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.