Who Was Guru Ravidas?

Guru Ravidas (also Raidas) was a 15th–16th century Indian mystic poet and social reformer (c. 1450–1520 CE), a revered saint of the Bhakti movement.

• Born in Seer Govardhanpur, Varanasi into a Chamar (leather-worker) family an "untouchable" caste
• Disciple of Bhakti saint Ramananda; contemporary of Kabir Das; considered guru by Mirabai
• His compositions (shabads and padas) emphasize: devotion to a formless God, rejection of caste, spiritual equality of all humans
• 41 of his hymns are included in the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy scripture)
• His followers form the Ravidassia community and Dera Sach Khand Ballan movement in Punjab
• Guru Ravidas Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon day in Magh (January–February)