The Kabir Panth (Hindi: कबीर-पंथ) "Path of Kabir") is a Philosophy and religious community of India encompassing a wide spectrum of beliefs, traditions and practices based on the teachings of Shri Sadguru Satyapurush Kabir Bhagwan. Its adherents are of Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh ancestry (with an overwhelming majority being Hindu.[1]) . Kabir Panthis or "the followers of the path of Kabir", are numerous throughout all parts of India and are also found in Indian communities in large numbers in Africa, particularly Eastern Africa in Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda and the island of Mauritius as well as in Nepal, Tibet, Sri Lanka, Guyana, Fiji, Suriname, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. It is difficult to estimate the actual number of Kabir Panthis worldwide since religious affiliations tend to overlap, but within India alone estimates of 38,600,000 are given.
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Shri Sadguru Kabir Sahib was born in the sacred Hindu holy city of Varanasi also known as Kashi, in the 13th century AD and disappeared in the early 15th Century AD. According to some people he was initiated by Ramanand Swami, a famous Hindu Guru and community leader at that time. Using poignant language,Shri Sadguru 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 the salvation of their soul. He "spoke truth to power", confronting the most hostile of the Muslim rulers as well as the Hindu kings and sages, Buddhist scholars and Jain monks of the time, and was fearless and relentless in his pursuit of the salvation of humanity at large.
Shri Sadguru Kabir Saheb was an oral poet whose works were written down by others. His lyrics have flourished for more than 600 years, producing music, folk and classical, in countless local dialects and regional styles. Thousands of poems are popularly attributed to Shri Sadguru Kabir Sahib.
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 West Indies and across Canada and 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 is 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 "not hoarding, not 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". This basic set of guidelines gives Kabir Panthi's an all encompassing formula for Love, Humility, Compassion and Unity. A Kabir Panthi Lay person is called a Bhakt 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 spritual pursuits while never living in one place, constantly moving from monastery to monastery are called Brahmachari Sadhu's, 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", Bhagwan, "Adi Guru, Ishvar, Prabhu, Param Satyeshwar", or simply "Sadguru Kabir Saheb". During their religious ceremonies Kabir Panthi's sing the bhajans and Sakhis 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. 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 other intoxicants.
Separate organizations have formed over the years. One of the largest groups of Kabir Panthis outside India is in Trinidad and Tobago: three smaller active groups exist in Guyana, Suriname and also in Canada. The Kabir Panth Association in Trinidad and Tobago operates two primary schools and was one of the first religious denominational schools founded in the region. Recently, other groups have been formed in Trinidad and Tobago, each with their own emphasis on the teachings of Kabir Saheb and with their own affilitiations in Trinidad and Tobago, Bhaarat and elsewhere in the World.
The Sacred book of the Kabirpanthi religion is the Bijak, many passages from which are presented in the Guru Granth Sahib. 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 satirizes 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 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. Other sacred texts include the Anuraag Saagar, the story of creation as told to one of Kabir's disciple Dharamdas, and the Maan Sarowar, another collection of teachings of Kabir.
The centres of major branches of Kabirpanthis are the [2]
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