Ravidas

Ravidas was a North Indian mystic poet-sant of the bhakti movement. He was active in the 15th to 16th century CE. Venerated as a Guru (teacher) in the region of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra, the devotional songs of Ravidas made a lasting impact upon the bhakti movement. He was a poet-saint, social reformer and a spiritual figure. He is considered as the founder of 21st-century Ravidassia religion, by the Dera Sach Khand group who previously were associated with Sikhism.

The life details of Ravidas are uncertain and contested. Most scholars believe he was born about 1450 CE, in a family that worked with dead animals and their skin to produce leather products, making them an untouchable Chamar caste. Tradition and medieval era texts state Ravidas was one of the disciples of the Brahmin bhakti sant-poet Ramananda.

Ravidas' devotional songs were included in the Sikh Scriptures, Guru Granth Sahib. The Panch Vani text of Dadupanthi tradition within Hinduism also includes numerous poems of Ravidas. There is a larger body of hymns passed on independently that is claimed and attributed to Ravidas. Guru Ravidass Ji taught removal of social divisions of caste and gender, and promoted unity in the pursuit of personal spiritual freedoms.

Guru Ravidass Jayanti

Guru Ravidass Jayanti is the birthday of Guru Ravidass, celebrated on Magh Purnima, the full moon day in the month of Magh month. It is the annual focal point for Ravidassia religion. On the day the Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji is read, the nishaan is changed ceremonially, and there is a special aarti and a Nagar Kirtan procession bearing the guru's portrait are taken out to the accompaniment of music through the streets of the temple locality. Also devotees take holy dip in the river to perform rites. In the bhawans, his image is worshiped. Every year, a grand celebration at Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan Mandir, Seer Goverdhanpur, Varanasi takes place to mark the occasion along with lakhs of devotees who came from all over the world to celebrate the occasion. This Year marks the 639th Birth Anniversary of Shri Guru Ravidass for on the 22nd February 2016. The sign for the Ravidassia Religion is 'Har'. The religion has prospered and has become more and more established over the decades, specifically the last 2/4 decades. The 2016 date for this holiday is February 22.

Jayanthi

Jayanthi or Jayanti may refer to:

Persons with the given name

Persons with the surname

Places

Others

Jayanti (village)

Jayanti is a small forest village within Buxa Tiger Reserve in Alipurduar district of West Bengal, India. It is located along the Jayanti River, forming a natural border with the Bhutan hills. It is popular with hikers for its beautiful views of the surrounding landscape and wild fountains. The 13 km trek from Buxaduar to Jayanti is especially popular, passing through the dense forest of the Buxa Tiger Reserve.

Jayanti also features a stalactite cave known as the Mahakal cave.

The nearest railway station is Rajabhatkhawa on the New Jalpaiguri-Alipurduar-Samuktala Road Line.

References

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Jayanti (Hinduism)

In Hindu mythology, Jayanti is the daughter of Indra, the king of the devas (gods) and ruler of Svarga (heaven), and his consort Shachi. She is described as the wife of Shukra, the god of the planet Venus and the guru of the asuras (demons). Their union results in the birth of a daughter, Devayani. Jayanti is described as the sister of Jayanta.

Texts

Jayanti appears primarily in the description of one event, the tale of her marriage with Shukra. The tale is retold in many Hindu scriptures with some variation. The texts include the Vayu Purana, the Matsya Purana, the Brahmanda Purana, the Devi Bhagavata Purana, and the Padma Purana.

Legends

The Matsya Purana narrates that the demons were almost decimated in battle with the gods. Their guru, Shukra, goes to Mount Kailash to please the god Shiva and acquire new powers to revive the demons from doom. Shukra performs severe tapas (austerities). The gods try to destroy the remaining demons and their refuge by Shukra's mother, Kavyamata. But after the murdered Kavyamata is resurrected, Indra, the king of the gods, becomes worried that with Shukra's success the demons will regroup and attack again. He sends his daughter Jayanti to serve Shukra and to do anything possible to the advantage of Indra.