Sant Kabir & Nirguna Bhakti
वदन दिया हरि गुण गाने को
हाथ दिये कर दान रे
मत कर मोह तू, हरि भजन को मान
Use your mouth to sing the praises of the Lord
And your hands to serve others in need
Let go of your attachments and focus on God
These couplets, or dohe, express the essence of bhakti, or devotion, as experienced by their author, Sant Kabir.
Born in Varanasi at the end of the 14th century, Sant Kabir was a mystic and poet who found his place in the hearts of Sikhs, Muslims, and Hindus alike. While for Sikhs, Kabir’s poetry has been largely incorporated into the Guru Granth Sahib, for Muslims he’s considered a Sufi poet. Most Hindus see him as the embodiment of nirguna bhakti.
Nirguna bhakti is a path of devotion that believes not in a God with name & form, but rather a Supreme power that is formless and free. It rejects idol worship, and believes strongly in the Atman (eternal soul) and its relationship to the Brahman (Universe/Universal power).
Sant Kabir, as a nirguna bhakta, was against the blind faith and superstitious nature of all existing religions in India. With this understanding, Sant Kabir rejected casteism and divisiveness in society, uniting people through love and service.
His poetry and contribution to the bhakti movement has had a great impact on the world of music. His words can be heard in all genres of music, ranging from pure classical to Bollywood to fusion. In a world fractured by prejudice and divisions, Kabir’s words of inclusivity and equality use music as a medium to unite people of all backgrounds.
Musicians perform Sant Kabir’s experience of devotion and use it as a way to connect to their communities and their own inner self.
