KABIR

AND

THE KABIR PANTH

JJY

REV.

0,

11

WESTCOTT,Jil

KKLliOW OK ALLAHABAD (TNIVKUSITV,

OAWNroltK
PWNTMD ANU
I

AT TH

OHKWT C!IUH

I907

Or

PREFACE
following pages represent the "iresult of inquiries extending over the last ten years. The gradual way in which such Information, as is

The

times that

and the number of first impressions have had to give to subsequent discoveries would be suffiway cient warning that this representation of the
given, has been acquired
is

subject

little
is

likely to

he free from errors.

that this study will do something hope to increase the interest already felt by many in

My

the various religious sects that have been called into existence in India through the efforts of

distinguished teachers.

have

tried to avoid dogmatising

tions that call for fuller

have at any rate

attempt to break

in

on quesinvestigation ; but we the teaching of Kabir an

down the barriers that separate Hindus from Muhammadans, and we have
that

probably in the Kabir Panth a religious system

owes .something to Hindu^ Muhammadan

influences.

and Christian

(IV)

had been an Indian, would not his Gospel have been welcomed by many who now
If Christ

refuse to listen ?

For help in this undertaking I am principalindebted to my Mali, Badlu ly Dass, who is himself a member of the Panth. He has
visited all places of interest in

connexion with

the Panth, has introduced

me

to

many Mahants

and conducted inquiries with great intelligence. The Rev. Ahmad Shah, who is now engaged in bringing out an edition of the Bijak, has made many valuable suggestions and has also
superintended the copying of various Kabir Panthi MSS. Mr. U. R. Clement and the Rev.

Prem Chanel have

also rendered valuable

assist-

ance, while the Rev.

B.

H.

P. Fisher of this

Mission has kindly seen these pages through

the Press.

G. H.
S. P.

WESTCOTT.

G. MISSION

HOUSE

CAWNPORE.

(V)

CONTENTS,
L

THE

LIFE OF KABIR

Additional Note.

Kabir in History
(Gvnttf.)
...

25

1L
III.

THK

LIFE OF KAII1K

2g

THE TEACHING OF
Additional A>;Ms\

KAlilR
The: Bijak

45
73
74

The Doetime
IV.
V.

of

Shabda (word)

SAKIIIS ATTKHiUTKT)

TO KAHIR
... ...

77
<)B

THK KABIR PA NTH

Additional Mole.

Lists of

Mahants 114
...

VI.

THK KABIR PANTH.

Additional Notes.

117

The

Religious Orders of Islam

135

Rarly Christian influences in Nor... .. "thern India 137

(Ti)

VII.

THE TEACHING OF THE PANTH,.,

Additional Notes.
Literature on
life

140

and Teaching of
*

Kabir
Pandit Walji Bhai

...

...

160
172
174

...

...

Addenda and Corrigenda GLOSSARY OF INDIAN TERMS

...

...

177
S

INDEX

...

...

ILLUSTRATIONS.
Kabir, as represented in the picture

hung

in

the

Kabir Charan Math, Benares.

Potter at work, io illustrate Sakhi,(9).

to

fact

p. 80,

A group

of Kabir Panthis, in

camp at the Magh

to

Mela, Allahabtd.

face

p. 104.

(Til)

CHROXOLOGICA! TABLE,
Century A. D.
Hindu,
Uiri:*uan.

oo

'

Rumapuja

1200

Raman.iw!
1300-1400
1400
j

\Vyrk liiTf* 1324-84

(r)

Joi'danus* 1321
!'4";i;>inu.;

Gorakh Naih
1420-14X5
(?)

1467-

:.'<'

Kahir 1440-151^

Luther

14^3-1546

Nanak 14^0-1538
Chaitanya

Crannicr 14891555

Vallabha

Swami

Fr Xavicr 1506-

Dadu 1544-1603
Tuki Bass
1544*

J.

Xavicr

to

Lahore 1596.

'

Sankarucharya was horn in 78! and died In 828,

Chapter L
THE LIFE OF KAB(R.
It is

generally allowed that of

all

the great

Hindu Reformers Kahir and Tulsf Dass have

had the greatest influence for good among the uneducated classes of Northern and Central

India.
Sir
1

by

W.

KabiV has been fittingly described W* Hooter as the Indian Luther

of the

5th century. those who acknowledge their indebtedness to Kubir as a spiritual guide are

Among

the

Niinak Shah of the Panjab, the founder of Sikh community ; Dddii of Ahmedabacl
]

Pauth that bears his name, and Jag Juvan Dass of Oudh (1760)
(1544)

founder of the

the founder of the Sat

religious

Nami

sect.
is

Among
said

teachers whose doctrine

to

be largely based upon the teaching of Kabir

founder of the Sddh comBiba Lai of Mdlwi and Shivi munity (1658),
are Bribhan, the

Naraia of Ghazipur.

Of these Ndnak Shdh is the teacher with whose name the English reader is most familiar and it is therefore well in his case to enlarge
(1
)

All the elates given in the text refer to the year

Anno

Domiui.

THE LIFE OF KAB{R.

assertion of indebted-

somewhat upon a bald

ness.

Janam Sdkht 2 Kabir is mentioned as a Bhagat equal in merit to Nanak himself, and other Bhagats are exhorted to follow his examOn more than one occasion Nanak quotes ple.
In the

with emphasised approval verses attributed to

Kabir.

The Adi Granth, the sacred book of the

Sikhs, gives
life

much

information concerning the

of Kabir and the character of his teaching.

The

interest

which Nanak

felt

in

Kabir was

probably enhanced by the

fact

that

he had

4 enjoyed personal intercourse with the reformer, In modern days the number of those who

have in one

way

or another
is

come under the

influence of Kabir

Report
alone

for
is

very great. In the ( Census the number of Kabir Pantbis 1901 returned as 843,171 and the actual

number
the

probably considerably larger, as in United Provinces many Kabir Panthfs

is

Janam Sakhi (Evidence or Story of birth) IH the (2) name given to the accounts of Nannie, current Hwotitf iiltt
followers. translation of two such account* will in Trumpp's edition of the Adi Granth.
is

found

The term Granth (3) Adi first, principal. Granth book used by several sects to denote their authoritative wrftftigH The quotations from the Adi Granth are takim from
(4)

Trumpp's translation.

met

Kabir,

will have

Ninak is said to have been 27 years of a# when h<* As Nsiriak was born in 1460 the year of marling
been 1496, the very year in which Bikamtar Loiii, the of Delhi, visited Jaunpur and other cities in that

Emperor

neighbourhood.

THE LIFE OF KABfR.

seem
to

have been returned as Rimdnandfs and

the figures for the Panjab are not included. 5 There is no doubt as to the greatness or Kabfr's influence as a religious teacher ; he has
also
literature.

been described as the founder of Hindi The hymns of Kabir are still sung

by many a wandering

minstrel, while his pithy are frequently employed to win the atsayings tention of a dreamy audience or to clench a

lengthy argument.

Unfortunately the material for a

is

life

of Kabir

miserably scanty.

If

we

confine our atten-

tion to traditions of historical value, we are left in uncertainty as to the place and date of his
birth, his

name, the religion to which he was

attached by birth, the state of life in which he lived, married or single, and the number of years
that he resided in any particular place. It is true that many legends have gathered round his

name, but however interesting these may be from various points of view they can hardly be said to meet the needs of those who desire accurate information.
is total distributed an follows Central (5) Thin Central India Provinces, 41)3,393 United Provinces, 215, 77 i 124,000 Bombay Presidency, 9,407. (6) It in stated, in the Benares* Gazetteer that Kabir was born at Belhara, a village in the district oC Azamgarb. According to the belief of KaWr Panthta be was bom in 1808 mul died in 1518. The latter date is probably correct ; the former is probably dictated by a deelre to make him contemporaneous with liamiuaud who is supposed to have lived in
: : ;
;

the 14th Century.

4
it is

THE

LIFE OF KAB!R
all

admitted by

Kabir Panthis that

Kabir was brought tip as a child in the house of In the Janam Nini, a Muhammadan weaver. S&khi Nanak is reported to have told Baku that
Kabir was a

Muhammadan
lines
:

weaver.

In the

Adi

Granth occur these

By

caste a

weaver and patient of mind

utters

7 Kabir with natural ease the excellencies of ..Ram.

In one of his best

that he will shortly

known Hymns Kabir says

give up weaving and devote himself entirely to singing the praises of

Hari. 8

In

another

hymn

had

in a previous birth beer*

he says that he born as a Brahmin,

but had been re-incarnated as a

JuMha (Mu(Itttm JBha-

hammedan weaver
life

because he had in that

neglected the worship of

Rdm

In none of the writings that can be traced directly to Kabir is any account given as to the manner of his birth, but the following

have long been current

in this

country

The first legend relates that his mother was a Brahmin widow who went with her father on a
(7) In such passages Kabir seems to apply the imm< to the supreme God and not to the incarnation of Vi*hnft. He writes in the Brjak that the true Master did not ttikv birth in the family of Dasrath. (8) Kabir likens the process of birth, death and re-birth to the movements of the shuttle. This passage may be interpreted as the expression of a hope that he will shortly obtain deliverance from the trials of transmigration.
.

Kam

THE LIFE OF KABfR.

To reward
cetic

r>

pilgrimage to the shrine of a famous ascetic. the devotion of the pilgrims the as-

prayed that the woman might become the mother of a son. The prayer of so holy a mam could not fail to find fulfilment and in due course
the Brahman widow became the mother of Kabir. The mother to escape dishonour exposed the
infant,

who was

discovered and adopted as her

})

own by

the wife of a weaver.

According to another version of this story Ramanand, who was the ascetic referred to said
;

that he could not recall his blessing but would arrange that the birth should not be after the
usual manner, but that the infant should issue from the palm of its mother's hand. 1 His promise was realised and the infant after birth was

placed on a lotus flower in the midst of the Lahdr Tank. It was there discovered by Nima,
the wife of Niru, and by her taken to her husband's house.

The second account is more

racter
(9)

poetical in cha-

and runs thus

Most
from
of

the logonrlH contained in thin Chapter are

taken

a Hindi

pamphlet

entitled

K&bir

Mmuti,

published at Bombay in 1885, Thin pamphlet is the joint production of five members of the Kabir Parith and Is based upon information gleaned both from books and oral tradition.

the (10) This legend enables the Hindu section of Panth to explain the name Kabfr as a corruption o Kar~ Bir or the hero ( born from ) the hand ( of a Brahmia

woman).

,;

THE LIFE OF KABR.

;*'

11 Kabir descended from heaven to earth, The lotus flower was blooming in the place where

Kabfr was born.

];}f,

The bees were

tired of

hum-

and other kinds of birds ming. In their flight passed circling round the tank. Thunder and lightning were in the air when
Peacocks, larks

Kabfr became manifest

flower, in the midst of the

in

the heart of a lotus

Lahar Tank,

of thirst overcame Nima, the newly wedded wife of Nirii, the weaver as after the marriageccre niony
she was

making her way

to her husband's house.

when

She approached the tank but was much afraid she there beheld the child. She thought in her heart 'this is probably the living evidence

Niru sugthe child to their gested that they might take house, but Nima at first demurred^ thinking that
of the

shame of some

virgin

widow/

such action might give rise to scandal. Women would ask, " Who is the mother of a child so
beautiful that its

eyes

are like the lotus

"

they took pity the house they approaching were welcomed with the songs of women, but
laying aside
all fears

However
on the

child.

On

when

the

women saw

arose in their hearts

the child dark thoughts and they began to ask "How

has she got this child" ? Nimi replied that she had got the child without giving birth to it and
(11)

vfre

this earth,"

u P-irtMwimmhi "becoming phrase he dcftcemiod tuxm a servant

*

In the Jfabir Kasauti this

occnr8~-&wa.&

THE LIFE OF KAB!R.

the

women

then refrained from asking further

questions.

The mystery surrounding the birth of the child was further deepened when Nirii called in
a Qazf

and requested him to open a Ooran and find for the child a name. He found the name Kabfr, and also from the same root, Akbar,
1

Kubra and Kibriya. On finding these names the Qazf was much perplexed and bit his nails, for was not the term Kabir a title applied to God ? News of what had taken place soon spread, and
after a short while five or six

more

Qazi's arrived

upon the scene. All opened the Qoran, but with the same result. They closed the book in silent
impossible, they all agreed, that a title of such dignity should be given as a name to a weaver's child. They

astonishment.

It

was

opened the Qoran again and found the names^ Zind&, Khinjar, Pfr and IIaqq. Thereupon they said to Nirii, 'You must in some way destroy this child/ Nini in obedience to their order took the child within the house to put him
to death, but before he had time to carry out his intention the child gave utterance to this

Shabda

"I have

has deceived the world

come from an unknown place. Maya no one knows me, I

;

a Muhamniadaii judge f whose services are Q&zi, (12) requisitioned in connexion with bifthu, marriages and other legal matters.

THE LIFE OF KAfR.

of a

was not born

boy.'

woman, but manifested

as a

My
13

dwelling was
there

in a lonely spot nigh to

I

Kasi,

and

the weaver found me.

contain neither heaven (air) nor earth, but wisdom only. I have come to this earth in spiritual

form and of
veal to

spiritual significance is

my

name.
I

I have neither bones nor blood nor skin.

re-

men the Shabda (word). My body is eternal I am the highest being. These are the " words of Kabir who is indestructible.
Thus were the Qizis defeated
in their object
child.
*

and the name Kabir was given to the

As a boy Kabir gave great offence to both Hindu and Muhammadan playmates. When in
the course of play he cried out "Rim,

Ram" and "Had, Hari," the Muharnmadans called him a

Kafir (unbeliever.) To this charge he retorted that he only was a K&fir who did evil. One day

he put a tilak on his forehead and bjdneo round his neck and cried out This "Narain, Ndrain."
action roused the ire of the Brahmins, since they regarded it as an infringement of their privileges,

To

their protest

he objected

"This

is

my faith, my
will

tongue

is

Vishnu,
in

my

eyes are NArain,

and Gobind resides

my heart.

What account
(13)

you

give of your actions after

for Benares,

Ksi, the Hindu name

(14)

For further comments on this legend sue Chapter IL

THE LIFE OF KABR.

death ? Being a weaver, I wear a thread. You wear the sacred thread, and repeat the Gyatrl and Gita daily, but Gobind dwells in my heart.
I am a sheep, you are shepherds; it is your duty to save us from sin. You are Brahmins, I am a

weaver

of Benares.

Hear

my

search after an earthly king, while

plating

wisdom. You daily I am contem-

Had." 15 He was further taunted with being a nigura,

one without the benefit of a spiritual guide. He was determined to remove what he, as well as
they, regarded as a reproach. He desired to become the chela (disciple) of Ramanand but felt

that there were difficulties in the

way which
of

could only be
artifice.

overcome by means
if

some

He knew
sion of the
itiation

that

only he could gain posses-

mantra peculiar to this sect, his inmust necessarily follow. He learnt that
regularly visited a certain bathing

R&minand
glidt

lie down upon the steps of that ghdt in the hope that Rumknand might His hope was reastep on him by accident.

and determined to

and the holy man in his astonishment exclaimed "Ram, Rim." Kabfr knew that no words would rise so readily to the lips of this holy man as the mantra of his order and so claimed that as he was already in possession of the mantra he
lised
(15)

Adi Grantk, Trumpp's

translation, p, 661.

10

THE LIFE OF KABR.

could no longer be refused admission to the order. 16

When Kabir announced that he had become

the chela of Ramanand, both Hindus and

Mu-

hammadans were dismayed and a joint deputation went to inquire of Ramanand whether It
were
true that

he had received a Mtihammadan

boy as one of his disciples. Ramanand asked them to produce the boy. The people took Kabir

Ramanand on his arrival raised the curtain which screened him from the public gaze and asked the boy when he had made him his disto him.
ciple.

Kabir answered, "Various are the mantra*

that Gurus whisper into the ears of their disciples,

but you struck me on the head and communicated to me the name of Mm." The Swihnt

and drawing aside the curtain clasped him to his breast and said, "Beyond all questioning you became my disciple." The members of the deputation returned home
recalled the circumstance,

disappointed.

Kabir returned to the weaver's

house and set to work on the loom.

When any

Sadhu came to the house he used to have the

ground prepared after the manner of Hindus and got food cooked for them in vessels not previously used.
(16)

He himself would wait upon them

while

Kabir Pan this in conversation Bpeak of their mantra as "Earn Earn," but it is a mistake to suppose that thette words constitute the mantra either of their Paiith or of the Bamdnandis. These mantra* may riot be d totaled to the
uninitiated,

THE

LIFE OF KABIR.

11

they took their food. His mother, Nima, was annoyed at these proceedings which, she said, were
not in accordance with tho customs of the
family,

From the time

of his initiation Kabir

is

said to

have regularly visited his Guru and, as years went on, to have taken part in religious disputations with distinguished Pandits who came to do
battle with his master.

According to tradition

Kabir was not possessed of any great amount of booklore, but in any case he must have gained
through instruction, conversation and participation in religious disputations a considerable

knowledge of Hindu philosophical

the meeting of Hindu with
liefs.

tb ought

and
be-

familiarity with such questions as arose out oi

Muhammadan

appears from legends of uncertain date that he continued to work as a weaver, giving part of his earnings to Nini and spending the rest in
It

charity and more especially in giving food to Sidhus. Stories are told as to how on several

occasions he mysteriously disappeared fora while from, his father's house and in miraculous ways
supplied the needs of others.

to a

have been married and to have had by her two children, a son Kamil and a daughter Kamdli The circumstances which gave rise to this
is

By some

Kabir

said to

woman, named

Loi,

12

THE LIFE OF

K/\efR.

in Kabir Kasautf. conjecture are thus related

thirty of age was walking along the bank of the years Ganges when he came to a cottage belonging

One day Kablr when he was some

Bankhandi Bairdgi. 7 He went tip to the cottage and there sat down. After some time a
to a
1

about twenty years of age ; also arrived. To her question as to who he was, Kabfr replied *I
girl,

am

Kabfr/

She again inquired as to his caste

and sect (BhesK). To both questions he returned the same answer, 'KabiY. The girl observed that though
place none of

many

Sants had

come

to that

them had ever given such a name

Kabir said

for themselves, their caste or sect.

that in saying this she had said

18 fectly true.
'

what was perMeanwhile more Sants arrived. Presently the girl brought forth from the house a large supply of milk which she divided into
one to
for

seven shares.
Kabi'r

Five shares she gave to the Sants, and the remaining share she kept

herself.

Kabfr

placed his share on the

theirs

ground.

The Sants drank

also did not
is

and
his.

Kabir

why he
BanWiandi

drink

Kabfr

(17) live in thejangal.

an epithet applied to Bairagfe who

is

The meaning of this legend appears to be that there God and that all men are lam ervanta and will oa day be brought into dose union with Him. Religious digt fac(18)

only one

tions are therefore out of place.

The religious reformer may hare hoped that Hindus and Muhammadana would lay all prejudice and accept as a title for the one true God tho comparatively unknown term, Kablr (The Great One).

THE

LIFE OF

KABK.

13

replied that he was keeping it for a Sadlui, now on his way, travelling from the other side of the

Ganges.
I

The
is

girl said,
left for

have plenty
food

him."

"My

the

Word

your share, Kabfr made answer of God/' (Ham Shabda

"Sir, drink

ahari /tain). Shortly afterwards the Sddhii arrived and the milk was given to him. The Sants asked the girl (Loi) of her

parentage

and how she came to be

spot,

living in so lonely a

Loi replied that she had no parents living, that she had been brought up by a Sant, but that now he too was dead and she was
living alone.

They

inquired the

name

oi

the

Sant and the circumstances under which she had come to be living with him.

The girl, Loi,replied, "The Sant was a Bankhandi Bairdtji and he lived on milk alone. In reply to questions concerning me he used to say, 'I was bathing one day in the Ganges when a
basket struck against me. 1 opened the basket and found in it a female infant. 1 took the infant to

my home
ed
clothes
I

and reared

in milk.

by means of a wick soakfound the infant wrapt in Having gave it the name of Loi (blanket).
it

Such

is

the account that the

1 '

Swami would

give

to the Sants.

Loi having observed the gravity of Kabfr me such teaching as "Swdmi, give will bring me peace of mind/' Kabfr was pleased
said to him.

14

THE LIFE OF KAB*R

with the obvious sincerity of the girl and instructed her thus, "Always repeat Satyd Ndm
(the true

Name) and spend your days

in the

service of the Sants." In obedience to this teach-

ing she laid aside

all worldly thoughts, went to Kasf and passed her time in the service ol the

Nimk thought that Kabfr had brought home with him a wife and asked for what
Sants.

purpose he had married her as they did not live

together as husband and wife, On another occasion Kabir

was walking along the bank of the Ganges, accompanied by

Shaikh Taqqi, when the latter suddenly caught sight of the dead body of a child floating down
the stream.

The Shaikh suggested

that Kabir

should call the child.

thing into
to weep.

Kabir whispered some-

its ears, whereupon it at once began Shaikh Taqqi allowed that Kabir had worked a miracle. On account of its beauty Kabfr

named the
it

child

over to Loi
its

Kamal (Perfection) and made who reared it. The child regarded

Loi as

Loi's lap regarded

mother and others seeing the child in Kabir as a married man.

in the

afterwards Kabir happened to be house of a neighbour when his infant daughter died. Kabir sought permission to remove the dead body to his house. The mother,

Some time

who had heard how he had brought Kamil back

to
life,

after

some persuasion induced the fathe^

THE LIFE OF KAB!R

to give his consent.
life

15

Kabir recalled the child to

called her

by means of Shabda,
at the

Kamali and

made

her over to Loi to be reared. Both children

worked

loom and addressed Kabir as

of

Swdmi ji. One day when Kamkli was now 20 years

when

age she happened to be drawing water at a well, a Pandit came up and asked for a drink.
his
thirst

Having quenched

he asked whose

He was greatly horrified daughter she was. when he learnt that she was the daughter of a weaver and exclaimed 'You have broken my
caste/ Kamali was at a loss to understand for what reason he had become so angry, and persuaded him to come and discuss matters with

Before either had had time to explain matters, Kabir, who could read the thoughts of men's hearts, exclaimed, "Before drinking water think on these things. What is defilement ?
Kabir.
Fishes, tortoises, blood, salt, rotten leaves and the carcases of dead animals are all to be found in water. Croresof men have been slain Kill
at every step

you

take,

; by you tread upon the dead

body of some man and yet from such earth the vessels from which you drink are made. At meal times you take off your clothes for fear of
defilement and wrap yourself in a dhoti that has been woven by a weaver. The fly that visits the dung hill settles on your food. How can

THE

LIFB:

OF K

you prevent this ? Dispel such illusions from the mind study the Vedas and take refuge in Rain/' At the Pandit's request Kabir jj;.vc him further instruction in the doctrine of Sutyd A\im and gave him Kamali in marriage. The plain speaking of Kabir and his general
;

disregard for the conventions of society raised

him up enemies on every side. According to Kabir Panthi traditions it was Shaikh Taqqi who
voiced the feelings of

Mulmmmadans

*.

This

famous Pfr came before the Emperor, Siknndar Lodi and accused Kahir of luyin;* rlaim to
Divine attributes.

Hemmed

that nidi conduct

merited the penalty of death, The Emperor issued a warrant for his arrest and sent men to

Not till evening could bring him to the court. the men who were sent persuade Kabir to accompany them. Kabir stood before the Kmperor in silence.

do you

The Q&zf exclaimed, "Why " Emperor, you kdfir ? Kabir replied, "Those only are Piw who realise the pains of others, those who cannot are kdfirsf The Emperor asked him why, when ordered to appear in the morning, he had not come till
not- salute the

evening. Kabir replied that he had which arrested his attention. The

a sight Emperor ask-

ed what kind of a sight could justify him in (19) On chronological and other grcmods it highly
him
improbable that Shaikh Taqqi pkjed the part in this legend. See Chapter II.
to

THE

LIFE OF KABIR,

17

disregarding his commands, Ivabir rejoined that he had been watching a string of camels passing

through a street narrower than the eye of a needle. The Emperor said that he was a liar.
Kabir replied, "O Emperor, realise how great is the distance between heaven ami earth. Innumerable elephants
in the space
all
is

and camels may be contained between the sun and the moon, and
"

can be seen through the pupil of the eye which

smaller than the eye of a needle,
let

The Km-

pcror was satisfied and

ple

murmured

go,- hut the peoand complained that ihe Emper-

him

or had disregarded their Shaikh complaints. said that it was contrary to the touching Taqqi of the Prophet that a man who claimed Divine

powers should be* allowed to live, and that Kabir should suffer as Mansur and Shams Tahre/J had
suffered of old. -.

that he was be-dha*m because he had associated with a woman of ill

The Brahmins added

fame and Rae Dass, the chanmr:(20)

Kabir

told,

the Emperor of his doctrine, but to no effect

lloth thfiFft mon wuiv Huff saints. Alaiwir was tnrtuwl and ni'rorwanl,- hmijj for mvirr? MwwlF "I am thu Truth". Hhams-ud-dni Tahrr/.i w.rs tiw Mwxhitl (spiritual iliroctor) of .lah'ti-uil-diu, lUiuuu., an tlut author ol the Masriavi. He, flourishcil jthuul. I^M. (21) The Ohtimur* an* workcrHn Ic-aUnT and iu'**unl<vl of very low c'tiste an bciiiji; tiKhorjiatisI itt thrir work with \\M\ kinHof clwtcl iinimnls. Svcml t'*ls|cianH rt-ibnutTH wwt> tncu of low caste ilw. DIIHH was a M//w/?y Hf:i a birh<*r k'niij a cotton ftleannr; Nrtbhftji. thu unthor of* thrfit MMrt n

cruelly

.!'

,-

aom

Ma

18
for

THE

LIFE OF KAHIK.

he sided with the people and gave orders Kabfr was that Kabir should be put to death.

removed and made

fast

in chains.

He was

then placed on board a boat which was filled with stones. The boat sank, but Kabfr re-appeared as a boy, floating clown the stream on a
2 leopard's skin.*

captured and born him alive, now an attempt was made to He was locked up in a hut which was afteragain

He was

wards set on

fire.

When

the flames were ex-

tinguished Kabfr re-appeared in a form of great beauty. He was now accused of witchcraft and

the people

demanded

that he should bc tram fil-

ed to death by an infuriated elephant. Between the elephant and Kabfr there appeared a
lion, at

23
fright.

the sight of which the elephant took Finally the Kmperorasked forgivinuss

of Kabir

and expressed

his willingness to

un-

dergo any punishment that he might name. To this Kabir replied that a man should sow flowers
for those

who had sown him

of Kasi
(

thorns.

The
that his
ate

stories so far related

speak of Kabfr as
).

a resident

Benares

It

is

natural

Hindu

followers should wish to associ-

him

as closely as possible with their sacred

(22) BairagiR often carry about the nktn of a !<>i*r or other animal upon which they take thttfv writ upon f bit tfrmiiifi, It is symbolic of a life spent in place* apart from the Imuni^ of men.
(23) See

additional

Note,

Kabir

In

History,'

nd<n-

Shaikh Abdul Kabir,

THE LIFE OF
city,

19

evidence both from the and the Adi Grant h to show that he did not at any rate spend the whole ol his life in Benares. In the Bijak is found a Ramaini which
is

but there

may

Manikpur havheard of the praises of Shaikh ing Taqqi. He heard also about Ujf in the district of Jaunpur. At Jhusi he heard the names of his Pfrs/2 *

be interpreted thus " Kabfr settled for a while in

:

He heard
in

of twenty-one Firs in all

They preach

hearing this 1 could not refrain irom speaking. The people have looked on the shrines and gone astray. The

the

name

of the Prophet.

On

works of Habibi (Beloved) andNabi (Prophet) are all contrary to law ( hardm ). O Shaikh and Shaikh Saqardi, listen to my words. Aqardi
See the beginning as well as the end with open eyes, consider every period of the world's history."

In the opening lines of this Ramaini Kabfr seems to be enumerating the places which he had visited in his search for religious guidance in the closing lines to be grieving over the
:

thought that more honour is paid to the tombs of

the dead than to the
lives
mUlat,

GOD in whose service their

father Shabfai-ut
together.
this

were spent.

25

,. (24) HisPfrB,*.
(25)
F<n'
11,

& Whaifrh Taqqi ami his who were always closely twKOcIatod
fui'lher

comments upon

Ilamami

see

Chapter

'

20

THE LIFE OF
are put into

In the Adi Qranth

the mouth of Kabfr, MyHajj is on the hank* of
dwells
iltr

Crtitittt
5

where

my

Pir wearing
f

Reference

is

pur wnich

is

yellow here apparently iii.nk to jaun* situated on the leli or northern

i

roin:.

1'

bank of the

Gointi.

Jaunpur was

iitc

capital ot

a famous Muhiimmadun (Sharqu d>na^ty. Ibrahim, one of the kings of this ch im ty 1 1412), was a great patron of Muhammad;. n learning,

bat was In this respect siinpasMul by Bib? Kajah, who built a magnificent Jami MoHjiur, a ('oHe/jc

and a Monastery. She also appropiiatcii large sums of money for the niainUMutnrc ol those
learned in Theology and the Sciences.
the exception of the

With

Mosque

all

these building**

were subsequently destroyed by Sikamiar Lodi either on religious or political ground*.-* 7

We
was

bom

gather from this quotation that Kabfr elsewhere than in Jaunpur, but that he

received religious instruction in that city.

