D.R.Bhagat
Kabir was a mystic and Sufi saint and poet of 15th century. His writings and sermons have greatly affected the Bhakti movement which was prevalent in India from 14th to 17th century. As most of the people were illiterate at that time, the language used by him in his poetry was simple and mostly understandable by the common people. His teachings were very simple and he did not believe in religious dogmas being practiced by both Hindus and Muslims. His religious philosophy was based on love, brotherhood and purity of heart. His birth and death both were cosmic events. He was found on a lotus flower in Lehartara pond on a Jayeshth Purnima in 1398 A.D. and when he died in 1518 A.D, he did not leave his body behind instead some flowers were found on the place. As mentioned in ‘ Anurag Sagar’ this was his fourth birth. It says before this birth, he was born in Satyuga as Satsukrit, in Tretayuga as Muninder and in Dawapuryuga as Karunamaye.
Kabir was brought up by Niru and Nima who were Muslim weavers who lived in Kashi. Their ancestors had recently converted to Islam under compulsion and were Hindu Nath Yogies before conversion. Kabir from very beginning of his childhood was inclined towards spirituality. Devotion to God and reverence for holy men were innate with him. He also performed his family profession i.e weaving of cloth. He had his leaning towards Hinduism but ignored and criticized their rituals and dogmas. This is why he chose Ramanand, a Vaishnavi Sect head as his spiritual Guru in 1410A.D. at the age of 12 only. Kashi was then the center of religious activities. Kabir saw that senseless teaching was being spread in the name of religion. Hindu Pandits were preaching casteism and dogmas . Fanaticism and bigotry were the order of the day and the superstitions were eating the vitals of life. The people were fighting over the temples and mosques and were totally ignorant about the true knowledge of Ram and Allah. The low caste people were not allowed to preach religion and were not allowed access to religious books. Seeing all this Kabir was deeply pained. He started his discourses which were attended by large number of people especially from lower castes who were fed up with discriminatory behavior of Pandits and upper caste people. He preached that religious principles are in fact very simple which do not require any false rituals. According to him, all life is an interplay of two spiritual principles i.e Atma and Parmatma and the process of salvation involves bringing these two in union. He raised his voice against idol worship. He also criticized Muslims for killing animals after keeping day fast. Some fundamentalists lodged a complaint with king Sikander Lodhi against his anti- religion preachings. Sikander Lodhi ordered that he should be killed. Different methods were applied to kill him. He was bundled and thrown into Ganga, thrown in the burning fire and also placed before a mad elephant but he survived every time. All this was done under the advice and guidance of Sheikh Taqi who was the spiritual Guru of Sikander Lodhi. Both Sikander Lodhi and Mir Taqi were convinced that Kabir was a man of God.
Many Pandits came to him for debate but could not stand before his spiritual knowledge. One Sarvanand who was a well literate person and had debated with many religious scholars and intellectuals and had remained winner all the times and hence he had changed his name to Sarbjeet. But his mother Kalyani Devi asked him that he should win Kabir in spiritual debate, only then he has a right to be called as Sarbjeet. He came to Kabir with loads of his Pothies and asked him to have a debate with him. Kabir said, “you are a big Pandit having a vast knowledge and I am an illiterate person, how can I have a debate with you?” Sarvanand then asked him to accept his defeat in writing. Kabir asked him to write himself whatever he wants to write. He wrote the words “Kabir defeated, Sarvanand won” and got it authenticated by Kabir. When he reached home, he told his mother that he has defeated Kabir also and in proof he showed that piece of paper. But when it was read, itread as “Kabir won, Sarvanand defeated. Sarvanand immediately came to the conclusion that Kabir was not an ordinary person. He again came back to Kabir and fell on his feet. He became his staunch disciple and remained with him throughout his life. He was named as Surtgopal and became spiritual head of the Panth after Kabir.
It is also said that Kabir was married and had two children. But many believe that he remained celibate throughout his life and Kamal and Kamali who are said to be his son and daughter were in reality his disciples. Kamal was revived by Kabir when he was taken out as dead body from river Ganga. Kamali was the daughter of Sheikh Taqi who was suffering from an incurable disease and was about to die when on the request of her father Kabir cured her of her disease. Kabir had travelled far and wide places in India and abroad. He also met his cotemporary saint Guru Ravi Dass Ji and shared their spiritual knowledge. Guru Ravi Dass in his praise said that Kabir was just like his Guru and elder brother.
“ tab Raidas vichari bata, guru saman Kabir bar bhrata.”
Kabir in praise of Guru Ravi Dass has also called him as a great saint, “santan mein Ravidas sant hain”. Guru Nanak has also called Kabir as a wandering God as mentioned in ‘ Kabir Yog’.
In addition to the common people of the society, Kabir had many prominent personalities as his disciples like Raja Bir Baghel Singh, Raja Chatur Singh of Jaisalmer, Prince Sher Khan, Dharam Dass, Maharani Jhali and Ibrahem, the king of Balkh Bukhara (Afghanistan).
Although Kabir was an unlettered man, his literary work is a subject matter of research for many scholars. Some of his great compositions are Kabir Bijak, Anurag Sagar and Kabir Granthawali. Guru Arjun Dev while compiling the holy Granth Sahib has incorporated the Banies of 16 Bhagtas in addition to the Sikh Gurus. The bani of Kabir Sahib is the largest inclusion from all these Bhagtas. A total of 541 hymns of Kabir have been incorporated in the holy Granth. At the fag end of his age Kabir went to Maghar in Gorakhpur at the request of Nawab Bijli Khan to liberate the people from the curse of a saint who were suffering from a drought for the last 12 years. He stayed there for forty days and then disappeared while meditating in his room without leaving his body back.
Kabir was a saint who loved all, lived for all and was a moral and spiritual guide to the whole humanity.
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