As per Hindu Lunar calendar, every year on Magh Purnima, which this year will fall on 27th February 2021, the birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas is commemorated. In the spirit of celebrating Guru Ravidas Jayanti, let’s delve deeper into his life and contributions towards the Bhakti movement in Northern India during the 14th century.
The Life and Beliefs of Guru Ravidas
Guru Ravidas was born in a cobbler’s family in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, during the 14th century. He rose to prominence due to his unwavering faith in one God and his religious poems that did not discriminate against any particular sect.
His lifelong commitment was towards liberating the society from the shackles of the caste system. He was always vocal about his discomfort with the Brahminical social structure. His devotional songs or ‘Bhajans’, accentuating oneness of God, moved many hearts and propelled the Bhakti Movement in Northern India. His poetic verses were deemed worthy enough to be included in the ‘Guru Granth Sahib’, the holy book of the Sikh religion.
The Genesis and Evolution of the Bhakti Movement
The inception of the Bhakti movement occurred between the seventh and ninth centuries in Tamil Nadu. The undercurrent of this movement was vocalised through emotional poems written by the Nayanars (devotees of Lord Shiva) and the Alvars (devotees of Lord Vishnu).
Unlike mainstream religion, which is seen as a formal practice, the Bhakti Movement promoted the idea of religion as an intimate bond based on love between the divine and the devotee. Over time, the ideologies of the Bhakti Movement percolated from South to North India, albeit at a slow pace.
The Expansion of the Bhakti ideology
The language played a significant role in expanding the reach of the Bhakti ideology. The Bhakti saints expressed their devotion and transferred the wisdom of the divine love to the common people through local languages.
Many of these saints also translated Sanskrit works into regional languages to make them more accessible and understandable to a larger audience. Some notable examples include Jnanadeva who wrote in Marathi, Kabir, Surdas and Tulsidas who wrote in Hindi, Shankaradeva who propagated his beliefs in Assamese, Chaitanya and Chandidas who spread their message in Bengali, Mirabai who devotional songs are in Hindi and Rajasthani.
Guru Ravidas was an instrumental figure in the propagation of religious egalitarianism during his time. Through his teachings and devotional verses, he made influential contributions to the Bhakti Movement in Northern India. His beliefs and teachings hold relevance even today, his birthday is not just another date on the calendar, but a celebration of unity and love beyond social divisions.