http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Punjab-sect-declares-new-religion/articleshow/5521656.cmsJALANDHAR: In a step that could create a major impact on the socio-political space in Punjab and possibly other parts of the country,
Dera Sachkhand Ballan announced a new religion, Ravidassia Dharm, at Seer Gowardhanpur in Banaras, the birthplace of Guru Ravidass, late on Saturday. The occasion was the 633rd birth anniversary of Ravidass, a saint of the Bhakti movement.
It was also announced that the community would have its separate religious book, Amrit Bani Guru Ravidass, containing 240 hymns of Guru Ravidass,
a separate symbol 'Har' and a separate motto 'Jai Gurudev'.
The move to create a separate religious identity for Ravidassias has been led by Dera Sachkhand Ballan after the killing of Sant Ramananad, the deputy of dera head Sant Niranjan Dass, in Vienna on May 24 last year in Ravidass Temple there. Sant Niranjan Dass was injured in the attack allegedly carried out by some Sikhs. The motive behind the attack is still not known and Austrian police are still investigating the case.
The move has triggered debate among religious, social and political sections, especially in Punjab. While Sant Surinder Dass Bawa, who is at the centre of the move spearheaded by Ravidassia NRIs, remained unreachable for comments, his aide, identified as Sonu from Kuwait, said that the religious book was released in the presence of dera head Sant Niranjan Dass, other members of the Sant Samaj of the community and delegates from abroad in the presence of thousands of devotees.
It may be recalled that prior to the Vienna attack on the temple, the Sikh holy book, Guru Granth Sahib, was recited in Ravidass gurudwaras as the voice (baani) of Guru Ravidass. After the attack, Dera Ballan, making a major departure from tradition, did not place the Bir (copy) of Guru Granth Sahib during the Antim Ardas of Sant Ramanand and read only 40 hymns and one 'sloka' of Guru Ravidass, which is part of the Sikh holy book. A photo of late Sant Sarwan Dass, who founded the dera, was placed in the palanquin.
Shortly after that, a move to shift the Birs from other Ravidass temples began. The move created a controversy as some sections of the community opposed it. In some temples, the Birs were reintroduced.
Interestingly, Shiromani Akali Dal and SGPC had been bending over backwards to please the Dera. But, apparently, nothing worked. Not only an Akhand Path was organized at Akal Takht in the memory of Sant Ramanand, an unprecedented step, but SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar also visited the dera. However, he was not allowed to meet dera head Sant Niranjan Dass.
The move is said to have had the silent approval of some Congress leaders and administrative officials close to the dera.
Earlier, only 40 hymns and one 'sloka 'of Guru Ravidass, which were part of the Guru Granth Shaib, were treated as his compositions. Now 200 other compositions, believed to be his work, have been included in the new granth. A dera follower, who witnessed the proceedings at Banaras, said that detailed directions about keeping the new religious book were also mentioned in the congregation.
Topic: New religion founded in punjab