Original text
॥ दोहा ॥ बंदौं वीणा पाणि को, देहु आय मोहिं ज्ञान। पाय बुद्धि रविदास को, करौं चरित्र बखान॥ मातु की महिमा अमित है, लिखि न सकत है दास। ताते आयों शरण में, पुरवहु जन की आस॥ ॥ चौपाई ॥ जै होवै रविदास तुम्हारी। कृपा करहु हरिजन हितकारी॥ राहू भक्त तुम्हारे ताता। कर्मा नाम तुम्हारी माता॥ काशी ढिंग माडुर स्थाना। वर्ण अछूत करत गुजराना॥ द्वादश वर्ष उम्र जब आई। तुम्हरे मन हरि भक्ति समाई॥ रामानन्द के शिष्य कहाये। पाय ज्ञान निज नाम बढ़ाये॥ शास्त्र तर्क काशी में कीन्हों। ज्ञानिन को उपदेश है दीन्हों॥ गंग मातु के भक्त अपारा। कौड़ी दीन्ह उनहिं उपहारा॥ पंडित जन ताको लै जाई। गंग मातु को दीन्ह चढ़ाई॥ हाथ पसारि लीन्ह चौगानी। भक्त की महिमा अमित बखानी॥ चकित भये पंडित काशी के। देखि चरित भव भय नाशी के॥ रल जटित कंगन तब दीन्हाँ। रविदास अधिकारी कीन्हाँ॥ पंडित दीजौ भक्त को मेरे। आदि जन्म के जो हैं चेरे॥ पहुँचे पंडित ढिग रविदासा। दै कंगन पुरइ अभिलाषा॥ तब रविदास कही यह बाता। दूसर कंगन लावहु ताता॥ पंडित जन तब कसम उठाई। दूसर दीन्ह न गंगा माई॥ तब रविदास ने वचन उचारे। पडित जन सब भये सुखारे॥ जो सर्वदा रहै मन चंगा। तौ घर बसति मातु है गंगा॥ हाथ कठौती में तब डारा। दूसर कंगन एक निकारा॥ चित संकोचित पंडित कीन्हें। अपने अपने मारग लीन्हें॥ तब से प्रचलित एक प्रसंगा। मन चंगा तो कठौती में गंगा॥ एक बार फिरि परयो झमेला। मिलि पंडितजन कीन्हों खेला॥ सालिग राम गंग उतरावै। सोई प्रबल भक्त कहलावै॥ सब जन गये गंग के तीरा। मूरति तैरावन बिच नीरा॥ डूब गईं सबकी मझधारा। सबके मन भयो दुःख अपारा॥ पत्थर मूर्ति रही उतराई। सुर नर मिलि जयकार मचाई॥ रह्यो नाम रविदास तुम्हारा। मच्यो नगर महँ हाहाकारा॥ चीरि देह तुम दुग्ध बहायो। जन्म जनेऊ आप दिखाओ॥ देखि चकित भये सब नर नारी। विद्वानन सुधि बिसरी सारी॥ ज्ञान तर्क कबिरा संग कीन्हों। चकित उनहुँ का तुम करि दीन्हों॥ गुरु गोरखहि दीन्ह उपदेशा। उन मान्यो तकि संत विशेषा॥ सदना पीर तर्क बहु कीन्हाँ। तुम ताको उपदेश है दीन्हाँ॥ मन महँ हार्योो सदन कसाई। जो दिल्ली में खबरि सुनाई॥ मुस्लिम धर्म की सुनि कुबड़ाई। लोधि सिकन्दर गयो गुस्साई॥ अपने गृह तब तुमहिं बुलावा। मुस्लिम होन हेतु समुझावा॥ मानी नाहिं तुम उसकी बानी। बंदीगृह काटी है रानी॥ कृष्ण दरश पाये रविदासा। सफल भई तुम्हरी सब आशा॥ ताले टूटि खुल्यो है कारा। माम सिकन्दर के तुम मारा॥ काशी पुर तुम कहँ पहुँचाई। दै प्रभुता अरुमान बड़ाई॥ मीरा योगावति गुरु कीन्हों। जिनको क्षत्रिय वंश प्रवीनो॥ तिनको दै उपदेश अपारा। कीन्हों भव से तुम निस्तारा॥ ॥ दोहा ॥ ऐसे ही रविदास ने, कीन्हें चरित अपार। कोई कवि गावै कितै, तहूं न पावै पार॥ नियम सहित हरिजन अगर, ध्यान धरै चालीसा। ताकी रक्षा करेंगे, जगतपति जगदीशा॥
Transliteration
Doha: Bandaun Vina Pani Ko, Dehu Ay Mohin Gyan Pay Buddhi Ravidas Ko, Karaun Charitra Bakhan Matu Ki Mahima Amit Hai, Likhi Na Sakat Hai Das Tate Ayon Sharan Men, Puravahu Jan Ki As Chaupai: Jai Hovai Ravidas Tumhari, Kripa Karahu Harijan Hitakari Rahu Bhakta Tumhare Tata, Karma Nam Tumhari Mata Kashi Dhing Madur Sthana, Varna Achhut Karat Gujarana Dvadash Varsha Umra Jab Ai, Tumhare Man Hari Bhakti Samai Ramananda Ke Shishya Kahaye, Pay