Kabirdas Jayanti

The great poet Saint Kabir das ji was born in 1398 AD in Samvat 1455 in Brahma muhurta on the full moon day of Jyeshtha month. His birthday is celebrated as Jayanti. A couplet is popular in the opinion of his birthday –

“chaudah sau pachapan saal gaye,chandravaar ek thaat thaye

jeth sudee barasaayat ko, pooranamaasee pragat bhaye”

(The above lines mean that Kabir was born on Jyestha Sudi Purnima Monday of Samvat 1455.)

According to many beliefs, his birthplace is considered to be Lahartara of Kashi. Many scholars have differences of opinion regarding his birth. According to Bhaktamal, it is said that Kabir das ji was born to a widow Brahmin. Who, out of fear of society and shame, had left his son near a pond named Lahartara. Neeru and Neema, a couple from Julaha, adopted him and nurtured him because they were childless. Kabir das ji was married to a woman named 'Loi' from whom son Kamal and daughter Kamali were born. He took religious education from Guru Swami Ramanand. Well, he was not educated. That is why he has said in his couplet –

masi kaagad chhooaun nahin, kalam gahaun nahi haath

chaaron jug kai mahaatam kabira mukhahin janaee baat”

(Kabirdas ji never touched paper nor held a pen.Still, he narrated the glory of all four eras with his own words.)

He has not written his own works. Whatever he said, his disciples used to write it down. His two disciples were Bhagodas and Dharmadas who combined his couplets. Kabir das composed many compositions which were composed by his disciples. Some of his major works are Bijak, Sakhi, Sabad, Ramani.

He was a prominent litterateur and social reformer of the Bhakti period. He was a worshipper of Nirguna Brahma.

In the end they went to Maghar because there was a tradition that the one who dies in Kashi goes to heaven and the one who dies in Maghar goes to hell. He left his body in Maghar in 1518 AD and Samvat 1575. A controversy started in the society regarding which religion his last rites should be performed. When Kabir Das ji was seen after lifting the shroud, only a rose flower was found in place of his body.

There is a popular couplet on his death-

sanvat pandrah sau pachahattar kiyo magahar ko gon.

maagh sudee ekaadashee ralyon paun mein paun.

(Kabir Das ji left his body in Maghar on Shukla Ekadashi of Magh month in Samvat 1575.)

Literary Introduction:

Informal language of poetry: Kabirdas ji's poems were written in Awadhi language, which was the commonly spoken language of the common people. This meant that his poems were easily accessible to the common people and their message was easy to understand and adopt.

Devotion and love of God: Kabir Das ji's poems express immense love and devotion towards God. He saw God as a spiritual companion and aspired to become his companion.

Social Reform: Kabirdas ji clearly raised the issues of social reform in the society through his poems. He spoke against casteism, religious oppression and the importance of humanity and demanded increase in social justice in the society.

Unique Bhakti Poetry: Kabirdas ji's poems are considered as a unique devotional poetry, in which extreme closeness to God and meditation on God in the form of self has an important place.

Major works: Major works of Kabirdas ji are 'Sakhi', 'Doha', 'Ramaini', 'Bijak' etc. Many of these couplets and verses are famous among the people even today.

Kabirdas ji's literature has played an important role in changing the religious and social destiny of Hindi literature and his poems are still present in the hearts of people.

Importance of Kabirdas Jayanti

On the occasion of Kabirdas Jayanti, people sing his couplets. Follow the teachings given by him. Although Kabirdas ji was not educated. Yet the light of his couplets is still providing light to the world in the same way as it did in earlier eras. The couplets that came from his mouth are so influential even today that by listening to his couplets a person can get relief from his internal troubles.

Kabirdas Jayanti

Kabirdas Jayanti

Literary Introduction:

Importance of Kabirdas Jayanti

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