Sant Kabir As A Mystic Poet

Abstract

Fifteenth century was the time for the efflorescence of Bhakti Poetry in India by the participating great devotees of God and poets and singers like Vidyapati, Mira Bai, Ravidas (also known as Raidas or Ruhidas) and the great Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. It had its earlier link with the sixth century Vaishanavite and Saivite saints. Bhakta kabir’s life and work enriched this movement and made a synthesis with the Sufi movement and poetry which was akin to it in essence. He was a man of the earth; a weaver by profession. “Like Paul the tentmaker, Boehme the cobbler, Bunyan the tinker, Tersteegen the ribbon-maker, he knew how to combine vision and industry; the work of his hands helped rather than hindered the impassioned meditation of his heart.” wrote Evelyn Underhill (Songs of Kabir /Introduction). A poet of the earth he became a spiritual leader among his men living in India’s spiritual centre, the oldest town of the world, Varanasi or Banaras. He was a Bhakti poet. His ideas were akin to Sufi and Baul. His poetry was spiritually rich; esoteric and mystic.