Kabir



Kabir lived in Benares, India in the 15th century. He was a weaver, a free-thinker and mystic, and opposed ritualism and false piety. Kabir's own religious identity was ambiguous. He was non-denominational as well as multi-denominational. His followers included both Hindus and Muslims. He was a leading figure in the Bhakti movement. He wrote a large number of poems and songs in simple Hindi, which are still sung across north India even today, especially by the common folk. The Sikhs' holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, includes several of Kabir's teachings.

The great Kumar Gandharva had delved deep in the mystical music tradition inspired by Kabir's compositions. He is the master singing Kabir's Ud Jayega Hans Akela.



The lyrics (courtesy Boloji):

Ud Jayega Huns Akela,
Jug Darshan Ka Mela
Jaise Paat Gire Taruvar Se,
Milna Bahut Duhela
Naa Jane Kidhar Girega,
Lageya Pawan Ka Rela
Jub Howe Umur Puri,
Jab Chute Ga Hukum Huzuri
Jum Ke Doot Bade Mazboot,
Jum Se Pada Jhamela
Das Kabir Har Ke Gun Gawe,
Wah Har Ko Paran Pawe
Guru Ki Karni Guru Jayega,
Chele Ki Karni Chela

Translation

The Swan Will Fly Away All Alone,
Spectacle of the World Will Be a Mere Fair
As the Leaf Falls from the Tree
Is Difficult to Find
Who Knows Where it Will Fall
Once it is Struck with a Gust Of Wind
When Life Span is Complete
Then Listening to Orders, Following Others, Will Be Over
The Messengers of Yama are Very Strong
It's an Entanglement with the Yama
Servant Kabir Praises the Attributes of the Lord
He Finds the Lord Soon
Guru Will Go According to His Doings
The Disciple According to His


Here is Kabir’s poem Moko Kahan Dhundhere Bande.

Moko Kahan Dhundhere Bande
Mein To Tere Paas Mein
Na Teerath Mein, Na Moorat Mein
Na Ekant Niwas Mein
Na Mandir Mein, Na Masjid Mein
Na Kabe Kailas Mein
Mein To Tere Paas Mein Bande
Mein To Tere Paas Mein
Na Mein Jap Mein, Na Mein Tap Mein
Na Mein Barat Upaas Mein
Na Mein Kiriya Karm Mein Rehta
Nahin Jog Sanyas Mein
Nahin Pran Mein Nahin Pind Mein
Na Brahmand Akas Mein
Na Mein Prakuti Prawar Gufa Mein
Nahin Swasan Ki Swans Mein
Khoji Hoye Turat Mil Jaoon
Ik Pal Ki Talas Mein
Kahet Kabir Suno Bhai Sadho
Mein To Hun Viswas Mein


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In translation:

Where do you search me?
I am with you
Not in pilgrimage, nor in icons
Neither in solitudes
Not in temples, nor in mosques
Neither in Kaba nor in Kailash
I am with you o man
I am with you
Not in prayers, nor in meditation
Neither in fasting
Not in yogic postures
Neither in renunciation
Neither in the vital force nor in the body
Not even in the ethereal space
Neither in the womb of Nature
Not in the breath of the breath
Seek earnestly and discover
In but a moment of search
Says Kabir, Listen with care
Where your faith is, I am there.

Download / hear Bhupendra singing this song here and here.


An image from a late-19th century publication on
Kabir depicts Kabir lecturing sadhus, while Vishnu
does Kabir's weaving.


Here is another well-known poem of Kabir, Chadaria Jhini Re Jhini.

झीनी रे झीनी रे झीनी चदरिया, झीनी रे झीनी रे झीनी चदरिया
के राम नाम रस भीनी चदरिया, झीनी रे झीनी रे झीनी चदरिया
अष्ट कमल दल चरखा डोले, पांच तत्व, गुण तीनि चदरिया
साइँ को सियत मास दस लागे, ठोंक-ठोंक के बीनी चदरिया
सो चादर सुर नर मुनि ओढ़ी, ओढ़ी के मैली कीनी चदरिया
दास कबीर जतन सो ओढ़ी, ज्यों की त्यों धर दीन चदरिया

Here's the great Hindusthani classical vocalist Kumar Gandharva singing Jhini.

