For the 1983 film, see Nishaan.

A Nishaan is the Ravidasi

Ravidasi

Ravidassia are people who follow the Ravidassia Dharam a religion based on the teachings of Guru Ravidas. The members of the Ravidasi religion believe in Guru Ravidas or Raidas as their founding prophet. The members are called Ravidasias who believe in Guru Ravidas to be their spiritual master and...

 religious symbol, it is distinct from the Sikh Nishan Sahib

Nishan Sahib

The Nishan Sahib is a Sikh holy triangular flag made of cotton or silk cloth, with a tassel at its end. The word, Nishan means symbol, and the flag is hoisted on a tall flagpole, outside most Gurudwaras. The flagpole itself covered with fabric, ends with a two-edged dagger on top...

. Strictly speaking "Nishaan" means "symbol" and is used in Ravidasi context to mean the mantras passed down by the Sants

Sants

Sants is a neighborhood in the southern part of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Formerly an industrial town on the plain bordering Barcelona, known as Santa Maria de Sants, it belongs nowadays to the district of Sants-Montjuïc and is bordered by the districts of Eixample to the northeast, Les Corts to...

. There is some discussion going on amongst some Ravidasias that the symbol should be Sohang or Har. Both of these words are directly or indirectly meant for mediation or in reciting of Ravidasia hymns, and are given to indivuduals by their Sant.

As a downtrodden people, the Dalit were not allowed to be educated or could afford to be so. The Guru

Guru

A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...

 Raidas spoke and communicated in local dialect. This enabled the Dalit to enjoy and progress in understanding and communicating their philosophy. The Ravidassi Guru's name is Ravi, meaning sun. 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

Satguru does not merely mean true guru. The term is distinguished from other forms of gurus, such as musical instructors, scriptural teachers, parents, and so on...

 of the Ravidasi

Ravidasi

Ravidassia are people who follow the Ravidassia Dharam a religion based on the teachings of Guru Ravidas. The members of the Ravidasi religion believe in Guru Ravidas or Raidas as their founding prophet. The members are called Ravidasias who believe in Guru Ravidas to be their spiritual master and...

 religion is the "Servant of Illumination." By following his example, Ravidassia people are striving to become enlightened

Enlightenment (spiritual)

Enlightenment in a secular context often means the "full comprehension of a situation", but in spiritual terms the word alludes to a spiritual revelation or deep insight into the meaning and purpose of all things, communication with or understanding of the mind of God, profound spiritual...

, as was their Guru.

• Circle

The whole universe - the sacred Kara

Kara (Sikhism)

A kara , is a steel or iron bracelet, worn by both male and female initiated Sikhs. It is one of the five kakars or 5Ks — external articles of faith — that identify a Sikh as dedicated to their religious order. The kara was instituted by the tenth Sikh guru Gobind Singh at the Baisakhi...

 (or bangle) and the Charanamrit (or bowl of holy water). This circle depicts the whole universe, which is contained and run in God's order. Guru Ravidas produced the holy water in a round bowl. The circle also represents the round golden bangle presented to him by Mirabai his follower.

• Gujarati

In Gujarati, Nishaan translates to mean target.