Ravidassia Religion A Journey of Separate Religious identity

Abstract Satguru Ravidass Ji also known as Raidas, Ruhidas, Robidas was a great spiritual leader & social reformer of the medieval northern India bhakti movement , who influenced Indian spiritual and social thought through his message of Begumpura (equality, unity, and devotion to one formless God). His teachings challenged caste-based discrimination and emphasized the inherent dignity of every human being. Over time, his followers—who revered him as a ‘Satguru’and spiritual guide—began to consolidate into a separate community known as the Ravidassias. The movement for a separate religious identity was started from over 100 years ago but the formal establishment of the Ravidassia religion happened in 2010, marked by the adoption of the ‘Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji’ as its Holy Granth (scripture). The formation of new Ravidassia Religion was announced on the auspicious occasion of the 633rd Birth anniversary of Satguru Ravidass Ji , at Seer Goverdhanpur, Varanasi. The declaration on January 30, 2010, during a large gathering, established Ravidassia as a distinct religion. This research paper examines the journey of the Ravidassia community toward religious distinctiveness and its impacts on social and religious life. It explores how the assertion of a separate identity has self-respect, and empowerment among Dalit communities. Through historical, sociological, and theological analysis, the study highlights how the Ravidassia religious movement represents not only a quest for spiritual independence but also a transformative step toward social equality in contemporary India. It also represents the contributions made by the Saints of Dera Sachkhand Ballan in the formation of a separate religious identity and briefly engages with the question of who are Ravidassias and their religion.