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jhini re jhini re jhini chadariya, jhini re jhini re jhini chadariya
ke ram naam ras bhini chadariya, jhini re jhini re jhini chadariya
ashta kamal dal charkha doley, panch tatva, gun tini chadariya
saiin ko siyat mas dus lagey, thokey-thokey ke bini chadariya
so chadar sur nar muni odi, odi ke maili kini chadariya
das kabir jatan so odi, jyon ki tyon dhar deen chadariya

The second song in the file, another song of Kabir sung by Pandit Kumar Gandharva, is one of mystic detachment and irony, Kudrat ki gat nyari: "The ways of nature are amazing".

Jhini has also been ably rendered by Indian Ocean.

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In translation:

This is fine, this is fine cloth.
It is been dipped in the name of the lord
The spinning wheel, like an eight-petal lotus, spins,
With five tatvas and three gunas as the pattern.
The Lord stiched it in 10 months
The threads have been pressed to get a tight weave.
It has been worn by gods, people, and sages
They soiled it with use.
Kabir says, I have covered my self with this cloth with great care,
And eventually will leave it like it was.


The group Agnee have also sung a poem of Kabir, Sadho Re.



Sadho Re, Ye Murdo Ka Gaanv

peer mare, paigambar mari hain
marr gaye hain zinda jogi.
raja mari hain, praja ,ari hain
mari hain vaid aur rogi.

chanda mari hain, suraj mari hain
mari hain dharti aakasa.
chaudah bhuvan ke chaudhri mari hain
in hoon ki ka aasa.

nau hoon mari hain, dus hoon mari hain,
mari hain sahaj athaasi.
tetis koti devata mari hain
badi kaal ki bazi

naam anam anant rehat hai
duja tatva na hoi
kahe kabir suno bhai sadho
bhatak maro mat koi

In translation:

Oh Good Men, this is the Village of the Dead

The Saints Have Died, The God-Messengers Die
The Life-Filled Yogis Die Too
The Kings Die, The Subjects Die
The Healers and the Sick Die Too

The Moon Dies, The Sun Dies
The Earth and Sky Die Too
Even the Caretakers of the Fourteen Worlds Die
Why Hope For Any of These

The Nine Die, The Ten Die
The Eighty Eight Die Easily Too
The three humdred and thirty million Devas Die
It's a Big Game of Time

The Un-Named Name Lives Without Any End
There is No Other Truth
Says Kabir Listen Oh Good Men
Don't Get Lost and Die



Agnee have also sung another mystic song of Kabir, Kabira Jab Paida Huey To Jag Hansa Hum Roye.



"Kabir says, when I was born, the world rejoiced but I wept..."

Kabira Jab Paida Hue To Jag Hansa Hum Roye
Aisi Karni Kar Chalo, Hum Hanse Jag Roye
Na Na Na…. (Kabira.. Kabira)

Saath Janam Ke Saath Pher Hain
Saanp Seendhi Hai Bhai
Jam Ka Dand Mund Mein Laage
Dhari Rahe Chaturayi
Kabira Jab Paida Hue To Jag Hansa Hum Roye
Aisi Karni Kar Chalo, Hum Hanse Jag Roye

Paanch Tatva Ke Paanch Panch Hain
Paanch Vyaad Jag Dole
Pancham Sur Mein Anhad Goonje
Dason Dwaar Ko Khole
Kabira Jab Paida Hue To Jag Hansa Hum Roye
Aisi Karni Kar Chalo, Hum Hanse Jag Roye
Na Na Na…. (Kabira.. Kabira)

Hear Kabir's songs online here.

44 comments:

diya said...

hi..........i am divya.........i was surfin the net for some nirguni bhajans by kabir..........and the meanin of this particular bhajan of kabir sung by pt.kumar gandharva http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=f5Vlsdv_z0s&feature=related
if u cld find the meanin of these lyrics.........cld u pls forward it to me...........thanks...bye

manjari said...

another song by kabir worth mentioning here - ud jaayega hans akela.
its been sung by both kumar gandharva and his daughter kalapini komkali. maybe you could include it in your collection.

by the way, its a superb collection!

