The real sorrow lies in the fact that we have yet to truly understand who Guru Nanak Dev Ji is. Even those of us who believe we know Him often rely only on what we’ve read or heard. His true glory can only be realized by humbly surrendering at His Charan. Only then does one begin to sense the divine power that defies all description and comprehension. Those who have been blessed with even a glimpse of this experience can never accept anyone else as their Guru. This is why the Bhagats mentioned in Gurbani, upon having darshan of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, could see no other as their Guru.

It is evident that Bhagat Ravidas Ji had the blessed fortune of meeting Guru Nanak Dev Ji, and several references support this understanding. The Bani of Bhagat Ravidas Ji, as preserved in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, not only conveys the same spiritual essence but also shares strikingly similar expressions found in Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Bani. While some continue to question whether this meeting took place, much of the confusion stems from debates over who influenced whom. Some suggest Bhagat Ravidas Ji was the Guru in that meeting, while others hold the view that both were enlightened beings, equal in stature and divine wisdom.

None of these ideas hold true. If Bhagat Ravidas Ji and Guru Nanak Dev Ji were on the same spiritual level, then one must ask what was the purpose of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s divine arrival in this world? If Bhagat Ravidas Ji could fulfill the role of Satguru, then what need was there for another Satguru to manifest? Such thinking not only goes against the clear message of Gurbani regarding the unique role of Guru Nanak Dev Ji but also stands in direct contradiction to the historical accounts of His life and mission. Guru Nanak Dev Ji did not come as one among many; He came as the True Guru, Jagat Guru, to lead countless souls from darkness to light.

The claim that Bhagat Ravidas Ji was the Guru of Guru Nanak Dev Ji is not accurate. To be a Satguru, one’s understanding and message must be rooted in Sat (truth) and remain constant over time. History and Gurbani clearly demonstrate that the message of Guru Nanak Dev Ji never wavered. In contrast, the same cannot be said for Bhagat Ravidas Ji. Historians and scholars have observed that Bhagat Ravidas Ji initially followed the Sargun (form-based) belief but later embraced the Nirgun (formless) belief. This evolution in his thought is documented in the book Pracheen Jeevan Katha – Guru Ravidas. This illustrates that Bhagat Ravidas Ji was still on a journey of discovering the truth, while a Satguru does not need to seek the truth, as they embody the complete truth.

Bhagat Ravidas, along with Bhagat Kabir, Bhagat Sain, Bhagat Peepa, and Bhagat Dhana, lived during the same time as Bhagat Ramanand. In their early stages, they were all influenced by Bhagat Ramanand. Some people say that Bhagat Ramanand was Bhagat Ravidas Ji’s Guru. However, it is also written in Pran Sangli that Bhagat Ramanand later became a Sikh (disciple) of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Additionally, Bhagat Kabir Ji mentioned something related to this in an old text containing his shabads:
“ ਪੂਰਨ ਗੁਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰੂ ਕਿੰਚਤ ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ”

Bhagat Kabir Jee and Bhagat Ravidas Jee were peers, external sources have said that both had the same Guru. Ram Kumar Verma in the book titled “Sant Kabeer” has written

“ਇਨ ਅਵਤਰਣੋ ਸੇ ਗਯਾਤ ਹੋਤਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਔਰ ਰੈਦਾਸ ਏਕ ਹੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਕੇ ਸ਼ਿਸ਼ ਥੇ”

Both have mentioned each other in their Bani. Bhagat Kabeer Ji writes the following

“ ਪੂਰਨ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰੂ ” This is found in an old Janam Sakhi from outside India. The Goindhwal Pothia are one of the oldest sources for written Gurbani. In here it is written “ਕਬੀਰ ਨਾਮਾ ਭਗਤ ਗੁਰੂ ਬਾਬੇ ਕੇ” so from these sources we can conclude that Bhagat Ravidas too would have accepted Guru Nanak Dev Ji as the Pooran Guru.
Below are some proofs of the meeting between Bhagat Ravidas Jee and Guru Nanak Dev Jee :

Guru Nanak Dev Ji stayed in Kanshi for 15 days. This is the period when the all the religious/spiritual figures from Banaras including the Bhagats came to visit Guru Nanak Dev Ji There is a Gurdwara in this place called “Guru Kaa Baag”.

