Saturday, October 27, 2012

Guru Nanak Dev ji & Bhagat Ravidas

This small website is only a humble tribute at His Holy feet. Only some salient features from the life of Guru Nanak Dev ji have been briefly touched upon other then the reference of Adi Granth composed by fifth Guru Arjan Dev ji.



Jagat Jalanda Rakh Lai Apni Kirpa Dhaar

Jit Duaray Ubhrey Tite Laihu Ubaar !!


An attempt to distort Sikh history by Ravidas samaj;


I was amused to see that they claim that Ravidas ji visited twice to Punjab and met Guru Nanak ji thrice in his life.



As recorded by learned author Dr. Lekh Raj Parwana at Page 116-117 in his book “Shri Guru Ravidass-Life and writings” first edition 1993, Guru Ravidass Ji visited Northern India twice. 

  1. Firstly, he was accompanied by Kabir Ji, Tarlochan Ji, Sain Ji and Dhanna Ji and met Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Chuharkana, now known as Nankana Sahib where Guru Nanak Dev served them food with Rs.20/- which had been given to him by his revered father Mehta Kalu Ji for some profitable business.
  2. At his second visit to Punjab, Guru Ravidass Ji met Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Sant Ghat of Kali Bein in Sultanpur Lodhi.
  3. At third time he met Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Guru Ka Bagh, Benaras and exchanged their views on several topics pertaining to religion, social system and liberty of human beings. Guru Ravidass Ji gave gift of his VANI of 40 hymns and one couplet to Guru Nanak Dev Ji as desired by him. 

Now let us see Ravidas ji was born in Year 1377 AD (Bikrami Samvat-Magh Sudi 15, 1433) at Seer Goverdhanpur, Banaras (U.P.) and he died on Harh Di Sangrand 1584, Bikrami Samvat (1528) at Banaras.

That shows he was born in Banaras and died at Banaras. Now we have to find out if he really went to Punjab, if yes then only we have to find out that year. The Ravidas samaj also claims that he (Ravidas ji) met Guru Nanak twice in Punjab, first when he was fed by Guru Nanak at Saccha sauda. This place falls in Pakistan now a days.

                      Gurudwara Saccha Sauda, Pakistan
   
When Guru Nanak Dev ji was only 18 years old, his father gave him twenty rupees and asked him to do a business, apparently to teach him business. Guru Nanak Dev ji bought food for all that money and distributed among hungry saints and the poor. On his return, he was asked by his father if he had done any business.

 Guru Nanak Dev ji bought food for all that money and distributed among hungry saints and the poor. He was asked by his father if he had done any business. He replied that he had done a ‘TRUE BUSINESS’ by feeding the hungry and poor.  At the place where Guru Nanak Dev ji fed the poor and saints, a Gurudwara is built to commemorate the memory and named Saccha Sauda. It’s now in Pakistan. There are no record giving any detail of names of Saints or the poor as twenty rupees was a big amount those days and hundreds could have been fed in this amount.


                          An antique picture of Guru Nanak with Mardana


        Mehta Kalu ji father of Guru Nanak ji, gave Rs. 20/- to Guru Nanak to employ him in mercantile pursuits, and sent him on a journey to trade with this money, a companion Mardana was sent along with him. On his way, they met a party of monks (Faqirs) and entered into a religious discourse with them. They got surprised to know that they had denounced their homes, discarded wearing clothes and had nothing to eat. Guru Nanak was told about the vanity and uselessness of these things, about the danger of living in cities and being engaged in worldly matters.

        Guru Nanak offered them money but they refused to accept but asked for food only. Guru Nanak and his companion went to the nearest village Chooharkhana and brought flour, butter milk, etc by investing all his money. Guru Nanak fed all those monks and than returned home. He told about this holy trade to his father who got annoyed and was ready to beat and ill use him, but Rai Bular Bhatti , the Muslim land owner of the village saved him.


Guru Sahib thus invested the twenty rupees into what we today call "Langar."


At the place where the true bargain took place, Gurdwara Sacha Sauda Sahib is built. In current day Pakistan the Gurdwara Sacha Sauda is in the city of Farooqabad. On Guru Nanak Sahib Ji's gurpurb local Muslim residents were interviewed in Farooqabad. 

