Brief Biography of Shri Guru Ravidas Ji
Shri Guru Ravidas Ji was born in Varanasi, then known as "Kanshi" in the year 1376 AD (Bikrami Samvat 1433, widely accepted by most of the scholars & institutions) to father Santokh Das Ji and mother Kalsi Devi Ji. From childhood itself, Guru Ravidas Ji had spiritual traits and soon came to be known as a highly enlightened saint. He started propagating these spiritual ideas among the people. His popularity increased day by day and soon Kings and Queens of different princely states became his disciples. Raja Nager Mal of Banaras, Rani Jhalanbai and Miranbai of Chittaur were some of the well known disciples of Guru Ji.

Guru Ravidas Ji devoted his attention to preach equality & brotherhood of mankind. "Every human being has the equal rights including the right to worship his God". That was the time of Bhagati Movement, a period of renaissance which gave new light to the people.

Shri Guru Ravidas Ji wrote Baani religious discourses, out of which forty Shabads and one Shaloka are enshrined in Shri Guru Granth Sahib.

From these forty Shabads of Shri Guru Ravidas Ji, we present here two Shabads, which describe Banjaras and Bazigars.

Banjaras in the Baani of Shri Guru Ravidas Ji Maharaj
ik-oNkaar satgur parsaad.

One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:

ga-orhee bairaagan ravidaas jee-o.

Gauree Bairaagan, Ravi Daas Jee:

ghat avghat doogar ghanaa ik nirgun bail hamaar.

The path to God is very treacherous and mountainous, and all I have is this worthless ox.

ram-ee-ay si-o ik bayntee mayree poonjee raakh muraar. ||1||

I offer this one prayer to the Lord, to preserve my capital. ||1||

ko banjaaro raam ko mayraa taaNdaa laadi-aa jaa-ay ray. ||1|| rahaa-o.

Is there any merchant of the Lord to join me? My cargo is loaded, and now I am leaving. ||1||Pause||

ha-o banjaaro raam ko sahj kara-o ba-yaapaar.

I am the merchant of the Lord; I deal in spiritual wisdom.

mai raam naam Dhan laadi-aa bikh laadee sansaar. ||2||

I have loaded the Wealth of the Lord's Name; the world has loaded poison. ||2||

urvaar paar kay daanee-aa likh layho aal pataal.

O you who know this world and the world beyond: write whatever nonsense you please about me.
mohi jam dand na laag-ee tajeelay sarab janjaal. ||3||

The club of the Messenger of Death shall not strike me, since I have cast off all entanglements. ||3||

jaisaa rang kasumbh kaa taisaa ih sansaar.

Love of this world is like the pale, temporary color of the safflower.

mayray ram-ee-ay rang majeeth kaa kaho ravidaas chamaar. ||4||1||


The color of my Lord's Love, however, is permanent, like the dye of the madder plant. So says Ravi Daas, the tanner. ||4||1||

Mention of Bazigar in the Baani of Shri Guru Ravidas Ji Maharaj
maatee ko putraa kaisay nachat hai.

How does the puppet of clay dance?

daykhai daykhai sunai bolai da-ori-o firat hai. ||1|| rahaa-o.

He looks and listens, hears and speaks, and runs around. ||1||Pause||

jab kachh paavai tab garab karat hai.

When he acquires something, he is inflated with ego.

maa-i-aa ga-ee tab rovan lagat hai. ||1||

But when his wealth is gone, then he cries and bewails. ||1||

man bach karam ras kaseh lubhaanaa.

In thought, word and deed, he is attached to the sweet and tangy flavors.

binas ga-i-aa jaa-ay kahoo-aN samaanaa. ||2||

When he dies, no one knows where he has gone. ||2||

kahi ravidaas baajee jag bhaa-ee.

Says Ravi Daas, the world is just a dramatic play, O Siblings of Destiny.

baajeegar sa-o mohi pareet ban aa-ee. ||3||6||

I have enshrined love for the Lord, the star of the show. ||3||6||