The Nephew of Guru Arjan Dev Ji Mehervaan in his Janam Sakhi has written the following –
ਤਬ ਅਯੁਧਿਆ ਵਿਖੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਬਾਬਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਬੈਠਾ ਭਗਤੀ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਉ ਭਗਤਾਂ ਕਉ ਆਗਿਆ ਆਈ ਪਾਰ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਜਿ, ਨਾਨਕ ਜੁਹਦੀ ਮੇਰੇ ਬਡਾ ਭਗਤ ਹੈ, ਸੁ ਅਯੁਧਿਆ ਮਹਿ ਆਇਆ ਹੈ I ਤੁਮ ਜਾਇਕਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਭਗਤ ਕਾ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਕਰ ਪਾਵਹੁ, ਜਿ ਤੁਮ ਮੇਰੇ ਨਾਮ ਕੀ ਮਹਿਮਾ ਅਧਿਕ ਪਛਾਨਹੁ I ਅਰ ਮੇਰੀ ਉਸਤਤ ਕਰਹੁ I ਮੇਰੀ ਜੋ ਉਸਤਤ ਹੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਾਨਤਾ ਹੈ I……………… ਤਬ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਪਾਰ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਕੀ ਆਗਿਆ ਸਾਥ ਸਭਿ ਭਗਤ ਮਿਲੇ I ਮਿਲ ਕਰ ਮਿਲਣ ਆਏ I ਨਾਮਾ, ਜੈਦੇਉ, ਕਬੀਰ, ਤ੍ਰਿਲੋਚਨ, ਰਵਿਦਾਸ, ਸਧਨਾ, ਧੰਨਾ, ਬੇਣੀ I
(From the above we understand that Bhagat Ravidas and the other Bhagats were instructed by WaheGuru to go and visit Guru Nanak Dev Ji and receive what they were seeking)

In the book called “Ravidas Pragas” on page 435 the following is written –

ਡੂੰਮ ਜਾਤੀ ਦਾ ਮਰਦਾਨਾ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਜੀ ਨਾਲ ਸੀ, ਜਦੋਂ ਇਹ ਬਨਾਰਸ (ਕਾਸ਼ੀ) ਵਿੱਚ ਗਏ ਸੀ I ਕਾਸ਼ੀ ਦੇ ਬ੍ਰਹਿਮਣਾਂ, ਖਤ੍ਰੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਜੀ ਨੂੰ ਕਿਹਾ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਨੀਚ ਜਾਤੀ ਵਾਲੇ ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ਚਮਾਰ ਪਾਸ ਗਏ ਹੋ ਅਸੀ ਤਾਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਚਮਾਰ ਜਾਤੀ ਵਾਲੇ ਢੇਢਾਂ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਛਾਵਾਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਲੈਂਦੇ I Listening to this Guru Nanak replied with the following Gurbani :

ਨੀਚਾ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਨੀਚ ਜਾਤਿ ਨੀਚੀ ਹੂ ਅਤਿ ਨੀਚੁ ॥
ਨਾਨਕੁ ਤਿਨ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਸਾਥਿ ਵਡਿਆ ਸਿਉ ਕਿਆ ਰੀਸ ॥
ਜਿਥੈ ਨੀਚ ਸਮਾਲੀਅਨਿ ਤਿਥੈ ਨਦਰਿ ਤੇਰੀ ਬਖਸੀਸ ॥੪॥੩॥
(Panaa 15)

To say Bhagat Ravidas was anything other than a Sikh of Guru Nanak Dev Ji would be disrespectful to him. Imagine how hurt he would feel seeing people use his name to criticize or go against the very Guru he honored and praised. It was Guru Nanak Dev Ji who gave Bhagat Ravidas Ji a high status, both in this world and the next. Without this recognition from Guru Nanak Dev Ji, many people wouldn’t even know about Bhagat Ravidas today.

True followers of Bhagat Ravidas should follow the path of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, just like Bhagat Ravidas Ji did. Those who don’t want to follow his example should stop claiming to be his followers and look for someone else to follow.