Question

Explain the ‘Ultimate Reality’ principle in Kabir’s philosophy.

Hint:

• Kabir's teachings are preserved in three major traditions: the *Kabir Bijak*, *Kabir Granthavali*, and the *Adi Granth*.
• He is famous for his two-line couplets known as 'Dohas'.

Answer 1

Concept:

• Kabir (c. 14th-15th century) was a revolutionary Nirguna Bhakti saint who challenged established religious orthodoxies.
• His philosophy of 'Ultimate Reality' (the Supreme God) was syncretic, drawing from both Islamic monotheism and Vedantic monism.

Step 1: The Oneness of God (Nirguna aspect)
Kabir's primary principle was that the Ultimate Reality is one, regardless of the names given to it by different religions.
He used Islamic terms like 'Allah', 'Khuda', 'Hazrat', and 'Pir' alongside Hindu terms like 'Alakh' (the unseen), 'Niranjan' (formless), 'Brahman', and 'Atman'. By doing so, he argued that the labels 'Hindu' or 'Muslim' were superficial and that the essence of divinity was universal and formless (*Nirguna*).

Step 2: Rejection of rituals and intermediaries
For Kabir, the Ultimate Reality could not be found in temples, mosques, or through complex rituals, sacrifices, or idol worship.
He believed that God resides within the heart of every individual. Therefore, he emphasized 'Sabda' (the Word) and the importance of a true 'Guru' who can guide the seeker to perceive this inner reality. He used simple, often paradoxical language (Ulatbansi) to shock people out of their conventional religious thinking.

Step 3: The path of Shunya (Emptiness/Absoluteness)
Kabir also drew upon Yogic and Sufi concepts of 'Shunya' (the void) or 'Ana-had' (the unstruck sound) to describe the mystical experience of merging with the Ultimate Reality.
His philosophy was not just intellectual but experiential; he taught that through constant remembrance of God's name (Simran), one could attain a state of spiritual liberation while still living. This made the Ultimate Reality accessible to common people, regardless of their caste or creed.