There are
the
life

of Kabir, but

many other stories connected with we will only reproduce

one more before passing on to consider the manner of his death. This story is of
(20)

Jmm

(27)

Muhamrajulaa Pirn wear yellow Jaunpur in mid to be a corruption of Jftvunpnt'. a term applied originally to thcj'UreukH, was
^

tly applied to the

Muhaiwnadaoft.

The

til

would therefore be The city of

THE LIFE OF KAB|R

as
it

21

associates Kabir with Central India

is

whexe

at the present time his influence

most strongbrothers,

ly

felt.

There lived
Tatva and
to
Jiva,

in

the Deccan two

who were

anxious to find for

themselves a spiritual guide.

iously

They used

relig-

wash

the feet of the

many

Sadhiis

who

visited their house

to their teaching. of these Sadhus were possessed of real spiritual power they devised the following test. They

and listened attentively At a loss to discover which

planted in the courtyard of their house a withered branch of a banyan tree and agreed to accept as their Guru that Sddhu whose power was such, that the washings of his feet would avail
to restore the branch to
life.

For forty years

they waited in vain for one who could satisfy the test and were almost, in despair of ever finding the desired Gurii, when Kabir arrived upon the scene. The branch when sprinkled with the

water
their

in

which

his feet

had been washed immeas

diately returned to

life. Kabir was accepted Guru and gare utterance to these lines

The Sadhus
Sidh&s
clouds.
:

arc

my

soul and I

am

the body of the

live in the

S&dhus,

as rain lives in the

The Sldhus
Sldhus
milk.
:

are
live

my
in

Atmd, and

the Sidhus, as

am the life gU lives

of the
in the

22

THE LIFE OF KAIUR.

Sfidhus are
I.

The

my Atma

and

am

ihc bread

<!'

the Sidhus:
in the flowers.

live in the Sadlnis as inij^nUK'c live*

All accounts agree that the earthly lite of Kabfr came to a close at Magiuir in the district

of Gorakhpur.

We

are not told whether he

had

ever previously visited this place, hut he may a visit to Gorakhpossibly havedone so when on

Nath,the famous Yogi and founder of the Shivitc

sect that bears his

name,
Adi Granth
in

There are

lines in the

which

Kabir refers to the austerities practised by Gorakh Ndth and speaks of him as* having died in
spite of
all.

28

Tradition relates that Kabir died in extreme

old age,
his

when

his

body had become infirm and

hands were no longer able to produce the music with which he had in younger days celebrated the praises of Ram. If he had lost the company of earthly friends he felt more closely
united, than ever before, to

one from whom lie would never more be parted. Such appear to be the thoughts which find expression in the following lines, quoted from the Adi Granth ; Benares has been left by me and my intellect has

become

little

my

whole

life

lost in Slrivpuri,

(28) Gorakh Nath and another Hindu ascetic, Uuehhmidar, who is more than once referred Lo in the JB\jak wrc by tradition associated with Jhtisi, Sec Allahubad
t

p, 190.

THE
at the

LIFE OF
I

time of death

have arisen and come to

Maghar.
King, I am a Bairagi and Yogi when dying, not grieved, nor separated from Thee, The mind and breath are made the drinking gourd, the string has the riddle is constantly prepared

my

1 am,

become

firm,

it

does not break, unbeaten the fiddle

sounds. 29
Sing, sing,

O
my

bride, a beautiful

King Ram,
It

song of blessing husband, has come to my house.

his disciples that

was the wish of

Kabfr

should end his days at Kasi where so much of his religious work had been accomplished. All

who
those
this

died in

Kasi,

immediately into the presence of

they urged, would pass Ram, while

to
ass.

who

died at

Maghar would return

want of
faith.
Is

world and assume the form of an

for their

Kabfr
the

rebuked them

power of

Ram so

limited that he cannot save his

servant because he prefers to die outside Kasf, the city of Shiva ?

What
is

Kasi ?

What Maghar ? He who

dies at
his

Maghur
in

not dead,
heart;
:

my

when Ram has taken up he who dies elsewhere

abode

puts

Ram

to

shame.

A
ofhis
(29)

difficulty arose

with regard to the disposal

body
In

after

death.

The Muhammadans

Kabfr literature the soul of man is often compared to a string, FJis soul is now attuned to sing the praises of Ood,

24

THE
it

LIFE OF KAitta
it.

desired to bury

and the Hindus to cremate

As the

rival parties discussed

the question with

growing warmth Kabir himself appeared and bade them raise the cloth in which tin* liody lay enshrouded. They did as he commanded and
lo
t

flowers

beneath the cloth there lay but a Hindu* ! Of these flowers the

of

half

and burnt them at Benares, while what remained were burled at Maghar by Muham-

madans. 10
(80) A vcrv death of Nilaak.
ftimilar fttory in tnM In rannoYMtt ttee HuftheH* Dfciiciiiiiry of I*ltti,

wittt
ji.

tit**

rHH.

ADDITIONAL NOTE.
Kabir
1J
in History,

following abstracts from standard books of reference will suffice to show that the name

The

"Kabir"

is

posed. of some of the dates* and reason to believe that

There

not so rare as has sometimes been supis reason to question the accuracy
r
'
i

some

of Kabir's biographers, working upon the assumption that there was only one Kabir, have

unhesitatingly appropiatcd

details

from the

lives

of several.
2 Treasury of Saints ), written by Maulvi Gulam Sarwar and published at Lahore about 1868, mentioned is made of

In

Khazinat-ul-A&fitt

(1)

Kabir

Chink-it,

Sufi

and inhabitant of Nlgo re

in

who on account of
erat:

ill-treatment at the hands of

Muhammadans journeyed
and died there
Shaikh
in
(2)

the direction of Gujthe

is

1854
Juldha,
disciple

KMr

and

successor of Shaikh

Taqqi,

who

described as

being one of the great

men

of his time and a leader

among Thcists. He is described as the author of many Hindi writings which prove him to have
Dates may have been tratiHferred from the History of one (1) man to that of another bearing the same name, or difficulty may have been experienced in deciphering dates written in.
Peinian figure*, without an accompanying verbal explanation.

In thin book Shaikh Taqqi in described t&Jffaydk, the (2) Arabic equivalent of the Persian Jtoll&ha. He Is said to have ilvod at Mamkpur and to have died in 1574.

26

KABfR IN HISTORY.
of great ability. doctrine of Wital (Union
a

been
Sufi

man

He
with

taught

the

God) and
contrary
is

to preserved silence with regard doctrine of Firaq. (Separation).

the

He

said

to

have been the

first

to write anything
in

about

God

and

his attributes

the Hindi language and to

have been the author of various Hindi poems. On account of his religious toleration he was accepted
as a leader

by Hindus

as well as

by

Muhammadam

and styled by the former fir Kabtr and by the The -date of" his death "u latter Shagat Kabir.
given as 1594.
(3)

"KhwAjah Aulid Kablr

Kabir-ud-din

who

visited

Bokliinl

and died in 1229,

(4)

Syed
as

llawnn of the
Ismail,

same
to

family

Kabir-ud-din

who
thtr

is

said

have travelled three times round

world and to

have lived to the age of 180. He resiilcd at in Balakh (Baluchistdn) were he died in 14*10,

Uch

Shaikh JTa6fr, the son of Shaikh Munawar (5) and resident of Bajaora, who is simply described an a conceited man and a victim of the opium habit. I n Sair-ul-Aqtab (History of Pillar Saints),
written by Shaikh Allah, Diya, mentuni is made tl' haw (6) 'Shaikh Abdul Kallr who is H;IIC! to

been a saint from

possessed a great

his mother's

womb

and to have
event!,.

power of

foretelling

Hi*

was known

Shaikh Kabir or Bull Plr and inherited the priestly robe of the Sufis from his father,
as

Abdul Quddus.

He

performedjmany miracles aud by

KABIR IN HISTORY.

27

merely shaking the sleeve of his robe was able to He had a taste for singing and was lavish in his hospitality. He had four
cause a lion to appear.

many disciples. The king of Jaunpur, Sultan Sikandar Lodi, together with his Vizier, Bhura, and Malik Mahmud, determined to test his
sons and
It was arranged that powers as a saint. they should visit him one evening, each having previously in his own mind thought of some parti-

If the Pfr supplied the want of each he was to be regarded as a man of God. As soon as they entered his house Kablr brought a dish of

cular dish.

venison sandwiches and placed it before the king ; to the Vizier he offered a bowl of and some

soup

bread and to Malik Mahmiid a dish of sweetmeats.

his guests begged forgiveness for having ever called his powers in question. This Kablr died in 1539. He is said to have been succeeded by his son Shaikh Usm&n, who was

The result was that

gener-

raily

known

as

Zinda Pir. 3

of Budaon mention
(7)

In Mutff.khib-ul-Taw<lrikh by Mullah Abdul Qadir is made of

Shaikh Kablr, a resident of Multiin, who journeyed northwards to Balakh and returned from thence to India and travelled in the of

company

Akbar.

Owing

severity of his said to have presented the appearance of a drunkard. The name jftdld Plr occurs in the list of the Mahants (3)
of the Dharra Dass flection of the Kablr Panth

brought on by the devotions and night watches he is

to exhaustion

and the words

Zinda,

Pir

in

the legend of the naming of Kabir.

28

KABfR

IN HISTORY.
this
saint
at

Mullah Abdul Qidlr himself met Fatehpurin 1585 A. D.

In Akhbar-iil-Akhy<lr mention
in

made

of

Amir Kablr Mir Syed All JfAmdani who visit(8) ed Kashmir in 1379 and died there five yearn later, After his death a dispute arose concerning the dishis body between the people of Kashmir, posal of
Sultan

Muhammad
The

Badakhshan.
"body,

last

and Shaikh Ac{\vam-uti*ciin of named finally neatml the

died.
is

but the people of Kashmir erected a cenotaph

at the place

where he

In the PerisMa mention

(9)

also

made

of

Syed Ahmad
and

Kabfr, the Father of Syce!

Jaldl-ud-din,
(10)

KaUr-ud-dln hmafl, grandson, ilndplt* and successor of Syed JaUlI-ud-dfn, otherwise known as
Mahlcdum Jahanian or
fact that
etc.

Jahnn Qn*ht Hhtib

frtim

the

he travelled extensively to Mecca, Halakh

Kabir-ud-din Ismail also travelled extensively

and died in 1421.

in

At Jaunpur there is a small Ma*ji<i, built memory of Divin Shih Kabir who was one of
(n)
j

four brothers,

all

of

whom

lie

buried in the

name

plot of ground.

This Masj id, which was buih durthe reign or the Emperor Humayan, "u situating ed in the Muhalla Tdr Tali.

Chapter

II.

THE LIFE OF KABfR

The
beauty
traditional
life

(Contd).

of

which

in

its

Kabir has a poetical power to commend a

followers

Muhammadan

Saint to

Hindu

may be
which

thankfully regarded as a prophecy of the great.

er reconciliation of conflicting faiths to

so

many

of us look forward.
first

The

veil that has

f|

been drawn over the

important religious

beginnings of an
rever-

movement we would

ently raise, trusting thereby to add additional lustre to the brave efforts of a distinguished champion of religious truth.
Prof.

Wiiioii,

die

distinguished

Sanskrit

investigations every English student of lauuin religious thought owes so deep a debt of gratitude, writes of the improbability,

scholar, to

whose

not to say impossibility, of Kablr's having been a Muhammadan, and with no more respect does
suggestion that he belonged to the Sufi sect. Later writers have been content to yield to authority and t

he treat

Col Malcolm's

accept as established truth the judgement of a

great scholar.

Did we believe that

Prof-

fully investigated all the

Wilson had caredocuments that are

30

THE LIFE OF
available

now

presume

judgecannot help that in the feeling immensity of the tasks which he imposed upon himself he has overlooked some part of the
ment, but

to students, we should hardly to question the accuracy of his

we

evidence, or possibly too readily accepted the statements of fellow workers in the same fidd,

Any one who

that

has read Prof.

life

count of Kablr's
impression

Wilson's ac-

would carry away* the

the author of the
at least
{

Nabhaji,

Bhakta Mala, had recorded some legends which have found a

vious chapter. the
carefully

of the
pre.

place

,,h

Mala now
tor the
-

printed edition current in is

India,
:

Nabhaji himself, to judge from of the Bhaki*

only responsible

if!

following statement

"Kabfr refused to acknowledge caste distortions or to recognise the authority of the 'm. aoho of Hindi philosophy, nor did he

'

ascetiasm, fasting and almsgiving had no

IT

'

'

of

Ramaim's, u a uas ana

THE LIFE OF KAB!R.

31
and never

He

spoke out
it

his

mind

fearlessly

made

his object

merely to please his hearers."

This short account describes a

man who

had no great sympathy with Brahminical teaching, who believed in a personal God and in salvation by faith rather than by good work$ 9 and who delivered a message, regarded as God's
message, to Hindus and Muhammadans alike. This is all that is stated in the text, but to the text is appended a commentary written by
a later hand 1 .
In this

commentary

it

is

stated

that Kabfr in his desire to wear a Kkanti round

neck and a tilak on his forehead (to attract Hindu audience) made up his mind to become a disciple of Rdmdnand and achieved his
his

2 purpose as described in the previous chapter

that

Muhammadans objected to the repetition of 'Ram, Ram/ by a co-religionist and asked Rdmanand whether it were true that he had

received %.julahd as his disciple ; that Ramanand at first denied that he had done so but

when confronted with Kabfr acknowledged his mistake. Mention is also made of the fact
A wording to one account Nabhaji wrote hin account (1) of the llkagatit in Hannkrit and awked bin dmciple IMya Dasg to provide it with a commentary, Priya made a beginning and then handed over the MH to Gobardhari Nath. Finally the commentary was completed by Narairi DattH, a disciple of Gobardhan Nafch and published in 1769.
(2) into the
aroB<i

We gather

from the legend that Kabir waa received

Beet a& a Hindd and that trouble it was dincovercd that he was really

Ka'mo'nandi

Bubflqucntly

when

a Mubammadan.

THE LIFE OF
that Kabir was

KABI'K*.

before

thf

Emperor,

Sikandar Lodi, and refused on that occasion to salute the Emperor, that he was sentenced to

death and was

in

succession thrown

into

the

flame* and Ganges, committed to the to the fury of an elephant, but all to no purIt is added that the Emperor, pose.
In his desire to destroy

Kabir, reco^nis") that

Kabir's forgivehe had acted wrongly, ness and offered to compensate him lor the
injuries inflicted*

acquainted with the legends BOW appended to his statement and liii not editor may have known of other
N&bhiji

may have been

recorded, but

we have no

right to usbUtue

knowledge, nor uiu we yet in a position to itay at what time other legends gradually iu-ramc All that we know is that such are current.

BOW

to be found in various writings of

unknown

date, but accepted as authoritative

of the
.

by

Kabfr Panthu
to accept

We are Inclined

both of the theo-

ries

advanced by -Col. Malcolm and to not only that Kabfr was a Muhammadan
birth but also that
Sufi order
;

by

he was

with the
of his life

and that the great object

was to break down the barriers that Hindus from Muhammadam. Wa believe
in his desire to

achieve this object he actually

THE LIFE OF KABR.

there with the followers of

33

took up his residence in Benares and associated

Ramanand.

We

can well imagine that his teaching gave offence both to orthodox Muharnmadans and to orprobable that both parties welcomed the opportunity afforded by Sikandar Lodi's visit to Jaunpur in 1495 to wait
it

thodox Hindus, and

is

upon him with a request that he would them of one who despised tradition when
conflict

rid

in

with the truth.

Sikandar Lodi is represented by Muhammadan historians as one who was zealous lor the faith and had on one occasion put to death a
distinguished pandit, Jodhan by name, because he refused to allow that Islam had a monopoly
of spiritual truth.

hammadan
faith,

rulers

Fortunately for Kabfr Muwere wont to allow Sufis

considerable license in their criticism of the

especially

when such

Sufis

combined

personal piety with poetical talent. When we read how the enemies of Kabir reminded the

had befallen Mansur and SMms Tabrezi who were both distinguished Sufi saints, we feel that they had some knowledge of this weakness and feared lest Kabfr might on such grounds escape the death penalty which alone would satisfy their embittered

Emperor

of the fate that

Their fears were realised, for from the legend that the Emperor gather
feelings.

we
coil-

34

THE LIFE OF
;

promised the case he spared the life of Kabir, but banished him from the city where his teaching had given so great offence*

That Kabir had been brought up

in

Mu-

hammadan family was probably a fact too well known to allow of contradiction* All that his Hindu followers could do was to that
he was not of Muhammadan origin, but only a Muhamniadan by adoption. The name Kabir

was also too well established to allow of any alteration. It only remained to explain its origin
in a

way

that

would commend

itself

to those

who accepted

the story of the virgin birth.

Such

an explanation was to be found in the fact that Al Kabir is one of the 99 names (if God in use
in the

among Muhammadans. The name Kabir occurs Qoran six times as a title of Allah and
once as a
title

of Al-Rabb.

The legend
|;;fy|'

that calls attention to this fact

presents a curious blend of

Hindu and Muhamfor

madan procedure.
madans
to

It is

customary

Muham-

||!
|f'|f
;

open a Qordn and give to the child the name on which the eye of the reader may
first

T
'

j*jf|

JM
;,.><'
'

to

,/
j

fall it is customary for Hindfis bestow upon a child a name containing three words usually beginning with the same letter and so similar in sound. This name is suggest*
;

chance to

edb y

the position of the stars at the time of

is

and

known

as the jfttaor astronomical

THE
name.

LIFE OF KAB!R.

35

The

three names, Akbar, Kubra and

Kibriyk said to have

the Qordn are
all

been found by the Qazi in derived from the same root

these three
ii;

names however only one, Kibriya, is to be found in modern Qorans. Of the three nrmes Zinda, Khinjar and Pir, the first and third are Persian words and as such not found in the Qordn. Khinjar is
'

KBR

great/

Of

probably a corruption ofKhizar the

saint

name

of the
I

who

is

in the

Qoran associated with Moses.

legend containing impossible details can hardly be regarded as a literal representation of

historical fact.

Muhammadan

tradition asserts that

Kabfr
also
is

had a son, Kamdl by name.

This

name

of Arabic origin and so a source of difficulty to those who regard Kabfr as a Hindu sddh$.

a word kamnial, a corruption of kambal (blanket) and in one version of the Kamal

There

is

legend it is slated that Kabfr caught sight of the child floating down the stream, wrapt up in " a blanket and cried out, not " Kamal, Kam&l " but Kammal."

i|

Kammal,

Muhammadan

tradition implies that Kabfr

was a married man, but as, in accordance with Muhammadan custom, no mention is made of his wife's name, Hindis were free to supply her with a Hindi name and chose Loi which also means a blanket*
like other Sufi leaders

36

THE
There
is

LIFE OF

following

a possible reference to his wife in the lines contained in the Adi Grants
wife was ugly, of tow caste, of illfather: wicked in the house <f her
;

The

first

boding feature

in-law and in her father's house

The

present

wife

is

beautiful, intelligent, of

auspicious features, easily child-hearing*

be interpreted to mean that Kabir had lost his wife, but found comfort in

These

lines

may

closer

union with
first

God

or they

may moan

that
re-

the soul at
'

united with a material

body

?!

f,

jolced in

the thought of becoming spiritually

;
!'

',^

one with God.

In certain respects the legendary life of Kabir presents remarkable parallels to incidents
in the life of Christ.

,'!'"]',
l

t,l

)!
1

I,

!;?;!!

After an account of the

virgin
|^
ijPit

|i
r

|)f

j j

Hjf;

birth we read that Kabfr, as a boy, meets and worsts in argument a learned Pandit; he is criticised for associating with the outcasts

of society.; he miraculously supplies the poor

with bread
r?/'
1

he incurs the
;

hostility of the rcii-

;|;

\\

gious leaders of his time

he
is

from the

dead a boy and a

girl

and

ministered to by

women.

The

full

account of his appearance

before Sikandar Lodi presents in

striking
Pilate.

many

details

resemblance to Christ's

trial

are of comparatively late date and the writers may

The books containing these

THE LIFE OF KABR.

have been influenced by a
the
life

37

desire to assimilate

of Kabfr to that of Christ.

of the legends, especially
in this

Many
to have

have not been mentioned

some which chapter seem

originated in a desire to explain the

circumstances under which some of KabiVs best

known
the
tions

sayings were

memory

spoken, or to associate of Kabir with persons and institufirst

held in special reverence

by

Hindus.

Several appear in different forms and nearly all contain details which must raise difficulties in

the minds of

all

who

are not overcredulous.

In the Dabistin, a Persian history, said to

have been written by Mohsin Fani of Kashmir in the reign of AJkbar, it is stated that Kabir was a weaver and a Muwahid i.e. a believer in one

God.

It is

further stated that in his desire to

find spiritual guidance

he visited Muslim as well

as Hindii sages, and finally became a disciple of Rdminand under the circumstances already

recorded in this legend. of the following story :

Mention

is

also

made

Brahmins were expatiqualities of the Ganges water, Kabir filled his wooden cup with water from the river and offered it to them to drink. They were horrified at the thought of drinking
certain

One day when

ating on the purifying

out of the cup belonging to a low caste man ; upon which Kabir remarked, "If the Ganges

**.,

38

THE LIFE OF KABfR.

water cannot purify my cup, how can I believe " that it can wash away my sins ? The statement that Kabir was a Julaha and Muwahid is confirmed by AbulFazl and has never

been contradicted.
mine
is

What we have

to deter-

the exact meaning of the statement. Hindus have assumed that Kabir in early life

actually followed the profession of a

f

weaver and

V
'

weaving metaphors by way of illustration. This he may have done, but we must also bear in mind that it was custernary for Muhammadans of that age to attach to their personal names the name of the profession with which their family
associated.

have quoted

his use of

;,'

\,

had originally been

not, so far

I
;/|
!

The term Muwahid was

as I can learn, ever applied by

to those

Muhammadans
It

^
!
*

whom they

regarded as idolaters.

I
I

implies that he was a Theist and not a Pantheist.

;';,

';

';

4
,

,|,

The prevailing impression that Kabir was a Pantheist appears to be based upon two false assumptions, (i) that he is responsible for all the teaching given by his Hindu followers at a

and (2) that all the statements contained in the Bijak represent his personal views There is reason to believe that insufficient care
later age

has been taken in studying the context in which certain sayings occur; reason to fear that Kabir

has been credited with the argument of Maya whom he at all times ruthlessly condemns.

THE LIFE OF

KAB!R.

38

Great interest attaches to the mention of Shaikh Taqqi. According to the Hindu legends Shaikh Taqqi was the rival and opponent of
Kabir, while Pir, In the

Muhammadans

Ramaini quoted

regard him as his in the previous

chapter there is probably a reference to two Shaikh Taqqis whom later writers have not been always careful to distinguish.

Shaikh Taqqi of Mdnikpur Kard was a najdf,

(cotton cleaner) by profession and belonged to the Chistia order of Sufis. He is said to have died at Bhandarpur in 1545 but there is

probably

some mistake about the date. In the Aina Oudk it is stated that this Shaikh Taqqi was the disciple and successor of Shaikh Nathan Ddni who himself succeeded Shaikh Khw&jah Kargh and that the last named died in 1305.
Shaikh Taqqi was succeeded by his son Makan

who founded
which
is

a village in the Fatehpur district

called after
still

him Makanpur.

His des-

cendants are

to be found in that

and the

From the statement neighbouring villages. contained in the Ramaini it appears that Kabir
visited

Manikpur and remained there

for

some

time in attendance upon the Shaikh or his

successors.

The Manikpur referred to is situated on the Northern bank of the Ganges, between Fatehpur and Allahabad. It was for a short time the

40

THE LIFE OF KA&IR.

Emperor Sikandar
Near Minikpur, but on the Southern
river is

Military head quarters of the

Lodi.

bank of the

Kari generally known as

Kark Mdnikpur, at that time a ciiy of considerable importance, the MuhammaUan capital
of the surrounding country Kara.

Kara Minikpur

is

sect, called Maliik Dassis.

the head quarters of a Members of this

to visit the

when on pilgrimage to JaganmUh are required Math of the Kabir Panthis and to

receive there

Kabir ka Tardni which consists of

a piece of bread and a spoonful of sour

water. 3

At the same time

it

would seem that Kabir

was more closely associated with Shaikh Tucjqi of Jhusi 4 or his successors in office* This
Shaikh was the son of Shaban-ul-Mttlut and

belonged to the Soharwardfi order of Sufis.

died in 1429 (A.
is still

He

BL 785) and

his

tomb

at

a place of pilgrimage, 5 Kabir in said to have been a young man of about 30 of

age when he first made the acquaintance of the Shaikh. At the time he desired to have as his
Pir one
(3)

whose hand would ever remain over

is

Maldk Dim

said to have boon born

lit

IE74,

TIw

Granth of

this sect includes Qykn JDipak, Sukh *Y/<i/U utui 3f<M1c Dil$8 JBhaUL The two ftrefc are Kabir ftinth

writings. See Wilson, E. 8. P. 102. (4) Jhusi stands aear the confluence of the OIUI^IM am! the jrtwma, in the immediate ndghbcmrhood of Allaliiilniit.

(5) In. the Aina Oudh the fatlior of to have been born in 1261,

Bteipi Taqqi

!i

mM

THE LIFE OF

KABfR,

41

him to protect him from all evil. Shaikh Taqqi promised to help him in this way and proved
true to his word, for even in the remote regions

of Balkh and Bokhara Kabir

hand
his

of his Pir stretched over

f;

saw the protecting him as that of a

When Kabir returned from and repaired to Jhusi to pay his wanderings respects to his Master he felt the pangs of hungguardian angel.
er

and asked that he might have some food. The Shaikh provided him with some vegetables, cooked rice and some skimmed milk spiced
with caraway seeds. Kabir regarded these supplies as

inadequate to the occasion and exclaimSdg, bhdt, jirwdni mlthi Hamre Pir ke yehi hat&.

ed

Vegetable,

rice,

skimmed milk spiced with caraway

These things only can behad in the market of my Pir,

The Shaikh was vexed with

his ingratitude

and replied: Yih chhor aur kya khah hai mati, Toll upar pare che mas ki tlti. Beside this what would you eat, earth? May six months disease come over you.

As the
months
hoea.

result

of this

curse Kabir for six

suffered severely from attacks of diarrrolled on the

He

ground in agony and

the two empty water courses in which he was

were not sure that Kabir ac(6) The people of tually visited those distant lands. They thought it possible that he merely closed his eyes and visited them in imagination,

JhM

42

THE LIFE OF K

then compelled to pass his time are still to be name of Kahir Nala seen, the one bearing the

and the other that of Lotan Nahu At thy end of six months he was once more permitted to
apologized for his past from his ingratitude and received a blessing Kabir besought the Shaikh to bestow Master.

approach his

Pir.

He

him, such a blessing that he might be enabled to remove those differences of ticliVf which

upon

Shaikh separated Hindus from Muhamntadans. that this lay beyond his power, Taqqi regretted
"but said that

he would bring

it

about that both

Hindus and Muhammadans should regard Kabir himself with reverence, Kamal,tho son of Kabir

when he heard

of bis father's request

went

to

Shaikh Taqqi and requested him as his Pir to release him from all further obligations to his
father for

he could never bring himself to look with favour upon Hindus. The Shaikh gave Kamil permission to go and settle at Jahilpur

some ten miles distant from JhusL Kabir was sorrowful when he learnt of his son's determination and exclaimed, Dubba bans Kabir ka. upja put Kimdl The family of Kabir became extinct when his son Kamal was born. 7
'

the house.

(0 A similar saying occurs in the Ad! Omnth: T!ic progeny of Kabir dead; there was born a sou Kam&l Having given up the remembrance of Hari, he has brought wealth to

f
I

THE LIFE OF KAB|R.

43

Previous to the mutiny there was at Jhusi a large Mosque, associated with the memory of

Shaikh Taqqi and endowed with landed property, bringing in an annual income of Rs. 100,000.
After the mutiny the Mosque was destroyed and the lands confiscated.*
various allusions to persons and places contained in the Raraaini quoted in the previ-

The

ous chapter have been a great cause of perreaders of the Bijak. Manikpur they explained as being the city of the man (mind;. Of Uji, a village near Kharauna

plexity to

Hindu

in the district of

Jaunpur, famous of old as the

residence oi
saint,

some distinguished Muhammadan

they had never heard. When the people of Jhusi were asked about the 'Ikkis Pir' (twenty one Pir) they at once made mention of the

Akela Per

(solitary

tree), a large

tree

that

stands alone and under which a

saint used to take up his abode.

Muhammadan
The piompt-

ness of their reply suggested that the original

text

might have been emended by some Hindu who had never heard of the Akela Per. Shaikh

Akardi and Shaikh Saqardi who became a still greater cause of perplexity were according to

Tujdwar or caretakers of Shaikh Taqqi's shrine, who were regarded by

local

tradition the

(8) Mont of the information concerning Jhtisi traditions was supplied by Shah Fida Hussafu, Government Pensioner,

resident in JhiM.

