In the spiritual sky of India, the name of Saint Kabir is the most unique. Due to this uniqueness, the supreme guru Osho has explained his verses in three separate discourse series—Suno Bhai Sadho, Kahe Kabir Deewana, and Kahe Kabir Main Poora Paaya. Not only these, but Osho has also explained Kabir’s dohas and verses in many of his other discourses. While speaking on Kabir, Osho says:
“Kabir is unique and offers hope to everyone because it’s difficult to find a person more ordinary than Kabir. And if Kabir can reach the truth, then anyone can. Kabir is a simple man, so even a simple person can hope. He was uneducated, so education has no relation to attaining truth.”
Kabir had no link with the prominent saints of India. He didn’t belong to any particular caste—perhaps born into a Hindu home but raised in a Muslim household. So, caste and community have nothing to do with the divine. Kabir remained a householder all his life, a weaver. He continued weaving and selling cloth. He didn’t go to the Himalayas, which means the divine can come to you even at home—going to the Himalayas isn’t necessary. Kabir didn’t give up anything but attained everything. So, renunciation is not a requirement for realization. Kabir was neither rich nor learned, not respected nor cultured. If someone like Kabir could attain supreme knowledge, then there’s no reason for you to be hopeless. Hence, Kabir offers great hope.
Kabir Das Birth
Saint Kabir Das was born in 1398 AD and continued planting seeds of knowledge and devotion in the hearts of hundreds and thousands of disciples until 1518 AD. Several miraculous stories are associated with his birth. According to some, he was born to a widow Brahmin woman due to the blessings of Saint Ramananda. Without noticing that the woman was a widow, Ramananda blessed her saying, “May you have a son.” Embarrassed, she abandoned the child by the Lahartara pond near Varanasi. It’s said that a childless Muslim weaver couple, Neeru and Neema, found the crying infant there. They believed the Almighty had sent the child to bless their home and lovingly raised him.
As per his parents’ wish, Kabir was later married to a girl named Loi. He had two children—son Kamal and daughter Kamali.
From a young age, Kabir was inclined toward spirituality. Although he never got formal education, his writings reflect his wisdom and sharp intellect. He had a unique ability to understand, deeply reflect, and analyze fundamental truths. The verse “Kashi Mein Hum Prakat Bhaye Hain, Ramanand Chetaye” shows that Kabir accepted Saint Ramananda as his guru.
Swami Ramananda was a renowned scholar and religious leader in Kashi, respected among priests and common people. It is said that it was difficult for Kabir to formally receive initiation from him. So Kabir cleverly devised a way—he lay down on the steps of the ghat where Ramananda would come early in the morning for his daily bath in the Ganga. In the dim light, Ramananda accidentally stepped on Kabir and exclaimed, “Ram kah, Ram kah” (“Chant Ram’s name”). Kabir then began calling himself Ramananda’s disciple. Eventually, he became one of Ramananda’s twelve prominent disciples. It is said that all twelve of them attained supreme knowledge and shone like moons in the spiritual sky.
Householder Life
According to general belief, Loi was Kabir’s wife, and they had two children. His daughter Kamali became a disciple of Saint Raidas, and his son Kamal often disagreed with Kabir. Kabir lived from 1398 to 1518 AD, spreading fragrance across the earth, never leaving his home, and remained a householder throughout.
Miracles
Many miraculous stories are associated with Kabir. Influenced by a cleric, Emperor Sikandar Lodi once sentenced Kabir to death. He was chained and thrown into the Ganga River, but the chains broke, and Kabir swam to the shore. He was then thrown into a fire pit, but the fire extinguished by Kabir’s influence. Lodi became angrier and released a mad elephant to trample Kabir, but the elephant bowed before him instead. It’s said, “No harm can come to one who has God as his protector.”
Kabir always stood against blind faith. People believed that dying in Kashi ensures heaven, while dying in Maghar leads to hell. To challenge this, Kabir went to Maghar in his last days and died there in 1518, breaking that superstition.
