Chapter - 7
Kabir: The English Writings of Rabindranath Tagore

Brief Introduction

Kabir was a realist and his poetry was a revolt against the social orthodoxies of his time. He did not write anything base less or worthless. His poetry was a result of his own experiences that he faced in his life. He was the poet of an age when Indian social milieu was suffering from a great political, economical, social and religious upheaval.

His messages are still relevant in the 21st century. Even I can say "O Kabir! Thou should be living at this hour, this world is in need of thee". He discarded the archaic practices of the religions whether they belonged to Hinduism or Islam. He was born in an age when society was bound in the chains of communal disagreement, casteism, hypocrisy, dead ritualistic practices and blind faith.

Kabir was illiterate outwardly, and his poetry was a reflection of his own experiences. He learned a lot through his encounters with life's dark realities..

He was doubtlessly a self- illumined soul. Kabir also rejected the hypocritical practices of the religious figures of all the religions whether they belong to the Hindu community or Islam or any other in context of Indian paradigm. He also raised a voice against caste system and some bitterly practiced dead customs of society. He was a strong humanist and put aside all the intolerance in religion. In his songs or couplets we find his conceptualization of God, human soul, death and existence of this world. He accepts the dominance of mortality and he explains it through his mystic poems. He sees it with a positive attitude.

Kabir worships the formless God (Nirakar Ishwar in Vedanta philosophy). His God, having no mouth, speaks a lot; having no feet, walks countless miles; having no limbs, handles the whole universe. He holds that human soul is immortal and therefore it only transmigrates from one mortal body to another according to a pre-planned providence of the Almighty.

Kabir compares our individual soul to a newly married bride who does not know much about her groom. Although their relationship is too long and familiar to one another, yet she forgets everything. The groom is no one but the eternal soul of the universe who is the maker of everything and spreads life everywhere. Apart from this soul, human soul has no identity. We may find this relationship at every point in his poetry. Kabir's soul laments on the separation of his beloved (the Supreme Being) because of his ignorance. But this separation is his illusion as it is a pre-estimated thought. The reality is that an invisible but very powerful curtain prevents us from His realization and the curtain is Maya. The poet is always eager to meet Him.

Kabir warns the devotees to be aware of death as this unavoidable hour does not inform before it comes. Death is certain and no one can escape it. All must die in this ephemeral world. He says that we can neither know nor able to know what will happen after death as it is one of the mysteries of the world. He suggests us to realize God so long as we live. He considers Death as the edge of life. Our mortal human body is made from five basic elements; air, water, fire, sky and the earth. When a body dies all these five elements are absorbed by Nature and human soul is released from the cage of Maya. Our human interpretations of death can reach only at this very point.

In spite of the different approaches of all religious and philosophical teachings, it is very clear that the all-pervading, omniscient, omnipresent factor is finally God. Due to our customs, traditions, languages we only address Him by various names. Yet, it is also true that in spite of this awareness, we spend a lot of time in arguing about God and try to impose attributes.

Kabir noticed this centuries old phenomenon in his times also. And this great Master, in the above verse highlights the underlying principle that God is everywhere.

Kabir reveals in this verse the various search patterns adopted by mankind. And each one seems to be justifying his chosen method. Some say God will be realized through pilgrimages while some justify the idol worship. Some say He is up in the mountains while some believe that He is in places of worship. Some proclaim prayers and meditation the path, others believe realization through fasting. Many talk about yogic exercises (activity) and renunciation.

In the verse I Kabir seems to be saying that God is NOT in any of these. However, this cannot be true. To my understanding, Kabir is saying that God is everywhere and therefore in all these too. However, his saying "No" simply means that we should apply our faith to One and follow it up sincerely. This will lead to instant realization of the divinity within us. However, if we "switch" our approach from one path to another, then we are simply conducting a sort of gymnastic. In his typical mystical ways, Kabir shows us the omniscience of God.

The II Verse 'Santan Jat Na Pucho Nirguniyan'(It is needless to ask of a saint the caste to which he belongs) has been taken from 'Songs of Kabir', a translation work in English by R. N. Tagore. This book was published in 1915 with an introduction by Evelyn Underhill. It consists of 100 poems of Sant Kabir who was a great Indian poet and mystic of 15th century..

In this poem Sant Kabir, a great social reformer, criticises the caste system. According to him the caste system is blot on humanism. It should be eradicated. Due to this system the Indian society has been divided into various sections. This is one of the greatest barriers in the way of the development. That is why the poet advises that one should not ask about the caste of saints. In the eyes of the poet all are equal. In short, here the poet raises his voice against social discrimination. The purpose of the poet is to establish peace, prosperity and harmony.

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