Sant Kabir Das
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Varanasi (Kashi)
Kabir Das was a legendary 15th-century mystic poet, saint, and social reformer whose teachings fundamentally shaped the Bhakti and Sufi movements in India. His life is steeped in both history and legend; most accounts agree he was found as an infant near the Lahartara pond in Varanasi and raised by a Muslim weaver couple, Niru and Nima.
Kabir’s philosophy was "Nirguna" (the worship of a formless God). He was a fierce critic of religious hypocrisy, caste discrimination, and empty rituals in both Hinduism and Islam. Despite having no formal education and remaining illiterate, he composed profound poetry in vernacular languages (a mix of Hindi, Braj, and Bhojpuri) that was easy for the common person to understand.
His legacy is one of unity and internal spirituality. He famously taught that God (whether called Ram or Allah) resides within the heart of the individual, not in temples or mosques. Upon his death in Maghar, legend says his followers from both faiths fought over his remains, only to find a heap of flowers where his body had been symbolizing his lifelong message of peace and religious harmony.
Date of Birth c. 1398 or 1440 CE (The exact year is debated by historians)
Date of Passing c. 1518 CE