 This is the foundation of Guru-Ka-Langar. Twenty rupees invested by Guru Nanak has led to Sikhs all over the world doing sewa of the needy, poor, sick and living the message of living in a household while sharing with others, as instructed by Guru Amar Das Ji. 

Guru Nanak Dev ji was born in 1469, means that Guru Nanak ji fed these poor villagers in the year 1487. Ravidas was born in 1377 and he had attained the age of 110 years old. The Ravidas samaj call him as a guru. (I have no objection, they may feel free to call and honor him as they wish). Many literates and historians of Ravidas samaj claim that Guru Nanak ji fed Ravidas and his hungry companions with Rs. 20 (Twenty) given to Guru Nanak Dev ji to do some business by his father.



Well here three points arises;

1- that if Ravidas and his companions were hungry and could not earn the food for one time, and second-

2- if Ravidas was a Guru, then why was he not able to arrange food for himself and provide his other hungry disciples, and third-

3- it shows that Ravidas was a saint (Monk- who denounces the world).

Guru Nanak Dev

Let us see the truth if Ravidas was among the hungry and poors fed by Guru Nanak Dev ji, whether he was a guru or a devotee (Bhakta), or if he was a monk?


Could Ravidasi intellects and historians shed light on these points(doubts) raised above? I have studied through out in my school education and then through study of Guru Granth sahib ji that Ravidas was a cobbler and earned his bread by making shoes and carrying the dead animals in streets of Banaras. Ravidas himself admits in one hymn in Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji) that his ancestors also carried the dead in streets of Banaras, his many stories also reveal that he was a cobbler.


In one of his sakhi(Narration), I have read that a lady came to him crying as she went to pilgrimage to take a sacred bath in holy river Ganga where she lost her one precious gold bangle and now she was afraid of harassement by her mother-in-law. Ravidas, on hearing her sad tale, just dipped his hand in KATHAUTI- a pot of water to wet his tool) and brought out the said bangle and then preached the women as, MAN CHANGA TO KATHUATI MEN GANGA ! means if one has pious thoughts and clean mind, he/she need not to go to pilgrimages.


This story itself gives the evidence that Ravidas ji was not a monk but he earned his daily bread by working as a cobbler. (Need to say anything). The third point is thus proved.


From the same story, we find that he (Ravidas) used to earn his livelihood by cobbling the shoes. He was married and had one son Vijay Dass Ji. If we see the time of sakhi of Saccha Sauda, Guru Nanak Dev ji was 18 years old at that time. So it seems the year 1487 and Ravidas ji was 110 years old at that time. Though its another issue to see if Ravidas visited Punjab after he attained age of 110 years but our issue is different. We have to see whether he was among hungry and poor or not.





If Ravidas could not arrange food for himself and his other companions (leave the other disciples, poor aside) how could he be (being a Guru) able to take care of you? Then how do you call him a Guru?  Was your Guru hungry and waited if anyone come and feed him? 

Gurbani says;

ਗੁਰੁ ਪੀਰੁ ਸਦਾਏ ਮੰਗਣ ਜਾਇ !! ਤਾ ਕੇ ਮੂਲ ਨ ਲਗੀਏ ਪਾਇ !! ਘਾਲ ਖਾਇ ਕਿਛੁ ਹਥਹੁ ਦੇਇ !! ਨਾਨਕ ਰਾਹੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ਸੋਇ !! ਅੰਗ ੧੨੪੫ !! 
Guru ji warns that the person who claim to be a guru or Peer but depends for his livlihood on donations of devotees, no one should ever bow on his feet even not mistakenly. The true guru nt only earns by honest means but serve the needy and help them from his own hard earnings. He distributes his earning in true congregation of the Lord Akal purakh.

Here Ravidas ji himself passed his life in hardships and was suppressed by majority Hindu Brahmins. He himself admits in one hymn that his ancestors carried the dead animals in streets of Banaras and he earns through cobbling the shoes. So when did he get the time to visit Punjab in his life time when he even not visited Haridwar? No Hindu history or Sikh historians approves it. He was a great devotee and had the capability to produce the lost bangle in river Ganges from his pot (Kathauti), what was the need of him to go to Haridwar for a holy bath? The Ganga was flowing in his home. And if he did not visit Haridwar which was on the way to Punjab from Banaras, which route he followed and why? 


