Guru Ravidas Jayanti

Guru Ravidas was born in 1376 AD in Gobardhanpur village of Varanasi city of Uttar Pradesh. His father's name was Santokh Das (Raghu) and mother's name was Karma Devi (Kalsa). His grandfather's name was Shri Kaluram ji, grandmother's name was Mrs. Lakhpati ji, wife's name was Mrs. Lonaji and son's name was Mr. Vijay Das ji.

Guru Ravidas's father Shri Santokh Das took care of his primary education and taught him about his religious and social values. Ravidas showed special interest in the adorable form of Lord Vishnu, and he spent his life in the service and devotion of the Lord. He inspired his children and community members to live with faith in God. A devotee is incomplete without God, life is complete only when the soul meets God.

Saint Ravidas ji was born on the day of Magh Purnima. Saint Ravidas ji has played an important role in the upliftment of our society many times more than his contribution in the field of spirituality. Ravidas ji gave the message to the society that all human beings in this world are equal, no person is small or big by birth, a person always becomes small or big by his deeds. He always worked for the eradication of caste inequality. To keep alive these good deeds and thoughts of Ravidas ji, his birthday started being celebrated every year as Ravidas Jayanti.

Man changa to kathauti (pot made of stone or wood) me ganga. If a person's mind is pure and his intention to do any work is good then his every work is as pure as the Ganga river. By giving this message, he has said to leave aside ostentation and remember Shri Bhagwan with a virtuous mind. Ravidas has taught the world the lesson of unity and brotherhood through his spiritual teachings. Ravidas was a person devoid of hope, desire, attachment, lust and anger.

Pleased with Ravidas's devotion, Mother Ganga appeared before him and gave him a boon that whenever Ravidas called her, she would appear and fulfil his wish. Let us know, the story which contains the devotion of Ravidas and the power of Mother Ganga.

Story:

Ravidas was sitting at one place and doing his work. Everyone knew that Ravidas was a big devotee. A scholar was passing by Ravidas ji. Seeing him, Ravidas ji said - 'O scholar! Where are you going? Hearing this the scholar stopped and said - I am going to take a bath in the Ganga. Do you want to give any gift to Mother Ganga? If you want to give something as a gift, then give it to me and I will give it to Mother Ganga.

Then Ravidas took out a penny from his pocket and gave it to the scholar and said that give this penny to Mother Ganga and whatever she gives in return (Prasad) come and give it to me.

He took that coin of Ravidas from a distance and went away. The scholar took bath in the Ganga and started leaving from there, then he remembered Ravidas ji's words. He threw that penny in Ganga ji and said - Mother Ganga, your devotee Ravidas has given this gift, please accept it. Then on the banks of Ganga, Mother Ganga gave him a gold bracelet. The bracelet was so beautiful that after seeing it, the scholar’s devotion and virtuous intellect was overcome by greed and he changed the route and went to his home from the other side. He sold that bracelet in a goldsmith's shop. The shine of that bracelet was so captivating that the goldsmith installed it in front of his shop.

The scholar returned home with the money and the scholar was very happy with his wife that day. One day in the same city, the king's daughter was in a hurry to go to the market. To entertain herself, she was sent to the market with her friends. The queen's daughter came out of the same goldsmith's shop. She was attracted after seeing that bracelet and asked the king to buy it. The king bought that bracelet and made his daughter wear it. The queen's daughter started roaming around the entire palace with a very happy heart. Then a friend said that this bracelet is very beautiful, but it is only one. If it had another bracelet, it would have looked better. The queen's daughter liked this statement of her friend. She asked her father to order another bracelet. The king's soldiers went to the same goldsmith and asked for another similar bracelet. The goldsmith said, I had only one and I gave it to the king's daughter. The soldiers caught the goldsmith. The king asked where is the second bracelet? Then the goldsmith said that a scholar had given me this bracelet and he would also have another bracelet. The king's soldiers caught that scholar also. The king said that I want another bracelet, I will give you whatever money you ask in exchange for it. Otherwise, I will behead you and your family. Hearing this, the scholar became very scared and started regretting his actions. The scholar came away from the king saying that he was going to get another bracelet. He went to the same place where Saint Ravidas was sitting and doing his work. He did not even look at the scholar and continued doing his work. scholar said- Ravidas! Give me a penny, I am going to bathe in the Ganga. Hearing this, Ravidas said, I had given it a few days ago and you did not give me the prasad that Mother Ganga had given me. Hearing this the scholar started crying bitterly and said that today because of that greed, I and my family are in trouble. Raja Saheb has asked for another bracelet for his daughter. If I do not take the bracelet, Raja Saheb will kill me and my family. Now you tell me what should I do?

Ravidas ji said that Man changa to kathauti (pot made of stone or wood) me Ganga. If a person's mind is pure and his intention to do any work is good then his every work is as pure as the Ganga.

The leather was swelling in the kathauti. Ravidas said that this is Ganga ji, put your hand and take out the other bracelet. The scholar was hesitant in doing so but the life of his family was at stake. As soon as he put his hand in the pot, there were many gold bangles lying in it, he took out one bangle and gave it to the king. In this way the life of the scholar’s family was saved and then the scholar resolved not to indulge in greed.

This is true, there is no doubt in it that if greed comes in the mind, then it also brings trouble along with it. While you will be busy enjoying the benefits, on the other hand the crisis will be in front of you in its dire form. Then you will be left with nothing instead of regrets.

Guru Ravidas Jayanti

Guru Ravidas was born in 1376 AD in Gobardhanpur village of Varanasi city of Uttar Pradesh. By giving this message, “Man changa to kathauti (pot made of stone or wood) me ganga”., he has said to leave aside ostentation and remember Shri Bhagwan with a virtuous heart.

Guru Ravidas Jayanti

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