Bhagat Ravidas Ji: A Disciple of Guru Nanak Dev Ji

August 5, 20240 Comments

Bhagat Ravidas Ji: A Disciple of Guru Nanak Dev Ji

Bhagat Ravidas Ji is widely known as a great saint and poet whose devotional Bani, which was uttered through the blessings of Guru Sahib, is enshrined within Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. While he was originally a disciple of Bhagat Ramanand Ji, historical and scriptural evidence suggests that Bhagat Ravidas Ji met Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and became his Sikh. Bhagat Ravidas Ji received Naam from Guru Sahib and was spiritually awakened.

According to Ram Kumar Verma, a noted scholar on Bhagat Kabir Ji, both Bhagat Kabir and Bhagat Ravidas were disciples of Bhagat Ramanand (Sant Kabir, p. 63). This claim is supported by Shri Bhaktmal, authored by Nabha Ji, which lists Ramanand Ji’s prominent disciples:

ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਰਘੁਨਾਥ ਜਯੋ ਦੁਨੀਆਂ ਸੇਤਰ ਜਗ ਤਰਨ ਕੀਓ
ਅਨੰਤਾਨੰਦ, ਕਬੀਰ, ਸੁੱਖਾ, ਸੁਰਸੁਰਾ, ਪਦਮਾਵਤੀ ਨਰ ਹਰਿ
ਪੀਪਾ, ਭਾਵਨੰਦ, ਰੈਦਾਸ, ਧੰਨਾ, ਸੈਨ, ਸਰਸੁਰੀ ਕੀ ਸਰਹਰਿ

From this, it is evident that Bhagat Ramanand’s disciples included Bhagat Kabir, Bhagat Pipa, Bhagat Ravidas, Bhagat Dhanna, and Bhagat Sain, all of whom have their Bani included within Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Since Ramanand Ji himself met Guru Nanak Dev Ji and accepted his teachings, it naturally follows that his disciples also followed in the same footsteps.

Bhagat Kabir Ji is already known to have become a Sikh of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The same connection can be established for Bhagat Ravidas Ji, both through historical sources and internal evidence from his own Bani.

The Meeting in Benaras

Multiple Sikh and non-Sikh sources confirm that Bhagat Ravidas Ji met Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Banaras (Kashi). According to Meharban Janamsakhi, a record written by the nephew of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, several Bhagats including Bhagat Ravidas Ji came to meet Guru Sahib:

ਤਬ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਕੀ ਆਗਿਆ ਸਾਥ ਸਭਿ ਭਗਤ ਮਿਲੇ।
ਮਿਲ ਕਰ ਮਿਲਣ ਆਏ ਨਾਮਾ, ਜੈਦੇਉ, ਕਬੀਰ, ਤ੍ਰਿਲੋਚਨ, ਰਵਿਦਾਸ, ਧੰਨਾ, ਬੇਣੀ।

The Pran Sangali Granth also supports this event, stating that Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s arrival in Banaras caused a great stir among the locals, leading many Pandits of the area to become his Sikhs:

ਤਬ ਬਨਾਰਸ ਮਹਿ ਧੁਮ ਮਚੀ ਜਿ ਭਾਈ ਵਡਾ ਮਹਾਪੁਰਸ਼ ਲੋਕ ਗੁਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਆਇਆ ਹੈ। ਜਿਸਕੇ ਬਨਾਰਸ ਕੇ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਸਿੱਖ ਹੋਇ। ਲੋਕ ਮਿਲ ਕਰ ਬਾਬਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਪਹਿ ਆਏ।

Further, Tavrik Guru Khalsa records:

ਨਾਮਦੇਵ, ਰਵਿਦਾਸ, ਤ੍ਰਿਲੋਚਨ, ਪਰਸਾ ਅਤੇ ਹਾਸੋ ਰਾਏ, ਧਰਮ ਦਾਸ ਇਹ ਦੋਵੇਂ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਚੇਲੇ, ਨਿਤਯਾਨੰਦ ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਦਾ ਚੇਲਾ – ਇਹ ਸਭ ਮਿਲਣ ਆਏ।

These historical documents are complemented by writings from the followers of Bhagat Ravidas Ji. The Ravidas Pragas explicitly mentions that Guru Nanak Dev Ji met Bhagat Ravidas Ji in Banaras, despite criticism from the local Brahmins and Kshatriyas for associating with those of so-called “lower” castes. Guru Nanak Dev Ji, however, responded with these timeless words:

ਨੀਚਾ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਨੀਚ ਜਾਤਿ ਨੀਚੀ ਹੂ ਅਤਿ ਨੀਚੁ ॥
ਨਾਨਕੁ ਤਿਨ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਸਾਥਿ ਵਡਿਆ ਸਿਉ ਕਿਆ ਰੀਸ ॥
(Ang 15)

Even Prithvi Singh Azad, in his book Guru Ravidas, records the year of this meeting as 1555 Bikrami (1499 CE), confirming the historical authenticity of the event.

