Time to time great saints and personalities were born in India who are remembered for generations. This year on 24 June (2021) Kabir Jayanti, also known as Kabir Prakat Diwas, is celebrated to commemorate the manifestation of Saint/Guru Kabir Das Ji, a famous poet and spiritual saint of India. His Jayanti is celebrated every year as (believed to be the birthday of Guru Kabir Das ji) on the full moon day in Indian month of Jyeshtha, which may be in May or June according to the Gregorian calendar as we know Full Moon/Purnima tithi depends on movement of moon. As a part of celebration, his followers recall his teachings and recite his poems. I will not highlight here about his caste or religion but undoubtedly he was a great human being, a great saint, a great mentor (guru). And that is why he is still respected by all. On this auspicious occasion of His Jayanti, foods are also distributed to the poor on a mass scale. Kabirdas Ji was deeply concerned with spiritualism. In the Dabistan of Mohsin Fani and Ain- i- Akbari of Abul Fazl Kabir ji, Kabir ji has been mentioned as a Muwahid or believer in one God. Prof Hazari Prasad Dwivedi in the foreword of the book 'Kabir', written by Prabhakar Machwe has mentioned that Saint Kabir was a devotee of Ram but not an incarnation of Bhagawan Vishnu. By reading different literatures, it seems Guru Kabir ji was deeply influenced by Upanishadic non dualism and Islamic monism. He did not give any importance to caste.
Saint Kabir's poems were in vernacular Hindi, including Braj and Awadhi. The poems have highlighted various aspects of life as well as presented importance for a loving devotion for God. One stanza from his poem translated by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore (wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabir)
“Where spring, the lord of seasons reigneth, there the unstruck music sounds of itself, There the streams of light flow in all directions, few are the men who can cross to that shore! There, where millions of Krishnas stand with hands folded, Where millions of Vishnus bow their heads, where millions of Brahmas are reading the Vedas, Where millions of Shivas are lost in contemplation, where millions of Indras dwell in the sky, Where the demi-gods and the munis are unnumbered, where millions of Saraswatis, goddess of music play the vina, There is my Lord self-revealed, and the scent of sandal and flowers dwells in those deeps”.
On occasion of his jayanti I extend my respectful Pronam to Guru Kabir Das ji.
The following websites have been consulted while writing the article:
Dr Shankar Chatterjee , Hyderabad, 24 June 2021
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Dear Dada, Namaskar. No nation can protect it's heritage, art, culture, civilisational values, ethos, without giving the credit to it's people from all walks of life, who brought glory to the Nation. Sant Kabir Das is an illustrious luminary of our rich heritage, culture and Nation and your tribute to the great Saint is an ode to our nation and the glory Sant Kabir personified. It's high time, we remember all saints, saints, swamis,leaders, poets, literate figures, in different fields and show our gratitude and esteem to these revered luminaries, who built India to it's unique stand in the world. Kind regards, Madhava.
Dr V Madhava Rao, B Tech(Elect), M Tech(RS), Ph.D(SIT), Ph.D (Eco), MBA(Symbiosis), PGDPM(Univ of Hyd).
Former Advisor & Head(CGARD) & Former…