Published Paper Details:

Kabir is a fifteenth century weaver who was a mystic, poet and saint of India. His story is shrouded in contrary legends that emanate from both Hindu and Islamic sources, which claim him simultaneously as a Sufi and as a Hindu saint. Kabir was disappointed with the prevailing system of religious bigotry. He was a hater of religious exclusivism, and sought, above all things, to initiate human beings into the liberty of the children of God. He openly criticized all sects and gave a new direction to the Indian philosophy. His poems resonate with praise for the true guru who reveals the divine through direct experience, and denounce more usual ways of attempting god-union such as chanting, austerities, etc. The Bhakti thought he espoused revolves around the idea that the path to salvation or spiritual fulfillment can be achieved through unwavering devotion and heartfelt love for the divine. It stresses on surrendering ones ego and humility and the acknowledgment of one's limitations in the face of the infinite divine. Therefore Kabir was a true Bhakti emphasizing a deeply personal and emotional devotion to a higher power and carrying a strong sense of love, surrender, and humility. The present paper attempts to deliberate on how Kabir appropriated his poetic talents to propagate Bhakti teachings and how the Bhakti perspective is valid and viable in the contemporary world.