Gyan Nij Nam Barhaye Shastra Tarka Kashi Men Kinhon, Gyanin Ko Upadesh Hai Dinhon Gang Matu Ke Bhakta Apara, Kauri Dinha Unahin Upahara Pandit Jan Tako Lai Jai, Gang Matu Ko Dinha Charhai Hath Pasari Linha Chaugani, Bhakta Ki Mahima Amit Bakhani Chakit Bhaye Pandit Kashi Ke, Dekhi Charit Bhav Bhay Nashi Ke Ral Jatit Kangan Tab Dinhan, Ravidas Adhikari Kinhan Pandit Dijau Bhakta Ko Mere, Adi Janma Ke Jo Hain Chere Pahunche Pandit Dhig Ravidasa, Dai Kangan Purai Abhilasha Tab Ravidas Kahi Yah Bata, Dusar Kangan Lavahu Tata Pandit Jan Tab Kasam Uthai, Dusar Dinha Na Ganga Mai Tab Ravidas Ne Vachan Uchare, Padit Jan Sab Bhaye Sukhare Jo Sarvada Rahai Man Changa, Tau Ghar Basati Matu Hai Ganga Hath Kathauti Men Tab Dara, Dusar Kangan Ek Nikara Chit Sankochit Pandit Kinhen, Apane Apane Marag Linhen Tab Se Prachalit Ek Prasanga, Man Changa To Kathauti Men Ganga Ek Bar Phiri Parayo Jhamela, Mili Panditajan Kinhon Khela Salig Ram Gang Utaravai, Soi Prabal Bhakta Kahalavai Sab Jan Gaye Gang Ke Tira, Murati Tairavan Bich Nira Dub Gain Sabaki Majhadhara, Sabake Man Bhayo Duhkh Apara Patthar Murti Rahi Utarai, Sur Nar Mili Jayakar Machai Rahyo Nam Ravidas Tumhara, Machyo Nagar Mahan Hahakara Chiri Deh Tum Dugdha Bahayo, Janma Janeu Ap Dikhao Dekhi Chakit Bhaye Sab Nar Nari, Vidvanan Sudhi Bisari Sari Gyan Tarka Kabira Sang Kinhon, Chakit Unahun Ka Tum Kari Dinhon Guru Gorakhahi Dinha Upadesha, Un Manyo Taki Sant Vishesha Sadana Pir Tarka Bahu Kinhan, Tum Tako Upadesh Hai Dinhan Man Mahan Haryoो Sadan Kasai, Jo Dilli Men Khabari Sunai Muslim Dharma Ki Suni Kubarai, Lodhi Sikandar Gayo Gussai Apane Grih Tab Tumahin Bulava, Muslim Hon Hetu Samujhava Mani Nahin Tum Usaki Bani, Bandigrih Kati Hai Rani Krishna Darash Paye Ravidasa, Saphal Bhai Tumhari Sab Asha Tale Tuti Khulyo Hai Kara, Mam Sikandar Ke Tum Mara Kashi Pur Tum Kahan Pahunchai, Dai Prabhuta Aruman Barai Mira Yogavati Guru Kinhon, Jinako Kshatriy Vansh Pravino Tinako Dai Upadesh Apara, Kinhon Bhav Se Tum Nistara Doha: Aise Hi Ravidas Ne, Kinhen Charit Apar Koi Kavi Gavai Kitai, Tahun Na Pavai Par Niyam Sahit Harijan Agar, Dhyan Dharai Chalisa Taki Raksha Karenge, Jagatapati Jagadisha
Who Sant Ravidas was
Ravidas (also Raidas or Ruidas) was a bhakti poet-saint of Varanasi, usually placed in the fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. Born into a family of leather-workers, a caste then treated as untouchable, he worked as a cobbler all his life and taught that devotion to a formless, loving God makes caste meaningless. Forty of his hymns are included in the Guru Granth Sahib, and he is revered by Hindus, Sikhs and especially the Ravidassia community, for whom Seer Govardhanpur in Varanasi, his birthplace, is the main pilgrimage site.
The stories in the chalisa
