Baba Ravidas Ji, A Great Revolutionary

Baba Ravidas Ji (1440–1540) was an Indian mystic poet-saint of the Bhakti Movement during the 15th and 16th centuries. He was a brave revolutionary who spread the message of equality, stood against caste discrimination and believed in one God. He thought in similar ways as Baba Kabir, Baba Nanak, Baba Farid, and many others saints whose Shabads have been included in the Guru Granth Sahib of Sikhs. His 41 Shabads have been included in the Guru Granth Sahib by Baba Arjun Dev. In Sikhism, one of the main beliefs is all humans are equal and we are all brothers and sisters, and we do not believe in a caste system.

Baba Ravidas was born in the Gobardhanpur village near Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh to mother Mata Kalsi and father Santokh Das. His parents belonged to a well-to-do leather working community. He spent most of his life in the company of Sufi saints and ascetics. Some historians believe that Baba Ravidas met Baba Nanak. At the age of twelve, Ravidas was married to Loni Devi. Upper castes created many problems for him but he faced them with bravery and promoted the message of equality. His teachings are followed and respected all over India and in other countries of the world.

Image Credits: https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Bhagat_Ravidas