KABIR’S PEARLS OF WISDOM: A Translation fo 108 Verses

Kabir Das was a 15th century mystic, saint and poet of India who happened to be one of the fore-runners and a strong supporter of a religious-cum-spiritual renaissance, the ‘Bhakti Movement’. It was an uprising against the rigid manifestation of dogmas and rituals among Hindus as well as oppression at the hands of Muslim rulers in the name of religion. They filled the Indian sacred hearts with doom and dread.

Though all the poet-mystics of the time loved God in their own ways, Kabir worshipped, loved and venerated the Supreme-energy manifest as the primordial, formless, pure and the pristine. His verses show a spirit closer and akin to that of Sufis.

Though lovelorn, Kabir was far from roaming among the clouds. He stood vociferously against the inane precepts and insane customs of his time involving merciless killings in the name of sacrifice. He also lashed back at the causeless and stupid conflicts between different religions and sects. Kabir’s mission lay in equating Ram with Rahim and bridging the gap between the two.

His couplets came to be known down generations orally. They were later compiled in a book form called Bijak. In spite of him never holding a paper or pen all his life, his verses have regaled and enthralled Indian Hindi-knowing readers down the centuries and are often recited, sung and quoted to this day.