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A gadfly to the unthinking orthodox among Hindus and Muslims, Kabir was a
darling of the truly
devout of both the communities who, on his passing away, claimed his body which
was
miraculously turned into flowers with each party claiming a portion.
A Hindu child brought up by a Muslim weaver Niru and his wife Nima, Kabir sought
to break the
barriers between Hinduism and Islam by going into the heart of religion. He was
more than
convinced that when it comes to any scripture, "the letter killeth" and that the
so-called pandits and
Maulavis who miss the "spirit" unwittingly turn themselves into hate merchants.
Even as Socrates in his times tried to expose the ignorance of the sophists and
earned their wrath,
Kabir who lived from 1440 to 1518 AD exposed the follies of the divines who
swore by text
books and survived many attempts on his life.
In his time, Arabic and Sanskrit were the chief languages of religion and the
masses knew little of
them. Kabir's dictum was: `Few men are qualified to become
scholars but all are required to be
good. Hence association with the good, Satsang, is a positive way of forging
good character than
learning by heart scriptural passages without having any idea of their real
import.'
Kabir's spiritual urge manifested itself even when he was a boy and it was by
using a stratagem that
he managed to get initiated in "Rama" mantra by the great saint Ramananda who
eventually
declared him as the dearest of his disciples.
It is said that Kabir, in the pre-dawn hours, stretched himself on the steps of
a bathing ghat in
Ganga where Ramananda had his bath every day. On realising that he had
unwittingly stepped on
the body of someone, Ramananda uttered "Rama, Rama," which became for Kabir the
sacred
mantra.
Ramananda was taken to task for initiating Kabir by both orthodox Muslims and
Hindus but when
Ramananda understood Kabir's depth of sincerity he embraced him and prophesied
that he would
make a mark in his life.
From then on it was a triumphant spiritual ascent for Kabir who ranks high among
the religious
reformers India has ever produced. In his own time, Guru Nanank, Dadu and
several other spiritual
leaders acknowledged Kabir's greatness and in later times, Rabindranath Tagore
is among the
literary giants who have sought to spread Kabir's message.
There are well-known Kabir Panthis with followers from among Hindus and Muslims.
The details of Kabir's life are mixed with legends - some say he married one Loi
and brought up
two adopted children Kamal and Kamali, that Emperor Sikandar Lodi, angered by
Kabir's refusal
to salute him tried to get him killed by drowning, burning and other means of
torture before finally
acknowledging Kabir's greatness.
One thing is certain. Kabir's precious teachings are a legacy of the nation and
will continue to
inspire those who seek the kernel of religion and not the husk. Kabir is said to
have given up his
body at Maghar in Gorakhpur District at the ripe old age of 78.
Kabir says: To associate with a Sadhu is like sitting near a
seller of perfumes; though he does not
sell you anything, you still enjoy the perfume.
No act of devotion can equal truth; no crime is so heinous as falsehood; in the
heart where truth
abides there is God's abode.
(Source: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan)