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	==See also==		==See also==
	~~{{Portal\|Religion}}~~
	* [[Dera Sach Khand]]		* [[Dera Sach Khand]]
	* [[Sant Mat]]		* [[Sant Mat]]

76.95.224.134: Commonly known fact

2021-08-04T13:33:36Z

Commonly known fact

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{{Short description|Indian religion, founded in the 14th century but not from any caste}}
{{Ravidasi}}
The '''Ravidassia sect''', also called '''Ravidas [[Panthan|Panth]]''' ,<ref name="JacobsenMyrvold2011"/> is a religious sect, founded in the 14th century.<ref>{{cite book|author=Jan Gonda|year=1970|title=Visnuism and Sivaism: A Comparison|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic|ISBN=978-1-4742-8080-8}}</ref><ref name=paramjitjudge181/> It is based on the teachings of the 14th-century guru [[Guru Ravidass|Ravidass]], revered as a [[Satguru]] by the Ravidassia tradition.<ref name=paramjitjudge181/><ref name=cnn1/>

Historically, Ravidassia represented a range of beliefs in the [[Indian subcontinent]], with some devotees of Ravidass counting themselves as Ravidassia, but first formed in the early 20th-century in colonial [[British India]].<ref name=paramjitjudge181>Paramjit Judge (2014), Mapping Social Exclusion in India: Caste, Religion and Borderlands, Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN|978-1107056091}}, pages 179-182</ref> The Ravidassia tradition began to take on more cohesion following 1947, and the establishment of successful Ravidassia tradition in the diaspora.<ref name="Parsons1993">{{cite book|author=Gerald Parsons|title=The Growth of Religious Diversity: Traditions|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tlKkZoNPi0oC&pg=PA227|access-date=10 April 2012|year=1993|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-0-415-08326-3|pages=227–}}</ref> Estimates range between two to five million for the total number of Ravidassias.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-19|title=Census 2021: Two Ravidassia factions want recognition as different religions|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/census-2021-two-ravidassia-factions-want-recognition-as-different-religions-6513000/|access-date=2020-08-15|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=forefeurope|date=2019-09-12|title=The ‘Untouchables’ In Europe – 10 Years After the Murder of Their Saint|url=https://foref-europe.org/blog/2019/09/12/the-untouchables-in-europe-10-years-ago-their-guru-was-murdered-in-vienna/|access-date=2020-08-15|website=Foref Europe|language=en-US}}</ref>

Ravidassias believe that Ravidas is their [[Guru]] (saint) whereas the Sikhs have traditionally considered him as one of many [[bhagat]]s (holy person).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.global.ucsb.edu/punjab/journal/v16_1/articles/RonkiRam16_1.pdf |format=PDF |title=Ravidass, Dera Sachkhand Ballan and the Question of Dalit Identity in Punjab |publisher=Panjab University, Chandigarh |author=Ronki Ram |access-date=2013-12-05}}</ref> Further, Ravidassias accept living [[Sant (religion)|sants]] of Ravidass Deras as ''Guru'' <ref name="ravidassiareligion1">{{cite journal|url=http://www.global.ucsb.edu/punjab/journal/v16_1/articles/RonkiRam16_1.pdf |journal=Journal of Punjab Studies|year=2009 |volume=16 | issue=1 |title=Ravidass, Dera Sachkhand Ballan and the Question of Dalit Identity in Punjab |publisher=Panjab University, Chandigarh |author=Ronki Ram |access-date=2013-12-05}}</ref> A new Ravidassia religion was launched following an assassination attack on their visiting living Guru Sant Niranjan Dass and his deputy [[Ramanand Dass]] in 2009 in Vienna by Sikh militants.<ref name="JacobsenMyrvold2011"/><ref name=fl2009/> Ramanand Dass died from the attack, Niranjan Dass survived his injuries, while over a dozen attendees at the temple were also injured.<ref name=fl2009>[https://frontline.thehindu.com/static/html/fl2612/stories/20090619261203300.htm Inflamed passions], Ajoy A Mahaprashasta (2009), Frontline (The Hindu), Volume 26, Issue 12, Quote: "The riots were sparked off by an attack on Sant Niranjan Dass, the head of the Jalandhar-based Dera Sachkhand, and his deputy Rama Nand on May 24 at the Shri Guru Ravidass Gurdwara in Vienna where they had gone to attend a religious function. A group of Sikhs militants armed with firearms and swords attacked them at the gurdwara, injuring both; Rama Nand later died. The Austrian police said the attack that left some 15 others injured “had clearly been planned”."</ref> This triggered a decisive break of the Ravidassia group from the orthodox Sikh structure.<ref name="ravidassiareligion1"/><ref name="JacobsenMyrvold2011">{{cite book|author1=Knut A. Jacobsen|author2=Kristina Myrvold|title=Sikhs in Europe: Migration, Identities and Representations|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y3v3t9bjPAcC&pg=PA290|access-date=10 April 2012|date=1 November 2011|publisher=Ashgate Publishing|isbn=978-1-4094-2434-5|pages=289–291}}</ref>