44

THE LIFE OF KAB!R.

the people with so great respect that they were as Shaikhs. popularly known have probably written enough to show

We

that

not impossible that Kabfr should have been both a Muhammadan and a Sufi The of Kabfr which forms the frontispiece
It is

picture

of this volume and which

is

more

likely to

have

been painted by a Hindu than by a Muhammadan represents him as having Mulmmmadan features, and his grave at Maghar has always

been in the keeping of Mtihammaclans. That a Muhammadan should have been the Father
of Hindi literature
surprise,

may

indeed be a cause of

but

it

must not be forgotten that Hin-

dus also have gained distinction as writers of Persian poetry. Kabi'r, moreover, wan a man of

no ordinary

purpose of his

and determination, and the was to get his accepted by those who were best reached through
ability
life

the Hindi language.

Chapter

III.

THE TEACHING OF KABIR.

In the days of Kabir the power of the Brah-

mins was very great. As some would express land was overcast by the dark it, the whole clouds of priestcraft and sacerdotalism. Brahmanisrn, invigorated by its triumph over Buddhism, asserted its authority over all, until the

Muhammadans
dually

invaded the country and graextended their influence throughout

Northern India. Then people saw that there were men whose views about religion were radically different fivm those of their own Pandits ;
they became acquainted with men who were only with difficulty restrained on political grounds

from exterminating
in their

all

who

refused to acquiesce

own

religious beliefs.

are not in a position to say how far religious thinkers were encouraged by the presence of Muhammadans to give expression to

We

the thoughts of their hearts, but there is no doubt that the presence of the followers of Islam stimulated thought on such subjects as caste,
spiritual

birth

and the

personality of God*

Among

the

Muhammadans none were more

Sufis to recognise the

ready than the

good

in

46

THE TEACHING OF KAB!R.

the love every form of belief and to dwell upon towards all his creatures. of God Before considering the character of Kabir's
teaching

we have
It

first to

determine what his

teaching was.

seems probable that the teaching of Kablr was delivered orally and not
reduced to writing
till

a later age.
is

The

earliest

writings in which his teaching

recorded are

the Bijak and the Adi Granth. It is probable that neither of these books was composed till
at least fifty years after the death of Kablr, and they can hardly be regarded as retaining in all

passages the actual words of the teacher, less such words without additions.

much
defi-

Though

it is

inadvisable to express

any

nite opinion on such a subject, until the contents of the Bijak have been carefully examined and

compared with the productions of a later age,

yet there is reason to believe that the teaching of Kabir has gradually become more and more

Hindu

in form.

At any

rate

we have no

right

to assume that the teaching of Kablr was identical with that given at the present time by the

Mahants of the Panth that bears

So
far

his

name,

the contents of the Bijak have only

part,

been made known in

studied the

and
it

all

book allow that

contains

who have many

passages that are practically unintelligible to us of a later age, dark riddles which they are tin-

THE TEACHING OF KAB!R.

able to interpret.

An

exposition of teaching

which is based upon a selection from selections, must of necessity be defective and may possib;

ly be misleading,

if

regarded as an interpretainfluenced

tion of the whole.

tian thought
is

A mind

by

Chris-

naturally

inclined to dwell upaffinity

on teaching that seems to have

truths that
it
is

with

tl

position appreciate Passages which to the original teacher may

in

to

have seemed no

important are hurriedly passed over because the reader through lack of knowledge is unable to estimate their value*

less

Bearing in mind these limitations we will proceed to examine the teaching of Kabir as illus-

by quotations from the Bijak and the Adi Granth. We shall meet with teaching which will immediately call to mind passages of Scripture f we shall meet with condemnations of
trated
3

falsehood which, as regards directness of speech, should amply satisfy the feelings of the most
militant type of Missionary.

We

shall

admire

the Teacher, alike for his sincerity and his

courage.

THE WORLD AND RELIGION. There are men who live in the world as though it were their permanent abode ; men
(1)

Sec Additional Note on Bijak,

(2) To thoHc who have a knowledge of the subject the references to Sufi teaching will probably appear to be rery

n umerous.

48

THE TEACHING OF KAB!R.

who

take thought for the body and pay heed to its desires, as though it were a permanent
possession
;

men who accumulate

riches

as

though they were free from the thraldom of death. Such men will never obtain true happiness, nor will

they unravel the knots by which

they are bound, until they look to Gocl for help. He who would know God must die to the world*

God

is

a jealous G-od

who

loves not those

who

entertain in their hearts love for another god. Man cannot serve God and mammon. Only

those

who

give their entire heart to

realise their true self.

is

God The knowledge of

will

Gocl

diamond, recognised only by those who are spiritually minded. The true
servants of

as a precious

>ki

i^
l!^'
1

God

are few in number,

and to the
arc beside

^ijS;
{'

worldly minded seem as themselves.

All

men who

j!

$?!
'

who live

in this

world are liable to temp-

fr^ff
^f^(l
f

>;

;|t

['',''fil
,,

tation; the black snake coils itself round the sandal tree. The poison of the snake received i nt the body works in corruption and death. Those alone escape who place their
trust in

';!

God.

'%j
,

^
;

,
(

''

Hi*

and pride of intellect are the ene3 mies of spiritual Those only development* see God who have a forgiving spirit. The strugKak* r s condemnation of pride and commendation of ^5' U ^ 5lllit? are mucl1 more in accordance with tho teaching o C Sufi
Selfishness
'

<u

Batata than with the practice of

Hindu

pandits.

THE TEACHING OF
gle against evil
is

KABJCR.

49

fulness
recur.

is fatal.

Now
lies

is

hard to maintain, but slothlost may not the time to prepare for the jour-

The opportunity

ney

that

before us.
Illustrations.

(i).

We are idols of clay,

;

to

which the name of

given we are guests of four days, in a very G, 4 great pit of fuel is our place.
is

man

physician has died, the sick man has died, the whole world has died One, Kabir, has not died, for whom is no weeper. G.
(2).
;

The

(3).

O
;

Thy
er.

flesh

is

thy bones
B.
(4).

man, thou hast a precious body indeed. not used. No ornaments are made of no drums are mounted with thy leath-

in this world is wholly sinful from his and there are many ready to claim his very birth, u He is our child and we body. The parents say, have nourished him for our own benefit." The

Man

wife says, u He is my husband," and like a tigress wishes to seize him. The children gaze at him, and like the god of death, keep their mouths wide open
for support.

The

vulture and the crow look for-

ward

to his death.

The

pigs

and the dogs wait on

the road for his bier to pass on ing ghat.

until

The
him/

fire says,

he

is

utterly consumed.

its way to the burnu I shall not leave him, " l

The

earth says,

thinks of carrying him off. O ignorant people, you speak of this body as G indicates a quotation from the Adi &mnth ; B a (4)
shall obtain
quotation from the
Bijttk.

The wind

50

THE TEACHING OF KAK!R.

throat.

your house; do you not sec that a hundred enemies

hang about your

Beguiled by the Illusion

of this world, you regard such a body as your own. So many desire a share in your body thai you will
live in trouble all

your

life.

O madmen,

you do

not wake up to a knowledge of this, but repeatedly B. It in mine, it is mine.' say,

l

(5).

Adding kauri to kauri he brings together

at all,

lakhs and crores.

At the time of departure he gets nothing

even his langoti is plucked away from him. To the miser wealth is given for the sake (6).
( J.

of keeping mine.
7

it.

The

fool

says,

The property

is

When
matter
(7)
is

the staff of Yania strikes his head, the

decided in a moment.
riches and a

G*

Immense

kingdom which exunto the going

tends from the rising of the sun

down thereof could not equal the pleasure arising out of devotion (to God). Of what use then is
wealth
(8)
?

B.

Fire does not burn

it,

the wind does not

it
;

carry

it

away, no thief comes near

collect
is

the

wealth of the
lost.

name

of

Rim,

that wealth

never

G.

For gold he is not obtained, (9) ed for the price of the heart. G.
(10)
;

Rdm is

obtain-

Without devotion

life is

spent to no pur-

pose without worshipping the Lord in the society of the pious, happiness remains in none* G,

THE TEACHING OF
The poor with many knots.
(n)
the help of God.
(12)

KAB!R.

51

soul of
It

man is

tied to this world

itself

cannot unloose

without

B.

(God) whom you seek, is near you. He is always near to his devotees and far from those who do not worship Him. B.

He

(13)

Kabir

says,

Where
will

shall I

find a

supreme-

ly loving saint

who

and remove
(14)

all

give pleasure, destroy pain stains of sin ? B.

Who
;

\vhilst living,

again

in this

wise he

is

goes on dying, he lives absorbed in space he

;

who remains
darkness,
ence.
(15)
is

in the

darkness,

unaffected

by the

no more thrown

into the sea of exist-

G.

Now my mind
;

eternal

then the mind

G.

on the contrary has become is known, when one dies

of a river
for

when
(16)

living.

At the bank
is

and

at a Tirthl

there

no reassurance

the mind of him

who

is

clinging to light ways.

(17)

G.

What
?

is

vows and worship to him

another love
(18)

muttering, what austerity, what in whose heart there is

G.
is

muttering, what austerity and control of the passions, what vows and ablutions ; so long as the right, loving worship of the Lord is

What

not

known
is

G.
is

(19)

In the heart there

a looking-glass,

the

face

not seen in

face when

then only you will see the the doubleness of the heart is removed. B.
it
;

52
(20)

THE TEACHING OF
The pure diamond He who knows not
it ?
is

sold
value,

for

plates of
will

gold.

its

what

he

do with
(21)

B.
lying
in their

The diamond was

:

on the road, heignorance passed

it
;

smeared with ashes

it

many

by, but the diamond specialist picked Pearls are scattered on the road (22)
;

up.

B.

the blind

draw near and depart

without the light of the Lord, the world passes them by. G.

The black snake is in the deposited venom in the souls of all

(23)

heart.
;

It

has

the few

who
B.

sincerely worship the true

(24)

God,

will

be saved,
to

Why should

one

suffer a

dog

listen to

the

why should one sing the praises of Hari in the presence of a Saktit ? that Rdm, Rain
Smritis"?
is

contained in
;

all

should on no account he told to

a Salcat

why should one suffer a crow to feed on ? camphor why should one give a black snake
is

milk to drink? the instruction of the foolish

'

'

|^|Y
^|{|ji
i;-^

waste of knowledge charcoal white. G.

(

maund

of soap cannot wash

2 S)

llfi

count the wood

li'tyA,

Sandal, restrain thy fragrance, on thy acis cut down; the living slay the

living
(26)

and regard only the dead.

B.

He

is

naturally called drunk,

who

is

drink-

ing the juice of

Rim

and meditating on Divine

knowledge.
(27)
tree,

G.

If
its

one take nectar and besprinkle a

it,

mm
G.

nature does not leave

says Kablr.

(28)

Venomous snakes have twined round the

THE TEACHING OF KABfR.

sandal tree.

53

What

venom
(29)

has soaked

can the .sandal do? in every pore in, where shall nectar enter ? B.

of separation has attached itself to the body, and darted its fangs into the heart. Into the body of the Sadhu it finds no admission :

The snake

prepare yourself for what

(30)

may happen.

B.

In the small pond, O fish, the net is spread the fisherman in this small pond thou wilt not by G. escape, think again of the ocean.
;

(31)

swindler,

The pride of intellect is manifold, now a now a thief now a liar, now a murderer
;

men, sages and gods have run after mansion has a hundred gates. B,
(32)

it

in vain

its

In pride there is adversity, in sin there is in kindness there is stability, and in suffering
;

forgiveness there

is

God.

B.
spirit,

Unless you have a forgiving (33) will not see God. You may speechify
like,

you
as

as

much

but without a forgiving nature you will you never reach Him. B.
(34)

He who

enters

into

intimacy with the

highest light, he subdues the five senses. Religious merit and demerit, both he discards. G.

what thou

doing tomorrow, do now art doing now, do at once : afterwards nothing will be done, when death comes on thy head. G.
(35)

What

thou

art

the time to prepare, henceforth the path is difficult the travellers all hasten to purchase, where there is neither trade nor market. B.
(36)
is
;

Now

54
(37)

THE TEACHING OF
The
righteous

does not give up his with crores of wicked perpiety, though he meet sons even as the sandal tree is not deprived of its though venomous snakes
:

man

cooling properties
it.

twine round
(38).

B.

kept,
vessel

With the Sakat company should not be one should flee far from him if a black
;

is

touched,

some

stain

is

received.

G.

RELIGION IN LIFE,

God
blood

is

one

how
it

has

it

come about that

there are

about that they are sepa; rated by religion and by caste ? God is one ; the Hindus are therefore at fault in their worship of
creation of

many how comes

religions ?

All

men

are of

one

many gods. These Maya they have

;

are

in truth the

their origin in sin

and are themselves the cause of sin in others.

Muhammadans put
sion,

their trust in circumci-

Hindus adore the Vedas and the beauties

The things which are seen are True worship should have as its transitory. object the unseen source of all truth, the unseen
of Nature.
Creator of the universe.
in sacred streams, go on to sacred places, bow down to pilgrimage images of brass and stone, and think that in so doing they are honouring God. In this are

The Hindus bathe

they

What God

desires

is

purity of heart

THE TEACHING OF KAB!R.

to rest in symbols that should lead

55
to

men on

God

is

to be guilty of idolatry.
alike profess to

Hindus and Muhammadans

fast, but curb not the desires of the flesh ; they praise God with their lips, but their hearts are

far

from Him.

All such religion

is

vain.

repeat prayers and texts of which they cannot understand Hinscripture

;

Muhammadans

dus believe in gods who destroy men, sport with milkmaids and assume the form of animals. All such religion is vain.

Vain too are the distinctions

varieties in

of caste.

All

shades of colour are but broken arcs of

true humanity.

light, all

human nature are but fragments of The right to approach God is

is

not the monopoly of Brahmins but

freely

granted to of heart.

all

who are characterised by sincerity He who reflects on Brahm is rightly

The
distinctions

called a Brahmin.

observed

by Hindus are merely productive of that pride which God abhors. The rules regarding impurity deal

merely with externals and cleanse not

the thoughts of the heart.

Hindus believe in transmigration. If they would be free from the trials of this world, let them meditate on the Supreme and attend the
courts of His temple.

Above
the truth.

all

things let

Suffer all

men speak and practise men to worship God ac-

56

THE TEACHING OF KAB!R.

the slaves cording to their convictions. Be not and love not controversy for its of tradition

own

sake.
if

Fear not to walk upon unbeaten

such tracks bring you near to tracks, who is the truth.

Him

Men
None
your

are saved

by
;

faith

and not by works.

can understand the mind of

God

put

trust in

Him

let

Him

do what seemeth

good. Spiritual joy is felt, though it cannot be expressed in words. To set forth the
glory of

Him

God

is

a task beyond the

powers

of

human language. Those who God are no longer subject to

love casteth out fear.
Illustrations.
(39)

put their trust in

fear.

Perfect

God,

light,

Bound and one

woman

from

these have sprung Harf,

Brahma and

Tripurari.

Innumerable are emblems of Shiva and Bhavdnf, which they have established, but they know not
their

own beginning nor

:

end.

A dwelling has been

prepared for
the three
(40)

them Hari, Brahml and Shiva are headmen and each has his own village. B.

and you are of one blood, and one life animates us both from one mother is the world born ; what knowledge is this which makes us
I
;

sep-

arate? B.
(41)

All have
at

come from the same country and

have landed
this

one ghat, but the evil influences of world have divided us into innumerable sects. B,

THE TEACHING OF KABR.

57

From whence have Hindus and Turks (42) come? By whom have these ways been started? Having searched and reflected in thy mind tell me. By whom have Paradise and Hell been made? G.
(43)

By

force

and love circumcision

it,

is

made:

make Turk by him will I be circumcised if a man becomes a Turk by being circumcised, what shall be done with a woman ? She must remain a Hindu. G.
I shall

not agree to

O brother.

If

God

will

me

(44)

If

your Khuda wished circumcision, he

would have sent you circumcised into the world. If

by circumcision you become a Muhammadan in what should you do with your women. A woman is said to be the half of man; being so, would she remain a Hindu? If by wearing the sacred
that case

man becomes a Brahmin then what do women wear? They by birth are Shudrins, your why should you being a Pande take the meal placed by them before you ? Whence have the Hindus and Muhammadans come ? Who has started these religious systems. Think well in your hearts who has
thread a

obtained heaven.
of this world.

mad man,
is

give up the illusion

brethren,

of conscience.)

Kabir

you resist (the warnings on the road to God and is

marching on to
(45)
Is

his end, forsaking all partial views.

B
is

Brahma great, or he by whom he the Veda great or he from whom it produced? come? G.
Is

is

(46)

What

thou

seest,

that

is

passing away:
reflect.

whom

thou dost not

see,

on him continue to
B.

58

THE TEACHING OF KAB!R.

in the tenth gate the

When

key

is

given

then the

sight of the merciful

one

is

obtained.

G.

well-made picture is of high value: (47) leave the picture and think of the painter. B.
Variously coloured is this immense world leaving the picture, keep the painter in thy thoughts. G.
:

(48)

Saints, the world has

it

gone mad
to kill

if

tell

the truth
believes a

conies
I

lie.

me, but have seen the devout and the

stones
in

down upon me

pious forsake

who

regularly bathe in the mornings.

;

God and worship

wisdom
brass

They them there is no They have commenced to worship

and stones and are proud of their pilgrimages. They wear garlands, caps and frontal marks and
chhaps on their arms, and engage in singing the praises of their gods; they have forsaken God." B.
(49)

The beads

are of wood, the gods of stone,

the Ganges and the

Krishna are dead.

stories.

Jumna are water. Rftma and The four Veds are fictitious

B.
If

(go)

I shall worship a
(idols)

by worshipping stones one can find God, mountain better than these stones
:

are the stones of the flour mill with

which

men

grind their corn. B.

1
)

(S

Although

entreat much, even falling at

their feet, with tears in

my

eyes, the

Hindus do

not forsake idol-worship and the Muhammadans are too stiff-necked to hear anything. B,
"

(52)

For the sake of bathing, there are many

foolish

|;

Tirth&s, O

mind

for the sake of

worshipping

THE TEACHING OF KAB!R.

there are
is

59

many

idols.

Kabir

says,
is

No

emancipation

thus obtained, emancipation

in the service of

Hari.

G
If

(53)

by immersion

in the water salvation be

obtained, the frogs bathe continually. As the frogs, so are these men, again and again they fall into the

womb. G.
is shaped by the hammer and an (image, with breasts and feet ; formed If this image be true, then it will eat the hammerer, G,

(54)

stone

into

Kabir says, lam completely at a loss Tirthi great or the servant of Harl? G. the
(55) (56)

Is

As long

as the

sun does not

rise

the stars
is

sparkle; so as long as perfect knowledge (of God) not obtained men practice ritualism. B.
(57)

The water

is

near but the cattle do not

drink in wading through it. By continually remembering Hari water issues. That water is pure,
says Kabir. G.
(58)

fl
his heart
is

Within

filthiness

though he

bathe at a Tirtha, he will not go to Paradise. By the belief of the people nothing is effected, Rim is
not ignorant. G.
(59)

The Hindus
month

fast

on the nth of the

light

half of each

for singhard (a sort of fruit)

and

They give up food during the day, but do not curb the evil passions of their heart and take
milk.

meat.

The Muhammadans keep

(early in the

nam&z and

repeat the aloud "Bismil" morning) cry

fasts,

60

THE TEACHING OF KAB{R.

says,

Kahir Eke the crowing of a cock. saints do not call on Rama or Khucfc." B,
(60)

"O

Moulvi, what books are

you explain-

remain babbling ing? Although day and night you have not found out the one (true) and jabbering you
religion. B.
(61)

All have exclaimed, Master, Master, but

this

to

me
(62)

doubt

arises

How

can they

sit

clown

with the Master,

whom

they do not know? G.

The mind knows everything and know;

ingly

commits vices
if

what

is

the good of
fails

the

lamp, well? G,
(63)

with

it

in his

hand a man

into the

Follow the true Sahib (God) who will uphold you in all your trials. He was not born in Dasrath's family and did not oppress the king of Lanki. Jasodd did not fondle him in her lap and

he did not enter the

not ravage the world.
P&t&l to deceive Bali.

womb of Devdkf. He did He did not descend into He did not fight with King
him down

Bali nor did he kill Hiranyaksh, throwing

on

the ground. He did not assume the form of a boar nor did he destroy the Kshattriyas. He did nofc

hold the Gobar

Dhana on the

tip of his fingers

nor

did he remain in the jungle with the milkmaids (of

Muttra and Brindaban). nor any other stone; he

dwellers in the water.

He
is

is

neither 9htdgr&m&^
fish,

not

nor tortoise,

He

died not at Dwankwati

nor was his corpse buried at Jagannith. Kablr proclaims, let none follow such teachings he whom
;

THE TEACHING OF KAB!R.

of subtle principles. B.

61
is

they believe to be of gross and material elements

Brahma is dead with Shiva who lived in (64) K&shi; the immortals are dead. In Muttra Krishna, the milkman, died. The ten incarnations are dead.
Machhindra Nath, Gorakh, Dattitreya and Vy&$ are no longer living. Kablr says, with a loud voice
;

U A11 these persons have fallen into the slip-knot of death," B.

Whilst dwelling in the womb, there is no from the seed of Brahm the whole creation is made.
(65)

clan nor caste

Say,

()

Pandit,

When were the Brahmins

life

made;

by
are

saying, "I
lost.

am

a Brahmin/' thy

and

religion

If thou art a

Brahmin born of

man why Whose

;

hasl them not

art thou,

a Brahmin wocome in another way ? the Brahmin ? Whose am I,

the Sudra; whose blood

am

I ?

Kablr
is

says,

Who

reflects

whose milk art thou ? on Brahm, he by me

called a
(66)

Brahmin. G.

all

are but one

Colour proceeds from colour, yet behold of what colour then is life ? Think
;

well of this. G.
(67)

consider yourselves polluted.

who
will

is

the touch of others you Brahmins Let me ask you, lower than you ? You are puffed up with

By

pride. Great pride never produces

any good,

How
proud

he who

is

called the vanquisher of the

?

bear with your pride

62
(68)

THE TEACHING OF KAB!R.

There
is

earth; there
is

impurity in water, impurity in impurity at the time of birth, there

is

impurity in the

hour of death, there

is

impurity
is

in destruction (corruption of the body ?) In the eyes is impurity, in the speech

impuriand in the ears impurity. ty In rising and sitting impurity clings to man,
impurity
only the
falls

into the food.

The way

of ensnaring every one knows, but few of escape.

way

Kablr says, those

who

reflect, in
is

their heart

on

Rim,

in

(69)

them no impurity As fixed and movable

in

found. G.
things, as

worms

and moths, been born.

many and various ways

have

we
till

such houses will be inhabited by us, at length we return to the womb of R&m. G.

Many
(70)

of

Having wandered through the $4 lakhs has come into the world now having out of the body he has no spot nor place. G. gone

wombs he

(71)

Go

to his house, that

Kabir says, Meditate thou on the Supreme. thou come not again. G.

Clear away the pain of birth and death, (72) the pleasure of works, that the soul may be liberated from rebirth. G.
(73)

truthful.

To be truthful is best of all, if the heart be A man may speak as much as he likes
;

but there
(74)

no pleasure apart from truthfulness, B He who has no check upon his tongue t
is

no truth in

his heart

with such a one keep

THE TEACHING OF
not

company.

He

will

kill

you on the high-

way. B.

No act of devotion can equal truth no (75) crime is so heinous as falsehood in the heart where
;
;

truth abides, there

(76)

is

my

abode. G.

of veracity

open the market keep clean your inward man, and repel oppression to a distance. G. Put a check upon the the tongue (77) speak not much associate with the wise; the
;
;
;

If you are a true dealer,

investigate

words of the teacher. G. Let truth be your rate of (78)

it

interest,

and

fix

in

your heart;
I

a real

diamond should be purchas-

is waste of capital. G. have examined the religious doctrines (79) of Muhammadans and Hindus. They do not lay

ed; the

mock gem

aside their bigotry for the sake of relish for their tongues. B.
(80)

Kabfr

cries aloud

to his fellows,

"Ascend

the sandal ridge; whether there be a road prepared or not, what matters it to me ?" G.
(81)

ments, "In this

O God, thou knowest thine own movehave no power to know them. Kabir says, the world has erred and has been led into
Thy name is my support, as the flower will stalk. Kabfr says, lam theslave
kill

doubt." B,
(82)

grow out of the lotus

of thy house, vivify or

(83)

me,

as it pleases

thee G.

As many
;

as are
is

drowned

the ocean

making efforts, they are not crossed by them.

64

THE TEACHING OF KABR.

Though they be performing works, and many
mind
is

abstinences, their
(84)

burnt by egotism. G.

jj;

jjjpjjii,
,

Kabir says, I am a sacrifice to my own Guru, by whom I remain in connexion with the society of the pious. G.
(85)

|-|'/
'
1

Madhava,

my

thirst for

water docn not

still

't-

y'tyf

cease

in drinking the water the fire increases

more.
$(Pjij,|
fft
;
!

'^y/'
(S

Thou
for.G.
(86)

art the ocean,

;

am the

fish

of the water;
I

*J^

f^'

dwell in the water

without the water,

nothing mine

am done
whatever

44'

In
that

me
is

there

is

there
thee,

is,

thine. In entrusting
?

what

in

thine to

what remains mine

If a

G.

(87)

dumb
it

he say about
(88)
If I

person eats molasne^ what can when questioned ? G.

the seven oceans ink, ifl

make

make

the trees

my pen, if I make the earth the paper, the glory of Hari cannot be written ? G. If fear of God springs up, fear goes; then (89) fear is absorbed in the fear of God.
If the fear of

cleaves to

God subsides, then fear again man when a man loses the fear of God
;

fear springs
(90)

up

in his heart

he

dies.
is,

G.
is

Where
is,

the fearless one

is

there

no

fear,

where

fear

there Harf

not

Kabfr says, having

reflected in his
(91)

mind

"Hear

this,

O ye saints."

G.

On

the day on which

jdy sprang up. honours his own companion, G.

on that day The Lord met with me, Govind

I died,

THE TEACHING OF KABIR.

(92)

65

Death of which the world

;

is

afraid, is joy
is

to
ed.

my
G.

mind by death the full

perfect joy

obtain-

THE WAY TO GOD.

tion as a

Kabir was a great believer in quiet means of approach to God.

reflec-

recognised that the ancient scriptures of both Muhammadans and Hindus were of a
certain value, but felt that their value

He

had been

and mind man becomes conscious of God's existence. Thoughts and feelings are expressed in words,
words are composed of letters.
All that
is

greatly overestimated. Through the understanding of the heart

v'i

-'ill
i

of

use in communicating to man a knowledge of God has a significance that may well be re-

garded as sacred.

What

is

multiform

now

will

hereafter be seen to be single. The 52 letters 5 will give place to the one letter which denotes

man's union with God.

given in

The
all

revelation of God,

Rim,
and

surpasses

other revelations in

purity, but the unity of Truth has not as yet been fully apprehended.

simplicity

to

Through his own powers man cannot a knowledge of God; but God will

attain

reveal

Himself to those who

In Baiinkrlt

listen to his voice.

He

(5) Kabir probably reckoned that there were &2 consonants and Arabic, the sacred languages of Hindtts and

Muhammadans,

THE TEACHING OF KAB!R.

alone overcomes doubts and truly lives

who

has

welcomed

message and sad it seems to those who have Strange of the Truth that men experienced a knowledge should be content to grope on still in darkness.
are not equally endowed with spiritual The mass of men must seek guidance insight. of those who have, through a knowledge of God,

this

in his heart.

Men

discovered for themselves the way.

The Hinthe symbol

dus trust in vain to those

who wear

of sacrifice while they lead lives of pride and Helmsmen of this kind will self-indulgence.

never bring the boat to the haven where it should be. Others there art who practise all kinds of austerities, but mistaking the weans for
the end find not the true path. Those who escape not themselves from death, are unable
to impart to others the gift of
life.

true guide is one whose love is fixed on 'who recognises his own worthlessness God; apart from God; who lives for others and god-

The

like himself

has entered into

lost its terrors.

life.

For such a
is

one death has

ascetic

He

the true

and walks

in the

path

of life.

Illustrations.
(93)
all

O Qizi, What book is

O

expounded by thee;

such as are pondering on the book are killed; no one has obtained true knowledge; give up the
book, adore

Ram,

foolish one;

thou art practis-

THE TEACHING OF

KAB!R.

67

ing heavy oppression. Kabir puts his trust on Ram; the Turks are consumed and defeated,
(94)

Allah

is

Thou expoundest the book right that no woman or man; but by reading and
when
there
is

perusing nothing is effected, formation in the heart. G.

(95)

no

in-

By

the

Turk

Gocl

is

known from worship,

to

by the Hindu from the Veda and Punmas; in order form the mind divine knowledge should be read

to

some

extent.

