Kabirpanthi

Kabir Panth () is a Sant Mat denomination and philosophy based on the teachings of the 15th century saint and poet, Kabir. It is based on devotion to him as one guru as a means to salvation. The adherents of Kabir Panth are from many religious backgrounds as Kabir never advocated change of religions but highlighted their limitations. According to some scholars, this tradition belongs to the Hindu denomination of Vaishnavism with Sufi and universalist leanings. In respect of Kabir, his followers celebrate Kabir Jayanti.

History

Origin

Kabir did not found any distinct sect in his lifetime, but two of his disciples, Surat Gopal and Dharamdas, later founded centres (known as a ''maṭh'') dedicated to preaching his teachings. These two centres later formed the two main subdivisions or factions of Kabir Panth.

Kabir Chaura

Surat Gopal first founded the Kabir Chaura maṭh (also known as ''bāp'' meaning "father") in Varanasi. It conducted missionary activities in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar and had a branch located at Magahar.

Dham Khera

After the founding of Kabir Chaura by disciple Surat Gopal, Dharamdas would slightly later found the Dham Khera (Damakheda) maṭh (also known as ''māī'' meaning "mother) located in modern-day Chhattisgarh. It conducted missionary activities in central India and had branches located in Raipur, Bilaspur, and Chindawara.

Practices and beliefs

Adherents must disavow polytheism, reject the consumption of alcohol, bathe daily whilst praising God, maintain a strict vegetarian diet. They should allow those who sin against them up to three chances of forgiveness. Kabirpanthis greet with the phrase ''Bandagī'' (meaning "salutation to you"). Furthermore, followers are instructed to avoid the company of women whom are ill-natured, never disavow their wife from their property, never speak a lie, never steal, never give a false testimony against another person, and never negatively gossip about others.

Hindu Kabirpanthis recite the name Raam whilst Muslim Kabirpanthis use the name Khuda as an appellation for God. Lay Kabirpanthis are led by a ''mahant''. A Kabirpanthi mahant is adorned in special garbs, such as a conical cap, a necklace known as a ''kanthi'', a rosary of ''tulsi'' (sweet basal), and clothing that is white or brownish-red in colour. Mahants may have a '' tilak'' (frontal mark) of the Vaishnavite tradition. The frontal mark may also be a streak along the ridge of their nose using ''sandal'' or ''gopichandan'' paste. Mahants are not obliged to remain celibate and some marry.

Kabir Panthis can follow the ethical and social customs of the day according to tradition without hindrance. Lay persons can be cremated according to Hindu law and priests can be buried or cremated depending upon which tradition one wishes to follow. In the Caribbean and across North America, Kabir Panthis may opt for burning or burial.

Kabir Panthis observe sanctity and purity in their daily lives and behavior. The foundation of their belief and practice are

* Dharma, or "the natural Law of life",
* Satya, or "The primordial and eternal truth",
* Ahimsa, or "Non-violence towards all beings through word and deed",
* Bhakti, or "Devotional love for god and a higher spiritual reality",
* Sraddha, or "Faith and unswerving loyalty",
* Asteya, or "Neither hoarding nor coveting",
* Kshama, or "Forgiveness and patience",
* Daya, or "Compassion, mercy, and conquering feelings of cruelty and insensitivity towards all beings",
* Shaucha or "Purity in body, mind and speech",
* Aparigraha, or "Limiting possessions to what is necessary and being non-materialistic",
* Anekantvada, or "Acceptance of different beliefs and the multiplicity of viewpoints",
* Vishwa Bandhutva, or "The universal brotherhood of all beings" and
* Atma Gyan or "The awareness of ones true self, which is no different from the one true reality which pervades in everyone, thus making everyone the one and only true reality".

These basic set of guidelines gives Kabir Panthis an all-encompassing formula for Love, Humility, Compassion and Unity. A Kabir Panthi lay person is called a Bhakta and priests are addressed with the honorific title of Mahant. Spiritual leaders are called Acharya or Guru. Monks who are more ascetic in nature, who do not marry and engage in more severe spiritual pursuits while never living in one place, constantly moving from monastery to monastery are called Brahmachari Sadhus, whereas those monks who do marry, have children and live a more relaxed spiritual life are ''Grihasta'' Sadhus. Similarly, women who have chosen to be Nuns are called Sadhvis. God is called by an infinite array of names but some of the more common names are "Satya Purush", "Soham Sadguru", "Adi Guru Param Satyeshwar", or simply "Sadguru Kabir Saheb". During their religious ceremonies Kabir Panthis sing the songs, ''bhajan''s and ''Sakhi''s of Kabir to the music of cymbals, drums and other Indian instruments. The Guru recites various prayers and Mantras, all of which remind devotees to remember God in all that they do.