Anonymous said...

My thanks to you from the deep of my heart.....

Anonymous said...

naiharwa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYv9MrwfGRc

this yet another masterpiece

Abhiram Bhise said...

Brilliantly crafted.

Have been following kabir's compositions including videos from The Kabir Project !

mesmerizing.

Anonymous said...

Hi,

Nice collection. One correction though. Kabir did not write anything by himself. One of his 'doha' says, "Masi kagaj chuyo naahi, kalam gayo nahi haath.."

Kalpesh Soni said...

naiharwa by HIM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6aJchKdDvo

Anand said...

I keep coming back to this blog so often to dip into the verses and videos. Much gratitude...

a mohnish said...

Hi, I wish to listen to the original musical form of 'Kabira Jab paida hue'. Can you please lead me to that? (Heard the 'Agnee' version and like it as well). Thanks

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for posting the translations of Sadho Re..I liked the song but I had never known it was written by kabir nor its meaning....Thanks again

Cifar said...

amazing collection,kabir vani atma par asar karti hai,good job.
isi tarah ka collection http://www.cifarshayar.blogspot.in par bhi milega.

rasanjoru said...

Hello Sir: Thank you so very much for the great service rendered via this blog on Kabir songs. I have, for long been searching for the original Hindi lyrics as well as the meaning for the Kabir song - Koi Jaanega Jaanana Hara! Sadho! Hari bhin Jag andhiyara!... There is a beautiful rendering of this by Ambar Kumar that I see on smashits site (http://www.smashits.com/bhajan-manjari/sadho-hari-bin-jag-andhiyara/song-81105.html) however I am not able to see the lyrics and the meaning anywhere. If you could supply the Hindi lyrics and the English meaning it would be a great service!
Thanks & Regards,
Karthik Ramaswamy

fertileeast said...

looking for the english translation of
mai ko bine if someone has it please kindly forward to
patrick.dubos@gmail.com
some words still keep me wondering while the lines somtimes give an impression of clarity got it from ramkishore sharma granthavali it seems that many words he never gives the meaning basha remains quite a mystery except for the villagers for whom mainly the messages were intended for normal pandit gyani purohit and co sanskrit the true sons of the land villagers basha read kabir saying sanskrit is like the water of a well and basha like the running water of a stream anyone interested in vad vivad?????

fertileeast said...

I have quite a few of kumar gandharva kabir nirgun bhajans translated in english by linda hess whoever is interested please be welcome

Anonymous said...

thanx..u have no idea how much u have helped people by writing this blog

Editor: Vasantrao Koparday said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Editor: Vasantrao Koparday said...

Hari Om,

I have flicked Sant Kabir's bhajan lyrics "Moko Kanha Dhunde Rey Bandhe" to display it on
AMRUTVANI

Thanks.
Koparday

HARISH said...

The Whole Blog and its collection is really a dedicated effort and the diversity shows much erudition and discernment. Much gratitude.

Prakhar Mehrotra said...

Beautiful! Thank you!

vidya n said...

How glad to chance upon this. Hope these posts continue.

Unknown said...

Hi I would like to share one Kabeer Bhajan here ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdC8H8EJkfA )

ओ मेरे मन कब भाजियो सतनाम

बालपन सब खेल गमायो, जवानी में व्यापो काम
वृद्ध भये तन कापन लगे लटकन लागो चाम

लाठी टेक चलत मार्ग में सहो जात नहीं घाम
कानन बाहिर नयन नहीं सूझे दांत भये बेकाम

घर की नार विमुख होये बैठी पुत्र करत है बदनाम
बरबरात है विरथा बूढ़ा अटपट आठों जाम

खटिया से भुइँ ( भूमी ) पर कर दैहें छूटी जहैं सब धन धाम
कहैं कबीर काहा तब करियो परिहैं यम से काम

Unknown said...

Hi

Her eis one Kabir song i composed..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwRQFQEcUVE

Devesh

Unknown said...

Even modern singers like Kumar Sanu and Sonu Nigam have acknowledged that they have simply tried to emulate the singing styles of the giants of industry.


Play Mp3 Songs Online | Play DJ Remix Online

fertileeast said...

