मैं मेरी नू मार लै, मन महि शांत होवै ।
क्रोध बुरा है काल से, इसको लेउ समावै ।। (संत रविदास)
What a great ethical message in Guru Ravidas Amritbani! In the above hymn, Sant Ravidas conveys that shunning ego and anger is a must for achieving inner peace and leading a Quality Ethical life.
Continuing learnings from great spiritual saints and philosophers of Bhakti era, I shall try to pick up threads on Dharma and Ethical living from another prominent Poet Saint " Sant Ravidas"-- ( Circa 1450-1520), a contemporary of Sant Kabir and Saint Mira Bai. Sant Ravidas was a great Socio-Religious Reformer, a Thinker, a Humanist and a Theosophist. He scripted several devotional songs, hymns and Bhajans and has a couple of literary works to his credit. Around 240 hymns based on his religious messages/ teachings have been compiled into a holy book " Amritbani Guru Ravidas ", by his followers. Quite a few of his poems/ hymns and devotional songs have been included in the sacred scripture of Sikh religion, " Guru Granth Sahib".
सर्वजन सुखाय, सर्वजन हिताय। has been one of the key message in the teachings of Guru Ravidas which indirectly means that one should undertake those actions that lead to happiness and overall welfare of entire humanity. Quoting a few key relevant learnings from his " पैंतिस अक्षरी ";
उ-- उसत्त करो इक ओंकारा, तीन लोक जिन किया पसारा ।ie, we should sing the glory & grace of that one God, manifest in every particle in the three worlds and the universe.
न-- नाम की नाव बनाई, कहे रविदास चढो रे भाई ।ie, we should ride the ship of Na-am, created by God, to realize inner lasting peace.
भ-- भ्रम मिटे जो पंचम सीजे, जाये त्रिवेणी मज्जन कीजे ।ie, overpowering the five vices is essential to weed out ignorance and helps one reach the sacred confluence of three streams- Irha, Pingala & Sukhmana.
If we go little deeper into the massages spread by the above, it becomes clear that these focused on eradicating superstitions of society and uniting the community through a simple divine thread of Na-am. Quoting from "पंन्दरा तिथि" of Sant Ravidas Bani;
सर्वजन सुखाय, सर्वजन हिताय। has been one of the key message in the teachings of Guru Ravidas which indirectly means that one should undertake those actions that lead to happiness and overall welfare of entire humanity. Quoting a few key relevant learnings from his " पैंतिस अक्षरी ";
उ-- उसत्त करो इक ओंकारा, तीन लोक जिन किया पसारा ।ie, we should sing the glory & grace of that one God, manifest in every particle in the three worlds and the universe.
न-- नाम की नाव बनाई, कहे रविदास चढो रे भाई ।ie, we should ride the ship of Na-am, created by God, to realize inner lasting peace.
भ-- भ्रम मिटे जो पंचम सीजे, जाये त्रिवेणी मज्जन कीजे ।ie, overpowering the five vices is essential to weed out ignorance and helps one reach the sacred confluence of three streams- Irha, Pingala & Sukhmana.
If we go little deeper into the massages spread by the above, it becomes clear that these focused on eradicating superstitions of society and uniting the community through a simple divine thread of Na-am. Quoting from "पंन्दरा तिथि" of Sant Ravidas Bani;
सुभ करमा फल सुभ है, करमां संदणा खेत।
पाप करम दे कीतिक, सदा हार नहीं जीत ।।
In the above hymn, Guru Ravidas conveys that Ethical living requires one to undertake good and noble deeds which generate superior outcomes/ consequences. On the contrary, by carrying out sinful deeds, one never wins, but always loses.
संसारी तृष्णा त्य़ाग के, तन मन धन गुरुदेव।
मिथिय़ा सब को जानके, रख नाम सनेह।।
In the above hymn, Guru Ravidas advises people to shun the hunger for worldly pleasures and in turn dedicate their body, mind and riches to their Guru since the world is illusionary.
Guru Ravidas, in several of his hymns, has repeatedly stressed upon the essentials of doing good deeds in life, as well as leading an ethical life by spreading love and equanimity in society. Further, his Bhajans give us a feel of Nirgun-Sagun themes. " Hari in everything, everything in Hari". He used to say " Absorb the self into the self." For him,who knows Hari and has a clear sense of self, no other testimony is needed. Quoting again from his literary works;
तीरथ फल ना बरत फल, नहीं जग कोई पाया।
मन महि हउमै अहंकार, जोय बिरथा सभही जाया।।
तृतीय त्यागीये मान को, खोटे करम हंकार।
हरि हरि नाम उचारिए, कहि रविदास पुकार।।
In the above two hymns, Sant Ravidas exhorted the community not to waste efforts in visiting pilgrimages or keeping fasts. As per him, it is essential to kill one's ego, arrogance and false pride besides shunning evil or sinful deeds which harm the humanity.
In every hymn, Sant Ravidas focused on simple living, free of ego or falsehood. He was of pure speech, sometimes conveying his messages, in a blunt language and was unafraid of his humble origins. He discussed his spiritual philosophy & ideas with everyone, without any gender or class discrimination. Quoting English translation of a few relevant lines from his"Shabads";
One can write a lot more on the vast reservoir of Dharmik and Ethical values preached by this great Saint. Yet, considering the limitations of my planned coverage of Bhakti era, I may like to end this blog with another quote on Ethical Living from " बारह मास उपदेश" of Guru Ravidas where he advises people to shun Greed, Attachment, Ego and meaningless or futile communication in life. He also advises them to focus on teachings of Saints for Ethical living.
" Kaam na visreo, diyambh na tiyageo, lobh na bisario deva;
Parninda mukh te neh chaddhi, niphal bhaye sab seva."
In the above lines,Guru Ravidas conveys that service to humanity demands ethical traits in personality and one should be ready to abandon desires, discard greed & criticism of others as well as arrogance.
"Bhagti na gian jog baeragee, Bhagti na kahae kahavaen;
Bhagti na sun mandal ghar sodhae, Bhagti na kashu dikhavaen."
In the above lines,Guru Ravidas conveys that mere proficiency in Knowledge, Yoga and detachment from materialistic possessions do not demonstrate true worship and devout love for God. Likewise, showmanship and aspiration for achieving state of tranquility without devotion are not true meditation of God. Quoting from another "Shabad" of Guru Ravidas;
Begampura, sahar ko naao, dukh andohu nahi tihi thaao!
Nan tasvis khiraj na mal, khauf na khata na taras jawal!!
In the above lines, Guru Ravidas preaches the society that true worship of God helps human being in getting rid of all sorts of attachments & vices and lead to finding a place in the heavenly abode " Begampura". In fact, Guru Ravidas emphasizes upon establishment of a world order like " Begampura", where there is no discrimination on account of class, creed, color, slavery etc, but has inbuilt focus on values of Unity, Equality and Brotherhood. What a great Ethical message for society! What a focus on Humanity as the basis of Dharma!
One can write a lot more on the vast reservoir of Dharmik and Ethical values preached by this great Saint. Yet, considering the limitations of my planned coverage of Bhakti era, I may like to end this blog with another quote on Ethical Living from " बारह मास उपदेश" of Guru Ravidas where he advises people to shun Greed, Attachment, Ego and meaningless or futile communication in life. He also advises them to focus on teachings of Saints for Ethical living.
त्याग लोभ मोह अहंकार सम्, गुरुदेव की करो प्रीत।
गौण वाक सम त्याग कर, संत वचन धर चीत् ।।
