Mentors Comment:
The question comes close to the heels of commemoration of 500th death anniversary of Sant Kabir and examines the kind of impact he has on contemporary Indian society through his teachings. Hence it is important for mains.
The question asks us to discuss the relevance of Kabir’s teachings in today’s world. Therefore, you have to probe deeper into the topic, get into details, and find out the implications.
In the intro, give a brief biography of Sant Kabir. Kabir was the most celebrated of Ramananda’s disciples and the most liberal among medieval Indian reformers.
Discuss the key philosophies of his teachings in the first part. He considered all religions as one and same and aimed at bringing about harmony among all communities etc.
Then discuss how these influences are relavant in today’s world. Clue here is increasing communalism, intolerance, role of godmen, superstitions etc.
In the conclusion mention that Kabir influenced indian society back then and his teachings are mug required in the current climate.
Model Answer:
Bhakti Movement which began in 13th century talked about personal devotion to god. The movement inspired many poets like Meera, Tyagraj as well as Kabir. Kabirdas was a disciple of Ramananda, and was raised by a Muslim weaver. He stood for doing away with all the unnecessary customs and rituals in both religions and bringing union between these religions. He became one of the mainstay of Bhakti movement during medieval period in India.
Key Teachings and Philosophies of Kabir:
- Kabir believed that God is uni-present .
- He did not advocated idol worship
- According to him true dedication is way to realize the one own-self & hence the supreme power called God.
- Kabir did not supported asceticism and believed that one can find God without leaving the materialistic world & its obligations.
- Kabir saw all the religions in the same light & considered religions merely different means to reach same God.
- He strictly criticized those who divides society on religious and caste grounds.
- Kabir was the first saint to reconcile Hinduism with Islam.
- Kabir took good things from all religions while filtered out orthodox practices & meaningless rituals.
- His God was a personalized God , which he can worship the way he want to.
- These ideas were basically bedrock of Bhakti cult followed by Mira bai, Raidas, Bihari etc.
Relevance of Kabir in present time:
- His dohas are still relevant today as they were when he wrote them, transcending the bounds of time.
- His secular perspective on religion is evergreen.
- It is pertinent to follow his thoughts today in these times of turmoil
- Kabir’s teaching are in perfect harmony with the social and religions needs of the present times;
- He identified himself completely with the concept of an integrated Indian society and won the hearts of millions. This is the need of the hour right now.
- Technology like social media is supposed to unite people. But we are actually using the same technology to create a divisive culture and we have been hating people we don’t know and have never met. Kabir has always advocated direct experience and this will be handy in present conditions.
- Acceptability of multiple narratives and the room for dissent are missing today. Kabir’s teaching to express themselves freely and habit to accommodate those thoughts are much needed now.
- His idea of casteless society which is based on rationality is the answer to the creeping casteism and superstitions in the modern society.
- Kabir had a clear vision and approach towards social equality. He created awareness to end discrimination in the society. Society needs that awareness even now.
- In the present communaly polarised world, Kabir’s idea of unity seems almost prophetic.
- He questioned the structures and systems of the time and always questioned the people who claimed authority in the society. In the society which is turing towards status quoist, this temperament is more necessary than ever.
Sant Kabir continues to inspire people world over even after 500 years of his death. People still find his couplet relevant in today’s context which is gradually being engulfed by consumerism, urbanization and globalization. Hence, Kabir’s dohas are rooted in basic philosophy with ability to stand the test of time. This makes the teaching of sant kabir immortal.
FAQs
What was the role of Kabir in the Bhakti movement? ›
Sant Kabir Das was a proponent of Bhakti Movement. The legacy of Kabir Das still remains through a sect referred to as Panth of Kabir, a spiritual community that considers him as the founder. Kabir Panth is not a separate religion, but a spiritual philosophy. In his poems, Kabir calls himself a julaha and kori.
What were the main teachings of Kabir? ›- Rejection of major religious traditions.
- Criticism of all forms of external worship of both Brahmanical Hinduism and Islam.
- Criticism of priestly classes and the caste system.
- Belief in a formless Supreme God.
- Emphasis on Bhakti or devotion to achieve salvation.
Kabirdas was a disciple of Ramananda, and was raised by a Muslim weaver. He stood for doing away with all the unnecessary customs and rituals in both religions and bringing union between these religions. He became one of the mainstay of Bhakti movement during medieval period in India.
Why is Kabir remembered even today? ›Kabir's message is immortal so he is remembered even today. His message of equality, love, communal amity and brotherhood without distinction on the basis of caste, creed and religion remains the beacon light for us.
What is the importance of Bhakti movement in India? ›The Bhakti movement emphasized the unity of all the different Hindu gods, the surrender of the self to God, equality and brotherhood of all people, and devotion to God as the number one priority of life. One of the most important impacts of the Bhakti movement on Indian society was the rejection of the caste system.
What impact did Kabir and Nanak leave on Indian society and culture? ›Kabir laid stress on religious toleration and taught a lesson of brotherhood to Hindus and Muslims. Kabir raised his voice against the custom of sati and child marriage, the two evils which were purely social in character.
Why was Kabir important? ›Kabir is widely believed to have become one of the many disciples of the Bhakti poet-saint Swami Ramananda in Varanasi, known for devotional Vaishnavism with a strong bent to monist Advaita philosophy teaching that God was inside every person, everything.
What were the values of Kabir? ›He believed in the oneness of God and opposed the idea of worshipping the idols. Kabir emphasized the need to persistently purify the soul to be close to God rather than to indulge in various rituals.
What are the major teachings of either Kabir and the way they have been transmitted? ›The major teachings of Kabir were as follows:
He used the terms drawn from Islamic tradition like Allah, Khuda, Hajrat and Peer but also used words of Vedic traditions like Alakh ( (the unseen) and nirakar ( the formless). Thus, he freely took to both traditions viz. Islamic and Vedantic.
Kabir's teachings were vehement and rejected major religious traditions. His teachings ridiculed different forms of external worship of both Brahmanical, Hinduism and Islam. He used to teach Hindu, Muslim unity. He believed that God is one who just has different names.
What form of Bhakti did Kabir preach? ›
Kabir preached the Nirgun form of bhakti.
This school of Hinduism proposes worshipping of idols as God is believed to be existing in those bodily forms.
Bhakti Movement started from South India, by Alvaras and Nayanars. Alvaras are the devotees of Lord Vishnu and Nayanars are devotees of Lord Shiva. These devotees travelled to various places singing hymns in praise of their Gods.
What is the ultimate reality of Kabir? ›Kabir described the 'Ultimate Reality' by drawing the ranges of traditions such as from Islam, he had drawn the Ultimate Reality as Allah, Khuda, Hazrat and Pir.
What did Kabir say about religion? ›He questioned two prevailing orthodoxies: the concept of rival Gods and the need for religious rituals for worshipping Him. In place of Allah and Ishwar he conceptualised a single universal God; in place of denominational religions, he conceptualised a universal religiosity.
What was Kabir inspired by? ›Kabir Das was a 15th-century Indian mystic poet and saint, whose writings influenced Hinduism's Bhakti movement and his verses are found in Sikhism's scripture Guru Granth Sahib. His early life was in a Muslim family, but he was strongly influenced by his teacher, the Hindu bhakti leader Ramananda.
What was the impact of the Bhakti movement in the medieval period? ›The impact of the Bhakti movement in India was similar to that of the Protestant Reformation of Christianity in Europe. It evoked shared religiosity, direct emotional and intellection of the divine, and the pursuit of spiritual ideas without the overhead of institutional superstructures.
What was the Bhakti movement impact and significance? ›Answer: The Bhakti movement is the most significant cultural revolution in Indian history. It brought some notable changes in Indian literature by reflecting the new form of devotion and direct interaction between the worshippers and God. This impact was developed during the medieval period and continues its forms.
What is Bhakti and why is it important? ›bhakti, (Sanskrit: “devotion”) in Hinduism, a movement emphasizing the mutual intense emotional attachment and love of a devotee toward a personal god and of the god for the devotee.
What ideas and practices were rejected by Kabir? ›Kabir and Guru Nanak rejected all orthodox religions of that time. They were against the caste system, luxurious life, and discrimination based on religion.
What were the major teachings of either Kabir and Guru Nanak? ›The major teachings of Kabir were as follows :-
He used the terms drawn from Islamic tradition like Allah, Khuda, Hajrat and Peer but also used words of Vedic traditions like Alakh (the unseen) and nirakar (the formless). Thus, he freely took to both traditions viz. Islamic and Vedantic.
In what ways Kabir strengthened the syncretic culture in India? ›
Role of Kabir in strengthening the Syncretic traditions in India. He rejected ritualism, pretentions, and hollowness of both Hinduism and Islam, yet his legacies are claimed by both Hindus and Muslims. This is because he made individuals sovereign in spiritual domain.
What does Kabir say about God? ›As per Sant Kabir,true God is with the person who is on the path of righteousness, considers all creatures as his own, and one who is passively detached from worldly affairs.
What was the contribution of Kabir and Nanak in the Bhakti movement? ›Thus both Kabir and Guru Nanak was a significant figure and played an important role in Bhakti movement through their teachings and creations. Both helped Bhakti tradition to reach masses in their language and allowed spread of Bhakti Movement in various part of the nation.
How did the teachings of Kabir describe the ultimate reality through his poems? ›Kabir described the 'Ultimate Reality' by drawing the ranges of traditions such as from Islam, he had drawn the Ultimate Reality as Allah, Khuda, Hazrat and Pir. Several terms from the vedantic traditions, such as Alakh, Nirakar, Brahmana, Atman were also taken.
What are followers of Kabir teachings called? ›His followers are known as Kabirpanthis which means travellers who go on the path of Kabir.
What was Kabir's ideology behind his Bhakti and devotion? ›He, like the other prominent saints of his time, argued that it was only through bhakti, intense love or devotion to God could one attain salvation. In many of his verses, Kabir proclaimed that people of all castes have the right to salvation through the bhakti tradition.
What were the features of Kabir's ideal state? ›Kabir, therefore, invokes God to protect them. His Begumpura was an imagined, ideal polity, the kingdom of God, that had no State, no elite, no corruption and no surplus extraction. It was premised on justice, equality and freedom. Kabir, however, as critics[15] have argued was uncritical of patriarchy.
What is the importance of Guru according to Kabir? ›He just reminds us that we are full of desires. On the other side, he again tells us that master or Guru is the one who is full of unperishable, free from all the desires. Kabir simply wants us to have a look at the master and then at ourselves. All of us know that we are full of desires.
What caused the Bhakti movement? ›Challenge from Rival Religion: the impact of the Muslim rule and Islam put dread in the heart of Hindu masses. The Hindus had suffered a lot under some of the fanatic rulers. They wanted some solace to heal their despairing hearts. Influence of Sufism: The Sufi saints of the Muslim community also inspired the movement.
Who was the first exponent of the Bhakti movement? ›Ramanuja was the first exponent of the Bhakti movement. He gave the philosophy of Vishistadvaita. He believed in Brahma as a supreme and individual soul. He believed that God could be achieved by the soul through Bhakti.
What is the introduction of Bhakti? ›
Bhakti' is a Sanskrit word that means 'devotion. ' It was a movement that stressed a devotee's profound, strong connection and love for a specific deity and God's love again for the believer.
What is the social philosophy of Kabir? ›Sant Kabir's philosophy tackles both social and spiritual aspects of human life. Sant Kabir's true philosophy is not only human and Divine in nature, but also social and ethical in nature. Harmony, equality, and devotion are all important themes in Sant Kabir's philosophy.
Who was Kabir What did he think about? ›Kabir was one of the great reformers of the Bhakti movement. He taught Hindu Muslim unity. He believed that God is one and Tshwar' and 'Allah' are different names of one God. He taught devotion to God and also preached brotherhood of man.
Who played a key role in spreading the Bhakti movement? ›The Nayanars and Alvars were Tamil poet-saints who played an essential role in the propagation of a Bhakti Movement in the South part of India during the 5th – 10th centuries.
Who was Kabir and what did he preach? ›Kabir was one of the great reformers of the Bhakti movement. He taught Hindu Muslim unity. He believed that God is one and Tshwar' and 'Allah' are different names of one God. He taught devotion to God and also preached brotherhood of man.
Who led the Bhakti movement in India? ›Bhakti Movement started from South India, by Alvaras and Nayanars. Alvaras are the devotees of Lord Vishnu and Nayanars are devotees of Lord Shiva. These devotees travelled to various places singing hymns in praise of their Gods.
What were the teachings of Kabir and Nanak? ›Kabir and Baba Guru Nanak taught that everyone could obtain God's grace with love, through charity and helping one another. They opposed idol worship and religious rituals. They were against caste and religious differences.
What was the importance of Bhakti movement in reforming and uniting the Indian society? ›The Bhakti movement created a good influence on the Indian rulers, who began to treat all their subjects alike, generously and impartially. It created, such national rulers as Sher Shah Suri and Akbar and encouraged national way of thinking.
What is the concept of God for Kabir? ›As per Sant Kabir,true God is with the person who is on the path of righteousness, considers all creatures as his own, and one who is passively detached from worldly affairs.
What were the major ideas expressed by Kabir How did he express this? ›Kabir was a saint of bhakti.
He recommended that the major religious traditions be dismissed. All forms of outward worship of both Brahmanical Hinduism and Islam, the preeminence of the priestly classes, and the caste system were explicitly mocked by his teachings.
Who was Saint Kabir What was his teachings? ›
He was an advocate of the nirguna form of Bhakti. According to Kabir, the same God was referred to by several names like Rama, Hari, Allah, Rahim and many more. Everyone should be devoted to God and not pay heed to religious differences. He rejected the caste system, idol worship and pilgrimages.
What is meant by the Bhakti movement? ›bhakti, (Sanskrit: “devotion”) in Hinduism, a movement emphasizing the mutual intense emotional attachment and love of a devotee toward a personal god and of the god for the devotee.