The Kabir Saga - Prarthana Gahilote

Poet, revolutionary and social reformer, Kabir and his genius have withstood the test of time.

"Marta marta jag muva, aausar muva na koi, Kabir aise mari muva, juen bahuri na marna hoi"

(Everybody in this world dies without an inkling to others. I, however, have died in a manner that I will never have to bother about death again. I will now live forever.)

Revolutionary, social-reformer, rebel, saint, poet, weaver—the world is yet to decide what it would call Kabir, the saint-poet of medieval India. Adored by devotees, decried by the orthodox and eulogized by his successors, Kabir, despite an identity-crisis, has withstood the test of time, to be remembered 600 years after birth.

Musical Legend

The story of Kabir, coming through oral traditions, has grown into a legend. A legend with its "musical renditions," "poetical beauty" and simple yet mystifying observations as definitions. Sometimes inspiring, with instinctive sensitivity in portraying the saint and at others mystifying with their exalted anecdotes overdrawn with miracles, the accounts leave nothing short of sainthood—the mantle of which Kabir himself would have despised to adorn.

© "Tattvaloka" (May 2000) published by Vidyatheertha Mahaswamigal Education Trust, New # 76, Old # 138, Eldams Road, Teynampet, Chennai 600 018. Website: www.tattvaloka.com. Reprinted with permission.

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