Kabir

Kabir, a great Indian mystic, teacher and poet of the fifteenth century said 'Be not the slaves of tradition; fear not to walk upon new paths, if these bring you nearer to God who is the Truth'

Popular belief has it that Kabir was born of a Brahmin widow who cast him away at Varanasi. His followers hold that he descended from heaven and was found in a lotus by a Muslim couple. Kabir proclaimed in his poems to be a weaver's son. Kabir's intense dislike for religious customs, the caste system, idol worship made him many enemies; he was a 'revolutionary' saint believing in one God and he tried to bring Hindus and Muslims together. His songs had a simplicity and rhythmic charm containing truths of universal appeal, sung to this day.

His sayings include: 'If worshipping a stone enables me to see God, I would rather worship a big mountain. And why go to the mountain. I may as well worship this grinding stone which nurtures mankind. Why ask a Sadhu, to what caste he belongs? Ask what he knows. When you buy a sword do you test the edge of the sword or the scabbard in which it is kept? A man may read many books before he dies. But will they make him a pandit? He who understands the word 'love' alone is a pandit. Why do you search for me, my devotee? I am always near you. Why go in search of me to a temple or a mosque? I am everywhere. In the beginning, there was no Turk or Hindu - no race, nor caste.'

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