Once upon a time two friends were playing the game of hide & seek in their village. In the first part of the game, the first friend won and in the second part, the second one won the game. On the next turn, it was the time of the first friend to seek again but they were unable to finish the game because it was getting dark. So they took the decision to continue the game the next morning. The Dawn of Magic The next morning the first friend came but he found that his partner is absent. He waited for a long time and ultimately went to his friend’s house to know the reason for his absence. There, he found that his friend’s parents and neighbors were crying. To his utter shock, he came to know about the death of his friend last night. He went near the dead body of his friend, and said, “It is not the right time to sleep; it is time to wake up and finish the game of hide & seek.” Hearing this, his dead friend got alive. The magical power of the boy amazed all. The boy with such supernatural powers was none other than Guru Ravidas, the poet-saint of the Bhakti movement; a kind socio-religious reformer, a thinker, and above all a spiritual soul who took Lord Krishna’s devotee Mira Bai under his discipleship. Guru Ravidas; a devotee with absolute devotion Born on the auspicious day of Magh Purnima in Seer Govardhangaon near Varanasi, Guru Ravidas was a divine devotee since childhood. He used his literary skills to bring change to society. He used to make people understand the meaning of life through his writings and sermons. Although he worked in the family trade- manufacturing & repairing shoes- he spent most of his time in meditation on the banks of the holy river Ganges. His sermons teach ‘Ananya Bhakti’ where there is no sense of duality between the worshipper and his God. He teaches that such devotion can be cultivated by purifying the inner being and living in conformity with God’s decree. To remain in the noble company was a significant part of his teaching. His teachings also advocate inner awakening that entails meditation in the name of God. Guru Ravidas says no one can attain deliverance from rebirth, by shaving hair or becoming a recluse, or by digging a cave in a distant forest for meditation, but by constant remembrance of God and seeking His grace while doing your duty. He also says the true Guru could guide how to control the turbulent mind and transcend the illusory power of worldly attractions and a genuine guru could be found by God’s grace alone. Dr Archika Didi