Prior to their break from Sikhism, the Dera Bhallan revered and recited the [[Guru Granth Sahib]] of Sikhism in Dera Bhallan.<ref name=toinewreligion2010/> However, following their split from mainstream Sikhism, the Dera Bhallan compiled their own holy book based exclusively on Ravidas's teachings, the [[Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji]], and these Dera Bhallan Ravidassia temples now use this book in place of the Guru Granth Sahib.<ref name=toinewreligion2010>{{cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-02-01/india/28118439_1_dera-head-dera-sachkhand-ballan-sant-ramanand | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811033035/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-02-01/india/28118439_1_dera-head-dera-sachkhand-ballan-sant-ramanand | url-status=dead | archive-date=2011-08-11 | work=[[The Times of India]] | title=Punjab sect declares new religion | date=2010-02-01}}</ref><ref name=cnn1>{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/02/03/india.new.religion/index.html | work=CNN | title=India's 'untouchables' declare own religion | date=2010-02-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.taaza.com/source/218739-new-punjab-sect-lays-down-code.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2011-12-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425133316/http://news.taaza.com/source/218739-new-punjab-sect-lays-down-code.html |archive-date=2012-04-25 }}</ref>

==Basis==
{{Main|Ravidas}}
[[File:RavidasiBedford1.JPG|thumb|Procession of Ravidassias in [[Bedford]]]]
[[File:ShriGuruRavidasJikijai.png|thumb|Guru Ravidas]]
Ravidas was born on 15 January 1377 CE ([[Hindu calendar|Indian calendar]] Sunday Sukhal Falgin Parvithta 1433) to the [[Chamar]] community.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lochtefeld|first1=James G.|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z|year=2002|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=9780823931804|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/512 512]|language=en}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|title=Ravidas {{!}} Indian mystic and poet|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ravidas|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref> His birthplace was a locality known as Seer Govardhan in the city of [[Varanasi]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] state, India. The birthplace is now marked by the [[Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan]] ([[Begampura]]), and is a major place of pilgrimage for the followers of Guru Ravidas today. Ravidassias believe that Ravidas died in Benares at the age of 151.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/amid-tight-security-dera-ballan-head-follo/750310/ |title=Amid tight security, Dera Ballan head, followers head for Varanasi |publisher=Indian Express |date=2011-02-16 |access-date=2012-07-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sikhnet.com/news/ravidass-followers-declare-separate-religion-release-separate-granth |title=Ravidass followers declare separate religion, release separate granth |publisher=SikhNet |date=2010-02-01 |access-date=2012-07-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/states/ravidassia-community-part-of-sikh-faith-sgpc_601649.html |title=Ravidassia community part of Sikh faith: SGPC |publisher=Zeenews.india.com |date=2010-02-04 |access-date=2012-07-17}}</ref>

==Beliefs==
Teachings of Ravidas represent an offshoot of the [[Bhakti movement]] of the fifteenth century, a religious renaissance in India. Ravidas taught the following principles:{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}
* The oneness, omnipresence and omnipotence of God.
*If mind is healthy the everything is fine.
* The human soul is a particle of God.
* The rejection of the notion that God cannot be met by lower castes.
* To realize God, which is the goal of human life, man should concentrate on God during all rituals of life.
* The only way of meeting with God ([[moksha]]) is to free the mind from duality.

