• Former chamars – leather workers
    • Bani (41 hymns) of Ravidas in GGS (bhagat bani)
    •                     th    th
      Guru Ravidas lived 15  – 16  centuries
    • He also believed to be from the chamar zat
    • Converted to Sikh faith, working with leather 
      considered by Hindus as highly polluting
    • Also called mazhabis
    • Did not achieve equality, hence sought equal 
      status through distinct identity from both as 
      followers of Guru Ravidas 
      Guru Ravidas
  • Use GGS in worship but only 41 hymns
  • Some adamant on complete distinction
  • Others “within” Sikh faith – issues of identity
  • Not Gurdwara but Bhawan – large community 
   in Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Southall.
  • Keshdharis that present issues in identity
  • Some more Hindu than Sikh practices
  • Punjabi community – shared culture and 
   traditions
  • Was Ravidas also an heir to the Northern Sant 
   tradition – similarities in teachings:
  Emphasis on Nam
  No brahmanic rituals
  No idols
  bhakti
  See his bani in GGS
  Highlight in all Ravidasi centres is the birthday of 
   Guru Ravidas
  Only some celebrate and change nishan sahib on 
   baisakhi
  Emphasis on Ravidas, not Sikh Gurus
  • Issue of identity:
  It is interesting to note a Ravid1s2 child’s 
   description of her identity:
  “I know what culture I am, Hindu, but it’s not as 
   if we’re restricted to Hindu because we believe 
   in Sikhism as well.  It’s just one thing really.”
  Jackson, R. and Nesbitt, E. (1993) Hindu Children 
   in Britain, Staffordshire: Trentham Books, 
  p. 28.