G.

shouldst ride on thy own reflection; (96) thou shouldst put thy foot into the stirrup of tninKablr says, Those are good quility of mind.
riders

Thou

who keep
I

aloof from the

Veda and Qoranu

G.
that reading is good, but better than reading is meditation; the attachment to Ram J do not give up, though people revile rne. G.
(97) (98)

know

The

but

am

52 letters are joined together by me, not able to know one letter Kabir tells
; ;

the word of the true one

who becomes

a Pandit,

he remains

fearless.

The profession of the Pandit is for the sake of the people he who is skilled in divinq, knowledge, In whose heart such an he reflects the truth.
4

bfr.

understanding G.
(99)

is

he

will

know

it,

says

Ka-

Remove

doubt,

put aside the

paper

having investigated the 52 letters apply thy G. to the feet of Hurl.

mind

68
(100)

THE TEACHING OF KABIR.

As the
stars at (lawn pass

away, so the

world passes away; these two letters (Ram) do not Kablr has seized. G. pass away, them

There are many words and there is a them: accept the true great difference between word. Kablr says he who has found the true word,
(101)

has no pleasure in this

(102)
astray;
if

life.

B.
it,

My
man

word

is

of the word; hear

wishes to

know

the truth,

go not let him

G. investigate the word. By the power of the word the sin of this (103)

world

The word makes kings foris distroyed. sake their kingdoms. He who has investigated the word has done his work well. B.
(104)

darkness

Without hearing the word it is utter without say, whither shall anyone go
;

finding the gateway of the word,

astray.
t

man

will

ever be

G.

^fl'.M ?;

(l^
4c,^

Without the word the Shastrus, are blind. Say whither shall one go? They do not find the gateway of the word but grope on still in
(105)

darkness.

B.

W,i
1^;,
!

There are many words, but take the (106) of them; he who takes not the essence, says pith
Kabir, will live a profitless
(107)
life.

t
,

||

G.

ll/.'
r<

y^'i
*

i,

f HI
f

i '

i ;

(i

Doubt has triumphed over the whole world. No one has overcome it. He who Ends out the word will overcome it. B. Think whence the world has come and (108) where has it established itself. Kablr sap, I am a

u,

THE TEACHING OF KABIR.

lover of the

69

word which has shown me the unseen

have wept
world but no one

(God).
(109)

B.
I

for this

has wept with me; he alone will who understood the word. B.

weep with me

(no)
arises,

All speak of God, but to

B.

me

this

doubt

how can they sit down with God whom they

bringing us to
I

do not know?

(in) Thou pasturest us, never the other side; Thou art a Brahmin,
of Klshi, understand

am

weaver

my

divine knowledge.

Thou
is

petitionest Kings and Raj^s,

my

meditation

with

Hari.

G.

(112.)

The jogis,

ascetics, austere

devotees and

many Tirthas; those with out hair, those with munj cord, the silent plucked
Sinyasls
ones, those
at

wander about

at

on whose tongue is put the name of Rdm. What can Y^ma do to him ? The Shastras, Vedas, astrology and many, many
;

dying them, but not

are wearing plaited hair, all are the end the Tantras are attended to
;

who

by

Ram

grammars they know; they know the Tantras, Mantras and all medicines, yet at the end they must die; they enjoy dominion, an umbrella and

many beautiful women; betel, camphor, perfume and sandal, yet at the end they must die ; all the Vedas, Puranas and Srnritis are searched by
them but
says,

in

no wise are

they spared

Kablr

Utter
G.

Rm,

he

extinguishes

birth

and

death.

70
(113)

THE TEACHING OF KABfR.

"The Pundits

the Vedas.

They

are in error by reading have no common sense. They

'typ,', hil < ll >

rti'
,

morning and evening rites ceremonies with great punctuality and and other They have caused the Gayatri to be
daily go through their
regularity.

read and repeated in the four yugs; ask them who has obtained freedom from sin by doing so? They consider themselves polluted by the touch or
others: ask
(114)

them who

lower then they are?"

three*

B.

yards and a half and three fold cords; on whose necks are

Who
in

wear dhotis of

rosaries,

and

whose hands are white

lotas;

these

cheats of Benares are not called the Saints of Hart

Having scoured the vessels they put them on, having washed the wood they light it; digging out the earth they make two fire places, but eat whole
men.
G.
If

by wandering about naked union with Hari be obtained; then every deer of the forest.
(115)
will

become emancipated.
those with skins?
?

What are the naked? What are

When they
If

do not know the Supreme

by shaving the head, perfection is obtained; the sheep is emancipated, no one is lost.
Kabir
the
says,

Hear,

man and

brother;

without

name
(116)

of

Ram

no one has obtained salvation* G.

In our house the string of the body is continually stretched out; on thy breast is a sacrificial

thread;

Thou

readest the

Veda and Gyatri;

in

our heart dwells Govind.

THE TEACHING OF
On my
in

71

tongue is Vishnu, in my eyes Narayan, heart dwells Govind; when at the gate of my Yama he will ask thee, O fool, What wilt thou say to Mukand?

We
(i 17)

are the cattle,

art

Lord, who

thou art the cowherd, O our keeper through the several births What can he do whose teacher is blind ?
fall

f,*

The
well.

blind pushes the blind and both

into a

B.

How is it possible to reach the city when (i 1 8) the guide cannot point out the road when the boat is crazy, how shall the passengers get clear of the ghat? G.
;

(119)

The man who

is

m
iM

fixes his

love on the true

They could not be separated they have two bodies but one spirit. B. I am the worst of (120) all, every one is good except me; who considers himself in this light, he
is

teacher

contained in him.

my

friend.

G.
tree bears not fruit for
itself,

(121)

The

nor

for itself does the stream collect its waters; for the

benefit of others alone does the safe

assume a bodily
a spear; the

shape.
(122)

G.

The body
off

is

wounded by

the flesh; it cannot be extracted without the loadstone; a thousand other stones are of no avail G.
left in

head

is

broken

and

ft

fl

(123)

From heaven and

hell I

am

freed by the

favour of the true Guru; I remain in the wave of the lotus foot at the end and the beginning. G.

72
(124)

THE TEACHING OF KAB!R.

In this society them wilt not die; if them knowest his order, thou wilt be united with the
Lord. G.
is Death, by which the whole world death is lighted up by the word of frightened; that

(125)

the Guru.
(126)

G.

Making

his patched quilt, the thread into the head of the needle; making the five elements his deer-skin he walks in the way of

divine knowledge and meditation and the word the needle, he puts

the Guru. G.

ADDITIONAL NOTES.
The

Jft/afc ("Account Book or Invoice) is recognised as the authoritative exposition of Kabfr's

teaching.

It

some 20 years before the teaching of Ninak was

sayings attributed to Kabfr in the Adi Oranth are also to be

was probably produced about 1570, or

embodied in the Adi OrantA by GurCi Arjun, the fifth Gurii of the Sikh Community. Most of the

found in the Bijak, though the editor of the Oranth has not scrupled to re-arrange the subject matter. There are several printed editions of the

The two
a

SijaJo.

best

known

editions are both supplied with.

commentary, the one by Maharajah Bishwa Nath Singh of Rewah* and the other by Baba Puran

The former edition has been printed at Benares, Lucknow and Bombay, and also without
Dans.

Rima through
templation of
*ln the
life

the commentary at Gaya the latter at Lucknow and Of the former it is said that "the editor has tried to expound the Baguna Upamna of
;

Allahabad (1905),

the teaching of Kabfr,

is

term Baguna ffpatana

whereby the
all

meant

.the religious con-

Rima

as

the embodiment of

good

by Muiwhi Mohan LalL Karasth of upon itiRBtatedthat; Kabir visited Turkisten and Anu^Sga?, OB his return spent some time with the Maharajah of Itewah by whom he was moat hoHpiteb y received, hi return for kindum received Ka0miH d 10 ah J ah who at ^e time mw childless that v I ?L ? ? ^ *IIH descendant* Bhould sit upon hfs throne foe 42 generations,

^^\^

of Kabir

74

THE DOCTRINE OF SHABDA.

qualities."

This edition is not well thought of by Kablr Panthis. The author of the second ComNagjhari, mentary, Baba Puran Dans, C, P., and flourished about the district of Burhanpur,
1837.
lived at
in

The Rev. Prem Chanel of the

in 1890.

Monghyr, had another edition printed

Baptist Mission, in Calcutta

The

editor of this edition writes:

I

was lent a manuscript from the Murshidabad copy of the JBtfofc, taken This 1 had copied out and afterwards edition.

"Some

thirty years ago

compared

copy with othcrn from different parts of the country, i found in thee a certain number and of DoJias (couplets) which were not in my copy

my

these

had printed

at the

end of the book.

errors

The

other poetical pieces were the same

1 corrected

in all editions.

and separated words which had been allowed to run into one another and added a few foot-notes to make the
various clerical

meaning

clear to

any ordinary Hindi scholar,"

This edition contains 83 Jlamaim\ 113 tihahda, To these 33 hymns of various kinds and 364 Sakkl. have been added 60 SaJckis found in other editions.

i;,

The Rev. Ahmad Shah in the translation of the throw BijaTc that he has now in hand will probably
additional light
this

on literary problems connected with

book.

The Doctrine of Shalda (Word.)

A doctrine which might be so described is

in

taught not

many

of the

Hindu

religious sects,

but

it is

THE DOCTRINE OF SHABDA.

75
l'1'f,

case either the easy to determine in each particular or character of this teaching. origin

<M

If

In the writings of Kabir three thoughts seem to underlie such teaching (i) All thought is expressed

Every letter of the alphabet, as a constituent part of language, has significance, and of letters and words now in use (3) The plurality
in language, (2)
will

appear as one, when the

Mayi

that deludes

men

in their present condition shall

have been over-

come.

The

two-lettered

Ram

seems to Kablr the

nearest approach in this world to the unity of Truth or the letterless one.

A
me
this

distinguished Sanskrit scholar explained to the Hindti conception of Shabda somewhat in

\'&

way.

Man

desires

knowledge.

Knowledge

is

obtainable by means of (i) Perception and (2) InferThese two channels are acknowledged by ence.
all

and to them are added by some

(3)

Shabda, sound

(including the voice of the teacher nam or reasoning by analogy.

?)

and

(4)

Upar-

By

Mimansists

all

verbal information

is

regarded

as authoritative in itself, unless it can

be shown to

be derived from a corrupt source. Those who deny that the Vedas are eternal or self-derived should

is

prove that the source from which they are derived tainted. The Mimansists do not believe in a per-

sonal

God

but there are others

who

accept this

teaching and also believe in the personality of God. Such regard the Vedas as a God-given
revelation.

76

THE DOCTRINE OF SHAHDA.

The term
SJiabda does not occur in the Vedis,

but in one

to the
i
'

For further information this scholar referred me third volume of John Muir's Original Sanswhich deals with the VecUh, their
and authority.
origin,

Hymn

Yak (Speech)

is

personified.

WJ

f-i

krit Texts,
,1

inspiration
It Is

not improbable that this doctrine, as set forth in the literature of the Kabir Panth has been the writings of St. John, as b coninfluenced

by

fessedly

the case as regards the teaching of the In the Hindi RSLdhi Swimi Sect of modern origin.
translation of the

I? :?,'

New Testament Logon (Word) Bachan and not by Shaldtt. represented by

is

Chapter.

IV
command
a

SAKHIS ATTRIBUTKD TO
All Kabir Panthis have at their

considerable

number

of

S&khis

or

rhyming

1 The couplets, bearing witness to the truth. rhythm ot many of these is very fine, with the result that important teaching- given in this

form

is

easily

remembered.

It is not at all likely that all tho Saklris at-

tributed to Kabir were really uttered by him, but most oi' them are in substance consistent

with

leaching to be met with in

linguir.l

the
2

Bijak.

good

would probably, on

linguistic

ground*, reject many as of later origin. Manv of the Sakhis embody teaching such
as

was cuneul among

Huffs

and embodied

in

poetry. Bible or Qor&n, some in a slightly different form have been attributed to other authors and may

Persian

Some

suggest verses of the

be regarded as expressing truths generally current in the country. We may safely credit
Kabfr with a considerable amount of originality
(1)

Bakhi

tho corruption of a Sanskrit word meaning

evidence.
(2) For tho benefit ot Hindi scholars this collection of Sakhis has aUo been printed iu tho original Hindi. A collection of 2,500 Kabfr Sakhte has been published at the Advocate

Press,

Lucknow,

price

One

fiupco.

78
',

SAKHIS ATTRIBUTED TO KABfR.

J
i

and, even where originality seems unlikely, feel the genius with which he has grateful to him for

given expression to old thoughts.

In making this selection I have been guided by the judgement of Kabfr Panthis and also by own judgement as regards the subject matter

and the rhythm of the

a certain

original.

have allowed

number of Sakhis to

retain their place

in this collection in spite of the fact that

they

have been previously quoted.

(i)

My

chandise he deals

Lord's a store supplier great, in mernor beams nor scales, in his ;

this great

own hands
Fallon.

world weighs and

:

feels.

Shims Tabrez wrote

Who is that person who weighn and distributes without scales or measure, yet his measuring and
distribution
(2)
is

correct

He who made
;

Guru was manifested

with his eyes, that

the whole world, that the Guru who saw him

Guru revealed

Him

to

men.
Cf
i

Jn.

3-1.

in

(3) One poor spirit bound with many ties ; its own strength it cannot escape, till God
it.

rescue

(3) It has seemed best to omit all reference to possible sources, until so complicated a subject has been more thoroughly

investigated

SlKHIS ATTRIBUTED TO KABfR.

79

to

husband by wife
(4)

Piw, the word translated God, is a term applied the loved one.
;

yl

The
is

chela whose Guru

is

blind, while

he

himself

more

blind

the blind one gives a

fall

push to his blind fellow; they both

the well.

into

ii

Neither understands the truth one pushes this way, the other another both come to grief.
;

(5)

The

soul
for

(Param^tma)
true

(Atma) and the great soul many ages remained apart; the
of

Guru came as a dealer (dalldl] and made them a beateous mixture.

(6)

A sinner from my birth, in sin from head to foot I lie O generous giver, comforter, but listen to my cry. (Fallon)
;

With the reading

translate "second line,
liver

in the ordinary

Hindi

text,

i.f

God, remover of pain, deas a knife grinder; the

me".

(6)

Guru should be
life

rust of a

time he removes in a moment.

(7) Regard your Guru as a knife grinder, let him grind your heart cleansing the heart from all impurity, let him make it bright as a mirror.
;

(8)

Kal hovers over the head, Kdl comes

;

not into sight Kabfr says, Lay bold of the Guru's words(the Mantra) that he may rescue

your soul from death.

(9;

The
;

Gurii

is

the vessel

he removes

the potter and the disciple all defects. He places the

IV

<'W',
1

.i^Yl'
l

8()

SAKHIS ATTRIBUTED TO KAB!R.

',f;',Vr<
i,,\j"*
4
[ '

support (sahdrti) within before with blows he fashions the vessel into shape,

>1
1

4 \M
4

The

Jlahdrd or SaJtard

is

an instrument of wood

'

i^'ff
1

or stone which
*

i'MJ/'V

with one hand the potter holds within the iar while with the other he strikes. In

"
(

'

V
j
!

'i

V,i

i'
i

;1

dCft

this

way, the

wall of the jar

is

able to resist the

Tl'( ''fX'i

force of the blows administered by the other hand

ij^j^,
1

from without.

The

public

maybe
in his

deceived into

ij

'^ |f!

thinking that the

Gum is cruel

treatment of

i|';f'|jvJVl

the chela.

l^f/jV
'

!^'4i

See picture of Potter. (10) As he revolves his rosary, life passes away and he knows not the secrets of his heart ;

I.^KI,"

throw away the rosary of the hand and revolve

the rosary of the heart. There is a double play upon words
:

Jfmheait
.-j

manka

rosary

PAtfr.-,~..secrets 1

Pfwr also

revolve,

(i i)

A man steals an anvil, and offers a needle

;

as alms

he climbs

aloft to see

how

distant

is

the chariot.
pleased with his generosity that he will at once send a chariot to fetch him to heaven.

thinks that

The man who makes God will he so

tin's

miserable offering

Fallen translates thus

'

*
j

"

an anvil and a needle gives in charity ; he then the house top mounts to see how farV
steals

He

heaven's chariot sent for me.

(12)

Apart from
life
life
j

life, life

comes not

into ex-

istence,

lives

on

life

xefuse not to

have

pity on

Pandit, take thought

on this.

is

completed.
(14)

A man may
;

the vulture soars in

be a great preacher, as the sky but its food is

;

on the earth
a saint
?

does flying in the

in
itself
is

air

make

of

it

Preaching
corresponds.

useless,

unless

the

life

The
it

vulture

may

ily in the sky,

but

on the earth
respected,
(15)
is

devours refuse and so can never be

Whatever
;

have

Ls

not
I

my own

it

thine

it is

thine

own

that

give thee;

what

have

1 ?

(16)
it
;

Strain your water before you drink test your Guru before you commit yourself

to him.
(17)

The humble

obtain

salvation* to
;

man, so

many

as are submissive

those sink

who

are puffed up with the pride of high birth. The reference here is to the ocean of rebirths
reach the further

the humble-minded
safety
;

shore in

the proud sink in the waters and escape not from the troubles of this world.
(18;

When

the Guru

is

covetous, his dis-

ciple will

be grasping; both employ trickery; both will be drowned in their folly, having
boarded a ship of stone.

82

SiKHIS ATTRIBUTED TO KABfR.

The chela to protect himself from the greed of the Guru conceals the extent of his possessions. At first he was tricked into owning that he had
property, but .not a second time ; he tricked the guru. In this way both fail to cross the ocean of

fr<

>W

In one of the Kabir legends, it is said rebirths. that Kabir was placed on board a boat loaded with stones that it might sink in mid stream, hut lie
miraculously escaped.

'^4'

The

idea

may have been

suggested by
(19)
at

this stiUL

From one country have they come;

one ghat have they disembarkedThey have breathed the air of the world, and on
twelve paths have they gone their way. Bdrah hit is a proverbial expression, scattered, All men are of one dispersed, cast to the winds.
blood,

parentage, caste distinctions, invented of men, are productive of much evil. Fallen translates
all
:

are born of

human

All from one country come, alighted also at one port by winds of wordly passion driven, all
;

scattered are in sport.

The lascivious, the ill-tempered and (20.) the covetous, for such devotion to God is imBrave is the man who for devotion possible.
to

God
(21)

is

ready to give up caste and family. Small is the door of devotion (Bhakti),
part of
is

as the tenth

a mustard seed.

The

heart of man

swollen with pride to the size of an elephant, how can he pass within ?

knowledge of the true Guru, whatever their

caste, are

chamdrs.
the hairs on the

Rom rom

human body

there

Is

no spot where there is no hair, no point the great do not display pride.

at

which

(23) The worship of a devotee and the water of a torrent in the rains, both flow deep ;

but that only should be called a river which continues to flow in the hot weather (Jeth=
June.)

The devotee whose

perity
is

devotion depends upon pros-

no true devotee.

/24)
at the

He who

sows
;

for

you thorns
will find

for

him do you sow flowers

time of flowering
Trisul

you
he

will haive flowers

a trisuL
or
it

may

nignify

large

thorn

may

mean

that such a one will be punished by Shiva.

not oppress the weak, their sighs have great power ; by the puffs of the bellows iron is converted to flames ( or is utterly
(25)

Do

consumed.)
from the skin of a dead animal can do so much, how much more will the sighs of the The skin of goats, buffaloes and living effect.
If the puffs

bullocks are used as bellows.

84

SXKHIS ATTRIBUTED TO KABfR.

(26)

loving to his servants whether your hair be long or entirely

Be

true

to

God and

removed.

Many
(27)

Bairigis shaved their

trivial

heads.

To

Kablr

such matters were of

importance.

The ghat
is

in

which love dwells not,

know

that qhat to be a burning ykat (Masan);

as the blacksmith's bellows

that heart

which

breathe, but have no life. There w here a play upon the word Ghat. Ghat which** a vessel, in often used uf the human
heart. Qhat^
is also used, asghat, the burning Ghat where the bodies of the dead are burnt.

(28)

Love grows not

;

in the fields

nor

is it

on

sale in the bazar

the
cast

man
into

devoid of love
hell.

will be

bound and
j

(Ydmpilr,

the city of Yam.

(29)
gives his all

He may
(lit.

drink the cup of love who his head) to God ; the covet-

ous cannot give all, but only know the name of love, or He drinks the cup of love who lays

down

his life for

others

he who works

for

reward, merely speaks of love.

(30) A man may read many books before he dies and yet not be a Pandit ; he is a Pandit who understands the two and a half letters

which form the word Love. There is no work of merit equal to (31) truth and no sin equal to falsehood ; in whose

SXKHIS ATTRIBUTED TO KABiR.

heart Truth
himself.

85

dwells, in

his heart dwells

God

(32)
liars
;

Those who say and do not are great

in the end,

when God

holds his Durbar,

they

will

be thrust out.
is

DhaTcJca khantl

a phrase applied to badmkshes,

thrust out of

all

respectable society.

the sun rises, darkness disapbefore the wisdom of the Guru the pears; corrupt thoughts of men disappear ; covetousness des(33)

When

troys sound judgement and pride devotion to

God.
(34) Weeds destroy the crops ; the ignorant destroy the assembly ; covetousness
spoils

devotion, as a mixture of earth destroys the value of saffron.

(35)
into

Those who sought found, diving down

deep waters ; the heron in its helplessness remained sitting upon the bank.
Fallon gives a different version of this
SalcJii

which he

translates

Who in
;

deepwatersjplunged

and sought have found

shore,

but foolish

me

sat

by the

through
is

fear of

being drowned. This form of

the saying

attributed to

Dharm

Ddss.

All say 'Lord, Lord' (SdhiV), but my (36) fear is of a different kind ; when I know not

God by
known

sight,

where can

shall I sit
?

down with a

my seat or how God whom I have not

I

take

SiKHIS ATTRIBUTED TO KABfR.

(37)

The house of God

;

is

distant, as

is

he who climbs to the top, tastes of tall palm heaven he who falls is ground to pieces. (38) What you would do to-morrow, do
;

to-day ; what you would do to-day do at once in a moment the deluge (Parlai) will come, then
;

what time
Parlai
is

will there

be for doing. used of the destruction with which

."

each of the several ages closes. (39) When I went in search of evil

men>

i<

none appeared to view

r

when

searched
evil as

my
my-

Ji,*J
il

own
self.

heart, I felt that

none were so

(40)

when
is

Full knowledge of God is not attained the heart has not been united with God ;
is

devotion

simply that of imitation, the colour

not

fast.

("41)

like air

cage with nine doors, in it a bird that it should remain there is the
A.

marvel

what wonder

(42)

if it escape ? In timen of trouble men remember

God, but not

in times of ease
in

should they re-

member God

times of ease, would they ever

experience trouble ? Live on friendly terms with (43)

to
;

all,

be

ready speak about all in word agree with all men, but abide in your own abode. The rhythm of this Sikhi is so fine that I cannot refrain from printing it in Roman character
:

il'ti

SAKH1S ATTRIBUTED TO KABlR.

Sab
se hiliye, sab se miliye, sab

87

ke

lijiye

naun

se kahiye, basiye apne gaun. H&nji, Hanji, sab in generally interpreted to mean This

that

men

saying should be tolerant of religious beliefs

in

dif-

fering

from their own, though

beliefs.

no hurry to

sur-

render traditional
It

has also been rendered thus:

all

Associate with

on friendly terms

address
;

every one with respect (give them their full titles) one in what he says, and you will agree with every

have a village of your own to live in, i.e. Humour the will soon have them in your power. public and you Upon seeing the mill revolving, Kabfr (44)

wept

the grain that

tails

between the stones

but none

can never

escape entire,

(45) All

men

speak of the
;

mill,

make mention

of the pin

by the pin, even its hair is The two Htones of the mill
nearly
evil
;

the grain that abideB not disturbed.

are heaven and earth,

all

the

who live upon the earth are overcome of few who escape are those who abide by
those

the pin,

i>.

who

call

upon God.
are objects
:

(46) The Brahmins of this age of ridicule give not to them alms
;

their families will

go to hell,

their

employers

(i.e.

they with and take with them those who give them fees
of the saints will

or alms.)
(47)

The company
;

make

your burdens light

the

company

of the evil

means

quarrelling throughout the eight watches.

88

SAKHIS ATTRIBUTED TO KAB!R.

This saying
is

by Fallen attributed to Tul5 Dass. causes you to (48) That day is blessed which a holy man as you embrace him ferventmeet
;

ly, sin

is

driven from the body.

is

A
the

saying similar to this

to be found

among

Muhammadan

traditions (Hadis).

(49) Through association with a Sadhu comes that hour is recorded to remembrance of God
;

a man's credit in his account with

rest
(

God

all

the

is

as valueless as air.

50)
;

The mirror of God

he

is

the body
let

of;

the

Sadhu

who

wishes to see,
Sadhii.)
is

him see the

love
;

invisible in

him (the
Sadbii

(51)

The

the

river,

is

the

water
says,

in that place
clean, in

wash your body

Kabfr

Be

company with the Sddhus.

their clothes

As people wash

on the banks of
tit

river, so should they seek purity of heart

rough

associating with S^dhUs-

(52)

The

tree does not store

its

fruit for its

own
fit

use, nor the river its water ; for the beneof others has the Sddhu adopted human form, (53) Yam roars like a lion, cries aloud Kabir ;

were not the Guru merciful, and rend.

^54)

Yam

would

tear

has chosen a bodily Guru and has failed to recognise the true Guru; time after
time he
rises

He who

and

sinks,

ensnared in the ocean

of existence.

S&KHIS ATTRIBUTED TO KABfe.

89

is one who is a guru in outward one merely qualified to give instruction appearance, as to ritual, sacrifice, alms etc., and not to give spirit-

bodily guru

ual counsel.

(55) The Chela should be willing to give the Guru should refuse everything to his Gurti
;

to take

anything from his Chela.

gurus frequently visit the houses of their and by noisy demonstrations in which they are assisted by Bairagis and curses extort offerings
chehis

Many

from those
(56)

who

at first declined to give.

The

true

Shabda and prepared shot with love found

(57)

Guni took the arrow of the to shoot that which he

;

its

home

within the body.

You

arc the wife of one, but have be-

come the
of

prostitute of

many
?

corpse will you be burnt

for

say with whose you are the wife

should love
?

many.
There
in

one God

whom men
who
is

what

will

be the fate of those

(58)

love false gods

The

true

Guru

a great

money chan-

ger, testing the good and the evil ; rescuing from the world the good, he takes it under his

own

protection.

(59)

As the snake when

it

sees the
its

man
;

who
leaf,

has received the mantra, lowers

hood

so K&l,

awed by

the

name
a

written on the

Pan

turns his head away.

90

SlKHIS ATTRIBUTED TO KABfR.

The second
secration of the

line contains a reference to the con-

Pin

leaf

by the Head Mahant. See

Ch. VI.
(60)

The Chakwi remains apart from her

;

mate throughout the night, in the early mornthe man who remains apart ing they meet him neither by day nor night. from God meets

He who removes another's head, re(61) moves his own in God's Durbar the account will have to be settled. The power that cannot be described, (62)
;

the form that imparts

life),

life

(the vision of

God

is

whoever becomes one with him

;

(as milk

with water) that man, says Kabir to Dharra Dass, Kal cannot destroy.

Union with the true God who has neither form

nor shape lead* on to the development of man's true self over which death has no power.
(63)

He who

reproaches

me

is

my

friend;

he supplies the soap to wash my dirty linen. The man who in reproached pays heed to what
is

said

and reforms.

A similar saying
Ghizdlf,
l

is

attributed

to the Sufi saint,

Imam

who

used the word

'washerman' instead of soap.

(64)

Made

articles are

quickly destroyed

and once destroyed are not put right; by an admixture of vinegar milk is curdled and cannot again be turned to milk.

SAKHIS ATTRIBUTED TO KABfR.

(65;
it

91
;

For man

to

assume a body

is difficult

cannot be done twice.

falls

ripe to the ground, cannot again be

The

fruit

that

attached

to the tree.

Hindus who believe

this as

in transmigration explain

meaning

that

many ages will elapse before any

the world as a man. not what the quarter o a

particular person

will again enter

(66)

We know
may

second
the

bring and yet

we make

plans for

morrow; death comes suddenly as the hawk pounces down on the partridge. The gardener comes to the garden and (67) him the buds cry out, "The full-blown seeing
flowers are
will

culled to-day,

to-morrow our turn

come."

(68)

The

earth said to the

?

potter,

you trample on me
I shall

the day will

why do come when

make
it

trample on you.
potter tramples on the earth to
plastic.
;

The
(69)

workable and

weak.

All help the strong breeze gives fresh

no one heips the

to the
fire,

life

but

extinguishes the candle. What place has the coward on the (70)
wrestling ground ? when wrestler meets with wrestler then is a real contest.

Consider him a wrestler, striving to (71) attain the favour of God, who though crushed
to pieces, refuses to give up the struggle.