==Membership==
The [[Shri Guru Ravidass Mission London|Shri Guru Ravidas Mission]] states that the conditions on being a member of the community are:{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}
*That one who preaches Guru Ravidas's philosophy is a Ravidassia.
*It is not a condition that one should have been born in the Ravidassia community to become or to be initiated as one.
*To celebrate [[Shri Guru Ravidass Jayanti]] according to the Punjabi calendar, Sunday, Sukhal Falgin Parvithta.

==Objectives==
[[Dera Sach Khand|Dera Sach Khand Ballan]] of Jallandhar, Punjab on 30 January 2010 at the 633rd birth anniversary of Ravidas announced the objectives of Ravidassia religion as, "to propagate the Bani and teachings of Satguru Ravidass. Besides, the teachings and thought of Maharishi Bhagwan [[Valmiki|Balmiki]], Satguru [[Namdev]], Satguru [[Kabir]], Satguru [[Trilochan]], Satguru [[Bhagat Sain|Sain]] and Satguru [[Bhagat Sadhana|Sadna]] would also be propagated".<ref name="derasachkhandballan.com">{{Cite web|title=JaiGurdev. Ravidassia Religion, Dera Sach Khand Ballan, jalandhar punjab india|url=http://derasachkhandballan.com/ravidassia-dharam.php|access-date=2020-08-12|website=derasachkhandballan.com}}</ref>

==Places of worship==
[[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi offering prayers at Shri Guru Ravidas Janmsthan Mandir, Seer Goverdhanpur, in Varanasi on February 22, 2016 (1).jpg|thumb|The idol of Ravidas in the sanctum of Shri Guru Ravidas Janmsthan Mandir in Varanasi, marking his birthplace.]]

A Ravidassia place of worship is called a ''[[dera]]'', ''sabha'', ''mandir'', ''[[gurudwara]]'', or ''bhawan'', sometimes translated as ''temple''.<ref>http://www.gururavidas.org.uk/ point 15: # To address our place of worship as Ravidassia Temple’ all the time and for all the purposes.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=List of Ravidassia's temple in the World|url=https://www.ravidassguru.com/|access-date=2020-08-12|website=www.ravidassguru.com}}</ref> It is considered respectful towards Guru Ravidas and generally mandatory to cover one's head and take off one's shoes while entering the place of worship.

Outside the sabha there is always a flag upon which is written the [[Nishaan]], and above it the "Harr" symbol which symbolising enlightenment from Guru Ravidas' teachings.

[[Langar (Sikhism)|Langar]] takes place inside the sabha continuously as a practice, and all are free to partake of it.

In some Ravidassia sabhas the [[Guru Granth Sahib]] is still installed as the focal point in the main worship room. The Guru Granth Sahib is respected at all times. However most Ravidassia sabhas have replaced it with the new holy book, the Guru Ravidass Amrit Bani.

[[Aarti]] and [[kirtan]] of all saints and gurus takes place daily at the closing of the day's formal services, this consists of the famous arti written by Guru Ravidas in which he tells God is one and equality is among all in the eyes of God.

Some saints which Ravidassias refer to during the end of every prayer is Satguru Kabir, Satguru Sain, Satguru Sadhna, Satguru Trilochan, [[Meera Bai]], [[Baba Farid]] and Bhagwan Valmik.

==Scriptures==
Ravidassia places of worship contain the holy book ''Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji'' which contains all the hymns by Guru Ravidas. This book contains the following hymns: Raga – Siri (1), Gauri (5), Asa (6), Gujari (1), [[Sorath (raga)|Sorath]] (7), Dhanasari (3), Jaitsari (1), Suhi (3), Bilaval (2), Gaund (2), Ramkali (1), Maru (2), Kedara (1), Bhairau (1), Basant (1), and Malhar (3). The book contains 140 shabads, 40 pade, and 231 salok.<ref name="derasachkhandballan.com"/> There are 177 pages in all of the book.

