647th Birth Anniversary of Sant Kabir Das | 25 Jun 2024

Source: PIB

On 22nd June 2024, the Prime Minister commemorated the 647th birth anniversary of Sant Kabir Das.

  • Sant Kabir Das, a 15th-century Indian mystic poet and saint, was born in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh to a Hindu family but was raised by a Muslim weaver couple.
  • He was a notable figure in the Bhakti movement, which emphasised devotion and love for the divine.
    • The Bhakti movement started in the 7th century in South India and spread to North India during the 14th and 15th centuries.
    • Popular poet-saints of the Bhakti movement, like Ramananda and Kabir Das, sang devotional songs in vernacular languages.
  • Kabir sought spiritual guidance from teachers such as Ramananda and Sheikh Taqi, shaping his unique philosophy.
  • Kabir is revered by both Hindus and Muslims, and his followers are known as "Kabir Panthis."
  • His popular literary works include Kabir Bijak (poems and verses), Kabir Parachai, Sakhi Granth, Adi Granth (Sikh), and Kabir Granthawali (Rajasthan).
  • His works, written in the Brajbhasha and Awadhi dialects, significantly influenced Indian literature and the development of the Hindi language.

Read More: Sant Kabir Das Jayanti