Evidence Within Bhagat Ravidas Ji’s Bani

The clearest and most compelling evidence that Bhagat Ravidas Ji became a Sikh of Guru Nanak Dev Ji comes from his own words in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. In one Shabad, he writes:

ਨੀਚਹ ਊਚ ਕਰੈ ਮੇਰਾ ਗੋਬਿੰਦੁ ਕਾਹੂ ਤੇ ਨ ਡਰੈ ॥੧॥
ਨਾਮਦੇਵ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਤਿਲੋਚਨੁ ਸਧਨਾ ਸੈਨੁ ਤਰੈ ॥
ਕਹਿ ਰਵਿਦਾਸੁ ਸੁਨਹੁ ਰੇ ਸੰਤਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਤੇ ਸਭੈ ਸਰੈ ॥੨॥੧॥
(Ang 486)

Bhagat Ravidas Ji praises Akaal Purakh, who uplifts the lowly and exalts them. He names other Bhagats who have been saved and counts himself among them. This speaks to his transformation through spiritual guidance, which, given the historical context, points to his meeting with Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

He further affirms:

ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦਿ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਪਾਵਉ ॥੪॥
(Ang 658)

ਇਉ ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦਿ ਨਰਕ ਨਹੀ ਜਾਤਾ ॥੩॥੫॥
(Ang 694)

These lines reveal that through the Guru’s grace, he was saved from hell and met the Formless One. Gurbani is clear that there is only one Satguru, and that is Guru Nanak Dev Ji:

ਸਭ ਤੇ ਵਡਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਜਿਨਿ ਕਲ ਰਾਖੀ ਮੇਰੀ ॥
(Ang 750)

Even the very concept of Sat Naam is present in Bhagat Ravidas Ji’s Bani:

ਕਹੈ ਰਵਿਦਾਸੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਤੇਰੋ ਆਰਤੀ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਹੈ ਹਰਿ ਭੋਗ ਤੁਹਾਰੇ ॥੪॥੩॥
(Ang 694)

And only Guru Nanak Dev Ji brought Sat Naam into the world:

ਕਲਿਜੁਗੁ ਬਾਬੇ ਤਾਰਿਆ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਪੜ੍ਹਿ ਮੰਤ੍ਰੁ ਸੁਣਾਇਆ ।
(Bhai Gurdas Ji, Vaar 1)

Spiritual Influence and Alignment

A close comparison of the terminology and spiritual expressions used by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Bhagat Ravidas Ji shows a clear philosophical alignment — pointing towards the influence of Gurmat.

For example, Guru Nanak Dev Ji writes:

ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਹੈ ਸੋਇ ॥ ਤਿਸ ਦੈ ਚਾਨਣਿ ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਚਾਨਣੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
(Ang 13)

Bhagat Ravidas Ji echoes a similar theme:

ਨਾਮ ਤੇਰੇ ਕੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਲਗਾਈ ਭਇਓ ਉਜਿਆਰੋ ਭਵਨ ਸਗਲਾਰੇ ॥੨॥
(Ang 694)

Both use the analogy of inner light to explain the divine presence in all beings.

Guru Sahib writes against idol worship:

ਤੇਰਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰੀ ਚਨਣਾਠੀਆ ਜੇ ਮਨੁ ਉਰਸਾ ਹੋਇ ॥
(Ang 488)

Bhagat Ravidas Ji similarly emphasizes inner cleansing:

ਬਾਹਰਿ ਦੇਵ ਪਖਾਲੀਅਹਿ ਜੇ ਮਨੁ ਧੋਵੈ ਕੋਇ ॥
ਜੂਠਿ ਲਹੈ ਜੀਉ ਮਾਜੀਐ ਮੋਖ ਪਇਆਣਾ ਹੋਇ ॥੨॥
(Ang 486)

These striking similarities highlight that Bhagat Ravidas Ji had indeed embraced the path of Gurmat taught by Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

Conclusion

When we examine both Sikh and non-Sikh historical accounts, along with Bhagat Ravidas Ji’s own Bani, it becomes evident that Bhagat Ji met Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Banaras and became his Sikh. Like Bhagat Kabir Ji, Bhagat Ravidas Ji was drawn to Guru Sahib’s message of Naam, equality, and liberation.