A version of the holy book ''Amrit Bani'' containing 240 hymns of Guru Ravidas was installed at the Guru Ravidas temple in [[Jalandhar]], Punjab, on 1 February 2012 on the occasion of birth anniversary of Guru Ravidass. The Dera Sach Khand Ballan religious community had announced the formation of the new Ravidassia religion and separation from Sikhism at Varanasi. The split from Sikhism was triggered after the killing of its deputy head [[Ramanand Dass]] in May 2009 at a temple in [[Vienna]] by some Sikh radicals.

President of newly formed Begumpura Lok Party and a supporter of the new religion, Satish Bharti, said that the copies of the new Bani were put on display during the religious processions in order to assert that the community members are firm believers of the new religion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jagopunjabjagoindia.com/no-guru-granth-sahib-but-amrit-bani-adorned-at-ravidas-sobha-yatra-3292 |title=Punjab News - No ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ but ‘Amrit Bani’ adorned at Ravidas Sobha Yatra |publisher=Jagopunjabjagoindia.com |date=2010-01-30 |access-date=2012-07-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/ravidassias-assert-identity-display-new-granth-in-shobha-yatras/908944/0 |title=Ravidassias assert identity, display new Granth in shobha yatras |publisher=Indian Express |date=2012-02-07 |access-date=2012-07-17}}</ref>


==Leaders==

Ravidassias are aligned with a [[sant (religion)|sant]] who mentors them on their spiritual path, providing personalised [[mantras]] and advice. The head of the Ravidassia Dharam, known as the ''[[sadhu]]s'' are present mainly in Punjab and the Dera Sach Khand Ballan consists of sadhus, also known as Sant Samaj who in turn lead and are heads of all Ravidassias [[dera]]s around the world. The leader of the Ravidassia religion, known as the [[Gaddi Nashin]] is Sant Niranjan Dass and former leaders include Sant Hari Dass, Sant Sarwan Dass, Sant Garib Dass and Sant Baba Pippal Dass.<ref>{{cite web|author=Prof Ronki Ram |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/5450/dera-sachkhand-ballan-repositorydalit.html |title=Dera Sachkhand Ballan: Repository of Dalit consciousness |publisher=Deccanherald.com |date=2012-07-13 |access-date=2012-07-17}}</ref>

==Customs==
The Ravidassia employ the greeting "ਜੈ ਗੁਰੂਦੇਵ" (''Jai Gurdev, जय गुरुदेव''), meaning “hail the god-like teacher”, the motto of the religion.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/religion-or-a-prayer-for-identity/574754 |title=Religion or a prayer for identity? |agency=Indian Express |access-date=2013-12-05 |date=2010-02-03 |author=Amrita Chaudhry |author-link=Amrita Chaudhry |location=Ludhiana}}</ref>

== Symbols ==
[[File:Religious flag 1.jpg|thumb|Nishan Sahib]]
The Ravidassia religious symbol is known as the [[Harr Nishaan]] ("sign of God"). The [[Gurmukhi]] transliteration of the name Harr is the main symbol of the Ravidassia religion.<ref name="toinewreligion2010"/> It is also called as ''Koumi Nishan''.<ref name="ravidassiareligionsymbol">{{cite journal|url=http://www.global.ucsb.edu/punjab/journal/v16_1/articles/RonkiRam16_1.pdf |journal=Journal of Punjab Studies|year=2009 |volume=16 | issue=1 |title=Ravidass, Dera Sachkhand Ballan and the Question of Dalit Identity in Punjab |publisher=Panjab University, Chandigarh |author=Ronki Ram |page= 20}}</ref>

