ਚਮਾਰੁ (chamaar)
Meaning: noun: Chamar, leather-worker.
Quote:
ਰਵਿਦਾਸੁ ਚਮਾਰੁ ਉਸਤਤਿ ਕਰੇ ਹਰਿ ਕੀਰਤਿ ਨਿਮਖ ਇਕ ਗਾਇ ॥
ਪਤਿਤ ਜਾਤਿ ਉਤਮੁ ਭਇਆ ਚਾਰਿ ਵਰਨ ਪਏ ਪਗਿ ਆਇ ॥
‘ਚਮਾਰ’ (ਕਿਹਾ ਜਾਣ ਵਾਲਾ) ਭਗਤ ਰਵਿਦਾਸ, ਹਰੀ ਦੀ ਉਸਤਤ ਕਰਦਾ ਅਤੇ ਹਰ ਇਕ ਨਿਮਖ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਦੀ ਕੀਰਤੀ ਗਾਉਂਦਾ ਹੋਇਆ, ਨੀਵੀਂ ਜਾਤਿ ਤੋਂ ਸ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਟ ਜਾਤਿ (ਪਦਵੀ) ਵਾਲਾ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ, ਚਾਰੇ ਵਰਨ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਪੈਰੀਂ ਆ ਪਏ।
ravidas chamaar ustat kare hari keerat nimakh ik gaa-i.
patit jaat utam bh-i-aa chaar varan pae pag aa-i.
Ravidas, the leather-worker, praised the Divine and sang His praises each and every instant, and thus, was exalted from the low social status, and people of all four classes came to bow at his feet.-Guru Ram Das Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, 733
Message: Bhagat Ravidas is another great figure whose devotional writings made a lasting impact upon the Bhakti movement. He was born to a cobbler family in Northern India. Like his ancestors, he used to live by lifting and carrying animal carcasses and working as a skinner and shoemaker. Imbued with humane values, he used money from his business for the welfare of saints and helping the needy. His simple and pious nature led him to spend time in the company of saints. In the course of his spiritual quest, he gave up idol worship for the worship of the One Supreme Being.
He abandoned attachment to worldly trappings and attuned himself to love and devotion of the Divine. He wrote deeply impassioned devotional verses and people loved to hear him and tap on his wisdom. His 40 devotional hymns in 16 different raags came to be compiled in Guru Granth Sahib.
His devotion to the Divine and universal love induced hundreds of people from all directions and backgrounds to join him in worship. He motivated his followers to challenge discrimination on the grounds of caste, etc.
Etymology: From Sanskrit charamkaar (leather worker).
