Sant Ravi Das was a mystic poet and religious saint deeply connected to the Bhakti movement of the 15th and 16th centuries. He was a revered guru across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and much of central India. He was born in 1433 and was a social reformer who fought against the caste system, advocating for equality for women and their rights. He was born in a small village called Gobardhanpur, near Varanasi. The legend has it that Ravi Das met Guru Nanak and was deeply inspired by the Sikh faith. The devotees of Ravi Das consider their faith to be an offshoot of Sikhism, and Ravi Das himself is seen as a Guru in Sikhism.
Sant Ravi Das Samarak Park: Varanasi
Ravi Dassia is a religion that originated as an offshoot of Sikhism and also has its own holy book called Amrit Bani Guru Ravi Das Ji.
Ravi Das was a Chamar and a cobbler, but in his later years, he spent most of his time with saints, aghoris, and gurus on the banks of the Ganges. He spent much of his life wandering and traveling across northern and central India. He said that the only way forward for the Chamar community was to take their own spiritual path and form their own religion based on the teachings of Ravi Das. He resisted the Hindu saints and criticized the caste system. He was the messiah of the Dalits and always worked for their upliftment.
Ravi Das often spoke about a promised land called Begumpura, where he wanted to live with his disciples. This would be a perfect city where everyone would be equal, and there would be no suffering or despair. He wrote about this utopian land in many of his poems.
Ravi Das was also worshipped and revered by Meera Bai, who sang Bhakti songs for her Guru. She was his true Bhakta.
The famous park is built near the Sant Ravi Das Ghat and spans more than 25 acres. It is a lush green park with a huge statue of the saint at the center. The park is open to local visitors and is a pilgrimage spot for the followers of Ravi Das.
The Ravi Das Ghat is at the southernmost tip of Varanasi and is the largest ghat in the city. It is an important pilgrimage spot, with visitors coming throughout the year to pay homage. I even managed to chat with an Australian tourist who was not too pleased when I told him the score of the India vs. Australia cricket match. “We won! We beat you guys in Perth,” I told the Aussie, and then I shared how I played the didgeridoo in Sydney. The man was quite pleased with my act and went on his way cheerfully.
The statue of Ravi Das is situated on a marble altar with steps leading up to a dais where the statue is placed. The park is lush and well-kept, with paths and walkways. It felt peaceful just walking around the park.
Many people come here on the day of Dev Diwali, and one can also take a helium balloon ride around the park to get a bird’s-eye view from the sky.
