Bhagat Ravidas Ji is one of India’s revolutionary saints who challenged Brahmanism. In Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, many devotional hymns of Bhagat Ravidas Ji are present.
The Ravidas Panthis, those who exclusively just accept Baba Ravidas Ji as their Guru, call him Guru or Satguru. However, for those who accept Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as the eternal truth, Baba Ravidaas Ji is a Bhagat (devotee of God) who became one with God, but not a Guru. Just like a river leads into the ocean and becomes one with it, the Bhagats merged into Waheguru. Whereas the Gurus were already a part of the ocean.
Bhagat Ravidas Ji, like other Bhagats whose writings are in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, was a contemporary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Janamsaakhis and texts like ‘Tvareek Guru Khalsa’ (p. 80) tell us that these Bhagats met Guru Nanak Dev Ji. According to the Meharvaan Janamsakhi, this meeting happened in Ayodhya.
From reading Gurbani, it is clear that the Bhagats found the True Guru, received Amrit, and were blessed with Naam from the Satguru, who could only be Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Therefore, Bhagat Ravidas Ji became a follower of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. A Gurdwara has been built in Ayodhya to remember this important meeting between Guru Ji and the Bhagats.
ਪਰਮ ਪਰਸ ਗੁਰੁ ਭੇਟੀਐ ਪੂਰਬ ਲਿਖਤ ਲਿਲਾਟ ॥
ਉਨਮਨ ਮਨ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮਿਲੇ ਛੁਟਕਤ ਬਜਰ ਕਪਾਟ ॥੬॥
“When one’s pre-ordained destiny awakens and one meets the True Guru, who is the Supreme Philosopher’s Stone, then the inner-soul meets with the Supreme Soul, and the stubborn doors of the mind are opened wide. ||6||”
(Bhagat Ravidaas jee, Ang 346)
ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵੈ ਰਵਿਦਾਸੁ ਭਗਤੁ ਜੈਦੇਵ ਤ੍ਰਿਲੋਚਨ ||
ਨਾਮਾ ਭਗਤੁ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਸਦਾ ਗਾਵਹਿ ਸਮ ਲੋਚਨ ||
ਭਗਤੁ ਬੇਣਿ ਗੁਣ ਰਵੈ ਸਹਜਿ ਆਤਮ ਰੰਗੁ ਮਾਣੈ ||
ਜੋਗ ਧਿਆਨਿ ਗੁਰ ਗਿਆਨਿ ਬਿਨਾ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਜਾਣੈ ||
ਸੁਖਦੇਉ ਪਰੀਖ੍ਯਤੁ ਗੁਣ ਰਵੈ ਗੋਤਮ ਰਿਖਿ ਜਸੁ ਗਾਇਓ ||
ਕਬਿ ਕਲ ਸੁਜਸੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰ ਨਿਤ ਨਵਤਨੁ ਜਗਿ ਛਾਇਓ ||੮||
“The Glorious Praises (of Guru Nanak) are being sung by Ravidaas the Bhagat (devotee), Jai Dev and Trilochan. The Bhagats (devotees) Naam Dev and Kabeer praise Him continually, (who) with their eyes can see God everywhere. The Bhagat (devotee) Benee sings His Praises; with a fixed state, enjoying the ecstasy of the soul meeting God. With the spiritual wisdom of the Guru, (Guru Nanak) they join their consciousness in meditation; they know none other than God. The Rishee Sukh Dev and the king Preekhyat also sing the Praises (of Guru Nanak), and the Rishi Gautam also sings His Praise. O poet Kall! The ever-fresh praises of Guru Nanak (Dev Ji) are spreading throughout the world. ||8||”
(Svaiyye M:5 Bhatt Kall, 1390)
Some ignorant people claim that Guru Nanak Dev Ji became the disciple of Bhagat Ravidas Ji and accepted him as Guru, and similarly, the followers of Bhagat Kabir Ji claim that Guru Nanak Dev Ji became the disciple of Bhagat Kabir Ji and accepted him as Guru. However, Guru Arjan Dev Ji clearly states:
ਸਭ ਤੇ ਵਡਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਜਿਨਿ ਕਲ ਰਾਖੀ ਮੇਰੀ ||੪||੧੦||੫੭||
“Guru Nanak is the greatest of all; He saved my honor in this time (by uniting me with God). ||4||10||57||”
(Soohee M:5, 750)
Guru Arjan Dev Ji describes the Bhagats and then states that Guru Nanak Dev Ji was God Himself personified. This clears all doubts that Guru Nanak Dev Ji was Satguru and the Bhagats were Bhagats that became one with God after the spiritual efforts and blessings of the Guru.
