Composing…
Composing…
सन्त रैदास
~1450–1520 CE · Kashi (Varanasi)
Tradition: Sant Mat / Nirguna
One formless God; equality of all; piety in honest work (he was a cobbler — a chamar).
Cobbler in Kashi; disciple of Ramananda alongside Kabir; refused to give up his caste-occupation despite persecution; reportedly Mirabai's spiritual teacher in some traditions.
Foundational figure for Dalit spirituality; venerated equally by Hindus and Sikhs.
Sant Raidas / Ravidas stands within the lineage of Sant Mat / Nirguna. Understanding a saint requires understanding the school of thought, the lineage of teachers, and the historical context that shaped them. The Sant Mat / Nirguna tradition has shaped Hindu spiritual life through its philosophical foundations, its liturgy, its scriptures, and the institutions its founding ācāryas built and sustained across generations.
Saints in this tradition are not abstract figures from history — they are the living chain through which the tradition transmits itself. To read Sant Raidas / Ravidas correctly is to read both the writings (where they survive) and the institutions they founded, the disciples they taught, and the practices they reinterpreted. Where written works are listed above, they remain the primary source for studying their thought; for the practical transmission, one studies under a teacher of the same lineage.
The dates and biographical details preserved in tradition often differ from those accepted by modern academic historians. Where the difference matters for interpretation, both views are noted; otherwise the traditional account is given with sources cited.
Awaiting scholar verification. If you spot a factual error in dates, lineage, or teaching, please write to us.