Kabir believed all living beings are one and taught the same. However, after his death, a dispute arose about his funeral. His Hindu followers wanted to cremate him, while Muslim followers wanted to bury him. It is believed that a miracle occurred—an ethereal voice was heard, and when the funeral cloth was lifted, there was no body—only flowers. The Hindus took half of the flowers and performed cremation in Kashi, creating the famous Kabir Chaura memorial. The Muslims buried the remaining flowers in Maghar.
Kabir’s Disciples
Kabir’s saintliness was like a vast, pure stream, so it was natural that many disciples followed. It’s said he had 484 disciples, among whom Dhani Dharmdas and Suratgopal were prominent. After Kabir’s passing, Dharmdas established a separate branch of the Kabir Panth in Chhattisgarh. Kabir had blessed him that the lineage would continue for 42 generations. Currently, Prakashmuni Nam Saheb is the 15th guru in that lineage.
It is also a popular belief that Kabir gave the Naad Diksha (initiation through sound) to Guru Nanak Dev. Years later, during deep meditation, Guru Nanak felt the urge to meet his guru Kabir. He eventually found Kabir in Amarkantak in 1496. Under the shade of a large banyan tree, the two enlightened souls met—a tree that still stands today, offering spiritual experience to seekers.
Literary Contribution –
According to various sources and Kabir Panthis, the following 63 texts are attributed to Kabir: Agadhamangal, Anurag Sagar, Amarmul, Aksharand ki Ramaini, Ugrageeta, Kabir ki Bani, Kabir-Gorakh Goshti, Kabir ki Sakhi, Bijak, Brahmanirupan, Muhammadbodh, Reta, Vicharmala, Viveksagar, Shabdavali, Hansmuktavali, Gyansagar, and more.
Based on language style and facts, it is believed that Bijak is Kabir’s core text, while the others were written by his deeply influenced disciples. Kabir wasn’t a classical poet—he was a saint and a devotee. His divine inner state naturally came out in poetic form, making him not only a saint but also a great poet.
There is unity between Kabir’s poetry and life. His poetry reflects how he lived. That’s why he could explain profound philosophical concepts like soul, God, life, world, illusion, knowledge, devotion, yoga, and Hatha Yoga in simple, relatable examples that even illiterate people could understand—and those who approached him with sincerity also experienced those truths.
When seekers read or hear Kabir’s poems, they don’t just read or listen—they live them.
“Kar naino deedar, mahal mein pyara hai
Gagan mandal mein amrit ras barsai, soora hoy jo bhari bhari peevai.
Nigura-nigura rahe pyasa, jaka ghat andhiyaara hai.”
Kabir was uneducated, a carefree and wandering mystic. Reading and writing are not necessary for love, joy, and celebration. When the divine fills every pore, songs arise naturally from the lips. Kabir too sang such songs. It is said that often in the evening, Kabir and his companions would get lost in divine remembrance, singing these songs. Sometimes he shared deep messages through song with disciples and seekers, and sometimes used poetry to criticize social evils. These songs later became famous as Sakhi, Sabda, and Ramaini.
Shyamsundar Das, in the introduction to Kabir Granthavali, wrote that he found two handwritten texts of Kabir in the library of the Kashi Nagari Pracharini Sabha. One was written in 1504 and another in 1824. He believed the first was written by disciple Maluk Das 14 years before Kabir’s passing. The second text contained verses from Kabir’s final 14 years. Many of these verses are also included in the Guru Granth Sahib. Together, these were compiled into one book called Bijak, divided into three parts—Sakhi, Sabda, and Ramaini. It is also said that Kabir’s beloved disciple Dharmdas recorded many of his verses.
In conclusion, it is fair to say Kabir was fearless, bold, and beyond norms. His words are a treasure for all of humanity—not only for scholars, devotees, and seekers but also for the poor, neglected, and helpless. Kabir was grounded—he earned his living and fed guests. He never depended on his disciples’ earnings. “Turning even the simplest act of hand into worship, weaving the divine name into threads—that is the greatness of Kabir.”
Sources: Bhartiya Sant Parampara by Baldev Vanshi, Kabir Panth ka Udbhav evam Prasar by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Sant Dharmdas by Dr. Satyabhama Adil, Hindi Sahitya ka Itihas by Dr. Nagendra, Kahe Kabir Deewana.