The religion is also represented by a flag, with the insignia "Har" which, states Ronki Ram, includes:<ref name="ravidassiareligionsymbol"/>
* A bigger circle with 40 rays of sunlight signifying forty hymns of Guru Ravidas;
* Inside the big circle is a small circle, inside which is written "Har" in [[Gurmukhi language]] (ਹਰਿ) with a flame on top of it;
* The flame represents the ''Naam'' (word) that would illuminate the entire world, and reaches the outer circle;
* Between the two circles is written a couplet composed by Ravidas: ਨਾਮ ਤੇਰੇ ਕਿ ਜੋਤੀ ਲਗਾਈ, ਭੇਈਓ ਓ ਭਵਣ ਸਗਲਈ (''Naam tere kee jot lagayi, Bhaio Ujiaaro Bhawan saglaare'', "Your Name is the flame I light; it has illuminated the entire world")

The insignia Har, states Ram, represents the "very being of Ravidass and his teachings".<ref name="ravidassiareligionsymbol"/> It is chosen after the name of their Guru, as ''ravi'' means "illumination" and ''dass'' "servant of god".{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

==Relationship with Sikhism==
[[File:RavidasiItaly.JPG|thumb|Festival of Shri Guru Ravidass at [[Arzignano, Italy]]]]
Dera Bhallan Ravidasis claim that their religion was created after they were excluded from Sikh gurdwaras in Punjab.<ref name="reldiversityp227">{{cite book | last=Parsons | first=Gerald | year=1994 | title=The Growth of Religious Diversity: Britain from 1945 | publisher=Routledge | isbn = 0415083265 | page=227}}</ref> There are many similarities with mainstream Sikhism and indeed temple worship is similar. The primary difference is the reverence of Ravidas as their main [[Guru]], and the use of Ravidas's teachings as the primary scripture and their spiritual [[Satguru]] in contrast to Guru Granth Sahib being the scripture and Satguru of the Sikhs. Some Ravidassias also accept images and idols of Ravidas in their temples.

==Festival==

[[File:Devotees at 635th Anniversary of Sri Guru Ravidass ji.jpg|right|thumb|Devotees at 635th Anniversary of Guru Ravidas at Sri Guru Ravidass Janamsthan Mandir, Varanasi]]
The birthday of Ravidas is celebrated every year at the Seer Gowardhanpur village temple in Varanasi the state of Uttar Pradesh in January or February and the government of India has declared it a gazetted holiday.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/city-briefs-pgi-opds-to-be-closed-on-feb-7/908346/ |title=City Briefs : PGI OPDs to be closed on Feb 7 |publisher=Indian Express |date=2012-02-06 |access-date=2012-07-17}}</ref>

Every year more than 1 million devotees from India and abroad visit the Seer Goverdhanpur temple. In India, devotees pour in from Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, MP, Bihar, UP and Uttarakhand while foreign devotees from the US, Canada and UK throng the village.

On the day there is a Path of Amritbani Guru Ravidas read, the Harr Nishaan Sahib is changed ceremonially, and there is a special Ravidassia [[Aarti|Arti]] and a [[Nagar Kirtan]] procession bearing Shri Guru Ravidas' portrait to the accompaniment of music through the streets of the temple locality.

Special pilgrim trains been run to and from Varanasi for the last 12 years on the occasion of Parkash Ustav of Guru Ravi Dass. A special train is run from Jalandhar to Varanasi and back every year on Guru Ravidass Jyanti Purb for the convenience of the pilgrims since 2000.

==See also==
{{Portal|Religion}}
* [[Dera Sach Khand]]
* [[Sant Mat]]
* [[List of Ravidassia people]]
* [[Bhakti movement]]
* [[Ramdasia|Ramdasia Sikh]]s

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Ravidasi}}
* [http://www.derasachkhandballan.com/ Dera Sach khand Ballan Website]
* [http://www.gururavidassguruji.com/ Guru Ravidas Guruji.com]

{{Ethnic and social groups of the Punjab |state=expanded}}
{{Religion topics}}





[[Category:Ravidassia religion| ]]
[[Category:Bhakti movement]]
[[Category:Bhakti-era Hindu sects]]
[[Category:Nirguna worship traditions]]
[[Category:Sant Mat]]
[[Category:Dalit communities]]
[[Category:Social groups of Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Weaving communities of South Asia]]

Ravidassia religion - Revision history

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76.95.224.134: Commonly known fact