In lack of any historical evidence of his journey, his visit to Punjab can not be proved, hence his meet with Guru Nanak at Choohar khana appears fake only. The second and thirs part of questions are thus answered and rejects the meet of Guru Nanak with Ravidas.


It is also to inform that Kabir and Guru Nanak never met in Punjab, Kabir never visited Punjab in his life time. Kabir was born in 1398 and when Guru Nanak ji fed the hungry in 1487, Kabir had attained the age of 89 years and he never visited Punjab. Some historian write of their meet at Kashi but Kabir had already shifter to Maghar from Kashi before Guru Nanak ji visited Banaras in early of 15th century. Please see- http://guruofgurunanakdevji.blogspot.com/

Now let us see if at his second visit to Punjab, Guru Ravidass Ji met Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Sant Ghat of Kali Bein in Sultanpur Lodhi? 


                     

                            Gurudwara Shree Sant Ghat


It is situated on the bank of Bein river. From Ber sahib, Satguru Nanak dev ji dived into Bein & disappeared. He came out after 3 days. On reaching Nirankar's place Sachkhand, he got satnaam's updesh" Mool Mantar" from Nirankar which he gave the to the whole world, it is a blessing of this bein only. The big reason for this place to be named Sant Ghaat is that Maharaaj Guru Nanak dev ji meditated here to the Akaal Purakh & went from here to serve the world.

In June 1488, Guru Nanak dev ji was married to Bibi Sulkhani ji in Sultanpur Lodhi. While staying in Sultanpur Lodhi he gave birth to two sons, in July 1494, Shri Chand ji and in Feb 1497, Lakmi Chand. Guru ji spent more than 14 years in city. During this period guru ji was the talk of the town. Then suddenly in late 1497, news of guru ji drowning in the canal while bathing spread in city like fire. Whole city was in deep sorrow. After three days guru ji came out of canal with the teaching of "Na ko hindu, na ko Muslman" {no one is Hindu, no one is Muslim}. After that incident guru ji left his job and started his first udasi {religious journey} from Sultanpur Lodhi.

There is not any reference if Ravidas met him at Sant Ghat. I have searched a number of websites including SGPC also but none shed any light. Only the believers of Ravidas samaj have false faith in these fabricated stories which only distort the real history and have no use in reality.

So the first meet of Ravidas with Guru Nanak Dev ji is not acceptable as no historical evidence is available and it sounds impossible that the saint Ravidas who could produce the lost bangle in river Ganges from his Kathauti, was he not able to arrange food for himself and provide to his hungry disciples.  

 No source of his first visit to Punjab in year 1487 could be established by any historian.

  • HIS SECOND VISIT TO PUNJAB AS CLAIMED BY RAVIDAS SAMAJ; At his second visit to Punjab, Guru Ravidass Ji met Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Sant Ghat of Kali Bein in Sultanpur Lodhi.

Let us find facts on this visit of Ravidas ji at Sultanpur Lodhi.

Now a blunder lie to show Ravidas a higher status then Guru Nanak ji as….

  • At third time he met Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Guru Ka Bagh, Benaras and exchanged their views on several topics pertaining to religion, social system and liberty of human beings. Guru Ravidass Ji gave gift of his VANI of 40 hymns and one couplet to Guru Nanak Dev Ji as desired by him. 

This itself denies to believe as no Janamsakhi approves it other then one written by Meharvan which has no importance in Sikh religion. The above said fabricated story is said there in Janamsakhi of Meharvan is also revealed by followers of Ravidas ji. The similar stories are not found in any other approved Janamsakhis.


Here the writer says that the  Guru Nanak desired to get the the vani of Ravidas consisting 40 hymns and one couplet. Guru Nanak ji had his own pothi which is still at Dhilwan. It can be viewed there but no reference of any pothi given to Guru Nanak ji ever noticed.


