The Portrait of Bhakti Sant Kabir Das
A Folklore Society online talk, by Fadime Apaydin
Tuesday 2 July 2024, 18:00 BST
In the Indian context, where Hinduism occupies a significant position, the bhakti movement, which is regarded by certain scholars as a democratic ideology that fosters unity among individuals irrespective of their caste, community, nationality, or gender, emerges as the predominant manifestation of Hindu religious devotion, particularly in the northern regions of the country. The Bhaktas have played a pivotal role in the advancement of the Bhakti movement and its dissemination among the general populace. Sant Kabir Das, a prominent devotee who played a significant role in the bhakti movement, is widely regarded as an influential and remarkable figure within the context of the Bhakti movement in Northern India. Despite being a prominent and extensively recognized individual who consistently remains in the public eye, Kabir’s life and religious affiliation are shrouded in enigma. The determination of his dates of birth and death has been the subject of continuous scholarly debate, while his religious affiliation has sparked intense discussions between Hindus and Muslims. This paper examines the life, religious affiliation, teachings, and relations with Guru Ramananda of Sant Kabir Das with the aim of gaining a deeper comprehension of him and making a modest contribution to the ongoing efforts to lift the shroud of secrecy that surrounds him.
Fadime Apaydin is a Ph.D. student in religious studies at the University of California, Riverside. Her research interests concentrate on the interplay of religion, politics, and cultural change at the intersection of global immigration and generational replacement, with a particular focus on Muslims in the United States.
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Image: Manuscript folio painting of Bhagats Ravidas (left) and Kabir (right) seated under a tree.jpg, via Wikimedia Commons
