Harr Nishaan (हरि/ਹਰਿ) or Nishaan Sahib is an official copyrighted symbol of the Ravidassia religion. The Harr nishan is found atop the Ravidassias Bhawans or on the flag, every year the Harr Nishaan is changed on the auspicious day of

Guru Ravidass Jayanti Guru Ravidass Jayanti" is the birthday of Guru Ravidas, celebrated on Magh Purnima, the full moon day in the month of Magh month. It is the annual focal point for the Hindu religion. People across countries celebrate this special o ...

(happy birthday). The Ravidassias, especially of Punjab, hoist flags with the print of insignia "Har" atop their religious places, and on vehicles during processions on the occasion of Guru Ravidass' birth anniversaries and other festivities. Harr Nishaan is the

Ravidassia Ravidassia or the Ravidas Panth is an Indian religion based on the teachings of Ravidass, who is revered as a satguru. Historically, Ravidassia represented a range of beliefs in the Indian subcontinent, with some devotees of Ravidass counting the ...

religious insignia. Strictly speaking "Nishaan" means "symbol" and is used in Ravidassia context to mean the

mantras A mantra (Pali: ''manta'') or mantram (मन्त्रम्) is a sacred utterance, a numinous sound, a syllable, word or phonemes, or group of words in Sanskrit, Pali and other languages believed by practitioners to have religious, ma ...

passed down by the saints. This insignia is also known as the "Koumi Nishan" (Religious Symbol) of the Ravidassia religion. Both of these words Harr or Saunh are directly or indirectly meant for meditation or in reciting of Ravidasia hymns.Gururavidas.org.uk
/ref> As a downtrodden people, the

Dalit Dalit (from sa, दलित, dalita meaning "broken/scattered"), also previously known as untouchable, is the lowest stratum of the Caste system in India, castes in India. Dalits were excluded from the four-fold Varna (Hinduism), varna syste ...

were neither allowed to be educated nor could afford to be so. The

Guru Guru ( sa, गुरु, IAST: ''guru;'' Pali'': garu'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverentia ...

Raidas Ravidas or Raidas, was an Indian mystic poet-saint of the bhakti movement during the 15th to 16th century CE. Venerated as a ''guru'' (teacher) in the modern regions of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punj ...

spoke and communicated in local dialect. This enabled the Dalit to enjoy and progress in understanding and communicating their philosophy. The Ravidassia Guru's name is

Ravi Ravi may refer to: People * Ravi (name), including a list of people and characters with the name * Ravi (composer) (1926–2012), Indian music director * Ravi (Ivar Johansen) (born 1976), Norwegian musical artist * Ravi (music director) (1926–201 ...

, meaning sun. Har means Supreme Being. The universe is illuminated due to the suns otherwise it would be in darkness. The second half of his name is ''Dass'' meaning "servant," therefore the

Satguru ''Satguru'' ( sa, सत्गुरु), or ''sadguru'' ( sa, सद्गुरु), means the 'true guru' in Sanskrit. The term is distinguished from other forms of gurus, such as musical instructors, scriptural teachers, parents, and so on ...

of the

sect is the "Servant of Illumination." By following his example, Ravidassia people are striving to become enlightened, as was their Guru. Harr Nishaan can also be found on the first page and on the fourth page of

Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji ''Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji'' is the holy book of the Ravidassia religion. History ''Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji'' was compiled and edited by Ramanand Dass of Dera Sach Khand. The holy book's completion was announced by the Sant Samaj and by Der ...

. The explanation of Harr Nishan is as follows: * A larger circle with sunrays (40 rays of sunlight) - The forty rays round the circle of the insignia signify forty hymns of Guru Ravidass. * In between the bigger and smaller circles is written a couplet (ਨਾਮ ਤੇਰੇ ਕਿ ਜੋਤੀ ਲਗਾਈ, ਭੇਈਓ ਭੇਈਓ ਭਵਣ ਸਗਲਈ) Naam tere kee jot lagayi, Bhaio Ujiaaro Bhawan saglaare (Your Name is the flame I light; it has illuminated the entire world) * Star * Flame - Flame represents the "Naam" (word) that would illuminate the entire world. sign of flame crosses over into the bigger circle. * Circle - This circle depicts the whole universe, which is contained and run in God's order. * Har (" हरि " " ਹਰਿ ") and Flame over it. „Har‟ represents the very being of Guru Ravidass and his teachings. The insignia Har is chosen after the name of their Guru avi-Sun & dass-servant(servant of the sun). Harr Nishaan can also be found on the first page and on the fourth page of Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji Ki.

Ravidassia emblem

The emblem of Ravidassia sect is Harr.

References

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External links

* http://www.derasachkhandballan.com/ Ravidassia