Prelims: Indian History (Personalities), Sant Ravidas, Nirguna Bhakti
Mains: General Studies-I Modern Indian History from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.
Why in the News ?
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the statue of Sant Ravidas in Varanasi and offered floral tribute on the occasion of his 647th birth anniversary.
Source: PIB
📌 FYI on Prelims
Nirguna Bhakti
- Nirguna bhakti is devotion to and worship of the formless Divine.
- Nir, a prefix meaning “without,” guna, which means “qualities” or “properties,” and bhakti, which means “devotion” or “faithfulness,” are all Sanskrit terms.
- They place a greater emphasis on learning. They scorned the Scriptures and denounced all forms of idolatry.
- The Brahmins’ supremacy was repudiated by the Nirguna poet-saints, as were all caste-based customs and the practice of idolatry.
- They valued personal encounters with God, and although they referred to him by various names and titles, their god was formless, everlasting, non-incarnate, and ineffable.
- Their beliefs appeared to be a synthesis of the three traditions: Vaishnava Bhakti, the Nanpanthi movement, and Sufism. They gave Bhakti a Nirguna perspective, despite the fact that it was borrowed from Vaishnavism.
- Bhakti is classified in a variety of ways, generally as pairs of opposites, depending on the Hindu tradition or school.
- Nirguna bhakti is an unmanifested expression of absolute devotion to God
About:
Sant Ravidas
- He was a mystic poet saint of the Bhakti Movement from the 15th and 16th centuries, and founded the Ravidassia religion.
- He was a revered poet and a renowned philosopher.
- Birth: He was born in 1377 CE in Seer Govardhanpur in Uttar Pradesh. His place of birth is now known as Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan.
- Life history:
- Despite belonging to a community whose initial occupation was in leatherwork, Ravidas shifted his focus to spiritual pursuits, spending much of his time on the banks of the Ganges.
- Throughout his life, he associated with Sufi saints, sadhus, and ascetics.
- At the age of 12, Ravidas was married to Lona Devi, and they had a son named Vijay Dass.
- Teachings and Works:
- Since his birth, Guru Ravidas devoted his life to advocating for human rights and equality.
- A few of his compositions were also included in Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
- He is one of the most famous personalities of the nirguna sampradaya (sant parampara) and was one of the prominent leaders of the North Indian Bhakti movement.
- He also became a symbol of opposition to untouchability in society by the higher caste people for lower caste people.
- Sant Guru Ravidas Jayanti is hugely observed in the Northern part of India including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Haryana.