Here the major question arises what was the need of this vani of Ravidas ji to be given to Guru Nanak Dev ji? Guru Nanak ji didn’t compile Adi Granth but it was fifth Guru who composed it and then compiled it.  All the bani of all bhagats and Bhatts was added by fifth Guru Arjan Dev ji but here Ravidas samaj is falsely given the information and connecting it with Guru Nanak.


                                            Guru Arjan Dev ji composing Adi Granth

A volume of Guru Nanak Dev's Composition came up during his life time. This Pothi was the most significant inheritance passed on to his successors, 



These relics are at Dhilwan (Kotkapura) where Guru Gobind singh ji asked for Castle (kot) from Raja Kapura and he refused. And also where Guru ji changed blue dress and wore white cloths. 
Courtesy; http://www.sikh-heritage.co.uk/gurus/Guru%20Nanak/Guru%20NanakPg2.htm
                   Mala (Rosery) of Guru Nanak at Dhilwan- with Sodhi family.



Guru Angad Dev, who added a few writings of his own to the sacred volume during his pontificate. Guru Amardas added a substantial number of hymns composed by him to the bani of the earlier Guru's preserved in the pothis. The third Guru also collected writings of a few saint-poets which happened to be in unison with the philosophy and the spiritual and moral vision of the Sikh Guru's. The entire body of the sacred writings, thus collected was preserved in two sacred volumes, prepared by the Third Master with care and precision.

 These. The third Guru also collected writings of a few saint-poets which happened to be in unison with the philosophy and the spiritual and moral vision of the Sikh Guru's. The entire body of the sacred writings, thus collected was preserved in two sacred volumes, prepared by the Third Master with care and precision. These pothis, known as the Goindwal pothis, provided the basis and the material for the holy Granth Sahib when Guru Arjan dev ji took up its compilation.

The preparation of the Holy Book is the most valuable achievement of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. With three things in his mind he initiated the compilation of the Holy Book, the present Guru Granth Sahib. Unfortunately the Hymns and teachings of the first four Gurus were being added to and even distorted by impostors. Seeing such things going on Guru Arjan wanted to preserve these original treasures. Not only fixing the path of the efforts of his predecessors, but also bestowing, on the Panth, an ever-lasting guiding light that was to serve as both a physical and spiritual phenomenon. The most complete collection of Shabads of Guru Nanak, Guru Angad and Guru Amar Das was in the possession of Mohan, a son of Guru Amar Das.

He acknowledged Guru Arjun’s true place upon the throne of Guru Nanak, and gave all of the Shabads in his possession to Guru Arjun.

Then where is the pothi of Ravidas if it was given to Guru Nanak Dev ji in Banaras? There is not any such pothi---just a false propaganda only.

The Granth Sahib contains the writings of the Sikh Guru's, Bhakats, & Minstrels. Originally, the hymns of first 5 Gurus formed the bulk of the enormous volume. The writings of the Bhaktas and Sufis mystics included in the holy Granth, broadly speaking, a vast spectrum of religious thought scanning four centuries. Bards or Bhatts, attached to the Guru also contributed to the volume. 

Guru Arjun added a great many of his own Shabads to those of Guru Nanak Dev ji, guru Angad Dev ji,  Guru Amar Das ji and Guru Ram Das ji. He also added Shabads of thirty-six Hindu and Muslim Saints, among them Kabir, Ravi Das, Naam dev, Trilochan and Sheikh Farid. This was the first time any religion incorporated the works of sincere devotees of other religions into its own scripture; this reflects the universality of thought which underlies the Sikh belief in One God, and the one family of humanity as children of God.


By looking in history and visiting many websites on Sikh gurus, guru Granth sahib ji and various Janamsakhis of guru Nanak Dev ji, we couldn’t find any evidence if Ravidas ever met guru Nanak Dev ji in Choohar Khana or at Sultanpur Lodhi or at Banaras. These are all false and fabricated stories to win the trust of all Dalit Samaj and misguide them by distorting history. Ravidas lived for 151 years and died in 1529. Guru Nak dev ji went to Banaras in his first udasi in in first decade of 15th century. By that time Ravidas was very old,(nearly135 years old) he might not be able to move any place far from his home. Some historians just wrote down to give importance to Ravidas whereas no source of their meet in Banaras is available in history.



Jaspreet Kaur Sandhu,





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