Kabira in the market place, Wishes welfare for All.

Kabir the weaver (or Kabira), was born in India in the 1400s. He also came to be known as a great saint and poet, his thoughts holding sway over millions even today. Folk songs in Sindhi and Punjabi carrying within their words the magic of Kabir’s thoughts, have seeped into contemporary Indian oral traditions. Till just the other day, I did not realize that some of the widely-used truisms in Hindi vernacular have come all the way from Kabir’s mouth e.g., “Kal kare so Aaj Kar, Aaj kare so Ab” (“Tommorow’s work do Today, Today’s work do Now”). As is only natural, the language of the people finds expression in Bollywood – the recent fountain of film songs steeped in Sufi spirit of ‘Love’ and ‘Longing’ and ‘Complete Devotion’ are reminiscent of some of the teachings of this extraordinary person.

Kabir who is regarded by Hindus as a Vaishnava Bhakat (Vishnu’s Disciple), by Muslims as a Pir (Saint/ Guide/ Teacher) and by Sikhs as a Bhagat (God’s Disciple), was it is said, almost illiterate. Raised by Muslim parents, he was never formally educated. The only word he could ever write was ‘Rama’ (the name of the 7th re-incarnation of Hindu God, Vishnu who is considered as the embodiment of mercy and goodness). Thus, Kabir’s lyrics are simple and based on colloquial language and nuances, and stems from his keen observation of mundane and everyday things.

Breaking away from religious dogmas and ritualistic allegiances and a casteist society, Kabir propagated a Divine union through love, devotion and an awareness-filled life. Kabir’s poetry is expressed in the form of songs and couplets (‘Dohas’). The spiritual depth Kabir expresses in just 2 lines is extraordinary, communicating universal truths about life as it is supposed to be lived (I think). I am reproducing 3 dohas below for a preliminary understanding of what Kabir says.

Jab tu aaya Jagat mein, Log hanse tu Roye,

Aise karni Na Kari, Pache hanse Sab Koye.

(When You were born in this world, Everyone laughed while You Cried,

Conduct NOT yourself in manner such, That they Laugh too when you are gone.)

Akath kahaani Prem ki, Kuch kahi na Jaaye

Goonge keri Sarkara, Baithe Muskae.

(Inexpressible is the story of Love, Not revealed by Words,

Like the Dumb eating sweet-meats, Only smiles, the Sweetness He cannot Tell.)

Jyon nainon mein Putli, Tyon Maalik ghat Maahin,

Murakh log na Jaanhin, Bahaar Dhudhan Jahin

(Like the Pupil in the Eyes, The Lord resides Inside

The Ignorant not knowing this, Searches for Him outside.)

If you would like to hear how good Kabir’s words sound in the golden voice of the great Sufi singer Abida Parveen, I highly recommend the album “Kabir by Abida”. The songs are just like Gulzar says in one of the introductions in the album, ‘twin intoxication – getting drunk on the verses of Kabir and then again on the voice and rendition by Abida’.

It is said that people spend a long time in searching for the meaning for their existence, and a dissonance between a life lived and a life sought, creates tumult in the mind. Kabir the weaver and his words I am convinced, have been teaching us for centuries on how to limit this dissonance. I find his teachings intrinsically true and simple to understand but as with most things true and simple, difficult to practise.   So every day I Learn Kabir’s teachings only to Unlearn them later but the next morning, I try to pick up the thread again…