ATTRIBUTED TO KABfR.
In the second
line reference is

made

to an ins-

his trainer, truction often given to a wrestler by diia kar do)* iCrushhimto pieces.' (Us ke -purzc imrzr

The days of yore are gone he loved not God (Hari) of what use is remorse, when
(72)
;

the birds

have eaten

all

the crops
l

These words are often used of a no'er do well,

when on the
(73)

point of death,

The wood that has already been burnt

conversion into charcoal) that (in the process of too cries out. "If I go to the blacksmith's forge,
I shall

be burnt a second time." Sinners die once in this world and a second time

in the world to come.

(74)
refuses to

Remain apart from the world,

as water

where

is

mingle with oil ; deposit your heart neither death nor the dungeons of KdL

(75)

Who

saves his head, loses his head

who

severs his head, finds a

head

as the

wick

of a candle gives additional light when trimmed. The head is regarded an the most precious of

human
friend.

possessions

man
is
;

will

give his head for a

(76)

oyster

is

pearl in the sea

is

The

found in the oyster, the

the diver brings him up
;

with no one else

the power.

There is probably here a play upon words. The word translated Diver may also mean, One who lives
through death, or conquers after a hard struggle.

SAKHIS ATTRIBUTED TO KABIR.

(77)

93
;

suffers the flour to pass,

Consider the parable of the sieve but retains the husk

is

it

so
is

men

let

pass what

good and swallow what

useless.
Star

-that which passes through the sieve; Asar^

is

that which

retained.

Consider the sugar cane press; the (78) flows out, the fragments of cane remain. juice
His heart is wanting in wisdom who retains thoughts of no value and disregards spiritual mysteries.

(79)

All

Kadhiis are in appearance alike,

resembling a field of poppies ; some few thinkers are as red flowers, the rest are perfectly white.
It
is

dian

fields for

the white poppy that is cultivated in Inthe production of opium.

will not relinquish holiness, associate with crores of unholy men; though they

(80)

Holy men

will

though snakes never lose

(8 1)

may
its

cling to the sandal tree, it

coolness.

Ask not a

Sadhii about his caste, but

about his knowledge of

God

when you
is

are

determining the price of a sword, there need to consider the sheath.

no

The sword is what you want, it matters little of what kind or of what colour the sheath may
be.

(82)

The methods

of a SMhii should be
;

those of a winnowing fan

he should lay hold

?^>

m
i

;:;<.?*

94

SiKHIS ATTRIBUTED TO KABfR.

little

of the weighty matters and let subjects of

moment
(83)
is like

fly

away.

Kabirsays ; to associate with a Sadhii though sitting near a seller of perfumes

;

the

seller sell

you nought, yet you enjoy the

is

scent of his perfumes.

(84)
!f""4l
.

As an ant
in

carrying off a grain of

ft

M#*

*$';

with a grain of del/. Kabfr says ; both you cannot carry away, take the one and
rice, it falls

leave the other.

A madman was beating the hole of a but the snake was not hit ; fool, it is not snake, the snake's hole that bites ; it is the snake that
(85)

devours men,
(86)

Where is the boundary

of tho heavens?
?

what

is

the weight of the world

what

is

the

caste of a Sadhii ?

What

is

the price of the Al-

chemist's stone
(87)
evil is the

The dog of a
;

Sddhti

is

virtuous, while

mother of one who becomes not the chela of a guru the one sits and hears the prais;

es of Hari

the other speaks evil of gurus.

Learn to distinguish the honest man and the thief from their manner of speech all the works that are within proceed forth by way
(88)
;

of the mouth.

Cf St Matt,
the heart the

xii 34.

Out

of the abundance of

mouth speaketh.

S^KHJS ATTRIBUTED TO KABiR.

95

In the midst of the (89) highest heaven there is a shining light ; he who has no guni cannot reach the palace ; he only will reach it

who

is

under the guidance of a trae Guru.

;

Feel no care be free from care ; the powerful ; the beasts of the field, the birds and the insects have neither wealth nor
(90)

giver

is

store house.

(91)

The
for

tortoise
it

takes care of
its

its

egg;

without breasts
provides three loks
(92)
all

supplies

needs

so

God
a-y

and makes provision (earth, heaven and hell).

I did,

for the
.

Whatever

you
I

did; I did nothing

it, it

myself; should
strength that
Cf. Phil.
ii.

man

say;

did

was

in

your

it

was done.

13.

Shams- i-Tabrez, the famoun Sufi, IB said to have raised a man from the dead. Three times he addrensthee
'In

ed the corpse, saying, In the rise. These words had no

name
effect.

of God, I bid

He

then

said.

my name I bid thee rise' and the man The idea is that man'n real power lies in the
ciousness of his union with
Gocl.

rose.

consas

So long

he

addressed

God as one

apart from himnelf,

his prayer

was disregarded.

from

Everything is from God and nothing he can change a mustard seed a mountain and a mountain into a mustard Into
(93)
his servant;

seed.

96

S&CHIS ATTRIBUTED TO KARfR.

be turned into pa(94) Should all the earth the trees into pens; should the seven per and all
seas be turned
Into
ink, yet

could

not an

account of
(95)
In

God be written.

In blessings,
chief of

O God,

thy dealings with

men
all

thou surpassest all, thou art without a ri-

val;

God

is

kings,

and yet

He

lived

upon earth as a/ag"r.

(96)
die;

We

shall

not

die,

though

all

creation

we have found one

lines

that quickeneth.

These

form part of an introduction to a

forsakes what is false
as dust

(97)

Whoever

ductive of pride and becomes road, he will find God.

(98)

and proon the

between the true and the false Sddbii is as that between the Am (mango) and the Babul trees; the former bears

The

difference

life-producing fruit, the latter thorns.

PJial (fruit^
is

often used of the results of action.

When you see a SMhu approaching^ touch with your hands his feet (and apply run,
(99)

them

to your forehead).

It

may be

that in this

form God himself will meet you.

All say <Rdm, Ram/ but there is a (100) difference in the saying; one associated with

many, another was absorbed

in one.

S^KHIS ATTRIBUTED TO KABlR.

97

The

ween Rarn the son of Danrath, and Ram, a title of the one true God.
(101)
less

writer seems to be here distinguishing betas used as T

speak of took not

(102)
ful

mighty I and mine, but when they died they

rulers in this world;

Narayan, there have been countthey used to

away with them a single straw. If a man be meek, humble, respectin his heart I dwell,

and obedient to Sadhus,

(103)

as a fish

dwells in the water.

Water stays not at a high level, but he who stoops down can raise up the descends; water and drink; he who remains standing must
go

away with
(104)

thirst

unquenched.
is

Only the guru

is

found, but no disciple

(every one presumes to teach, none are willing

to learn); there
disciple
is

some hope of success, when a

is

found.

(105) palm is a

and
(

its

the une of greatness? the tall tree, but none sit under its shade fruit is out of reach.
If you wish to

What

ro6)
at

him

once
?

portunity

worship Ram, worship when will you find another opThe grass that now is fresh and
;

green will shortly be dried as

( 1

fuel.

07)

Thou earnest into

life,

this

world

for gain;

gamble not away thy

thy mind,
this

weigh

carefully in

moment

will

not return again.

THE KABfR PANTH.

The Kabir Panthis of Northern and Central India recognise two main divisions of the Panth, one with headquarters at the Kabir Chaura in
Benares and a branch establishment at Maghar, and a second, founded by Dharm Dass, with headquarters in the Chattisgarh District, in the CenThe former is known as Bap tral Provinces.

(Father) and the latter as Mai (Mother). The relations between these two divisions have at

times been strained.

in the

The Math

at Puri, where,

worship of Jagannath, distinctions of caste are disregarded, is respected by both as a place of

pilgrimage.
1

v
(i
Vi

I,

It is impossible in the light of present information to determine the date at which either

of these divisions

first

came

into existence, but

both were probably founded by Hindu disciples

of Kabir.

As already
at

stated Kabfr died and

was buried

Maghdr,

in the district of

Gorakhpur.

The

(1) The division of the Panth into twelve branches, as given in Wilson, Jt. H, seems to be quite fanciful. There are other branches at Bombay, in Gujerat, etc,, but it is doubtful whether these regard themselves as independent of those two

main

name

divisions. Of these two divisions, that which bears the of Dharm Dass, though barely mentioned by Wilson, is the more influential at the present time.

THE
shrine at

PANTH.

99

charge of

Maghar which has always been in the Muhammadans was restored in 1567

by Nawab Fidae Khan, the officer in command of the imperial army which occupied the city
in that year. 2

There are at the present time two Maths at Maghar, one for Muhammadans, containing the shrine, and another for Hindus, in the enclosure
of which
is

a hole in which

Kabir

is

said to

Each of these Maths which adjoin one another, has accommodation

sat,

have

3 awaiting death.

for

50 Sadhus, though as a rule only one Fakir

Sadhu lives in each. 4 About 50 Hindu Sadhns live in the neighbouring villages of Balwa and Khurswal where the Panth has property in land. 5
or

At M!aghdr there are more Muhammadan than Hindu Kabfr Panthis. The two sections
have
little in

common, except
Master.

their devotion to

Kabir their

Prasdd
(2;

in its

Each own Math.

to 1567 A.
in

section

receives

From 1300
llajputs.
is

the

Namct
It

D, Mjtghar wat* the capital of

the llatti Gazetteer that a Hindu (3) Mahant first arrived at Matfhar 1764> A. I). According to Kabir Chaura tradition** the first four Mahants were buried at Maghar. Bet; Additional Note, The Hindu Math IB under the management *of the (4) Kabir Chaura Mahant. The present Mahant, Gur Prasad Dass, is specially interested in the superintendence of agricultural In the absence of the Mahant the Pujari is operations. placed in charge of the Kabir Ohaura Math. (5) This land IB chiefly under rice cultivation. In 1900 the land at Balwa supplied the Kabir Ohaura Math with 750 noaunds of ricsc and the Maghar Math with 500 maunds.

hUtwl

100

THE KAB!R PANTH.

In connexion with the

Muhammadan Math
held on the
last

a largely attended Mela

of

is

day
pro-

Aghan (November).
feast
is

In connexion
held.

with this

Mela a sacred

The Mahant

ceeds to the shrine, followed by the Diwan, carrying in both hands a large dish (Thambe) containing Khichri (cooked rice mixed with (Ml)
vessel

and by a Banddli carrying an earthenware (Karwa] containing water and covered

over with a white cloth.

Upon

reaching the

shrine these vessels are placed upon the ground and frankincense is burnt upon the tomb, in a
fire

of cowdung. 6

The Mahant
all

repeats cer-

7 present take their part. At the conclusion of the prayers he takes his seat upon the ground while the Dfwan gives

tain prayers in

which

to each of the worshippers a small portion of the JST&icAnand the Bandklf pours from the spout of the Karwa a few drops of the water into the

palm of their hands.

When

all

have

received,
is left.

the Dfwan and Bandali consume what

More
(6)

prayers are said, after which the H departs and the gathering breaks

Mahant
and

up

These ashes are preserved in a brass loth,

passed through fine muni in

(7) The Kabir Panthis apply the tional exercises which might be more

meditations.

term pmycr to devoaccurately described as

seemed best describe this feast here and so h account relating to The rdigious Magliar. U abir Panthis which are coveted with ^ Ki considerably more ritual, are described in Chapter VI
4.

SSi

??k^*6

It

*,

'

THE KABfR PANTH.

101

Pilgrims to the shrine are expected to present a rupee to the officer in charge and also an
offering of rice

and d&L

They

receive in re-

turn a small portion of KIdchri

and a pinch of

the ashes that result from the burning of the

frankincense and cowdung.

1'

The Kabir Chaura Math

from the fact that
it

receives

its

name

occupies the site upon

consists of

which accord ing to

tradition Kabfr gave instruc-

tion to his disciples.

The Math

two

courtyards, connected by a bridge thrown across

The main courtyard contains the preaching platform, the Mandar, which is occupied by a pair of wooden sandals (Khanrdm)
a narrow lane.

intended to represent the feet of the Guru, 1 the 1 the Samadhs(tombs} 12 offiveMahants Gaddi,
1

(0)
of

Tl 10

a different shape
(10)

of the Panth wear caps worn by the Hindu BairagK Originally there was no Mandar (temple) at Kabir
to those

Mu ham randan members

Chaura, but; in tin's respect., .H probably in others, the Kabir Panthis have gradually assimilated their own arrangements to those of the Maths of other religious orders. The J)amn'wi'h worship the feet of Sankaraeharya, carved in outline in stone or marble. It was probably in order to escape the charge of idolatry that the Kabir .'Pan this substituted for the Ckart&n Pdd-Mt a pair of wooden sandals.

Guru
his

The Gaddi is literally the pillow upon which the The (fadtUtf this Math belongs to Kabir, representative upon earth sits behind and not upoix it, (12) When practicable the Mnhants are buried within
(11)
Hits in slate.
.

the precinctH of their Math. It is the custom of this, as of several other religious orders, to bury and not burn the bodies of their dead. The custom which may be due to Muhammadan influences is explained by saying that the bodies of Sants

who have

died to the world have already been purified and do not require the cleansing of fire.

102

THE KABfR PANTH.

and quarters for Sadhus. The courtyard across the lane which occupies the traditional site of
Nirtfs house

known

as

is made over to the female Bairagis, Mai Log. * This court contains the
1

is placed is the entrance gate. Over immediately opposite the Gaddf hangs the picture of Kabfr which has

Samadhs of three Mahants. The room in which the Gaddf

been reproduced as the frontispiece of

lume.

this vo-

v>

r*i

r>v'
i,

In tliis picture Surat Gopal and Dharm the founders of the two main divisions of Dass, the Panth, are represented as kneeling before

i^r
?'

Kabfr while Kamal stands behind with a fan in

his hand.

portrait
of

one side of the picture hangs a of Rkmanand and on the other a picture
late

On

Rangf Dass, the

Mahant, who died eight

years ago.
pictures are hung what appear from the distance to be armorial bearings, but

Above the

are in reality designs in coloured cloth, intended to symbolise the five elements (earth., air, fire ?

water and dkhds) and the nine doors or points

of entrance into the

human body.

In front of

the Gaddf are placed two flower vases and upon the wall at the side hangs a rosary, composed
(IS) The female devotees aro given the titl of Mother "because all Badhns arts required to treat them with thn respect due to a mother from her son. When a mairiei man in received into the order of the Dantlw he applieft his lips to this breast of his wife to indicate that henceforth he stands to her in the relation of son to mother.

tt

II

THE KAB!R PANTH.

of a thousand beads, which use of the Mahant.
is

103

reserved for the

conducted in the Math, morIn the morning the Sadlms, so soon as they have bathed, assemble in front of the Mandar. Here takes
is

Daily service

ning and evening, by the PujdrL

place the first part of the service which includes the performance ofArtti* and the washing of the Guru's feet. After this the various Samadhs and the Gaddi are visited and the Sadhus re-

Mandar for the concluding portion of the service. The morning service is said to
turn to the

r
;

occupy thirty minutes and the evening service an hour.

f;i' ^
i
)

The water in which the wooden sandals have been washed, known as Charan Mitra, is poured into a brazen vessel. Three teaspoonfuls of this water together with three tidsfr* leaves, are given to all

who visit the Math during the day. At 8 p. m. the doors of the Math are closed and -tiny Char an Mitra that remains over
offered in the
first

is

place to such Sadhus as

it.

have not previously received

(14)
is

The

vessel

is

then presented to the Mahant who after drinkIn Arti

lire,

waved before
(15)

th<

usually the flamcH of burning camphor object oi" worship.

in nacred to Vishnu. Many Kabir tlmn showing reference to Vishnu they are cHsreKartUnK the teaching of Kabir, as by he meant not the incarnation of Vishnu, but the supremo Deity.

The

Tulsi leaf

Pan this

fuel thai, in

Mm

104
Ing

THE
what remains

K/\BfR

PA NTH.

rinses out the vessel with fresh

water and consumes that also.

An
days
ary.
is

annual Mela which lasts over lour or

held at this

five

Math

in the

month

of Janu-

On

this occasion

crowded with devotees.

eating in

the large courtyard is Those who wish to

fast lor

become Bainigis observe a

the evening a

twelve days,
(crude sugar)
are

little

gur

and

rice

cooked

in milk.

These candidates

admitted as Bainigis at the celebration of the Jot Pershad, which, from a religious point of
view, constitutes the principal purpose of the Mel, 10 Of the possessions belonging to the Math the Kabi'r Panthis regard the topi (cap)

woollen necklace of Kabir, the the picture of Kabfr and the Bijak as Khanraan, those of greatest value,

and

schli

Math are the Mahant, the Dtwdn, the Kotwdl and the l*uj&ri. The Mahant is responsible for the general arran-

The

principal officers of the

gements and should be a

man

of learning, quali-

fied to give religious instruction;

the Dlwdn

is

the business manager ; the Kotmdl is responsible for the maintenance of discipline, while the
(16) It in aid that the Jot JPtsr*h-ad originally celebrated in this Math once a month, but that thin custom was discontinued on account of a quarrel that arose between Puran Ddns and the contemporary Mahant of tbo Dharm Dte

WB

consequence of which the latter rct'uHuel to Hupply Puran Dass with Koniething which wan regarded an ttHHential ior the proper conduct of thin service. For an account of the Jot Pershad see Chapter vi.
section, in

at JBanaogarn me of Jubbulpore ; from this place neighbourhood they were transferred to Koodarmal and once

tion

were ongmauy

again in recent years to

Dhama

Kheni.

Dass, the founder of this section, is said to have first met Kabir at Benares and to

Dharm

have been rebuked by him

idols.

worshipping subsequently at Brindaban, but failing to recognise him said, " Your words resemble those addressed to me by a Sadhu

for

He met him

whom

once met at Benares.

"

On this

occasion

Kabir adopted stronger measures and threw into the river the idol which Dharm Dass was
worshipping.

Once more Kabfr appeared

to

him in his house at Bkndogarh. Dharm Dass was a bunnidh by caste and possessed of considerable wealth.
for practising idolatry

Kabfr again rebuked him and asked him how he

could worship an idol made out of the same stone as the weights which he made use of in
his

business.

On

this

occasion

Dharm Dass

acknowledged the force of his arguments and both he and his wife became his disciples.
According to the account given in Stikrit Dhydn Dharm Ds\ss was the son of one Mahesh, and

was as an

infant saved from death

by Gydni

106
( i. e.

THE KABfR PANTH.

Kabfr
)

body. He but objected to was originally called JudzUvan, this name and received from Kabi'r permission

who

entered into his

to change it to Dharm Dass. Narayan his son, refused to accept Kabfr as his

Dass,

Guru,

but through the grace of Kabfr a second son 7 was born in 1516 and named ChuramanJ This son was installed upon the Gaddf by Kabfr himself. Upon tho occasion of his installation

Kabfr foretold that his descendants should

sit

upon the Gaddi for 42 generations ( Jlan$)> and declared that the right to communicate the
Mantra would be confined to
In accordance
witti

his

descendants.
the
lives

Kabir's

instructions

Head Mahant
with
his

of this section marries

till

and
After

wife

a son
wife

is

born.

the

birth of the son the

becomes a

Ilairagl.
H

The Mahant

holds office for a period of 25 years

'

and 20 days and

then succeeded by his son. In one case the son is said to have died and as
is

the mother had become a Bairhgt the

Mahant

HH w;n to brinjf (17.) Thin date has apparently bei:n the birth of Ohunm&n within tint lifetime of Kabii. No mention is made of the agu at whieh f :hurainau wa* Installed .aucse can ho attached to dales mentionNo JIB Mahant.
import
ed,
>'

,'
'
( ,

l{
''I

Ugin connexion with the establishment of HIM Puntlu ranini IK said to be the, 1 Hth Mahant. Ifelaven Maliunt.mKr.upit ed the GadcU for twenty yearn each and ono Mahant for hreo, the Panth would appear to have bi'.un foundcnl 27H yoarn previous to the installation of
(18.)

Ugranam, i, i\ about 1(525, The Mahant'H Hon alone, in a tucinber of the 1'unth mcmbcrn by birth and is initiated by lite fathur. All other Become the children of the Mahant through .he reception of
t

the Mantra.

THE KAB!R PANTH.

lived with another woman The father of the son. 10

107

by whom he had a present Mahant died

years
disciples,

after holding office for a period of three

only, and

many

wished that one of his

Jugla Nancl, should officiate as Mahant during the remainder of his term of office. To this

proposal the majority of the members strongly objected on. the ground that he was not a descen-

dant of Dliarm Dass, and Ugramim was duly His grandmother, known as Dddf installed
Sahib,
still

who was

responsible

for

this proposal;

exercises

Ugranam
at

authority at Koodarmal, and reigns in the newly established Math

Dhama KhenL Jugla Nand with other discontented Sudhiis retired lo Bombay, where he has published various books bearing upon the
Panth.
to

Kabir

is

said to have given instructions

Dharm Dass
l*'ras<id.

regarding the ("haukd and the

Jot

The Kabir Panth

castes.

exists as a protest against

the religious exclusiveness of the twice-born As a natural result few but Sudras whose
it

cause

champions have associated themselves with the movement. The Panth contends for

a truth which forms part of the Gospel of Creation, viz. that all men have spiritual powers
(19)
an ho

The hoy who died

wan
unwilling a

who returned

to the world,

nuid to have been Churaman but retired after a short stay second time to nit upon theis

GaddL

108

THE
find their

PANTH.
natural expression in
this life.-

which should

communion with God, now in The sons of the twice-horn

as they

come

to

rears of discretion are invested with the sacred thread (Janeo) and reminded thereby of their
spiritual

members
a

The privileges and responsibilities. of this Panth wear round their necks
This JKanthi
is

Ranthi( rosary) formed of beads made of Tulsi

naturally
associated
of prayer

wood/21
with

this way thoughts those who wear it alike of thmr relation reminds to God and of the promises which they made at Permission to the time oi their initiation.**
in

and

The exclusive spirit, which find* expression in caste (20) and against winch Kabir and others fought, ha* by no mcan Members of been expelled From the. mi win of Kalnr Pttnlhlx. the lowest castes, such as Mehturs, Uorns and DhnbiH, should, of S/mvi ,Vm///a/t and hey consider, join sects such us that not be permitted to wear bant hi*. The kanthl of the Kcdri-r Panthw is fonwtd of beads (21) made oi'Tiilm wood, which are usually strung on Btriiig of very
i

Thin defect may result in the I<WH of the of the Panth in under nurh drmimKtanee allowed to worship or eat food till the IxmdH have IHXJII replaced. \\w kaMhl one They are, however, allowed to wear instead of thread. Thte v/ho live large bead (kira) strung on substantial in places where a lost katitki cannot txj eamly replaced usually of B< >me ka/tf/t.i* art* avail themselves of thin alternative. maije material other than wood, #.//. grans or c.oeoamit fibre. Some Satnamis wear a wristlet made of Hiring in lieu o f a kanthn.
inferior quality.
beadrf,

and no member

in of an ele(22) Prayer as offered by the Kabir P&nt-his mentary Character. One says tliat they pi-ay that they may obtain salvation (nmkhti) ; another says that he Hinge the praises of Narayan in the morning and in the evening prays The latter spoke of our for protection against evil spirits*. Church Services as "practice", and regarded thm a valuable it in as much as they helped to form a habit of punctuality, would be a great mistake to suppose that prayer means for a Kalvr Panthi the same as it does for a < JhriHtian. At the time of prayer members of the Panth make on their forehead the mark (fflak) of Vishnu, using for the purpose a special kind of earth mixed with water or with water only.

THE
wear a Kanthi
for

PANTH.

109

men,

woman

is granted to women as well as to too are spiritual they beings; but no may assume a Kanthi previous to

marriage nor may she become the disciple her husband's Guru. 2 *

oi

To Brahmins

at the time of investiture with

is

the sacred thread

communicated the Brah-

minical .Mantra which they are not allowed on

any account
initiation

not Brahmins.-'

communicate to those who are In like manner at the time of a Mantra is whispered into the ear
to
1

of Kabir Fanthis.

This Aiautra serves as a bond

of union

between members of the Panth and

their forehead the sign

25 also suggests a position of privilege.

Brahmins wear upon

of the

God whom

they worship.

Kabir Panthis

If disdj.ks df thr same Quru they would be (23) regarded as brother and sinter ami &u their marriage would become unlawful. Thin, however, appears to be a later refinement as Dhartn Daw* and his wife were both the disciples of Ivabir. They wui-1;! pitiably argue that thin was a matter of iicec*Mi}, a* ui thai time: there was only one Guru whereas in modern days thmt arc many. (24) The spiritual life of Brahmins, Kshattriyas and Vaishyus to recognised from the time when they receive the mantra from their Guru and are in vented with the sacred thread. From that time they arc; subject to the rules of caste, >nly thosd who have reached years of discretion are admitted as members of the J*twt/t. with the possible exception of children, both of whose parents are already members. The Initiatory Mantra of the Kabir Panthis said (25) to contain five* words which represent one name or revelation of the on true God. Hhould the chela at the time of initiation fail to catch the words on account of nervousness or the noise of music, he may have it repeated to him by some other member of the Panth, provided that this is done in a solitary place where there in no chance of the words being overheard
(

by

others,

110
also

THE KABfR PANTH.

wear such a mark (Tika), as shown
in the

frontispiece.

In the days of Kabir a knowledge of religious truth was practically confined to those who
rfiJl'

were acquainted with one or other of the two sacred languages, Arabic and Sanskrit. These

two languages were employed both

in public

and private worship with the result that the worship of the masses was too often a mere
repetition of phrases

which were

unintelligible

to

Kabir urged that books should also ho written in the religious

those
vernacular that
of
all

who used them.

might obtain that knowledge

essential to spiritual progress.

God which was

Again to the illiterate masses teaching contained in books was inaccessible, and so it is that

we
<*

find

Kabir laying great stress on the import-

Yf

ance of oral teaching. Few men are qualified to become scholars, but all are required to be
good; therefore he urged his disciples to associate with good men and through conversation wfth them to acquire such knowledge as is ne-

The study of books, he thought, was cessary. too often productive of pride; to display learning and intelligence scholars were often tempted to enlarge upon topics of little spiritual value, while in private conversation heart speaks to
heart of
its

own

spiritual needs.

Such were the

views of Kabir and in consequence the Guru in

THE KABfR PANTH.

this

Panth occupies a position of extraordinary

importance.

Kabir was a poet of no mean order and gladly consecrated his literary gifts to the
service of

God.

He knew that religious instrucwas

easily re-

tion given in the form of poetry

membered; he

knew

too that the singing of

in

Bhafam (Hymns) was an occupation

which
It

the people of India took peculiar pleasure.

only remained for him to compose hymns which his followers could sing. This he did, and up to the present day his hymns enjoy great popularity with the people and in the Punth occupy a

prominent position in all acts of public worship. As the Brahmins are required to repeat the
Gyatri daily, so are members of this Panth required to use the following hymns, in the morning

and evening respectively Morning Hymn: Kablr said

:

Spiritual

and

material blessings attend those who wait upon the Darwesh ; their account is safe. Love of you

pervades the whole body of your

devotees.

You

are starvation,

unmoved by
in

desire, a

men-

dicant.

You walk

seek ease in no abode.

no one's footsteps, you The whose universe is

withcons-

your body.
out banks).
tantly.

You are boundless (a stream You pervade the Universe

love which
is

The

you cause
in

is

profound.

The empty Universe

me, says the Guni

112
(Kabir).
If

THE KABfR PANTH.

we do honour by
fire to

the true

name, the body becomes pure. Dharani Dkss taking the Guru's arm walked and found Kabfr.
Evening Hymn. Evening having come on, the day having closed, the duck broke into wail"O drake, let us go to that country where ing
:

Day and Night

are

takes place at night,

unknown." If separation the duck is to be met with

in the morning, but ho

who
it

the

name

(of

God) regains

separated from neither during day

is

nor night. Hear, O Guru, Treasury of kindness, I beseech you with clasped hands. Mercy,
humility, devotion, equality, good nature, constancy, these are the ornaments of a devotee.

Devotion to the one without beginning ment. The only name, the only Guru,

is
is

adornKabir^

m\->\

I'm*

the highest

Ptr*
for all

Anxious as Kabir was to claim

spiritual

men
re-

privileges he was no

less

anxious to

impress upon those

ligious that they

who

desired to

become

must

live in

way

consistent

with

their profession .

All, therefore,

who desire to become members

of the Panth are required to renounce poly-

theism and to acknowledge their belief in one

only

God (Parameshwar), They must

also pro-

For these "bhajans In their original form see Crooke's (26) TH&<? and Caste* ofN.-W. P. and Oudh, Vol. Ill pp. 75-6. For the translation in the text I am indebted to a resident of Cawnpore who locally enjoys a reputation as a Hindi poet,

THE KAHIR PA NTH.

