Today February 14
is the Gurpurab of Shri Guru Ravidassji, a
social and spiritual revolutionary Guru. The day
is celebrated by the followers of
great
Guru with enthusiasm and gaiety throughout India
and abroad and rightly so. The mission and
philosophy of Guru Ravidass ji pertained to
social change to establish a just and equitable
order on one hand and to instill spiritual
awakening without dogma and rituals on the
other. These attributes were needed to clean the
prevailing ills of caste based discrimination
and the entrenched religious practices of
unnecessary and useless rituals. In his lofty
bani, Guru Ravidass attacked the brahamanical
superiority and said:
Naagar Janaan Mairy Jati Bikhiyaat Chamaaran.
Ridhey Raam Gobind Gun Saaran.
Guru
Ravi Dass says that I may have been born in the
family of the untouchables, but owing to my love
for Him, I have become an integral part of Him.
If you think Him as the Highest of the High,
then how can I be the lowest of the low?
Similarly he discarded rituals and said that:
Poojaa Archaa Aahay Na Tory.
Keh Ravi Dass Kawan Gat Mory.
O
God, if I needed such pure items as milk,
flowers, water, sandalwood, etc. for Your
worship, then it would not have been possible
for me to worship You because there is no way I
would have found any of these items in its
purest form. Then, O my Lord, what would have
been my plight? Indirectly Guru Ravi Dass says,
“I would not have been able to worship the Lord
if I needed all these worldly items created by
Him. I would not have obtained His mercy and
salvation. How can I offer anything to Him when
He Himself has created it?”
These two basic
tenants of Guru Ravidass’s philosophy are as
relevant today as they were before. India is
still struggling to establish casteless society
to salvage its democracy. The society at large
is still ritualistic and blind. Guru Ravidass’s
teachings tell us not to waste time and energy
on these useless rituals. One can be equally
religious or spiritual by leading a simple life
by way of remembering and fearing God.
In the
prevailing atmosphere of strife and divisiveness
in India, Guru Ravidass’s message of oneness and
camaraderie as enshrined in his bani is potent
to meet the challenges.
Keh Ravi Dass Khalaas Chamaaraa.
Jo Ham Shehry So Meet Hamaaraa.
With this humble tribute to the great Guru, I
convey my hearty greetings on the Gurpurab of
Guru Ravidassji. It is a co-incident that it is
Valentine’s Day today, February 14, a day of
love and affection, which is the crux of Guru
Ravidassji’s teachings.
POST SCRIPT: I wrote about Satguru Ravidas Dham
of Bootan Mandi Jalandhar which used to be the
nerve centre of the community awakeness. It is
gratifying to note that the barring factions
have come together and are celebrating the
Gurpurab jointly. The saner sense has prevailed.
My brother Paramjit played a leading role in
tempering the tension and strife and bring about
reconciliation along with many of the younger
generation of Bootan Mandi Yesterday, February
13, a magnificent Nagar Kitan/Shoba Yatra was
taken out under the aegis of Guru Raids
Educational and Charitable Society. I joined the
Shaba Yatra from the Bootan Mandi Dham. On the
way, one of the many high lights was the
traditional Langar hosted by the workers and
associates of Soccer International under the
stewardship of my brother Krishna All. The
Divans of Maritain and Guru Grant Sahib are
being arranged in the day on February 14. In the
night a befitting poetic and music durbars, at
least at two venues in Bootan Mandi, are
scheduled to be held. The Gurpurab has taken the
shape of a big Mela. The whole area in and
around Bootan Mandi has been illuminated. The
fire work will be equally impressive as the
Diwali at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. My
special greetings to my fellow BootanMandians.
By. Mr. Ramesh Chander, Retired Indian Diplomat