After an invocation to Saraswati ("the one with the veena in her hand"), the chalisa is almost entirely a life story:
- Birth: father Rahu (Raghu), mother Karma, at Mandur near Kashi. At twelve, devotion to Hari entered his heart, and he became a disciple of Ramanand.
- The cowrie and the bangle: Ravidas gave the Kashi pandits a single cowrie to offer to Mother Ganga. Ganga stretched out her own hand to take it and sent back a jewelled bangle for him. The pandits kept it; when asked for its pair, they swore Ganga had given only one. Ravidas dipped his hand into his kathauti, the cobbler's water-basin, and drew out the second bangle. "From then on the saying spread: man changa to kathauti mein Ganga", if the mind is pure, the Ganga is in your own basin.
- The floating shaligram: challenged to float a shaligram stone on the Ganga as proof of devotion, everyone else's sank; only the stone in Ravidas's name floated.
- Debates: he argued knowledge with Kabir, taught Guru Gorakh, and won over Sadna Pir, the butcher-saint.
- Sikandar Lodi: the sultan summoned him to Delhi to convert him; he refused and was jailed, received a vision of Krishna, and the prison locks broke.
- Disciples: Mira and "Yogavati" of a Kshatriya house took him as guru.
One verse, in which he tears open his body to show milk and a sacred thread, reflects the period's need to answer Brahmin critics on their own terms. Modern Ravidassia teaching usually emphasises instead his own verses rejecting caste altogether.
When to recite it
- Ravidas Jayanti, Magh Purnima (January–February), with processions, kirtan of his padas and langar.
- Any day as a prayer for humility and pure-heartedness, the chalisa's own lesson.
- The closing doha asks that it be meditated on "with discipline" and promises the protection of Jagadish.
Frequently asked questions
When is Ravidas Jayanti?
On Magh Purnima, the full moon of the month of Magh, usually in February.
What does "man changa to kathauti mein Ganga" mean?
"If the mind is pure, the Ganga is in the basin." The chalisa traces the proverb to the second bangle Ravidas drew out of his cobbler's water-basin.
Was Mira really a disciple of Ravidas?
Mira's own songs name Raidas as her guru, and the chalisa follows that tradition. Historians debate whether their dates overlap, but the devotional link is long established.
Are Ravidas's hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib?
Yes, forty of his shabads are included, which is why he is honoured in Sikh tradition as one of the bhagats.
Where is Ravidas's birthplace?
The chalisa says Mandur near Kashi; the main shrine today is Shri Guru Ravidas Janam Asthan at Seer Govardhanpur, Varanasi.
Spotted a mistake?
If you find any grammatical, Hindi, English, mantra-text or other mistake on this page, tell us — we will correct it within 24 hours.