Kabir - Dr. Giriraj Shah

A shall fell into the Bhagirathi river was received at Manikarnika ghat of Banaras. Bestowed with human attributes through his unnatural form of birth, it continued repeating the name of God. From the shell a sound was continually coming out, ‘Ram, Ram’. Just then Kamaal, the Muslim weaver came down to wash his thread. As he looked down to wash his thread, he happened to see the shell. He waded in the water, opened the shell and looked in. There his eyes beheld a baby and his heart was full of joy. It was as if a man without making any effort finds hidden store of wealth; or as if one hunting for a pool of water should suddenly see the ocean of milk. So while merely carrying on his daily business, Kamaal found this babe in the Ganga River. This child was avatar of Sri Shuba in the Kaliyuga. He wrapped the baby in his garments and hastened home and told his wife that ‘He was found a baby in the Ganga, of perfect beauty, endowed with thirty-two qualities. My dear wife, take care of it.’ Hearing this, his wife’s breasts swelled with milk and she nursed the child A Vaishnava was born in Mohammedan family and he was given the name – Kabir.

The word ‘Kabir’ occurs in Hindi literature and means ‘great’ – A truly great one was Kabir. He was born in 1440. He was born of Hindu parents and brought up by a Muslim family. He worshipped and praised Ram and Rahim and sang:

"God done in nature:
And when His great joy
Touches the body and the mind
They cannot contain themselves
He holds all that is
Within His External Bliss!"

Kabir was very sad over the face that Hindu and Muslims were quarreling with one another. Religion, he realized, to be a source of blessing must reconcile, not fight – must bring together, not antagonize. He believed in brotherhood and peace. He expressed his feelings thus –

‘I am a child of Rama and Allah:

I accept all gurus and peers.

O God – Whether called Allah or Ram

I live by the Thy holy Name!

What avails it
To wash your mouth
To count your beads,
To bath in holy streams,
To bow in temples,
If, while you mutter your prayer,
Or go on pilgrimages,
Purity is not in your heart?"

(To be continued in November, 2005 issue)

© "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. Reprinted with permission.

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