One's mind and body must be kept pure by contemplation and avoiding gross and complicated behaviour. Such practice will allow one to attain salvation while living no matter what ones religion or other personal endeavour may be. A mark of initiation into the Kabir Panth is given in the form of a Kanthi Mala. It is a necklace made from the sacred Tulsi wood beads, sacred to Vishnu. It is also made out of the holy Rudraksha stone beads, sacred to Shiva. It can also be made using a string with just one large Tulsi or Rudraksha bead. 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. Sahaja Yoga involves remembering God by repeating ''Satyanaam''. Kabir Panthis believe in simplicity of life; simple food, clothing and belongings. One should only acquire what is needed for sustenance. Kabir Panthis are strictly vegetarian and avoid the use of alcohol, tobacco, and narcotics.

Separate organizations have formed over the years. One of the largest groups of Kabir Panthis outside India is in Trinidad and Tobago. Several smaller active groups exist outside of India as well, especially in Canada, Fiji, Guyana, Mauritius, Nepal, the Netherlands, Suriname, and the United States. The Kabir Panth Association in Trinidad and Tobago operates two primary schools and was one of the first non-Christian religious denominational schools founded in the region. Recently, other groups have been formed in Trinidad and Tobago ike Kabir Chaura Math, Satya Kabir Nidhi each with their own emphasis on the teachings of Kabir and with their own affiliations in Trinidad and Tobago, India and elsewhere in the world.

Kabir panth includes the concept of satlok, which is equated with heaven. It is said that good devotees can go to the Satlok forever. Satlok is the place of Satpurush. It is situated beyond Trikuti. It is said that only initiated souls can reach Satlok. Satlok means the Loka (World) of Truth (Sat).

Scriptures

The Anurag Sagar & Bijak

The most sacred books of the Kabir Panth sect are the Anurag Sagar and Bijak, many passages from which are presented in the Guru Granth Sahib and the Anurag Sagar. In a blunt and uncompromising style, the Bijak exhorts its readers to shed their delusions, pretensions, and orthodoxies in favor of a direct experience of truth. It satirizes hypocrisy, greed, and violence, especially among the religious.

The Bijak includes three main sections (called ''Ramainī, Shabda'' and ''Sākhī'') and a fourth section containing miscellaneous folksongs. Most of Kabir's 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. In the Anurag Sagar, the story of creation is told to Dharamdas (one of Kabir's disciples), and the Maan Sarowar is another collection of teachings of Kabir from the Dharamdasi branch of the Kabir panth.

Other scriptures

* Anuraag Saagar
* Kabir Baani
* Kabir Granthaawalee
* Saakhi Granth
* Kabir Saagar
*Kabir Amrit Sandesh
*Sandhyaa Paath
*Guru Mahimaa

Major centres

The centres of major branches of Kabir Panthis include:

* Kabir Dharamnagar Damakheda seat at Baloda Bazar-Bhatapara district on Raipur - Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh Highway (Dharamdas saheb ji lineage branch)
* Kabir Chaura based in Varanasi with a branch at Maghar;
* Biddupur seat founded by Jagu Sahib
* Dhanuati (Chhapra, Bihar) founded by Bhagvan Sahib, the scribe of Bijak;''Essays and lectures on the religions of the Hindus'', Volume 1, by Horace Hayman Wilson, Reinhold Rost (ed.)
* Chhattisgarh seat at Kudurmal, founded by Muktamani Sahib (Vikram Samvat 1570-1630). They belong to the line of Dharmadaas Saaheb;
*Kabir Parakh Sansthan, Preetam Nagar, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. Founded by Sri Abhilash Das on 1978.
* Shree Ram Kabir Bhakta Samaj of India, Shree Ramkabir Mandir Trust, and Shree Ramkabir Bhakta Samaj of USA. Founded many generations ago in Gujarat, this organization has grown to become a multi-national community with more than 12,000 members.

Demographics

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kabir Panth
Hindu denominations
Vaishnava sects
Bhakti-era Hindu sects
Nirguna worship traditions
Religious pluralism
Sant Mat
Social groups of Uttar Pradesh
Universalism
15th-century establishments in India