Ravidas

Ravidas (रैदास, 15th–16th c.) was an Indian mystic poet-saint of the Bhakti movement whose devotional verses are included in the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh scripture. A cobbler by occupation, he taught the removal of social divisions of caste and gender and promoted unity in the pursuit of personal spiritual freedom. He is the central figure of the Ravidassia religious movement.

Life/History

Ravidas was born in the city of Varanasi (Benaras); the details of his life are uncertain and contested, though some scholars believe he was born in 1433 CE. He belonged to a community of leather-workers, considered among the lowest castes in the Hindu hierarchy. Despite his humble origins, he became one of the most revered poet-saints of the Bhakti movement.

According to tradition, Ravidas was a contemporary of the Sufi mystic Kabir and the bhakti poet Ramananda. Some hagiographic traditions also hold that he was a guru of Mirabai, the famous Rajasthani princess-saint, and that she sought his guidance on the path of devotion.

Teachings/Contributions

Ravidas’s hymns, preserved in the Guru Granth Sahib, emphasize the equality of all human beings before God and the futility of caste distinctions:

“O Lord, I am Your humble servant. In Your presence, there is no high or low.”

He taught that liberation is available to all through sincere devotion, regardless of caste, creed, or social standing. His poetry is marked by its simplicity, egalitarianism, and directness. He rejected ritualism and caste pride, insisting that inner devotion is what matters to God.

Legacy

Ravidas is venerated as a saint by his followers, who regard his teachings as the foundation of the Ravidassia faith. Mainstream Sikhs consider him to be a bhagat, while break-away Ravidassias consider him to be a guru. His devotional verses are included not only in the Guru Granth Sahib but also in the Panch Vani text of the Dadu Panthi tradition within Hinduism. Several temples and Ravidass Deras are dedicated to him across North India.

Verification notes

• Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).
• Life details “uncertain and contested”; possible birth year 1433 CE; bhagat/guru distinction and Panch Vani inclusion per Wikipedia.
• His association with Mirabai is recorded in hagiographic traditions of the Ravidassia community; historical verification is uncertain.
• Ravidas’s date of birth and precise life details are not firmly established; most scholars place him in the 15th–16th century.
• The Ravidassia tradition formally separated from Hinduism in the early 21st century.