;

113

mise to eat no meat and drink no wine to bathe daily and sing hymns to God, both morning and evening to forgive those who trespass
;

them up to three times to avoid the company of all women of bad character and all
against
;

unseemly jesting in connexion with such subjects never to turn away from their house their
;

lawtui wile

never to

tell lies

never to conceal

never to bear ; witness against a neighbour or speak evil of another on hearsay evidence/27
false

the property of another

man

One prominent

trait

Hindu

character, viz.

personal devotion, finds ample scope for exercise in the devotion to their Guru required of all members of the Panth. All who wish to
approach. God must, they say, and to this ciple of some

Gum

become thr disGuru when once

chosen, the disciple must wholly submit himTo Kabir, as the self, mind, soul and body. chief Guru, many of the bhajans used in public

worship are addressed, and marked reverence is also shown to the living Guru, as God's representative upon earth.
in requiring Huch promines from Im followers JKabir (27) cioubtlcHH imlbaU'K those* defects hi Hindu nocial life which to him upixtttrai most, detrimental to the development of

'Io the promise to ml no meat the greatest import, religion. ancefo AttaclKKt in all the Vmshmwite sects," as such a habit is supposed to develop tbe material and injure the spiritual part of human nature. This belief with reference to eating flesh xnakcH them slow to realise that Christianity, which regards such questions an matters of indifference, can be really

spiritual force.

ADDITIONAL NOTE.
Lut of
the

Kalir Chaurd Mahants.

?'
i

Mis''"'
.<.t;!Ji:..i

The above list so far as the name of Mahant place of Samddh and tenure of office are concernt

ed was supplied by a Bairagi at Benares.

THE
The
ly

K.AHIR PANTH.
first

115
is

existence of the

three Mahants

high-

problematical.
in

Surat Gopal (A I) 1559) the founder of the Panth.

generally regarded as
possible that

It is

he

and the two Mahants

have their headquarters
Tila

who

succeded him did not

but that the Niru

at Benares,

compound \vas acquired during the Mahanti of Sukh Dtiss. Bulwant Singh, and his son and succes sor, Cheit Singh, were patrons of the Kabfr Panth The former died in A. I). 1770. TheKabir Chaura

Compound may have been Though seven Mahants

acquired in their time.

are said to have been

buried in the Niru Tila court of the

Math

at

Benares

only three Samaclhs arc conspicuous at the present

time,
(see p. 102.)

Lhi

of

Dharam Daw
Approximate date
of Installation

Nam Sudarshan Nam Ndm Kulpati Pramodh Ndm Guru Kewal Nam Amol, Ndm Surat Sanehf Ndm Ndm Haqq Nam Pdk Ndm Praghat Ndm Dhfraj Ndm Ugra Ndm Dayii
Churdmant

1694

1714

1734
Bald Plr

1754

1774 1794
1814 1834
1854 1874

1894
1897

116

THE KABfR PANTH.

already appeared.
-

The above have

follow are:

Those to

Nam Praldtsh Nam Uditmanf Nam Mukundmani Nam Adh Nam Udai Nam
Gridhmanf

Akah Nam Kanthmam Nam

Gyan Nam
Hansmani
Sukrit

Nam Nam Dadhi Nam Neh Nam Adi Nam

Santokh
Chatrik

N&m N&m

Malui Niun
Nij Ni\m

Agrmani Nftm Ras N\m

Sahib

D;Lss

Nam

Udhuwa Diss
Karimra Niun

Nm

Gungmani Nnm
Paras Nfim Jagrat N&rn

Uddhar Nilm

Bhringhmani

Nam

Drigh N;\m Mahamanf Nilm

calculated on the assumpoffice

The dates have been

tion that each

Mahant held

for 20 yearn
is

and

25 days, died after three years stated that the regular tenure of office was for 25 On Huch a calculation the date years and 20 days.

except Dhlraj N*im who

known to have of office. One Mahant tenure

of Churimanl would be thrown back to A, IX 1654,

In the Kabir Chauri section the average tenure of office has been for 23 years.

The
during

Sulch

Nidm

is

said to

have been written

of office.

Pramodh Nam's tenure

Chapter VI.
THE KABfR PANTH
of the kind,

(Contd.)

This Panth, like other religious institutions is founded on a double basis. Mem-

bers

may

live

as

householders in their

own

homes, or renounce the world and attach themselves permanently to one of the Monasteries
belonging to the order.
latter class are

Those belonging to the

as Bairigis.

known

A
is

married

man may

leave his wife,

whom

he

henceforth
Bairagi,

to regard as his mother,

and become a

provided that he
son.
gis, if

is

the father of at least one

as

Women, as well

men, may become Baira-

found properly qualified after a probation1 ary period of two years. Conventual buildings The exist both at Kabi'r Chaura and Maghdr. householders perform an important function in
the

economy

contribute largely There are a large number of branch establish-

of the order, inasmuch as they to the support oi the Bairagis,,

Maments, each of which is presided over by a hant who spends most of his time in travelling
round to
(1)

visit

the disciples

who acknowledge

men who have become

Female Bairagis are usually widows or the wives of At Maghar there are said to Bairagis.

be about 26 female Bairagis.

118

THE KABfR PANTH.

as their

him

He is supposed to visit his once a year, to note the progress they have made, to give instruction to them and to their families, and to examine and to receive
Gur&.*
Chelas at least
into the order,

dates as

may
is

if found qualified, such candiOn such be brought to him.

occasions he

entertained

by members of the

Panth and also provided with travelling expenses.

The Mahants
bers from the

of the branch establishments

receive authority to teach and initiate

new mem-

Head Mahant

of the section to

which they belong.

At the time of appointment

]

they are given to eat a betel leaf (Bira)'- as a pledge that they undertake faithfully to per-

form the duties of their

office.

Each Mahant

receives a document, bearing the seal of the Head Mahant, and known as the Panja Par-

wdna.

Upon

this

document
is

are

entered the

names of all
order.
list

disciples

The Mahant

admitted by him into the required to check this

visits

at each place that

he

and to present
;

it

must

(2) cither shave entirely or not at all.

(3)

The MahantB are not allowed

In ancient days a pan leaf Thin custom

to shave

the Baira^is

Bird )

was thrown
to
in

down

as a challenge.

is

referred

the

One of the Mahants at Lucknow uSBumcd office when (4) 14 years of age. Normally when a minor in nominated for succession an unbeneficed Mahant is associated with him in office, till he is able to perform the duties unassisted.

THE KAB!R PANTH.

119

annually to the Head Mahant both for inspec5 tion and the entry of new names.
A.S

signs of authority the

Mahant

receives a

red

Sefi,

topi, G and

a necklace of black wool, a special rosary

known

as

known

as the

Pdnch

MaL On

the occasion of his annual visit to Head-

quarters the

Mahant

is

required

to

present

twelve cocoanuts and twelve rupees on his own account and one cocoanut and one rupee for
each

new name
all

that he wishes to have entered

on

his

Parwana.

He

Diw&i
year.

offerings

makes over to the made Chauka Arti

also

at the

services at

which he has

officiated during the

A Mahant upon appointment is required to make an offering of cocoanuts, Kabir Panthis

explain the peculiar significance attached to cocoanuts in the Panth in the light of the following
facts:
(i)
(2) its
it

man,

has a lace resembling that of a surface is divided into three parts

(3)
its

recalling

Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu,

OH th<* occasion of a vim t to any place the Mahant (5) rccitoH at cttlel.mil ion of the Vhaulttt, Arti all the names entered cither upon his own I'tirwaMi or those of his predecessors in office, and writes the words Whalanit kar f/aya? against In the case of a deceased the names of any who havti dice*. Mahant the phniwj used IB *Nti-utadhi In ll\ certain in The very Himilar to that worn by (f>) followers of Nanuk. In each case there are five tassels attachthere are three tassels ed to the Mi. In tite Kabir Panth in the on either side placed together in tlte centre with one Nanak SV?/Ulw five twael** are placed it regular intervals,

Mi

Mi

For Hhapti of

7}//;/

wee

'i

rfi

,;

120
flesh
Is

THE

PANTH.

med and
taining
is

formed gradually as human flesh is for(4) it differs from other fruits in consacrifice,

no seed. 7 The breaking of the cocoanut

a peace offer-

regarded as a bloodless

ing presented to Niranjan to secure for of the Panth admission into heaven.

members
of great

The ordinary Mahants

learning,

are not

men

though they have usually committed

a certain

to

memory

number

of sayings attribut-

ed to Kabfr and possibly also some book of

which they have managed to secure a copy. Want of learning is in some sort atoned for in
the opinion of their followers by a detailed knowledge of the ritual to be observed in the

The more Mahants have generally some knowledge of Tulsl Dass's Kdmdyana and The BJidgawad Gzta.
performance of religious ceremonies.
learned

Before giving an account of the ceremony of initiation and the two sacramental meals, the Chaukd Arti and the J6t Prasdd,
best to explain
it

seems

two terms which are

in

especially

associated with the initiation

ceremony and the

question are

J6t Prasad.

The two terms

Char an Mitra and Parwcma.

the

Charan Mitra, the amrita of the feet, is name given to the water in which have
represents

Do they wiph to imply that the cocoaaut (7) God made man, the word become flesh ?

THE KABfR PANTH.

been washed the feet of the
Kabir's representative

121

Head Mahant,

mixed with These pills.

is

fine earth
pills

upon earth. This water and then made tip into

either be swallowed

may

whole, or pounded up, mixed with water and drunk.

Parwdna (Passport) is the name given to the betel leaf specially prepared at head quarters at the time of a celebration of the J6t Prasdd*

A
in

pile

of;

betel leaves, sixteen

is

handbreadths

height

arranged upon the ground.

is

At
a

night time a pewter saucer

specially prepared spot
in this vessel is

placed upon

and the dew collected

as

known

amar, water derived

from heaven

direct. In the

morning the Mahant

meditates in front of the pile of betel leaves and with the amar writes upon the topmost leaves
the secret

consecrated are

name of God. The betel leaves thus made up into small portions,

about a quarter of an inch square, and distributed among the Mahants for use at a celebration J(U Prasdd or for presentation to a candidate at the time of his initiation. The
of the

Parwdna is said to represent the body of Kabir. The ceremony of initiation is one of considerable solemnity. The candidate in the presence of the Guru and other members of the Pantk makes the required promises and is solemnly warned as to the consequences for

122
r|/'i "
jf i.%*.

THE KABfR PANTH,

^
.'

good or evil that will depend upon the way in which he afterwards observes them. 8 While
bhajans are being sung by those present half of the mantra is whispered into the left ear of
the candidate by the Guru, who afterwards places in his two outstretched hands, placed
together,
flowers.

some

grass,

pan leaves and white

Bairagi, taking a brass vessel con-

taining water in

one hand, with the other leads

the candidate to another quarter of the room where he allows the grass, etc. to fall upon the

ground. Having moved a short way from that spot the candidate again places his hands together and into them the Bairagi pours water

from the vessel.

With the
;

first

handful of water

he rinses out his mouth

with the second he

is

washes

his face.

After this the candidate

led

back to the Guru.

The Guru takes up a Kanthi

and makes

it

over to a Bairagi

who

takes

it

round the assembly and presents it to all members of the Panth in turn. All touch it with
their

hands and

it

is

then

returned

by the
placing

Bairagi to the

Mahant.

The Mahant

(8) Most members fear to violate prominen made in HO solemn a manner, lest the wrath o God Bhould fall upon them. It is said that one, a seller of oil, drank some wine and eat some flesh. He was expelled from the Panth and immediately After six months he recovered and was readmitted fell ill. Into the Panth, but after an interval of a year he repeated bis offence and died in consequence. Another member who committed a similar offence is said to have lost the use of a hand.
(9)

This process

is

known

as Gawtihl (Witness),

THE KABfR PANTH.

the Gaddi

123

the Kanthi in his open hands does obeisance to

it between the thumb and first finger of both hands lets it fall over the head on to the neck of the candidate,

and then stretching

as he kneels before him. 10

At the

conclusion

ceremony he whispers the whole mantra into the right car of the candidate, 1 1 So soon as the mantra has been communicated the new
of this
disciple is

warned that he must on no account

eat the fruit of the fig tree (f&lar). In reply to as to the reason for this prohibition, he inquiries
is

told that the fruit contains

cannot therefore be eaten without

truction of
life.

many flies and much desthe articles of

From amongst

food that have been placed beneath a clean cloth the Guru then takes a cocoanut and places
it in

the

two hands

of the

candidate

who

touches

with the

fruit his right shoulder, his breast

and

torehead and returns it to the Guru with a fee (10) None but a Mahant may invest anyone with the
fell Into the kanthi. As soon aa the Mahant recovered his freedom he invested himself with a second kanthi. Thfe irregularity WOB at once reported to the Head Maliaut and the offender and another member of the Panth who was supposed to have connived at his

Kanthi of the ordnr. bandtt of the nnHco

A Oawnporo Mahant once who at once destroyed MB

were immediately excommunicated. In the Kiibir Ohaura section only one mantra in communicated to the candidate, vfsf. the Guru Mantra. In tbe Dharam JDmw nection two mantras are communicated at the time of initiation the Guru Mantra and the Tink Arpan mantra, and throes more subsequently in response to inquiry, viz. the Flinch Nte, the Safe and the Mar mm. The Ourt Mantra in use in the two sections is said to be different in form. In the Kabir Ohaura section any reference to
offence,

(U)

Mm

Dharara

Dam

In

avoided

m far as pos&ible.

124
of one rupee.

THE KAB!R PANTH.

The Guru, having washed
the
betel leaves dipped in water, a stone. He proceeds with a knife

cocoanut with
breaks
it

upon

to cut up the flesh of the cocoanut into small

portions and deposits them in an open dish, He next pours into the hands of the candidate

some Charan Mitra which he reverently drinks. The Mahant then takes a pan leaf and placing
upon
it

a parwdna, a portion of cocoanut,

2

some

latdsa, gilr^'

and currants, deposits it in the outstretched hands of the candidate who transfers it to his mouth. After the candidate
raisins

has in this

way been

received into the Panth

all

members present receive at the hands of the Guru a betel leaf upon which is placed a portion of the cocoanut, some laf-dsa, g-&r^ raisins and
currants.

No

portion of the cocoanut

destroyed or eaten
bers of the Panth. 1

by those who are

8

may be not mem-

over

portion that remains carefully preserved by the Guru and given to PantUs in other places that he may visit, with
is

Any

a statement as to the

name and

residence* of the
it

new

disciple at

whose
is

initiation

was

offered.

This ceremony
(12)

: religious C 1 ^) coiTcHpoudhig ceremony exwtB amonjr o<,h(r nects Taut diffcreut fruits are uned, e. g. the followers of Tulsi l)& partake of a plantain. One plantain only is uwnd for this purIf many members are P se present, it in mixed with other

followed by a feast, in which BaUsa IB a small sugary wafer in common uncut Qlw in a preparation of Hujrar, gatherings

food

till

the quantity

is

sufficient.

The lUmtnMnd'w cat the

leaf of the Tulsi plant.

THE KABIR PANTH.

members of other
ted to take part,

125

religious sects are also permit-

Reverence

is

paid to the Guni

and Parameshwar and

many

bhajans are sung in

honour of Parameshwar and Kabfr.

This ceremony which in a measure corres-

ponds to Christian Baptism is known as Tinka Arpan. In the Dharm Dass section the candidate presents one cocoanut only and one money offering which must not be less than one rupee.
In the

Kabir Chaura

section,
less

candidates are

required to present

no

then sixteen cocoasons

(Silt)

nuts, since they say sixteen

were

begotten of the Word, and with each cocoanut an offering of money which must not be less

then four annas. 1 * In the

There

is

another important

difference in the practice of the

two

sections.
Tirikb
in the

Dharm D&S8 section this ceremony Arpan, may never be repeated, whereas

Kabfr Chaura section it is performed twice, once by the candidate's personal Guru and again by the Head Mahant in the Kabfr Chaura Math.
This difference

may

in part

be accounted

for

by

the fact that the Mahants of the Kabfr Chaura

section are not supplied with a parw&na and by the fact that in this section any Bairigf

also
Is

authorised to initiate

new members.

at the (14) Of the sixteen cocoanut a four axe broken ttnka Arpan ceremony, wx are sent to Magha~r, and three are broken at each of the two Chauka Arti ceremonies in the months of Pb&gun and Bbldon.

126

THE KAB!R PANTH.

Every member of the Panth is required to supply the material wants of his Guru to the best of his ability, and also to pray on his behalf.

Guru

is

As on account of such material help the benefited by an increase in the memchelas,

lie

ber of his
to invite

is

not

himself allowed

others

to

become members of the

Panth.

As regards discipline, any disciple who brings discredit on the Panth by irregularity of life or

who

in other

ways

of the order

is

in the first place censured

offends against the traditions by his

lis-

Guru and subsequently, should he refuse to

ten to advice, excluded from
ings. His
all

company
and

is

religious gatheravoided by other members

of the Panth

his salutations disregarded

by

the Guru.

The ordinary members

that the souls of Panthis after death enter

en (Baikanth) or main till they have been sufficiently rewarded or punished for deeds done in the body. They

Panth believe HeavHell (NaraK) and there reof the

then return to earth, but always apparently clothed in a human body. This succession of
lives

continues

till

the soul freed from desire be-

comes absorbed in God.

Panth quoted to
attributed
1

A member
following

of the
saying

me
:

the

to

Ndnak

"We

want neither
,

Mnn*te

1&$

Baikanth nor Abra^, -but true

life(fitir{ zindagrf)

THE KABfR PANTB.

127

and that is obtained when there are no more 15 links with this earth/'
of the Kablr Panth are encouragobserve every Sunday as well as the last day of the lunar month (Puran M&si) as a day of fasting, and having bathed to assem-

Members

ed to

known

ble at 8 o'clock in the evening to join in a service^ 10 which takes the form of as

Ckauka,

a religious meaL 17 A piece of ground measuring either 5 or 7 yards square is specially prepared and cleaned. In the centre of this square
is measured out a smaller space, 2\ yards square. This inner square fo covered over with Hour, and 18 immein its centre are placed some flowers

(15)

W<?
or

madan

may possibly in ChrwUau teaching.

thiH beliet see traces of

Muhain-

Chffitthti IB the term applied to the portion of ground (16) of fod. The ground specially prepared for the consumption is divided up into squares, each one of which is occupied by

one person,
fast throughout (17) AH who attend the Ohaukaobic-vea the preceding day, but are allowed to drink water or water sweetened with nugar, if they find thwr thirst opp'-e-raive. The majority of those who belong to the Panth are content to percase only form their devotions at home on Hwulaysaml in keep the tat up to midday. The full Chauka service, followed by a meal as described below is only performed of necessity on, two occasions in the year, in the months of Ph&gun and ShMon, which roughly correHpond to Match and August. On these occasions the Mahant himself IB necessarily present and all members arc recjuircd to attend Observance of the whole day fast is a necessary condition, of attendance at a Ohauka whether the Mahant is present or not. over with (18) This specially prepared ground is corered an awning ( Chandio&). The colour of the awning, as well as that of the flowers, is white on festal occasions; red when the In addition fco the of the dead. service is held in

M*

memory

flowers that

lie

upon the elwtikb a bunch

of flowers is suspea-

128

THE KAB!R PANTH,

sits

diately in front of the service book(Puno Granth).

The Mahant

in the enclosure,

congregation, with the service book his right hand within the smaller square are placed (i) a small metal box containing Charan

facing the before him.

On

Mitra and Parwana,

(ii)

a dish containing 125

betel leaves 19 arranged around the edge with a single leaf in the centre on which is placed a

piece oi camphor, and

f^'

a pillar composed of dough, constructed with a hollow top, in the centre of which is placed a stick enveloped in
(iii)

cotton wool.

over this stick which

During the service ghi is poured is then lighted and serves

as a candle throughout the

left

ceremony. On the hand of the Mahant aro placed (i) a dish containing batdsa and gur, (ii) a cocoanut and
a brazen vessel (Khalsa) containing water.
is

(iii)

At each corner of the inner portion of the

fi*
Chauka
placed a small earthenware jar conned from the centra of the awning, The Ohauka is arranged by the Mahant.

When

he

is

not

present the central portion in not overlaid with flour; there la no box containing Charan Mitra and JPanoana : in the place of the dough-made candle-stick to placed a dtah on which camphor is burnt, the water is placed In an ordinary lota and notinaMafra; for the whole cocoanut are substituted fragments of cocoanut bought in the bazar. The flour in the centre of the inner portion of the Chauka 5s fashioned to represnt nine lotus flowera arranged in a circle, Upon these, which represent the sun, moon and seven planets rest the natural flowers. To eat a betel leaf on such occasions is equivalent to (19) taMnga vow to loyally observe the rules laid -down. The "Mahan* removes to his own lodgings any betel leaves that may "be o^er from the Chauka service, but may only eat them him'* self or give them to another member of the Panth,
s

THE KABfR PANTH.

taming water
;

129
7
,

on

this jar rests

an earthenware
is

plate containing grain, and over this lamp (chirhgh) fed with linseed oil.*
Man
Water

M*"

placed a
iji ^|
i

Women,
Water

J*i

lii

Chela Imeels here

to receive

water

Oharan Mifcra
Diwan's

c
Witter

Mahaat's Gaddl

Stone

X seat
Water

Place for newly initiated Ghelas

The Mahant, at the conclusion of the service* which he reads out of the book, lights the
;

candle which stands in thejcentre of the candlestick made of dough. He next lights a piece of camphor on a stone that
(20)
fall

;;f

is

set

beside

hitdi

The grain in the plate is to absorb any oil that may from the lamp and *o preserve the purity of th6 water. There is a -similar arrangement in the case of the Khalaa. The water in ttoe earthenware Teasels is used should the supply of water In the Khalsa (a large round brazen vessel)
insufficient.

'"

>ff
itf a<;

,'lt

130

THE KABfR PANTH.

and taking the cocoanut pours water over it 1 and and then breaks it upon the stone,

of camphor In the centre finally lights the piece of the pdn dish and while the camphor is burn-

and forwards (Arti.)T!ba and those present These offerings are place in it a small offering. for the use of his Math. taken by the Mahant
ing waves it backwards dish is then passed round

then takes half of the flesh of the cocoanut and with a penknife cuts it up into small a pewter plate, AH portions which he places on
in turn 22 and present approach the Mahant receive into the palm of their right hand a betel leaf, a fragment of cocoanut, a little gtlr

He

and some batdsa. This they eat as they kneel before him on one knee, exercising the great-

any portion should fall upon the ground. Each man as he retires has water poured upon his hands for cleansing purposes.
est care lest

have received, the Mahant says some prayers privately , then some more aloud, and closes the service with a short address

When

all

in

which he urges

all

to lead good lives.

After

The shell of the cocoanut represents Shattan (Kkl) (21) who wishes to keep from men the blessing contained in the milk and milk-formed flesh of the fruit.
(22)

sent,

On great occasions there may be as many as 200 premen and women. The men sit on one side and the women
Chauka
service receive the Jfot JPrat&d.

on the other facing the Mahant, but come up in any order to receive the PrasM,. It m said that about a fourth of those
present at the

THE KAB!R PANTH.

131

the address the Gurii does reverence to the

Chauka, after which all present do reverence to him. This part of the service which is interspersed with the singing of many &hajan$
usually

concludes at about 3

a.

m.

After an interval of an hour or so this service

is

followed by one of a more solemn character

Jot Prasad.
2$

known as

The Mahant's servant

takes the dough out of which the candle-stand was formed and mixing with it additional flour,

ghi and fragments of cocoanut, with the help of others kneeds it up again and makes it over
to the

Mahant Out

makes a number suring about two inches in diameter. When these have been prepared he calls aloud that Jot Prasad is ready, and all return to their The Mahant reads a short address, places. after which an interval is left for private prayer
or meditation.
All

of this dough the Mahant of small wafers, (puri), mea-

who

feel

themselves un-

worthy
retire

to proceed further with the service then

to a distance.

Those

who remain
their

ap-

proach in turn the Guru and placing

hands

together receive into the palm of the right hand which is uppermost a small pill of Charan Mitrd

Parwdna^ and this disposed of receive into the same hand one of the wafers* They then draw near to the Diw&n, who from
of
(23.) Jo/,

and a portion

the flame of a candle

Pras&d, consecrated food,

132

THE KABfR PANTH.

a brazen vessel pours into the palm of their right hand a few drops of water which they
drink.

After this they retire to a distance

and

an attendant pours water over both their hands to cleanse them from contact with their lips.
This food
is

regarded as Kabir's special

gift

and
1>->

it is

said that all

who

receive

it

worthily

will obtain eternal

life.

is followed by a substantial which is paid for by subscription, should meal, no wealthy member of the Panth have come

This service

forward to defray the cost. 2 * After listening to this account of the service
inquired of the Mahant as to the fate of those who abstained from receiving the gifts of Kabir.
I

He

replied that

all

men on

their

death-bed

could receive from their Mahant Prasdd, Charan Mitra and Parwdna and that in cases where the Mahant lived at a distance it was
"{'

r
''4;

usual to place a certain

amount of Charan

N4;!K

'4

A;*i"

Mitrd and Parwdna with one or more of his arc con(24.) When a Mahant is not present thee servieeB
siderably curtailed, as the officiating chel& is only provided with a service book containing a portion of the service, nor IB he authorised to do all that a Mahant would do. Even when a Mahant is present the service on Sundays is only said in part and is usually brought to a close at midnight. The full service is read at Pur an Mhsi. One of my informants told me that there wore generally between 30 and 40 present at the

I?"

Chauka which he attended on Sundays,

A full Chaulta service or Arti Praa&l, followed by Jot fimsdd, can be held at any time, if some one Is willing to defray all expenses, including the cost of the meal that follows in accordance with custom.

THE KABR PANTH.

Chelas

133

could be trusted to keep them safe Such supplies could be pollution. utilised at the close of a Pur an mdsi Chauka,

who

from

all

when

Mahant was not

illness.

present, or in cases

Every Mahant, he added, him a certain amount of Prasad, but kept by

he alone could administer or prepare
this.

of serious

The Mahant
only essential

explained further that it was that the dying should receive

testified

Lharan Mitra and Parwdna; the former

to the Chela's utter devotion to Kabir, while the latter constituted his passport to the Guru's

heavenly mansion. Upon the death of a member of the Panth two cocoanuts are immediately purchased. One

by the barber in the funeral and placed by the side of the dead procession
is

of these

carried

body, immediately before cremation or burial ; 25 the other is kept in the house and reserved as

an offering
at

at

the funeral Chaicka to be held

some subsequent date. The arrangements in connexion with a Funeral Chauka differ from those of an ordinary Ohauka in that the awning over the prepared
ground
is

of red instead of white material,

piece of white cloth is placed over the chanted to represent the dead man's body and the
(2r>).

The
unless

holders,

bodies of Bairdgis are buried those they have received J^aira^ arc
;

of;

house-

usually

cremated.

134

THE KAB!R PANTH.

number of betel leaves is reduced to 124, the dead man's leaf removed representing the
portion. At the

commencement
silently

of the service the

Mahant prays
ceased

on behalf of the debe preserved from

all

that he

may

dangers on his journey.

of this prayer
after
five

Upon

the conclusion

funeral bhajans are sung,

which

all

present three times do bandagi

to the

Guru and to the piece of white cloth that represents the body of the deceased. The cocoanut which has been specially reserved for this service is next washed by the Mahant and made over to some relative of the deceased or, should there be no relative belonging to the Panth, to some member attached to This man the same Guru as the deceased.
after

shoulders etc. returns

applying the cocoanut to his forehead, it with an offering to the

it

Mahant, who breaks

upon a stone upon which

camphor
is
,

burning. The rest of the service conducted in the manner already described.
is

,
<

The number

of cocoanuts offered

varies from

t,

one to nine according to the means of the Each cocoanut involves friends and relatives.
a separate offering to the Mahant, The flesh of the cocoanut or cocoanuts is made up with flour etc, into small cakes which are sent round to the
houses of Kabfr Panthis

by the bands of

Bairagis-

ADDITIONAL NOTES.
The

The various
pond
in a

IteKyious Orders of Islam. orders of Darweshes in Islam corres-

measure to the Sects of Hinduism,

An

interesting account of these Orders will be found in Essays on Mam by Canon Sell From this acit appears that two at least of these Orders were probably established in India previous to the the Q:\diriyah, founded in 1165, time of Kabfr

count

and the Qalandariyah, who were practically Sufis and founded in 1232.

The following details

:

in the organisation of these

Orders are worthy of attention in connexion with our subject

(i)

The extreme

respect

shown

to the Super-

ior

of the Order.
"

The head

of an Order
is

its

founder, and

the spiritual heir of called the Shaikh. ...He is lookin

;

ed up to with the greatest veneration in fact absolute obedience to the Shaikh is the very essence of
the system The adoration of the Master too often takes the place of the worship of God, and the Ideal life of a Darwesh is one which is absolute

shalt

conformity to the will of the Shaikh. Thus, Thou be in the hands of thy Shaikh as a corpse in

the hands of those who prepare it for burial. God speaks to thee through him. Thou art hin slave and thou canst do nothing without his order. He

136
is

THE

PANTH.

man chosen of God. Banish from thy heart any thought to which God or the Shaikh might object."
a
(2).

Branch establishments
all

(Zawiyah)

under

the control of a

Muqqadim who must be

implicitly

obeyed by
monastery.
(3).

members

of the Order, living in the

called a Fir (Hindu,

Guru). ordinary members of the Order are called Ikhw&n (Brothers), Ashab (companions), Murid (Disciples), or generically Darwcshes. There are lay associates, not resident in (4).
the monasteries
signs

The The

spiritual

guide

is

who

and word*, by protection from the community.

possession of secret use of which they can obtain

are in

.Lay associates

also employ the rosary of the Order.

or twice a year the Muquddhns meet in conference to consider questions relating to the
(5).

