Sant Kabir Das

The Prime Minister paid his respectful tribute to Sant Kabir Das on his birth anniversary.

About Sant Kabir Das:

• Sant Kabir Das was born in 1398 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
• He was born a Hindu but raised by a poor Muslim weaver family.
• Kabir Das was a mystic poet, saint, and social reformer of the 15th century.

Influences and Teachings

• Initiated into the Bhakti movement by his guru, possibly Ramananda, a Hindu bhakti leader.
• Advocated the Nirguna (God as formless) path, focusing on the unity of God and the equality of all human beings.
• Opposed idol worship and emphasized spiritual understanding over ritualistic practices.

Literary Contributions

• His literary works are significant in the Bhakti movement and include Kabir Granthawali, Anurag Sagar, Bijak, and Sakhi Granth.
• Verses compiled in three traditions: Bijak (Kabirpanth), Granthavali (Dadupanth), and are also found in the Adi Granth Sahib.
• Known for his two-line couplets, ‘Kabir Ke Dohe’, which convey deep philosophical ideas.
• His writings were influential and collected by the fifth Sikh guru, Guru Arjan Dev.

Language and Style

• Wrote primarily in Hindi, using Sant bhasha (the language of Nirguna poets) and Ulatbansi (upside-down sayings), which were easy for the common people to understand.