highly respected and many references can be found in the literatures.
Sant Ravidas said that the caste or color distinctions, division based on wealth status, religion classification and worldly ills should be abolished. He advised his disciples to create a society without caste/creed and to renounce worldly pleasures. He stressed upon culture, character and the Karmas .He was against imposter and frauds. He expired at a ripe old age of 90 in the year 1540. A. D.
