Vageesh Express

October 2006 Edition

Vedic Guru

Saint Kabirdas

Maala To Kar Mein Phire, Jeebh Phire Mukh Mahin
Manua To Chahun Dish Phire, Yeh To Simaran Nahin

Meaning – What is done with the rosary in hand, the mouth chattering and the mind distracted is not meditation.

Kabir was an evolved saint who attained supreme bliss through undeterred devotion. He was instrumental in kindling the Bhakthi movement in India. His devotion, love and wisdom manifest in his ‘doha’ – poems in the form of couplets. Each couplet brings out a unique piece of timeless knowledge.

Life of Saint Kabirdas

Legends surround his birth and death. While it is said that Sant Kabir grew up in a Muslim weaver family, legend also has it that he was the son of a Brahmin widow and was adopted by a childless Muslim couple – Neeru and Neema. He was born around 1398 AD and is believed to have lived for 120 years. Kabir’s guru was Swami Ramanand.

Kabir travelled in and around Benaras to preach his beliefs. Kabir preached the spirituality of love, compassion and humanity. Kabir openly condemned religious practices, inspiring people to grow beyond mere rituals. Kabir aroused the wrath of both Hindus and Muslims in and around Benaras.

His most famous work is Bijak (the seedling) and the collection of his numerous dohas - Kabir Granthavali. His work is also recorded in the Guru Granth Sahib by Guru Arjan Dev. In his works, he illustrates moral and spiritual truth from incidents of everyday life, and the similes and metaphors used are very gripping.

It is said that when Kabir died, his Hindu and Muslim followers started fighting about the last rites. But when they opened the coffin, they saw flowers inside. Thus the fight is said to have been resolved by divine miracle.

Kabirdas’ Teaching

Kabir preached self-surrender, non-violence and bhakti. He advocated vegetarianism.

Laale mere lal ke, jith dhekon thith laal

Laalee dhekan main gayee, main bhee ho gayee laal

Wherever I turn, I see God. I set out to find God and became God.

This doha drives home the fact that there is divinity and nothing but divinity in every aspect of creation.

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