Consider the following statements regarding bhakti saint Kabir: He ...
- Kabir was a 15th-century Indian mystic poet, Sufi and saint born in Varanasi. There is a controversy regarding the birth year of the saint. Some people hold that it is 1398 when other says that it is 1440.
- Kabir is also a proponent of Nirguna, the Supreme Being without form and properties. Hence statement 1 is correct.
- Kabir‘s strong opposition to idolatry stems from this philosophy. He says, ―If worshipping a stone idol gets Hari then I will worship a mountain. Better is the grinding stone, which grinds and feeds the world. Kabir was Influenced and initiated to bhakti by Ramananda, saint of Vaishnava bhakti tradition. Kabir‘s spiritual teaching verses can be classified into three categories:
- Ramaini: In the Ramaini, Kabir described the creation of the world and the wandering of the soul in it, he used doha and pada verses to express these.
- Sakhi: In Sakhi (witness of truth), he analyzed events perceived through senses but grasped through the intellect;
- Sabad: The Sabad collets the word of the Master. The greatest work of Kabir is known as Bijak, seeds of his teaching. In this collection of poems Kabir showed a new universal spiritual path, focused on the oneness of God without distinctions. Hence statement 2 is correct.
He considered neither asceticism nor book knowledge important for the true knowledge of God. The mission of Kabir was to preach a religion of love which would unite all caste and creeds. He rejected those features of Hinduism and Islam which were against this spirit and which were of no importance for the real spiritual welfare of the individual. Hence statement 3 is not correct. Kabir strongly denounced the caste system, especially the practice of untouchability and emphasised the fundamental unity of man. He was opposed to all kinds of discrimination between human beings, whether on the basis of castes, or religion, race, family or wealth. He breathed his last at Maghar located in Purvanchal (Near Gorakhpur). It has a distinction of having both, a mausoleum and a temple dedicated to Sant Kabir.
Consider the following statements regarding bhakti saint Kabir: He ...
The correct answer is option 'B' - 1 and 2 only.
Let's discuss each statement one by one:
Statement 1: He was a proponent of nirgun bhakti.
Statement 2: His teachings are compiled in "Bijak".
Statement 3: He considered asceticism and book knowledge important for knowledge of God.
Explanation:
Statement 1: He was a proponent of nirgun bhakti.
Kabir was indeed a proponent of nirgun bhakti. Nirgun bhakti refers to the devotion to the formless aspect of God. It emphasizes the belief that God is beyond worldly attributes and can only be experienced through devotion and love. Kabir's poetry often expressed this idea of seeking the divine within oneself rather than through external rituals or idols.
Statement 2: His teachings are compiled in "Bijak".
This statement is also correct. "Bijak" is a collection of Kabir's verses and teachings. It is considered one of the most important works of Kabir. The verses in "Bijak" are written in a simple and direct manner, often in the form of couplets known as "dohas". These dohas encapsulate Kabir's teachings on spirituality, social issues, and the nature of God.
Statement 3: He considered asceticism and book knowledge important for knowledge of God.
This statement is incorrect. Kabir was critical of asceticism and book knowledge as the means to attain knowledge of God. He believed that true spiritual realization comes from direct experience and inner awakening rather than external practices or intellectual knowledge. Kabir emphasized the importance of personal experience and direct realization of the divine through devotion and love.
In conclusion, both statements 1 and 2 are correct, while statement 3 is incorrect. Kabir was a proponent of nirgun bhakti, and his teachings are compiled in "Bijak". However, he did not consider asceticism and book knowledge important for knowledge of God.
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