Once

w
w,n

well-being of the Order. This meeting is called Hazrat cf the use of Huzur as applied by Kabir
;

Panthis to the Mahant at Headquarters.

(6).

Novitiates are required to prepare themfor

selves

admission into the Order by fasting,

spiritual retreat, prayer

(7).

and almsgiving.

Newly admitted members are said to have entered upon the Tariqa (path, Panth). All members are required to repeat daily (8).
a special

form of prayer (Zikr), Hindu Monastic Orders had been previously

India by
etc.

formed in

Sankar&charya,

R&manuja

R&manand

THE
Nunak,
a

PANTH.

137

dressed

birth, was frequently adDarwcsh and associated much with Muhanimadans.

Hindu by

as

Early Chrhtian mjlufinrr*

Northern India.

in Southern India from early days and it is quite possible that Hindu reformers, such as came Sankaracharyaand

There have been Christians

Ramanuja,

in contact

with

them.

The former was

possibly

indebted to Christianity for some part of his reforming xeal, while Rirnanuja and his Ramadisciple

nand

seem

also to

have been influenced by Chrisancient times the

tian leaching.

From

more

reli-

giously deposed Hindus have been accustomed to

all parts of the country and when on pilgrimage to converse freely with all who enjoyed a reputation for spiritual enlightenment, Christian thought, in varying degrees of purity, may in this way have penetrated regions

visit

places of pilgrimage in

unvisited by professing Christians.-

The
of

first

Roman

Catholic missionary to India

whose work we have any account was Friar Jorclanus of the Dominican Order. He visited the
east in 1321-3 and again in 1330. He mentioned Surat, Baroch and Quilon as placets well suited to

become centres of Missionary effort. The Inquisition, established at Goa in 1560, punished Muhami

All that Is (crtain ta that the School of JUmanfija.

(1) In describing Ifamanand as a disciple of Bamantlja do not wlnh to imply that the two were contemporaneous.

Kamanaud belonged
on
this

originally to

For further (2) Grier&ou'n lecture on

information

Modern Ifinduum

m&

subject see Dr. its debt to the

138

THE KAB!R PANTH.

their
in
1

maduns and other strangers who exercised

religion
to the

'

'**'!

Portugal.""
!s

the countries subject King of It is probably to the Inquisition that a

'?f*urfi
jjfj.

Kabir Panthi refers when, in describing the evilwhich the Panth was intended to remedy, he writes that at one time religion was so little thought of
that
...

strange people

came from the West and

of religious rites a criminal with death, offence, punishable

made the observance

We

do not

as yet

know much about

the work

of Christian missionaries in Northern India previous to i S7o, 4 but we know that the Emperor Akbar in 1^79 sent an envoy to the Viceroy of Goa, with

request that he would send to his court some Christian teachers, capable of holding controversy In response to this with Muhammadan Mullahs.

request Father

Rudolf Aqua viva and two others

were despatched to the royal court at Katehpur Rudolf returned to Goa in i^Bj. 5 At the Sikri. request of the same Kmperor a second deputation,
of including Hieronymus Xavier a grand nephew in 1595St. Francis Xavier, was sent to Lahore

er

For the instruction of non-Christians Father XaviDast&n Masih (Life of wrote several books Dast&n San Pedro (Life of St. Peter), and Christ),
;

(3)

See

The Syrian Clwrvh

?"/*

India by 0. M. line

pp!87.8, 198. I am informed that Father Fulix "m engaged in col(4) lecting material for a book tliat ahould throw intercHtinjf light upon the work of the Boman Church in Northern India, including Kashmir and Thibet. further details about Father Rudolfs Mission, (5) For see ffwst Christian Mission to the Great Moghul, by Father
Ooldie, published

by

Gill

and Sou, Dublin.

THE
Aina

PANTH.

139

(The mirror of Truth). Dastan-fMasih was presented by him to Akbar at Agra in 1602 and subsequently published with a Latin

Haqq

nrima

translation

by Lmlovicus

tie

Dieu

in

1639.

This

described as "Historia Christi, sed contamiXavier's work entitled Aina nata." Ilaqq numa was about 1608 and provoked a published reply from Ahmad Ibn Xain to which he gave the name u The
is

work

Divine rays in refutation of Christian error." Dean Prideaux calls thin book u The Brusher of the
Glass
cuU.
1 '

and Guudugtioli

refers to

Guaclagnull possibly version of the original Persian.

at

made

it as Politer Speuse of an Arabic

The

Jesuits

were

much alarmed
without, delay.

the appearance of this

Muham-

invited Home one to answer it Bonaventura Malvasia, a Franciscan friar of Bonnnia, replied witJi Dilucidatio Speculiverum monstranti* in 1628 and Philip Guadagnoli

madan work and

wrote Apologia pro Christiana rdiyione which was published in Latin at Rome in 1631 and translated
into Arabic in
1637,

This

latter ensay

contained

appeals to Popes and Councils which would little weight with Muhammadan and Hindu carry

many

readers.
(0)
1

havu had an opportunity

of

examining two inter-

osting publtcMitioiiH bearin|( npon tlie subject, vi& "Controver nial Tract H n ('hriHti'inity and Muhammadaniem" by Henry Marty n, edited by Kev. B. Lee, Professor of Arabic -in' the University <jf Cambric l^c and published at the Cambridge UniverRity l*rwH in 1824 ; and a work by Dean Prideaux of Norwich, 'first publlnhed in 1697 entitled "The true nature of impoHtnrcT fully display t-d In the life of Mahomet." This second work con till as an Interesting account of all books con~ suited by the author.

Chapter VII.
THE TEACHING OF THE PANTH.
In considering the teaching of Kabfr we confined our attention to two books, the Bijak

*
,

and the Adi Granth. In that ca^i we hat? practhese were the tically no choice in the mailer; two books which could he regarded as truly only

?J;

'J

Hi

The representative of the Guru's teaching. literature of the Panth is ever on the increase,
but the thoughts expressed
1

in

most of the writ-

It therefore seems best ings are very similar. this case too to confine our attention to two in

ml
i

works which

may

be regarded as

represento present

<i

i,f

tative of the literature as a

whole and

the reader with an abstract of their teaching. The books selected for this purpose are tiukh

Niddn and
Panth.

both of which are closely associated with the Dharm Dass section of the
f

Amar Mul

The Sukh Niddn is highly spoken Prof. H. H. Wilson, but we have come
teaching "is only
list

of

by
its

across

no evidence in support of his statement that

of

imparted to pupils whose

the more important writings in con(1) For a nexion with the Panth, see Additional Note.

THE TEACHING OK THE PANTH.

According to Kabir Panth tradition

141

studies are considered to approach perfection/'^

this

book

was written about

1729.

The

character of the

language in which it is written, and the subject matter of the treatise afford evidence in support
of this tradition.

The Amar Mul

is

of

still

later

origin, but more representative of the teaching given at tho present time to members of the

Panth/'

A bstr act
is

of Sukh Kidan.*
all

Chapter L The Creator who made

things

king of all* H< is the ground, the seed, the root, the branches and the tree itself. Nothing
I

exists apart

mm

him.

He
all.

has existed in

all

ages and has admonished

He

is

to

be found

in the heait wherein he has settled. Men have been led astray by Maya. From the heart of man springs good and evil charity, faith, right;

Prof. Wilxon ftwtttH to huve regarded Dharm Dass (2) (the servant, of religion) UM the* ropt'c&cutativc disciple and to havft rowtivud no information about that section of the

Plinth whldi worn* in of the two.

(8)

many ways

to bo the

more important

and

Kunh hook bdoritfing to the Dharm Base section, pi'iicilmlly nil the literature does belong to this section, IH prefaced by a Iit of MnhanU up to the date of production. Thin prnfttico nhould throw considerable light upon

the datt of production, but. ite value is neutraliwd bj two drcumatanceft. The M.BH are generally so badly written that this copyiHt prcfew to copy the liwt of Mahante trpm some printed book, whllo those who do perserere in copying from the original often think it more respectful to the ruling

Mahant
(4)

to bring the lit

up

to date.

For

thin abstract I

am

Indebted

to

the Eev.

Ahmad

Shah,

142

THE TEACHING OF THE PANTH.

fasts.

eousness, sin, goodness, nearness, distance, tlrath

and

Chapter

II.

Dharm Dass was in

the habit of

worshipping Salig Rama.

He

used to

bow

down

to Bhagats
all

and Bairagis and to entertain

Sadhus of

kinds.

He

read the

Rhagawad

Gita and honoured Gopala in word and deed. He wore a tilak on his forehead and round his

neck a mdla of

wood. He visited Dwarka, Jaggannath, Gaya and Benares, but (ailed to find
tulsi
rest for his soul.

He

and Krishna, but

all in vain.

sang the praises of R&ma When he was at

M u
s

Mattra Kabfr suddenly appeared before him and asked what he had been doing all his life.
,:

Dharm Dass
in
'<;

replied that he had been engaged worshipping the gocls and in visiting places

mm
*''''*'
1

of pilgrimage. Kabir told him that both be and the gods whom he worshipped had been deluded

iJfa,

,'Vi

i>

W' mt
.

by Mdyd; that gods,

like

Rdma and

Krishna

|;\ ,\
y
;

c,

who did not even know the hour of their death had no right to be considered omniscient or
;

\9i ^M
!

omnipresent.

-i

'i

Chapter III. Dharai Ddss was at first disgusted by the teaching of Kabir and thought, * This low caste man wishes to lead me astray/

He
:

ordered his servant to

make

fire

that he

i'

i?j|
II

might prepare food for Sdlig Rama. Dharm Ddss perceived that numberless ants together with
their eggs

>j'uW

were being consumed

in the fire.

THE TEACHING OF THE PANTH.

that

143

His heart was touched and he began to think it was sad that the preparation of food for Salig Rama should involve the loss of so much
life.

Kabfr again appeared before him and

for his cruelty.
t

re-

buked him

He implored him to have mercy upon Jiva$ to put out the flame and save as many lives as possible. He once more explained that Rama, Krishna and S&lig
Rama were no
had been
gods and that Rama himself responsible for the loss of many

lives.

Kabfr when he saw that

fasting,

Dharm Dass
rebuked him,

was much addicted to

saying that without food or rest he could not expect to find God. It was equally futile, he said ? to wander about from one place of pilgrim-

age to another. He .should look for one in whose heart was pity and true religion, Dharm Diss disregarded this advice and continued in
his former course.

Chapter IV. Dharrn Dass next visited Benares and saw there an extraordinary spectacle ; learned Pandits and Brahmins worsted in

argument by an ordinary man. He thought " This must be the Zinda Purush to himself,

whom I met
live ?

before at Mattra."
?

He
?

according-

ly asked Kabir,

Who are you do you worship Creator of the world and who

Where do you

Whom

Who
is

is

the

the Master

of this life?

11.4

THE TEACHING OF THE PANTH.

Kabfr
replies, I
;

and comfort
I

am Sat Purush am Sukrit I am

;
;

am

peace
:

Sat Kabfr

am

the Creator of this world.

:

have created
I

the five elements

ties.
I

have established three quali;

am

the seed and the tree

am

the

possessor of qualities. All are contained in me: I live within all and all live within me.

Dharm Dass
and there
It

inquires^

If

you are

all

things

nothing apart from you, how comes about that there are heaven and hell, R&ma
is

and Krishna, Hindu and Turk ? Kabfr replies Your questions

able, but

are reason-

remember
of these.

earth, air,

fire,

water and

ether are but forms of

Is

me

the whole universe

I

made

Therefore

am

in
in

all

and

all is

contained in mo.

Kabir then

a lengthy

speech explained how the universe came into existence. This speech is practically an exposition of certain

Ramaini^ and Shabdas contain-

ed

in the Bijak.

Chapter

V.

At the

conclusion

of

this

speech Dharm Dass throws his Salig Rama into the river Ganges. He then asked Kabir how

ke cou

be described as NirdAdr (without form) seeing that he is in all things, acts in all things and speaks in all things. Kabfr explains
at length that

Mdyi has

deceived Brahma,

Vishnu and Shiva, and that woman has long been notorious for her craftiness. He mourns

THE TEACH INC; OK THE PANTH,

for his

145

who had been

that
It is

three sons, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, deceived by Maya, and explains
for their sakes, to save

them and

their

descendants, that he has appeared in the world

in

every age.

Chapter
Punish,
fruits,

VL Dharm

Daiss asks,

"O Zinda

trees, no no herbs, upon what did you live ?" Kabir explains that his body is immortal and reHe again refers to his quires no material food.

when

there were no fields,

no

three
relates

sons and the wickedness of

Maya and

the efforts made by his sons to remove

the effects of Maya's evil doing, Chapter VII. Dharm Dass next inquires regarding the division of earth and sky, and the

of places of pilgrimage. Kabir explains thai all this H the doing of his three sons whom Maya had deceived. He explains the
institution
1

character of the various plaees of pilgrimage and the origin of religious sects and caste. Dharm

Dass asks what orders he has

for
;

may obey
for

them, Kabir replies

My

him, that he only order

you

is

that you should save yourself and

save others.

He concludes by declaiming against

and enlarges on the punishments

false teachers

that await their followers.

gives expression to a difficulty that perplexes him. Men journey on pilgrimage to every quarter of the

Chapter VIH.

Dharm Diss

No man
itself

can be saved by the mere singing of God's praises, any more than a parrot can save

from the cat by singing the praises of God. Dharm Dass asks how salvation is to be
Kabi'r

obtained.

replies

Be

constant, utter

not false words,

show

love to othors, associate

with good people and especially with Sadhus. Gather wisdom from every source, attend to
the wants of holy

men whenever
:

they come to

VI

and drink the Charan Mitra feed them and supply them with every comfort, learn from them whatever of good they can teach TOIL 1 am the Saclhu and
their
feet
:

your house, wash

all Scidhtis

ttue Sadhii, then

you meet with a your thoughts, words and deeds will become perfect. There are men who have disguised themselves as Sadhus, but have no right to the title. Then Dhaim Dalss says,
dwell in me.
If

Sat Guni, now I know that Creator, the true Sidhu and all in

you are the

all.

You

are

my

Master and

my

place of pilgrimage.
:

only one more question to ask

confess their faith in you,

I have Those who

those

who

fail

to recognise

dwell in you ; but you or decline to

will

obey your commands, what

be the end of

THE TEACHING OF THE PANTH.

such

147

men

in old.

what has become of those who days wen* accounted sages but knew yon
?

not

Kabir

replied,

All such have

been

re-

warded become become

according to their
stars,

works.

Some have
some have

some

insects or moths,

plants. Others have gone to hell and there they will remain for many ages. All such

must pass through 84 lakhs of forms before they can obtain salvation. Those who believe in me, become absorbed in me.

Dhann Dass entreats Kabir to accompany him to his house that he may also instruct his When he returned to his house wife and son. at Bandogarh his wife, Ammf, asked him why
he had been absent so long. he has found in Kabir him

He
for

tells

her that

whom

he had

been searching so long at places of pilgrimage and bids her also find in him the Creator of the
universe, for Kabir

had solved
to

for

him

all
(

the

mysteries

of this world.
I

Aminf

says,
?

answer

shall

give

your request
is

What You
the

know
form,

that

some say

that the creator

is

without
in

others that he

to

be found

persons of
relates

Rama or Krishna/ Dharm Dss his own experiences, after which Amini

too becomes a disciple of Kabir. Food is preare also pared and a cocoanut and betel leaf and Kabir prepares for them the Mahd

brought Pvasdd.

14.8

THE TEACHING OF THE PANTH.

Abstract of A^mar

Mul :\
that all the

Chapter
souls in the

I.

Dharm Dass explains

world are overwhelmed with troubles and implores the Sat Guru to extract with all speed
the arrow with which their heart
is

pierced.

In

reply to this entreaty the Sat Guru declares that immortality attaches to those into whose
heart the

immortal

Word

has entered.

To

Dharm

Bass's request for an explanation of the mystery of union and separation; the Sat Guru

replies that to obtain

Mukhti an understanding
is

of the Letterless

necessary with the help of the Betel Leaf and the Cocoanut ; that the
is

One

Supreme Being

unconditioned as containing

the essence of the Letterless One; conditioned as

f WIT;
/Mi'if'/

manifesting the Divine mystery to man; that a true belief in the conditioned and the uncondi-

wm><

mm

tioned and absorption in the Word are required of all who would escape from the power of

Yama and

the

toils

of transmigration.

Without a knowledge of the Narae none can

safely cross the ocean of existence.

To

four

been given to convey souls safely to the Satya Loka (Paradise), and of these four
it

Gurus has
the chief

is

Dharm

Dass.

It is for

him and

his

42 decendants to rescue souls from the tyranny

(5)

This abstract
for

Mul made

Mr. 0. B, lenient, Head Mauler of the Mission School, 1 adore, and tormorly Becond Master of the

me by

was prepared from a

translation of

Ama-r

Collegiate School,

Cawnpore,

THE TEACHING OF THE PANTH.

of Kal.

149

Of one alone is Kill afraid and that one The spoken word is Maya; the is the Word. unutterable name alone is true, the name that
pervades
form.
all

hearts.

When

the voice

of the

Word was sounded

the indestructible one took

As clouds obstruct the rays of the sun, so does Maya withhold from man true knowThat soul alone attains perfection which ledge.
leunis the secret of the

immortal root (Amar

a further explanation

MuL)
I

)hann D.T-S

pressi*-; for

of

iiie

Betel Leaf and

replies

the Ccx:oanut. Betel

The

Sat

Guru

that

the

Leaf was not

produced in the way of nature but proceeded from the Word, and that the Cocoanut when broken by the true Word is accepted as a substitute lor

the soul which, as all else in the three Lokas, has been made over by Purusha to Dhamnie, the Angel of Death. The Cocoanut, the Betel leaf and the Word are the three boats
in

which souls can safely cross the Ocean

oi

life.

He who would

be saved must receive the

in the true

Betel Warrant, serve the Sadhus with attention

and become absorbed

is

Word.

This

the secret to be revealed to the wise

by Dharm

D4s3 and bin descendants.

dtma Chapter II. The Sat Guni explains that are one through union with Paramand Brahma

150

THE TEACHING OF THE PANTH.

atma.

Atma stands in the same relation to Paramatma as the wave to the ocean, the spark to the fire and the ornament to the gold out of which
it is

fashioned.

The

soul abides in

Brahma, as

the sun. Thus Jiva light shines in the rays of and Brahma which are commonly regarded as two are really one. Those who have gained
this

Dharm
plain

knowledge obtain emancipation. DJiss next asks the Bat Guru to exto
in the

Shabda
that
all

him the Letterless One, the bodiless body. The Sat Guru explains
bodies have been Shabda is perfect and all The true Shabda reverberates

who have assumed

produced by Shabda.
rf,'f>

fl>

else

fragmentary
finds an

in the Universe,

He who knows
in

the Letterless

m
'I**
.

One

abode

Sutya Loka. In answer to

further inquiries the Sat

.',

Guru explains that the of the soul in Satya Loka is equal to splendour that of sixteen suns while the glory of Purusha himself is indescribable. The true name is the
basis of the soul.

'^

^r

,'*;

a draught of nectar doubts are removed and the thirst of ages satisfied. All

By

the souls

Satya Loka see with the feelings of love and never give utterance to unkind thoughts.
in

Hope and

desire find

no place there.

The

sins

o millions of births are washed

influence of the

away by

the
all

Name.

Without the

Name

efforts are in vain;

is

without the

Name knowledge
prevails

of no account.

As darkness

where

THE TEACHING OF THE PANTH.

there
that
is

151

no lamp, so

is

there darkness in the heart

is

without the Name,

Chapter III. To reach the Ocean of Bliss souls must serve the Satgur and so banish the
they must receive the sacramental food and render acceptable service to their
fear

of

all

they must promote the happiness of and recognise that the Guru is identiothers cal with the Lord they must be simple-minded
Guru;
;

which Sadhus have washed their feet they must never speak ill of their Guru and meditate on the love of the
and drink the water
;

in

One; they must remember the Name ami night, and place no trust in the illusion day He who knows the Name Is of the of Karma.
Letterless

The Veda knows not Name. All declare, We know not, we know not'. The Pandit reads and gropes in the dark; he knows not the existence of the Adi Brahma. The acquisition of knowfamily of

Dharm

Dass,

the

extent of the

ledge*

produces pride and

is

of no use in the

hour of death.
written
It

Eighteen Puranas have been

Bhdgawata is the best. and establishes explains the glory of Brahma

and

of these the

Foots read, but to the efficacy of devotion. not of that which is no purpose; they think
obtainable through the intellect. Those only OuUiu sv^dora who fall in with the Sat Guru,

Of what use

is

the boat

without the boatman

152

THE TEACHING OF THE PANTH.

He who knows

if M<

the secret of the rosary is absorbed in the true Name. Welcome the secret that
sical,

overcomes fear in all three forms, phymental and spiritual. Escape thus Irom

the halter of

many

births.

Doubt, the angel of Kal, has taken up his abode in the hearts of men. Doubt is the offspring of Dlianna.
letterless

Ho who

understands the

one banishes doubt and enters into the

house of immortality. Only through a knowledge of the Name c;m doubt be banished from
the heart.

Dharm Dass
knowledge.
destruction
?

How

urges that but few Jivas possess then can the world escape

Sat Gurii replies, I impart to )r ou the The secret of him that possesses knowledge.

The

Hansa
4
r

that receives the

attain
is

Betel

warrant will

fj

I*

A $?

'

undoubtedly
heart there

Nirvana.

He

in

whose
ocean

J%t1
II

belief will safely cross the

|W ^
!

of rebirths.

After receiving the Betel he will speak the truth. He will keep the feet of the He will sacrifice all for the Satgur in his heart.

Satgur and attend to the needs of the saints. He will banish all fondness for sons and wife and
forsake

He will the feet of the Satgur, wash his feet and drink of the washings. So
all for

in the hereafter will

Loka.

Dharm Dss

he drink nectar in Satya inquires whether women also

THE TEACHING OF THE PANTH.

153
:

can obtain salvation. The Sat Guru replies Women also can cross the ocean by faith in the

Name.

Women are

without knowledge, there-

fore they must ofier their body, mind and wealth If to the Sants, and serve them devotedly.

they despise tho Sants they will fall into the snare of Dhamrae. Those women can escape
the noose of Kal

who

offer all at

the feet of the

Guni and serve him day and night. The Sat Guru exhorts Dharm Dass to shake
off illusion

and teach

to

men

devotion, for on

and
ed.

him has been placed the burden of the world it is his seal that will be everywhere respect-

To him

too has been entrusted the touch-

by means of which crows (Jivas) can be converted into swans (Hamas}. Through the
stone

Name the shape and colour of he changed. the Jiva can Chapter IV. Dharm Ddss inquires into the meaning of the touchstone and is told that it
vehicle of the
varies in tlw case of individuals.

In the case of

the wise

it

is

to be found in a

knowledge of

Shabda, in the case of children in the reception of the Betel leaf, and in the case of the passionate in devotion.

After

all

angered when Dharm Ddss

ble
for

these explanations the Sat Guni is asks how it is possilive in

the Sant to

this

world, and
is

disappears from view.

Dharm Ddss
K

much

154

THE TEACHING OF THE PANTH.

and
cries,

merciful, Lord, the Guru- I knew not that you could read perfect the heart; through ignorance I failed to under-

distressed

"Be

stand your teaching. In

my

my

fault,

Guru, you
I

pride I erred; pardon are the true Guru ; like

unto Brahma.
its

was very proud, but when a

its

child speaks foolishly

get
,<

foolishness,

O
I

parents hasten to forLord, the merciful one,

If

<;,,.

';.fV
'''I/' S.

have pity on
yourself to

me now.
again,

you do not reveal

me

will destroy

my
1 '

life.

It

'?/<

was you who imparted to me this religion, Kabir therefore I put to you that question. had pity on Dharm Dass and again appeared before him. The joy of Dharm Dass was as that of the Chakor when it beholds the moon. He held fast to the feet of the Guru and worshipped him he washed his feet and drank
;

m^'inl

water in which they had been washed. he prayed, a O Lord, give unto thy servant Then
of the

Mali&prasdd" At the bidding of

.

Dharm Dass Amini

pre-

pared a plentiful repast and Arti was offered in a golden vessel. The wife of Dharm Dass and
all his

children

fell

at the Guru's feet

and drank

the water in which they had been washed. All listened to the words of divine knowledge.

The Lord Kabir

'
<

sat at the Ohauka. After Kabfr had eaten and washed, he offered Prasad to Dharm Ddss and all those who were present.

THE TEACHING OF THE PANTH.

All that
joy-

were

in

the house were

filled

with

which the Guni took his seat. Dbarm Dass fanned him, while Amini shampooed his feet. All the
Sat

Then Amlni prepared

a bed upon

Sants adored him.

offer in

Then Amini
body
I

said,

Lord, I
heart,

thy service this

all

of mine,
possess.

my
Do

my

wealth and

that

as

it

pleaseth thee. Then the Lord took her by the hand and set her beside him on the bed. He
tested

her and placed his hand

said,
is

kindly on her
I

head and
your mind

Amini, go your way,

see that

The mind leads one to do and bad actions, and makes the body act good
chaste.

according to

its

pleasure.

For your sake

have

renounced

all

desires of the flesh.

The Sat Guru then renewed his promises to Dharm Dass assuring him that he should have
would
forty-two generations of children in whose hands rest the salvation of the world.

Dharm Dass
descendants

said,

'O Lord, grant unto

is

my
my
'

this blessing that

free.

through them souls

prayer, that

may be
all will

set

This

my

descendants

may

be accounted as yours; then

. .

be saved.'
Sat Guru replied,
will

The
Kansas
shall be

"In the world the

of thy

be

set

free

by the hands

descendants.

The

children of thy generations

as a touchstone.

welcomed

They

will
'

156
fte

THE TEACHING OF THE PANTH.

free

from the disturbance of passion,

their

minds

will

Shabda,

bo absorbed in the contemplation of and their mode of living will be serious

;

collected

thoughts and words will be will have a directed towards the truth; they
their

knowledge of
descendant
lie

self

and subtle

things.

saved
? I

who who makes

knows Shabda.

He is my How can he

distinctions in the touch-

stone

have revealed the path to you, but as that of remember that there is no sin so great of salvation. Those who know hiding the path
the

word should proclaim

liberate all

it

in various countries

and

are without

Kansas that have intelligence. All who None can be saved without the Name. the Name are proud. Very few

IJH'^Hr 4l,M U*,

.

Dbarm Dass, teve experience of the Name. with him who remember, I am day and night
knows the Name."
explains that into the Dhamrae had objected to his coming Lokas had world to save souls since all three and had been made over to him by Purusha, to liberate the name he

ill!

Chapter V.

The Sat Guru

hoped asked by what were All who performed religious acts Kansas. as lie sat with in his power, including Shiva,
in the great day of destrucpride in Samddhi;

tion all

would be destroyed by him, even Vishthat all. Gyani had replied nu, the greatest of estabDhamrde tad acted as a thief, seeking to

THE TEACHING OF THE PANTH.

lish his

151

authority where he had no right to rule that for this reason he had been sent forth and

to rescue souls

whom Dhamrae
himself.

by Purusha, the true God, witk had vainly striven to identify DhaninJe had implored Gyani to be

kind to him, even as Purusha had been kind, but that Gyani had only consented to leave him
undisturbed on condition that he would promise not to approach those who had received the
Betel
leaf,

to treat with kindness all

who had

become Gyani and to show love to all who had welcomed Shabcla. Dhamrde had accepted
had at the same time been warned that his rule would come to an end so soon as Shabda had become established in the world.
this offer, but

Dharm Dass thanks the Sat Gurii for having thus cooled the lotus of his heart, and asks for a fuller account of Kal.
The
Sat Guru explains that K61
is

the cause
deceiv-

of all actions in this world, that he has

virtue

ed the ten Avatars of Vishnu, is the cause of and vice, is in reality a form assumed by

Purusha and has power over all but Shabda* K&l is the author of that duality which exists wherever the true Word has not been apprehended.
ing
is

all

Tog, jap, tapj sacrifice and alms-givK&i have their origin in a fear of Kdl.
;

an embodiment of selfishness
live

be devours

all

who

life

of enjoyment.

Through

158

THE TEACHING

OF THE PANTH.
and
in

creation has corne into existence

KM it

will fade away. In reply to an inquiry as to which was first, Purusha or Kal, the Sat Guni explains that first

was space, and that in that space Purusha produced Shabda from Shabda, that space and time (Kal) were really one, but that so terrible was Kal that none dare look upon his lace. But for the noose of Kal there had been no need
for devotion.

Only

through a knowledge of

the

Name

could the fear of Kal be overcome.