/Users/Patrick/Desktop/UPAJIN KO nav na Jano ganv ka I do not know the name of the village
maargi lagaa janu
kaliha ju katan bhajisi
pahili kyon na khadaun is this kara hona?
sish bhai sansar
chale jun sain pas
avinasi mohi le chaliya

purai meri aasa
indralok acharij bhaya bramya padaya bichar
kabir chaliya ram pe
kautighar apar
uncha chari asman ku
meru ulande huri
pasu pankheru jiv jant sab rahe mer men buri
sad panin patal ka
kaari kabira piv
baasi paavas paari mue
bishe bilambe jiv
kabir supine hari miliya
sutan liya jagai
aashi na micho darpata
mati supinan hve jaai

gobiyand ke gun bahut hai
likhe ja hirade manhi
darta panin na piun
mati ve dhoye janhi
kabir aab to aisa bhaya
nirmolik nij naaun
pahli kach kathir tha
phirta tanve taaun
bausamand vish jal bharaya the water of the sea of existence is full of poison
man nahin bandhe dhir sabal sanehi hari mile
tab utare paari kabir bhala suhela utaraya
pura mera bhag all is my luck
ram nanv nauka gahaya
tab panin pank na lag
kabir kaiso ki daya sansa ghalaya kho
je din gaye bhagati bin
te din sale mohi
kabir jachan jaaitha
aage milaya anch
le chaaliya ghar aapne
bhari khaya sanch
anygood willing able translator will be gratefully appreciated

Mr and Miss Andhra said...

Master Basha mp3 Songs Download

Tamil raja said...

Nice post...
Thanga Magan mp3 songs download
Tamasha 1st day box office collection
Deepika and Ranbir Hd images in Tamasha
Dilwale Hd images

Unknown said...

see more at:
Eetti (2015) Tamil Movie Review

Ashish Rana said...

Listen to these songs on Raksha Bandhan!
CLick here to listen

J Lalit Tirathdas said...

Can anyone please help with lyrics n meaning of Bangla ajab banaa maharaj?

J Lalit Tirathdas said...

Can anyone please help with lyrics n meaning of Bangla ajab banaa maharaj?

Sunil said...

Very Nice blog posting

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Unknown said...

It's always been pretty obvious that if you listen old songs that you enjoy then you'll end up working out harder. I like the concept of this blogspot and thanks for sharing this post.
Download Hindi Songs | Hindi Songs Download

Unknown said...

Excellent work on the teachings of great saint Kabir Ji. Will appreciate if similar efforts are made on other saint's teachings also. This will help spiritual seekers a lot as also the modern generation to know about the real purpose of a human life. Thanks a lot.

Robin said...

Amazing!!! I like this website so much it's really awesome.I have also gone through your other posts too and they are also very much appreciate able and I'm just waiting for your next update to come as I like all your posts... well I have also made an article hope you go through it. Raksha bandhan , Raksha bandhan 2017 .

Harmanjeet Singh said...

http://avigatkabir.blogspot.in/

Anonymous said...

Log on to www.jagatgururampalji. org for more knowledge about supreme god kabir saheb

Anonymous said...

Hi,

If possible could you please explain the meaning of "gura to Jine" by Kabir?
I tried searching on web but could not find any explanation.

Thanks.

Jayesh Khimji Rambhia said...

Searching for meaning of
Bina shish ki panihari

neeta ravi said...

Meaning of bhajan Mala Ramaniyo

ShemarooMe said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Biography & Facts said...

Nice article, thank you for sharing wonderful information. I am happy to found your blog on the internet. You can also check - kabir das ka jivan parichay

Gadget Portal said...

Thank you for the post! I just finished reading it up and am very excited to Pozycjonowanie stron the following series. Just wanted to let you know that your posts/thoughts/articles give me invaluable insights! I cannot really be thankful enough for all that you do! Currently finishing up your Narratives & Numbers as well. What a Gem as well!

hindiemejane said...

Kabir Das Ka Jivan Parichay
Rahim Das Ka Jivan Parichay
surdas Ka Jivan Parichay

Rahul Kumar said...

उत्कृष्ट आर्टिकल के लिए धन्यवाद।