Kabir - Dr. Giriraj Shah

Part II

Kabir’s Initiation

Kabir remained for a long time without a Guru. He wanted to become the disciple of Ramanand. As he was a Mohammedan he doubted whether Ramanand would accept him as his disciple. One day, he went and hid himself on the steps of the Ghat of the Ganga to which Ramanand used to come every morning to take his bath. That day, when the great teacher Ramanand came to bath as usual, the feet of Ramanand felt sorry and cried, "Ram, Ram". Kabir instantaneously got up and said, "I have found him at last". He also said, "Thou has given me the word or initiation I am thy disciple now." Ramanand was struck by the sincerity and devotion of Kabir and accepted him as his disciple. Kabir was accepted by the great teacher as his disciple and initiated.

Ramanand tests Kabir

Ramanand said to himself "I have never seen one so determined as Kabir seems to be. So I will gives him a little suffering, and so gives his mind a test, as experts melt and examine inferior kinds of gold or as experts seek to discover the true diamond by placing it on the anvil and striking it with a hammer."

Once while Kabir was in the bazaar singing and dancing, Ramanand thought of testing Kabir, so he took his wooden sandals and struck Ramanand saying, "You call yourself my disciple without any reason for it. When did I give you my instruction? What witness you have to prove that you are my disciple?" Kabir quickly accepted the punishment meted out to him and humbly said, "Now in the presence of every one, you gave my head a blow with your sandals. That act itself is sufficient evidence of the fact that I am your disciple." As the bhaktas said these words, the good Guru was very much pleased and went up to Kabir and placed his hand on his head and said, "Repeat Ram and Krishna". At this Kabir was filled with joy.

© "Gurus, Philosophers, Mystics, & Saints of India" published (2002) by Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. X-30, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase II, New Delhi 110 020. Part I of this article appeared in Splendour October, 2005 issue. Reprinted with permission.

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