Chapter 10
Saint Ravidas
Q:1 When do saints and sages appear on the earth, according to the text?
Ans: Saints and sages appear on the earth whenever the moral or social life of people shows signs of decay. They come to guide people, infuse fresh values, and restore order in society.
Q:2 How did Ravidas influence the Hindu society?
Ans: Ravidas infused new life and vitality into Hindu society during a critical period. He spread spiritual knowledge, preached equality, and inspired people to follow the path of truth, helping them overcome social discrimination and injustice.
Q:3 When and where was Ravidas born?
Ans: Ravidas was born in the year 1377 at Banaras, the holy city of the Hindus.
Q:4 What desire of his parents regarding his education remained unfulfilled?
Ans: Ravidas's parents wanted him to get an education, but his stay at school was short and unhappy. Due to societal prejudice against his low-caste background, he could not continue his studies effectively, leaving their wish largely unfulfilled.
Q:5 Why could Ravidas not continue with his studies?
Ans: Ravidas could not continue with his studies because he faced discrimination at school for being from a low-caste family. The unfriendly atmosphere made it impossible for him to focus on learning.
Q:6 What left a deep scar on Ravidas's mind during his childhood?
Ans: The unpleasant and painful treatment he received at school left a deep and lasting scar on his mind, as he realized that society discriminated against children of low-caste families.
Q:7 What did Ravidas's teacher notice about him?
Ans: Ravidas's teacher noticed that he was no ordinary child. Despite his difficulties at school, he showed signs of a higher purpose in life, which indicated he was destined for greatness.
Q:8 Who was Ravidas in search of, and why?
Ans: Ravidas was searching for a spiritual teacher who could guide him on the right path and help him gain spiritual knowledge. He was not interested in material things but desired to understand the deeper meaning of life.
Q:9 What role did Swami Ramanand play in Ravidas’s life?
Ans: Swami Ramanand took Ravidas as his disciple. He taught him spiritual knowledge, inspired him with sermons, and helped him understand ancient Indian wisdom and culture, leading to a complete change in his life.
Q:10 When did Swami Ramanand ask Ravidas to go back home?
Ans: Swami Ramanand asked Ravidas to return home after being satisfied that the spiritual flame in him had been permanently kindled, signaling that he was ready to pursue his divine mission.
Q:11 What place did Saint Ravidas choose for his meditation, and why?
Ans: Saint Ravidas chose a quiet area in the forest for meditation. He wanted a peaceful environment to continue his spiritual learning and deepen his knowledge.
Q:12 How did Ravidas react when he saw the deer caught in a hunter’s net?
Ans: Ravidas’s heart melted with pity. He felt it was his duty to save the helpless mother deer and her young ones, recognizing the sacredness of all life and acting to prevent their suffering.
Q:13 What argument did Ravidas use to convince the hunter to release the deer?
Ans: Ravidas explained that all living beings are children of the same God and filled with divine essence. He taught that it is man’s duty to love all creatures and avoid causing pain, suffering, or death.
Q:14 What change occurred in the hunter after his encounter with Ravidas?
Ans: The hunter, moved by Ravidas’s words and charm, was transformed. He felt love for God and all creation and promised to lead a virtuous life without causing harm to any living being.
Q:15 What were the main points of Saint Ravidas’s teachings?
Ans: Ravidas taught that all people are equal in the eyes of God, caste distinctions are meaningless, all life is sacred, untouchability is a sin, and one should love and respect every creature.
Q:16 How did Saint Ravidas inspire the poor and weak in society?
Ans: He gave hope, courage, and confidence to the oppressed, encouraging them not to bow to unjust demands, recognize their inner strength, and reject weak and subservient thoughts.
Q:17 How did Ravidas’s spiritual knowledge differ from that of other scholars of his time?
Ans: Ravidas’s spiritual knowledge came directly from within. Unlike many scholars, he never boasted of his learning. His teachings were simple, clear, and touched the hearts of all listeners.
Q:18 How did Saint Ravidas spend the last days of his life?
Ans: Ravidas remained spiritually vibrant and mentally strong until old age. He passed away peacefully, merging his soul with the eternal, leaving a divine glow on earth.
Q:19 Why can Saint Ravidas be called a forerunner of Gandhiji?
Ans: Like Gandhiji, Ravidas fought social injustice, opposed untouchability, and preached equality and love for all, inspiring the weak and oppressed to stand up for their rights.
Q:20 What qualities of Ravidas made him different from other religious men?
Ans: Ravidas was humble, virtuous, simple, and had a charming personality. He preached universal love, equality, and compassion rather than focusing on rituals or status.
Q:21 What was Ravidas’s attitude towards material wealth?
Ans: Ravidas had no interest in material wealth. He focused entirely on spiritual growth and knowledge, valuing divine wisdom over worldly possessions.
Q:22 How did the forest become significant in Ravidas’s spiritual life?
Ans: Ravidas meditated in a forest area he had beautified. The forest provided peace and solitude, enabling him to gain deeper spiritual insights and prepare for his divine mission.
Q:23 What lesson can be learned from Ravidas saving the deer?
Ans: The incident teaches compassion, respect for all life, and that one should act to prevent suffering. Love and mercy are more powerful than violence or cruelty.
Q:24 How did the hunter demonstrate a change of heart?
Ans: After listening to Ravidas, the hunter abandoned cruelty, recognized the divinity in all life, and vowed to live morally and never harm another living being.
Q:25 Why was Ravidas considered a saint from an early age?
Ans: Even as a child, Ravidas was thoughtful, introspective, spiritually inclined, and destined for a higher purpose, which indicated his saintly nature.
Q:26 How did Ravidas’s early education shape his future?
Ans: Though his formal education was brief and painful, it made him introspective and strengthened his resolve to pursue spiritual knowledge independently.
Q:27 How did Ravidas’s personality affect those around him?
Ans: His humility, wisdom, and charm inspired respect and love. People were drawn to him and his teachings, which could even transform cruel individuals like the hunter.
Q:28 What is meant by the “divine essence” according to Ravidas?
Ans: The divine essence is the presence of God or spiritual energy in all beings and objects, making every form of life sacred and deserving love and respect.
Q:29 How did Ravidas’s teachings challenge social norms?
Ans: He rejected caste distinctions, promoted equality, criticized untouchability, and encouraged the weak to recognize their spiritual strength, directly challenging societal hierarchies.
Q:30 What impact did Swami Ramanand have on Ravidas’s worldview?
Ans: Swami Ramanand provided spiritual guidance, taught him wisdom, and helped him understand Indian culture and philosophy, shaping him into a teacher and reformer.
Answer by Mrinmoee