ਕਬੀਰਿ ਧਿਆਇਓ ਏਕ ਰੰਗ || ਨਾਮਦੇਵ ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਬਸਹਿ ਸੰਗਿ ||
ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ਧਿਆਏ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਅਨੂਪ || ਗੁਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ ਗੋਵਿੰਦ ਰੂਪ ||੮||੧||
“Kabeer meditated on the One Lord with love. Naam Dev lived with the Dear Lord. Ravidas meditated on God, the Incomparably Beautiful. Guru Nanak Dev is the Embodiment of the Lord of the Universe. ||8||1||”
(Basant M:5, 1192)
Many prophets, bhagats, and others cannot attain the status of Satguru; only Waheguru fully understands his greatness. The Naam received from the Satguru unites one with Waheguru, but it doesn’t make anyone Waheguru. Like a drop of water merges with the ocean but that drop itself is not an ocean. It is the greatness of the ocean to merge the drop of water but then the drop would not exist. Similarly, only Satguru Nanak Sahib truly knows Waheguru because He is Waheguru Himself
It’s important to note that in the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the word “Bhagat” is used to refer to Ravidas Ji, not “Guru.” For example:
We should follow Gurbani and use the word “Bhagat” when referring to Ravidas Ji, just as it’s written. Gurbani guides us, and it’s important to respect and use the words it provides.
There are some people who believe that the term ‘Guru’ is not used in Gurbani to refer to anyone, but that is not true. In Gurbani, the word ‘Guru’ is used specifically for Guru Nanak Dev Ji and his subsequent human forms. For the Bhagats, the term ‘Bhagat’ is used. Below are some verses from Gurbani where the term ‘Guru’ is used to refer to Guru Sahib.
ਜੋਤਿ ਰੂਪਿ ਹਰਿ ਆਪਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਕਹਾਯਉ ॥
The Embodiment of Light, the Lord Himself is called Guru Nanak.
(1408)
ਸਭ ਤੇ ਵਡਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਜਿਨਿ ਕਲ ਰਾਖੀ ਮੇਰੀ ||੪||੧੦||੫੭||
The highest of all is Satguru Nanak, who has protected (saved) me during Kaljug.
ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਭਈ ਸਗਲੇ ਜੁਗ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਗੁਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੀ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥੪॥੧੧॥
The glorious greatness of Guru Nanak is manifest, throughout all the ages. ||4||11||
(611)
ਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਜਿਨ ਸੁਣਿਆ ਪੇਖਿਆ ਸੇ ਫਿਰਿ ਗਰਭਾਸਿ ਨ ਪਰਿਆ ਰੇ ॥੪॥੨॥੧੩॥
Those who have heard, and seen Guru Nanak, do not descend into the womb of reincarnation again. ||4||2||13||
(612)
ਤਖਤਿ ਬੈਠਾ ਅਰਜਨ ਗੁਰੂ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਖਿਵੈ ਚੰਦੋਆ ॥
Guru Arjun sits on the throne; the royal canopy waves over the True Guru.
(968)
ਗੁਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਬ ਭਏ ਦਇਆਰਾ ਸਰਬ ਸੁਖਾ ਨਿਧਿ ਪਾਂਹੀ ॥੨॥੯੨॥੧੧੫॥
Guru Nanak has become merciful to me, and I have been blessed with the treasure of absolute peace. ||2||92||115||
(1226)
ਸਭੇ ਕਾਜ ਸੁਹੇਲੜੇ ਥੀਏ ਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਤੁਠਾ ॥1॥
(All my works or tasks were done easily when Guru Nanak became merciful/kind/benevolent)
ਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਤੁਠਾ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਇ ॥
(When Guru Nanak became merciful, I met Vaheguru).
ਸਭੇ ਇਛਾ ਪੂਰੀਆ ਜਾ ਪਾਇਆ ਅਗਮ ਅਪਾਰਾ ॥
ਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਤੇਰਿਆ ਚਰਣਾ ਕਉ ਬਲਿਹਾਰਾ ॥੪॥੧॥੪੭॥
When I met Guru Nanak, then I met Vaheguru; I am sacrifice on Siri Guru Nanak Dev jee (who enabled me to meet Vaheguru)
Notice that the above pankiti has aunkad on both ਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ and for this reason, this is referring to Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji.
