Sant Guru Kabir Jayanti

Sant Kabir Jayanti is celebrated in India at the full moon in the Hindu month of Jyeshtha, between May and June, on the Gregorian Calendar. This year, it falls on June 11. Jayanti means birth anniversary, and Sant Kabir Das was an Indian mystic poet
and religious figure who lived in the 15th century. Sant Kabir Jayanti is a special day dedicated to honoring him, his works, and his enduring legacy. Kabir Saheb was born in 1398 in the city of Varanasi in Uttar Prades on the day of the full moon in the Hindu month Jyeshthah. Raised by a family of weavers, he lived on to become a great mystic poet, persecuted for his work by Muslims and Hindus, who tried to claim him as their own upon his death. Unlike other Gurus and Saints of the time, Kabir lived simply as a weaver. He got married and had children. Kabir’s poems are mainly recorded in Hindi. They reveal different aspects of life and call for devotion to God. Kabir was often critical of certain religious practices, causing controversy during his lifetime. In 1495, Sant Kabir was forced into exile when Emperor Sikandar Lodi charged him with the possession of divine powers. He died in Maghar near Gorakhpur in 1518. Sant Kabir’s legacy has done more than survive, it has thrived. Following in his footsteps is the Path of Kabir, a religious community that acclaims him its founder and one of its sages. Known as Panthis, membership of the group burgeoned to about 9.6 million people over the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. His work was included in a spiritual book entitled “Kabir Bijak” in the 17th century, written down for the first time after being verbally
composed. Some of Kabir’s verses and teachings were incorporated into religious scriptures. In 1915, Kabir’s poetry was translated into English by the famous Bengali polymath, Rabindranath Tagore, reaching a wider audience. Currently, there are two temples dedicated to Kabir located in Benares. One of them is preserved by Hindus, while the other by Muslims. Kabir is born in Varanasi in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The
“Kabir Bijak” spiritual book is released. The religious community, Path of Kabir expands and gains new members all over India. Bengali polymath translates Kabir’s poetry into English.