Kabirpanthi

Kabirpanthi (or Kabir Panth) is a religious community in India which recognizes Kabir as their Satguru or Prophet. The group comprises people of either Muslim or Hindu ancestry, and the ritual life of the community displays it's dual origins. They are numerous in all the provinces of Upper and Central India, notably in Uttar Pradesh. Outside India, Kabirpanth has followings throughout the Indian diaspora, particularly across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Mauritius.

Initiation into the Kabir panth is accomplished by the tying of a "kanthi", or necklace of beads, around the neck of an initiate by the "Mahant". The religious service in the Kabir panth is called a "chauka". It involves marking a square with sides of five meters in length. The "Mahant" sits at one end and conducts "bhajans".The ceremony also includes the acceptance of 'Naam' as the single most important aid towards ultimate spiritual realisation.

It is difficult to estimate the actual number of Kabir "panthis" in India, since religious affiliations tend to overlap, but estimates of 9,600,000 are given. [ [http://tdil.mit.gov.in/coilnet/ignca/kabir026.htm "Kabir - Chhatisgarh - Parishisht"] , (2003) ©IGNCA, last accessed Sept 3, 2007.]

Historical background

The Kabir Panth Faith comprises both Muslim and Hindu ancestral descendants and can be compared to the Syrian Druze tradition in which a Christian or a Muslim can be a part. The Kabir Panthis (A.K.A. Kavirs [ "The History, Antiquities, Topography, and Statistics of Eastern India" ] ) even consist of Sikhs. Many Sikhs belong to this sect as Kabir is one of the Bhagats of Sikhism that influenced Guru Nanak and his disciples.

The religion has grown enormously over the past 500 years with several splinter groups forming in various parts of India and around the world. Over time the teachings have been developed into various rituals, although Kabir Saheb teachings are predominantly esoteric in content. Separate splinter groups claiming to have split off from the main early organizations.

One of the largest groups of Kabir Panthis outside of India exists in Trinidad. Two other smaller but active groups exist in Guyana and also in Canada. The Kabir Panth Association in Trinidad operates two primary schools in the island and was one of the first early religious denominational schools to be founded in the region. Recently, other groups have split off from the association forming their own branches of Kabir Panth namely the Kabir Chaura Mat and the Satya Kabir Nidhi.In general, however, Kabir Panthis are simply followers of the teachings of Kabir Saheb. In this broad context, anyone who follows the behests of Kabir Saheb can be considered a true Kabir Panthi.

Practices and Beliefs

Kabir Panthis are required to observe sanctity and purity in their daily lives and behavior. The foundation of their beliefs and practices is Truth or Sat. This Truth is an all encompassing formular for Love, Humility, Compassion, and Unity. They believe that good behavior and meditation on the purest aspect of God, are the methods of finding fulfillment in life. All burdens of body and mind derive from not following this simple Truth. In this regard white clothing is worn as a symbol of purity at all religious ceremonies. What is more important though is that the symbolism is congruent with practice. That is, one's mind and body must be kept "white" or pure by contemplating on God and avoiding sensual actions. According to the Kabir Saheb's teachings, this is the way ones' life should be lived. Such practice will allow one to attain salvation while living no matter what their religion or other personal endeavour may be.

The Kabir Panthis wear small rosaries made from Tulsi beads, called Kanthi Mala. It represents the culmination of all virtuous actions. It is worn by choice and is typically given to one who has committed to avoiding lust, anger, greed, attachment to perishable things, and ego.

During their religious ceremonies, Kabir Panthis sing bhajans or songs along with the famous couplets or Saakhis of Kabir Saheb which teach the esoteric spiritual knowledge which Kabir Saheb shared with all and sundry. They chant to the music of cymbals, drums and other east Indian instruments and the guru recites various Hindi prayers, all of which are reminders for the devotee to remember God in all that they do.

Whatever are the ethical, social customs of the day, Kabir Panthis can follow according to tradition without hindrance. For example, Lay persons can be cremated according to Hindu law, and priests can be buried according to Islamic law. Generally, today, in the West Indies and across Canada and North America, Kabir Panthis may follow burning or burial, which ever suits them, as Kabir Saheb taught that the body without the spirit is dead matter or the lowest form of energy.

Kabir Saheb himself is believed to have had a body which was made of pure light or supreme power or energy. He is depicted in the writings as a rear saint who never suffered any distress at the hands of ordinary men, and could manipulate the various energies around him to produce Miracles or Ridhis and Sidhis. Accounts have stated that he raised one disciple, Kamal, from the dead, suspended himself at the end of a string in mid air, turned himself into water, caused a young bull to speak the scriptures, appeared and disappered at different places at will and even appeared to be in more than one place at the same time, and many more miraculous feats. He claimed that he belonged to no one and yet belonged to everyone as he was of the essence of the soul.

Kabir Panthis practice Sahaja Yoga which was instigated by Kabir Saheb, himself. Constantly remembering God by repeating Sat Naam or Sohang Sat Naam, subsides the wavering energies of the physical and mental aspects of the individual, thereby making him or her God Conscious. This form of yoga can be practiced by all regardless of their age, ability, background, or any other characteristic.