In connexion with an account
for

Chapter VI.
sins a

of the Chauka Dharm Dass asks

how many
is

cocoanut should be broken and

is

told

that a cocoanut

broken

for

sins a lakh

and

a quarter in number. He is the straw will wash splitting of

also told

that the

away

the sins of

I'M
;$!
'
;:

B1

many births. The following Mantras arc prescribed At the time of dnnldmj water, Immor1 i The Hansa tal tank and transparent water. his satisfaction. The body is gold, the drinks to mind is blissful, the fear of Karma is effaced. At the time of bathing. The water of (2)
:

Sat Sukrit was brought in. The child of Dhani bathed* He directed his attention to the feet

Kabir says Hear, Dharm Dciss, in the beginning and the end there exists an abode of blazing flame. The immortal name
of the Lord.

THE TEACHING OF THE PANTH.

is

159
nine

peaceful.

In fourteen mansions and

is

apartments there
(3)
is

one true Kabir.

At

the time

of taking food.

The Chauka
purifica-

made
is

of the

Word that removes fear;

tion

the result of satisfaction and good charThere is the light of love and faith; acter.
Sat Sukrit began to dine.
Sukrit

When the name

All the

of Sat

was pronounced,the water became

light.

sacred,

giving joy to the Sants.

to

Sants united

produce

Father Kabir began to eat and

the \vcalthy Dharni Dass was taking his food. Then all the Sants took Prasacl. The saved

enjoyed the absence of fear. Dharm Dass makes inquiry as to what

is

necessary for the proper performance of Artf, He is told that in the first place the house There should be should be whitewashed.

;*

provided seven cocoanuts, thirty and a quarter mautuls of sweet meats of eight different kinds,

and a quarter pounds of sugar candy, twelve thousand betel leaves and a plentiful
three
betel supply of sandal wood, camphor, cloves, A silk dhoti should be nuts and cardamums.

the canopy provided for the officiating Mahant, the Chauka should be made of gold cloth over and the vessel in which the dew is collected

should be of gold*

Whoever

celebrates an Artf after this

manner

will pass immediately to Satya Loka, provided

160
that
tive.

THE TEACHING OF THE PANTH.

it Is

not celebrated from any

selfish

moYuga

Dharm Dass urges that in men are poor and very few
The Sat Guru
is

this Kali

could afford to

celebrate an Arti on so liberal a scale.

replies that a simpler form In this three and a quarter

permissible.

pounds

of sweets,

betel leaves will suffice, but a

one cocoanut and a hundred new Dhoti must

be provided

for

the

money made by

He
Arti

further

offering of to the Sat Guru. present adds that when the Kadh&r
all

Mahant and an

(disciples) are

not

in a position to celebrate the

once a month, it will be sufficient to celebrate it twice in the year, in the months
of Phdgun (February) and of Bhadoa (August), In conclusion the Bat Guru warns Dharm

D&ss that the Guru

who

celebrates the Arti

letter,

must have a knowledge of the

otherwise

both he and his disciples will find themselves in Hell (Jim Loka).
Chapter VII.
the four castes.

The

Sat Guru discourses on

The special duty of the Brahmin is to gain a knowledge of Brahma. He in vain repeats
the

GydM, performs Sandhya and

if

reads the

Vedas,
krit
?

Why do he Brahmins confine their attention to Sansis

he

devoid of knowledge.

Is

the vernacular unsuited to spiritual

THE TEACHING OF THE PANTH.

instruction ?

161

The Brahmins

in pride of heart

despise the S&dhus who are true seekers after God and taunt them with having given up caste Those who for the sake of their stomachs.

know not Brahma and

The
special

neglect

to

practise

devotion cannot obtain salvation.

duties of the Rshatrya are to Brahmins and women. But in protect cows, an age when cows are slaughtered, Brahmins draw their own water and men commit adultery,,

of what use are the Kshatryas ? They commit murder and receive the praise of men, but the
true Kshatrya is he who exercises forbearance and has true sympathy with others. The special duties of the Vaishya are to have pity upon the hungry and to go on pil-

grimage, but it is vain to strain water before is drinking, in the desire to save life, if there

no

faith in Hari.

lity fall

Those who indulge in sensuainto the power of Yamarij, and in vain

worship Parasnith, the great, wise Guru, when they disregard his counsel Let all such fall
at the feet of the Sat

Guru and learn the

it
is

secret

of the

Name. The Sudra whose duty

to render

service has discovered the Bhakti of the Satgur.

He
his

serves the Brahmin and has cast forth from

heart

all

desires

of the flesh, anger and

avarice.

He

serves also the Kshatryas

and the

1.62

THE TEACHING OF THE PANTH.

Vaishyas and is well spoken of In Brahma Loka, Other castes neglect their duties, but
the Sudra prostrates himself at the feet of the Sat Gurii and so finds his way to Satya Loka.
all

Dharm Dass, you arc a Sudra by who honour the water of your
from,

caste, but
feet

will

escape
that
Is

the ocean of rebirths.

is

The

soul

born a Sudra

saved,

if it

meditates on
soul that

Brahma.

Kal

in

vain

attacks the

knows the mystery of Shabda.

Dharm Dass
V
I

says, Lord, through

you

have

VL#

obtained Mukhti, but

also obtained
it ?

why

has not

my

family

Mi

The

Sat

Guru explains that

will

his

descendants
bear the
the world

up to the eighth generation

pride, treat with

be tainted with
in

contumely men who

name

of Kabir,

and seek honour

instead of placing reliance on the

Name,

Those who practise true Bhakti save themselves and others, spend all that they have in

i&l

feeding SMhus, speak the truth to all, cherish the true name in their hearts suffer not feelings
*
of anger to arise, speak under the influence of the Name, reason about knowledge and preach the doctrine of Shabda.

V)i

if

If

who

In the eighth generation will be born a child will bring men back into the true Path. a

Are we to infer from this statement that Amar (6) was written when the eighth Mahant was on the gadtli ?

Mul

THE TEACHING OF THE PANTH.

The Jiva
all

163
loses

that finds the immortal

I

Name

fear,

dwell in the heart In which the

immortal Shabda shines.

portion
ol"

him who

Regrets will be the finds not the immortal

Name.
to his belief that the

Chapter VI I L Dharm Bass gives expression Pnrusha dwells in the Guru

is

and that there

no

distinction

Guru and the Purusha. describes the work assigned

between the The Sat Gimi again

to

Dharm Dass and

Dharm Dass says that with his descendants. the permission of the Guru he will send all the The Sat children (disciples) to Satya Loka.
Guru reminds him that there are two kinds of children, those of the fksh and those of the spirit,
and that the
cherish tho
will

spiritual

children

are those

who

name

of the Sat Guru.

The time

come, he adds, when all creation will enter Satya Loka and all animate beings become
absorbed
in the

Dlmrm Dass
self

Hatgur. urges that the

work

of saving

souls belongs to the Sat

Guru and that he him'

might well be relieved of so great responsiThis the Satgur declines to do. bility.
.

Dharm
sha,

Dass inquires

why

he, being the Puru-

had

visited this mortal world.

The Satguni

was neither space speaks of the time when there neither sin nor righteousness, nor non-space, neither Shesha (serpent) nor KAl, neither the

164

THE TEACHING o* IHE PANTH.

jfflM
t

';f
*
,

.')
i

'<!'

seven days of the week nor the fifteen days o the lunar month, when Brahma^ Vishnu and Shiva had no existence. Then the Adi Purusha produced the world through Shabda and

#*
"-0

Shabda produced
the Jivas.

intelligence.

Finally Kal
to

was

brought into existence

and began

persecute

Purusha perceiving this had pity them and sent the Satgur to rescue them upon from the clutches of Kal.

He compares

Purusha to a child
it

who

builds

a house and then destroys

and afterwards

" Build runs crying to his mother, saying, again " Such is the sport of Purufor me my house.
sha.

He is foolish and he is wise, he is proud and he is humble, lie is true and he is false. Such teaching is only for those who have the
power
to understand.

Dharm Dass asks for an explanation of Atma Gyan that all the Kansas may obtain The Sat Guru explains that he who salvation.
has divine knowledge will understand that the Guru and the Chela are one. So also the enemy

and the
*

friend are one.

Himself

is

active

and

W> L

J>

f
t

n
t:

himself is passive; himself shows and himself sees ; himself causes birth and death, and himsplf is

death

himself

is

the image and himself

the worshipper ; himself is the branch and himself the tree ; himself is all manifest and himself
is

hidden in himself.

THE TEACHING OF THE PANTH,

165

But why, Dharm Dass asks, why if all Is equivalent to Brahma, does the Jfva remain in ignorance ? The Sat Guru explains that Brahma is the seed out of which all things are developed and that the Shabda
the Jiva
is

is

of subtle

form

that

in

Brahma

as the

wave
oil

is

in the sea,

the ray of light in the sun,

in the oil

seed

and the scent in the flower. Such IB the relation of Atma to Param&tina. Chapter IX* The Sat Guru explains that all
sense of duality
is

due to Maya, that when

himself,

man

knows himself he becomes

and when

he realises himself he becomes Brahma. Until he knows himself he weeps and cries, and wades
through the

swamp

of delusion.
shines forth

The light of knowledge Brahma abides in the heart.

when

Then Karma and

is

Dharma

are obliterated

then there

neither

As it was, so it is, and all i^oing. delusion disappears. All apparent intervening contradictions are reconciled in the fulness of

coming nor

that knowledge, Brahma himself is the Word himself the Word that cannot be uttered, and
formless and himself speaks to all ; himself is he is both Nirguna and Saguna. islall the forms ; Dharm Dass is warned that he must first purify
his

own

heart and mind before he can so preach

and esto others that they can obtain Mukhti from the toils of Transmigration. All
cape

16(5

THE TEACHING OK THE PANTH.

reasonings and religious writings are the work of Maya ; what is required is devotion and Tatt-

the knowledge of essentials). All delusion (Bharma) is removed through medi-

wagydn,
tation.

The Sat Guru explains that he was once in Satya Loka, or rather beyond it, and that he then saw what is indescribable that the form of Purusha was wonderful, to be imagined, not described that the abodes in Satya Loka were innumerable and that in all Kansas was disIn the Loka of Kabfr cernible the one letter*
; ;

he saw the forms of many Kabirs, but looking again ho saw thai, it was but one form multiplied.

In the light of the true

is

Shabda

all

in

one, there

no second.
of the world are taught

The people
of stories,

by means
all

but for those

fall

who

understand,

such stories

far short of the truth*

All ap-

of the mind. parent distinctions are the creation knows the letter thoroughly suffers no He who
duality to enter into his mind.

The only
is

differ-

ence between Brahma and Jfva

this, that the

latter is the reflection of the former.

Chapter X. Tho Sat Guru instructs Dharm Dkss to act thus in the case of one who wishes In the first place he to become a disciple.
should give him betel, then, if he seems to possess gydn, reveal to him the majesty of Shabda,

THE ThACHiNG OF THE PANTH.

and when his

167

faith in Shabda is confirmed imhim profound knowledge. Atmkram part to abides in the heart of him who has full know-

ledge.
is

When Atmaram
;

is

realised,

he himself

Atmaram he knows no second. The Sat Guru tells how once when he was
Satya Loka Purusha appeared to him and
"

in

said

Kabir,

you and

are one

entertain no

thought of duality. I am in you and my form There are eighty-four lakhs Is in all the earth. Beside me there live in all. of species and I
is

no second.

All creation

is

delusion.

All the

countless gods and sages, even Brahma himself, Dliann Dkss reare entangled in delusion/'
joins,

Guru, this is your statement. Is there not need of a second witness ?" The Sat Gurii made this statement in the Treta replies that hu and that Madhukar, Brahmin, is the second
age,

"O

witness.

He

continues, "Kabir
is

is

in all bodies;

the speaker

Shabda.

There

is

one form and

one Shabda.
Shabda.

There

There is and one .Purusha, manifest in knows one is one the second is
;

one only one form, and only one form, one Shabda
is
all.

He who
fail

this world/'

Dharm

Dfc*3 asks

how

it is

that Jivas

to

realise their

the replies, All

The Sat Guru unity with Brahma. eame from Brahm Loka
Jivas

Karma. The clouds uncleffled and devoid of rain down tue water from the ocean and
lift

up

so does u-yan

remove

jts.arma

ana

me

purity or

the Jlva

is

restored.

Knowing

itself, it

sepa-

rates itself

from the water and being disem-

bodied reaches the Durbar.

The Atma mingles

flow into the

with Paramatmd,
ocean.
found.

as the rivers
this

Only

in

way

can ParamJitmii be
is

The Atma without Shabda

blind

and

cannot find the path.

is

He who

sees

Atmaram

present everywhere ; all he sees is like him"I self, there is nought else beside Brahma.

am

he, I

am

he

the true Kabfr."

ADDITIONAL NOTES,

M Ub X|S
printed in Ittlte
'

in
,

th

frfw

of

An

'

m H JV

!///
',
/

''

''

'-i'
'
.

jBtWPPf' ,jrfflpwFPHfW, ^
^

^''

"r

^^^%'''^^f''^''

WK&
;,'';;,

p^

^fe][?v;
;

feF'^,

23

Chauka

fei

Bamdini

24
25 26

Garur
tfottrt.

SbdL

27 28
29
.30

Qoraklk Gusht*

Gur

Updfesh.

(Bombay.)

31

32
33

'Gyin Sigan Hansdwali.

(Bombay.)

Hanumdn
JEForl.

34
35

Jfforl

Bim

36
37,
38, 39.

Kabir Charitra Bddh. (Bombay.) Kablr KasautL (Bombay.)

Kablr Manshfir,
(Bombay.) Kabir Upistti. (Bombay.) Kablr Sihib ki Sikhi (Lucknow.)
t fco

40.
,,

41.
42. 43. 44, 45. 46.

Kami SaMi

Eatknl

Tto

an$*

47*
48.

ADDITIONAL NOTES.
49,
50* 51.
52.

171

Miil

RamainL
Jlfa&dtam,

(Lucksoir)

Mdm

53,
54, 55.

Giii,

Nfrbhai

%i.
ho
(wi^.

56*
57, 58.
59.

Piy a

60, 61.

'ko

&ng.

ko

on$r.
:

62*
63,
64*

^al
Ssmtokh
Self

Ifco

oi^r*

IMdli*

(07 writings,

Bombay)

65.

0fW ho mg,
Saiigrali Prislmdtar,

66.
67, 68, 69*
70*

Sar

(Luckaow.)

Bmgar Smywht.
Sat
Afol

ki

Sttik

(Blares.)

it any.

71.
70*
73,

8*t

la

mg.

74,
75.
76.

" ^
' ,

Gmjwr*

77,

78.

172
79-

ADDITIONAL NOTES.
80*
81,

Ugr GiU. (Lucknow) *Vmwt Mnni

VavekSigan
Fatufc

(Bombay.)

In addition to the above Prof,

Buoy*

on the Religion tf

a a Wilson in
1

fa MMrn, VoL

PB

mentions

"$
kt

'I
'

ShabdawalL

it

Pmdit Waffi WaljIBhai, who worked

.

for

w the districfot Kha rata G

i

1
:

ADDITIONAL NOTES.
i.

173

In Kabfr's book

it is

written that when the

first

woman Eve, being deceived, repented of her that from her sex a great Man sin, God promised shall overcome Satan and save will be bom and He
His people. a. According
.

to the promise, God sent His Son lived with God as to save the world. This Son and at the appointed from the

Word
time

beginning,

flesh to save

His people and was called

Satan.

Kabfr.
3.

He was tempted by
At
*

4.

last

He

was nailed to a tree and suffered

_

5,

of His people God's Son took the burden

upon Himself. God's Son worked miracles. 6. dead. God's Son rose from the 7 from the dead He After God's Son rose 8

commanded

His disciples to go to

all

countnes and

preach the Gospel. Son ascended into heaven. 9 . God's die Lord* books baptism and 10. In Kabfr's

174

ADDITIONAL NOTES,

published the results of his studies in two small a jRjf 10 tfo JJt volumes, Jffan Charitra
Gran**, 1

had some interesting correspondence with the Pandit which was only interrupted by his death in
I

December

1903.

The

Pandit's writings are not

marked by any

great critical acumen,

Many

of his interpretations

may be regarded a for fetched, while his suggested derivations of words are often more Ingenious than
convincing.

His main position

Is

undermined by

Ww
\

the assumption that Kabir is responsible for all literature connected with the Panth. In spite, of these defects he has much to say that however,
is

both interesting and

Would

that

'iW
U
,

/'*{,
1
t

more Indian Christians would study the religious beliefe of their country with equal industry and
enthusiasm, and that
diligent as
all

Indian Clergy

were

he

in studies that result in a

more per-

"Mi!
V i*TI
>,

^4
;^|^
t;if

fect

understanding of the Scriptures!

Addmda and
Page 7,
Jesus
is

Corriymda.

In the Qorin, Sura Mariamt the

fS

P-'vtl V
r
:

|,V'^;C H ^1

represented as addressing those who fco the nature of his birth,

I

'f

W^ M

am the

servant of God etc."

Shfth> p.
fc

Sm

K*,

tht

Bw^

ADDITIONAL NOTES.
Pace 8
17.

178

short .account of Mansur

Al Halras

'and

ShdmsTabrezi, together

the birth place of JaM-ud-dl*,

35-

The

statement that of .the Kibriya

AlcbarKubra, and Kibriya, tuaccurate. found in modern Qortos.is Akbar are to be found.

nles

Kubra 6 times and

x.

Kibriya twice. Balakh in north Afghanistan

said to have visited the title 01 also occurs in

ls is

Bakkh.

wu

writings,

IoU and JBaWA Page 46. The

"

occurs in following Sakhi (187)

word by mouth. Kabir Declared hfe

''"n,

*,$ ^<
P*%!

y&

'"

>^

f,B

vi!

176

ADDITIONAL NOTES.
Corrigenda.

4
,fr'i;

Page 17. U. 17 and 25. For TahrezI read TabrezL Page 25 1. 13. For ChisMt read ChishitLr Page 27. 1. 6. For Bhura read Budfal* Page 31. t 12. For Khanti read KhantH. Page 40. note 3, L 2. For Nidin read Nidhiti, Page 43. sub. fin. For Akardl read Aqardij and/or
Tuj&war read Mujlwar. Page 71* L 22. For safe read SMM, Page 73. 11. 1 8 and 20. For

$1

Page 76. L 11. For RidM Page 116. sub. fin. For Nidin rmd Nidhte. Page 136, 1 25. For Tariqa read Tariqat*

p&

? li
1
lw
ipf

1
s

li.f

GLOSSARY.
letter of the alphabet deep, unfathomable. Agam unfathomable. Akhte the fifth element, ether. of Arabic alphabet. JLIif-ntlma account
'';

'

Amar Ambu

Immortal
perception,

mind*
nectar.

Amnta immortal (drink), Anand happiness. df desire.

saCTifioial

oftring of light.

souL
,*, f
M*
i

'* V
'

tfr

ranundation of the world.

as < service, respectful salutation

from a

slave to his master.

i&IJ

with the season

of spring. small wafer, made of sugar. without religion. ,. an act of worship, hyraa, sung as JBin/aw

**.**

|/l^

;.
:

l% i^id
v

lag hyttm*

$
^'v
^9
j
;

fear*
t

secret, mystery. knowledge,

JJmnrnk shop-keeper.
an evening hymnblograpliy.

w&

;!>

178

GLOSSARY.
consumption of food.
*rf

square space, specially prepared for the

'H,m '

.1*3],

,A
i

M ?Ji

"t

Thirty/our, letters of Hindi alphabet, 'relation to spiritual guide disciple,

i
1 'J ued

over the legs.

attention to. Dipak lamp.
;M

of certain kinds of pulse. round the waist and feffine

levee,

the judgement hall of

in

hical bird '

J' a musical measure.

the

mind.

Wdt flight
.

clarified butter '

^'^

of ste ps leading down to the river used /or religious bathing, for the of the dead etc;

dialogue, controTersy.

wisdom*
<

possessed of wisdom. wise* a sacred verse from the

Rig Veda, used

goose, used figuratively for the soul of never abiding in one place. ."

GLOSSARY,

179

Jdm

Jdneo the sacred thread worn over the

angel of death.

left

shoulder by members of the twice-born castes ; the Brahmins, the Kshattriyas and the Vaishyas. the mumbling of prayers or other devotionJap
al exercises.

JMlana hymn sung while

ing position.

swinging, in a stand-

Jiva soul,

life,

KadMr disciple.
a Kdfir unbeliever, from
view.

Muhammadan

point of

Kaharh a musical mode. JTdUimd, dearth. KantM a necklace, made or wooden beads.
,,,
.

seeds generally of fruit

,

Karma
Kamnti

re* action as involving punishmejit or

ward.
touchstone.

KhmA

group, division. associating with wicked persons.

number, ioo,ooo
oti loin-cloth.

I*IU play, drama* world.

,

MaM prefix
JUI*
rosary.

great.

fifaMt^m gf-eatums.

Mmffaljoy,

hywacrfF^^

-.

Jfa^ifa a verbal formula, us^d for reltgWW seml-relirious purposes. M<xmk&r spreading abroad,

month.

Math monastic

180
Muktt

GLOSSARY*
liberation, salvation.

MM root.

Niddln mansion, abode.

Mranjan void of passions, a God by Kabir Panthis*

title

applied to

WMhai without

fear.

Jfirguna without qualities.

PahcMn knowledge* Paij entry.

Pdn

betel leaf.

Pdnch Mdl rosary with five strings. Pande a high caste Brahmin.
Pdnji path.

Param-dtmd the

soul. great, all-pervading

Param-esiiwar the great God.

Parwdna authoritative document, passport, Pir Muhammadan saint*

Pvya husband* Prasdd offering made to God.
Prix/motar catechism.

Pukdr

call.

pmo the day of Ml moon* Puno Gram form of service

MM

ustd at

Pwnn

Purm Mdn the

festival of

Mi moon.
of religious truth,

PurmJi being, person*

Ramami a short exposition

Rehhta Poetry, written in a mked dialect (Hindi, Urdu, Persian, Arabic etc.)

SddM

a Hindu monk,

Sdgar sea. Saguna with qualities. Sdkat man of the world, unspiritual. Samadh the tomb of a holy man.

GLOSSARY.
SamAdti

18I

Sam Darn

the condition of one completely absorbed in religious meditation

concentration of attention on one
.

SamjJw understanding. Sdndkya the meeting of day and night of

devotion used at that time.

a form

SangrdA protection. Sanffrdm battle, controversy. Sanyukt union. Sdr whole. Sarab complete.

Sarawag whole. Sat-mng association with good men Satyatms. Sha6d<* a word.or saying ; the word of God, see Add. Note p 74.
SkaJMi a
scriptures. one hundred approximately. Smnti memory, religious teaching based upon F

Muhammadan priest SMito* a code of laws, the Hindu

tradition.

^ftatah

Somtokk contentment. Sowan$a breath. Sndra a Hindu, not

belonging to three twice-born castes. SufcA peace.

t

one of the

Tirtuous. .

Stodmi a Hindu religious teacher, held in great

respect

by

his disciples.

Tap the practise of religious austerities. rff<m enabling to cross (river or ocean.) Ttlak a sect mark, usually worn upon the forehead.

Imkd straw.
Tinted- Arpan the offering of

straw in sacrifice

182

GLOSSARY*

the name given to the initiatory in the Kabir Panth. Ttriha a place of pilgrimage. Tok atom.

Ugra a
Ujiydr

title

of Shiva.

light,

Vpama

fasting.

updeth teaching.
discrimination*

the angel of death. Yog religious meditation. world's history.

living,

Yam

INDEX
Mi
174%
2,

46,

Shah,

f he

Cocoantit, SacramLentel use of

Rev* 7A,U1,

128-4, 183-4, 140

OoTetousaMS comdemmed 81 -2 DaWstan 1, 17. Dadi Sahib 107.

of,

BMu

1,

17.

Death ceremonies 18&.

wife o!

Dharm
to

Dans,

.Deccao

fil.

H7, 154
urn, 180. Alma, in relation

Dhama Khera
Dharm Dass
Pftfam161,

105, 107. 0a, 102, 105

Ui>, 18% AtifiteriUo* condemned 51. 80,

atma
70.

and Chap. YII pawim. Discipline in. the Paath 126

Diwao

100, 104, 181,

Duality attributed
105*

ta

Maya

HairngiMlOf, 117,
Biiltfckhli, 175.

Durbar, The, of

God

85. 90.

Btuuingarh lot, 147,

f e,
Bathing, Efliglmw 5S-0
t

baaiiiierl

by

fear of 6k>d,

14

Him Kiwi,

l<mf (Biii) il, 128, 124, 149. *lw> /fertofaa.

r

UK
7I

8w

Ood, Maa'0 dependence upon

,

10*
40,
BJiitil

51.

Goomti
70.

20,

Gorakli

Nsth

88.
71-2, 89.;

IliHlj f

? ftlno 0f 49, Bmbmitttf, tbo ilatlet ol 100, Eriiitlntett 1% 105,

198.

The true
of of

Need

95, 110,

118; support

by

disciples 186.

Ottiilnwititt
107,

<*! 5fl

01.

Clyaai (ftabir),

Agreement of

lfl-L
10% 1S4 181

with JUhamrae 157.

IH-S. 4fM
.

a
107,

title of

0044

Hitwfe
of

17.

with
2hri8tinn Infltienoeft In

Humility,
157.
Jclolatry 66 of 58.
Initiation,
;

of

em

Imlfak

Bij

137.

Dhumman

lt>6-7.

Circumcision 57.

ceremony 121

184

INDEX.

Imagery* Dwelling of milk 90 86 Bellows W, Jtamoml 64, 68. IHvtag

BW cm
ft

Kabir

Chiitfft 98,
ft,

Kfcbir fCsmtttt

6*

SS

Bye

of

Wsh 5ft, Journey

finedle 17, 58, Knife

conditions of iwim!fou to 1 1 24 <soa* jeottt^i inrtittttioa of, by

P;uiU,
Jemiito i?S*

grinder 70, Locking 51, Kill atones 87, Ifatttid 8ed 8ft, 06, Kootor 51, Bctare 5S POfcto 71,9*

ooneortting S*
II,

wow!
Brwke Sugar
51,

54f 80,

80, 80, 04, press 0$,

1,

?%

H *%41
f

11, 15, 16.

Kwi 1%
151.

**-8, 100.

Knowioago^
*

IxumMcieaoy oC

uri) 40,

KixWtftrm&l 105 9 107.

il

10, fiO, 28,

Jbtuft 10,

40t 48* lowlaaos 187

lOT, lit,
.

104 Tta tlatlet of

im,

101,

Karma

160.
Ei*Iffl0tt

nm

of
<tf

JUteruT

Vernacular 110*
5-ft
;

Bitiii of

lbte

his wtoae 7

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INDEX.
Ttfabhaji
1, 2,

185

Name, Efficiency

137, 173. of the

Self-sacrMce 84, 92.

150,

Sena

17.

152, 156, 162,

Nanak

1, 2,

Narayan Dass

137, 173. 106,

Shabda, (The word) 8, 74-6, 81 167 and Chap VII passim,

Kima

5.

Niru 4. Niru Tila 102, 115.

jPA/i (Betel) 121-2, 128.

Shaikh Aqardi 9, 43. Shaikh Saqa.di 19, 43, Shaikh Taqqi 14, J6, 25,
1

39,

Shams Tabrezi
Sikandar Lodi,
32, 33, 40,

17, 33, 175.

2,

Ttanah

Mai

16-

8,

20,27,

119.
67, 84. 118,

Pandits, False 70.

Pandits,

Snake

as

True

J'anja JParwana,

Parwana

Sudras,

Symbol of evil 52. The duties of 161.

45,

(Betel) 121, 124, 131-3. See also Betel.

74.

Sufis 25, 29, 33, 175.

47,

136,

Prem Chand, The Rev,

Pride,
81.

Suhli Mdkan, 140-7,

Abstract

of

Condemnation

of

48,

Pnj&riJW, 105. Puna Oratith 128. Puran Dass 73, 114. JPuran Mh,$i 127. Qoran 7, 67.
Badha Swamis
Eae Dass
17,

Sunday, Observance of 127. Surat Oopal 115. Teachers, True and false 71.
Tilak 108-

2ink& Arpan

122, 125.

76.

Ham

title of

God
in

Kabir's
of
of,

divinity 142 ; name as true riches 50. Earn, Bam, 10 96.

historical

disbelief

Ramanand
136,-7.

Tirtha 51, 59. Toleration 86-7. Tongue, The, an unruly ber 62-3. Touchstone, The 153. Transmigration 62. Truthfulness 62-3. Tulsi Dass 1, 88.
Tulsi leaves 103, 124. Dgranam 107.
TJji 19,

mem-

5, 9.

10,

31,

102

Ramanuja
Religious

136-7.
differences
50.
of,

con-

demned
Riches,
50.

Love
80,

condemned

43 Vaishyas, the duties of 161. Walji Bhai, Pandit 172, Wilson, Prof. H. H. 29, 98,
140.

Rosary

Word, The

68, 149.

See also

liudolph Aquavlva 138. Sacraments, Efficacy of 158. Sadhus, Benefits of associating

Shabda.

Women,

Religious position of

109, 117, 153.

with

88, 04.

Bakhis 77-97.
Salvation, available for all 156, 163. See also Mukti. Sam&dlut 101. Sankaracharya 137. Satyb, Loka 150, 166 SffhH 104, 119,

Xavier, Hieronymus 138,