Kabir Panthis believe in the simplicity of life as lived by Kabir Saheb, with simple food, clothing and belongings. One should only acquire what is needed for sustenance and not indulge in passions and pleasures of the mind and body, as these only serve to deplete the spiritual energies of the soul. Kabir Panthis are vegetarians and avoid the use of alcohol, tobacco and other intoxicants.

Kabir Panthi priests are called Mahants.God or Sat Purush is commonly called by some Kabir Panthis, "sat saheb" or "kabir saheb".

Although the Kabir Panthis can be of any religion, most of them claim to be Vaishnava. [ P. 205, "The History, Antiquities, Topography, and Statistics of Eastern India" ] This is because Kabirdas ("servant [of God] Kabir") was a devotee of Lord Rama [ [http://www.telugubhakti.com/telugupages/Monthly/Bhaktas/content9.htm "Bhakta Kabir Das"] ]

cripture

The Sacred book of the Kabirpanthi religion is the Bijak, many passages from which are presented in the Guru Granth SahibThe contents of the Bijak cannot be classified as Hindu, Muslim, or Sant. In a blunt and uncompromising style the book exhorts its readers to shed their delusions, pretensions, and orthodoxies in favor of a direct experience of truth. It satirized hypocrisy, greed, and violence, especially among the religious. The Bījak includes three main sections called Ramainī, Shabda, and Sākhī, and a fourth section containing miscellaneous folksong forms. Most of the Kabir material has been popularized through the song form known as Shabda (or pada), and through the aphoristic two-line sākhī (or doha) that serves throughout north India as a vehicle for popular wisdom. Kabir gave the essence of all Holy Scriptures in simple the Sakhis, which are couplets with musical rhythm. His Sakhis are so important that they are accepted as supreme testimony of profound spiritual truth. Other sacred texts include the Anuraag Saagar which is the story of creation as told to one of Kabir Saheb's foremost disciple, Dharamdas, and the Maan Sarowar, which is another collection of teachings of Kabir Saheb.

Kabir

Kabir Saheb appeared in 1398 as a babe on a lotus flower on the Lahartaaraa Lake. He disappeared in 1518, leaving behind a handful of flowers in place of his body. He was adopted by a muslim couple named Neeru and Neema and was named Kabir by a Muslim Fakir. However, according to some legends, he was a Brahmin, as he was initiated by Ramanand Swami, a famous Hindu Guru and community leader at that time. There is nothing to prove or disprove these legends.

Using very poignant language, Kabir Saheb criticized caste ideology and declared the equality of all human beings. He employed a Socratic method of teaching, pleading with all human beings regardless of their gender, status, caste, color, race, religion, or occupation, to think critically about their lives and pursuits and whether in the end they will have attained the salvation of their soul. He "spoke Truth to power", confronting the most vicious of the Moghul rulers as well as the Hindu Kings and sages of the time. He was fearless and relentless in his pursuit of the salvation of humanity at large.

Kabir was an oral poet whose works were written down by others. His oral traditions have flourished for more than 500 years, producing a rich array of musical forms, folk and classical, in countless local dialects and regional styles. Thousands of poems are popularly attributed to Kabir, but only a few written collections have survived over the centuries. Many modern poets and scholars of religion and literature now study the life, teachings, and poetry of Kabir Saheb.

Both Kabir and Ravidas are considered to be disciples of Ramananda Swami, and their works are highly influenced by him.

Holy Places

The most holy places for Kabirpanthis are the Kabir Chaura based in Varanasi with a branch at Maghar. The headquarters of the Dharmadasis is the Chattisgarh district of northern India. The Muslim origin Kabirpanthis have Maghar as their headquarters.

The Kabir Chaura Math is on the site where Kabir traditionally gave instructions to his disciples. The Math or monastery contains the Khanraon, a pair of wooden sandals representing the feet of Kabir, and the Gaddi, the pillow of Kabir. Pictures of Kabir, Ramananda, Ravidas and Mahants are on the walls of the Math.

Chants

The main chant or Simran of the Kabirpanthi religion is Sant Kabir Ji "Param Pujania Swami Kabirsahabji Maharaj" = Response: "Sant Kabir ji Mera Shat Shat Namaskar hai !!"

In The island republic of Trinidad & Tobago as well as across the United States and Canada, the Simran of Kabir Panthis is Sat Naam or Satya Naam. In meditation some may use Soaham or Sohang and Sat Naam.

The typical greeting used when meeting other Kabir Panthis is Bandagie Saheb which means I bow to the Saheb who exists in you and me.

References

External links

* [http://www.kabirchaura.com Website of the Kabir Chaura, home of the Panthis]
* [http://www.kabirashram.org Website of the Kabir Ashram Jamnagar]
* [http://www.2kabir.co.uk website dedicated to Kabir Ashram Jamnagar]
* [http://www.kabirbhavan.com Mandir in the capital of India, New Delhi]
* [http://www.kabir.nl website of the Kabirpanthi's in Holland and Surinam]
* [http://tdil.mit.gov.in/coilnet/ignca/kabir026.htm Information about Kabir Panth]
* [http://www.sahibbandgi.org/ website of the Sahib Bandgi in India]