Bhagat Kabir

Bhagat Kabir (Gurmukhi: ਭਗਤ ਕਬੀਰ), also revered as Satgur Kabir, was a Gurmukh and revealer of Dhur Ki Bani, delivering the Divine Word of Akal Purakh. He is remembered as a strict monotheist and is often regarded as an influential figure, associated with the basic foundation of Gurmat Institution.

The Guru Granth Sahib contains a significant body of his work, including 227 padas across 17 ragas and 237 slokas.

Kabir was born into a Muslim family, yet his teachings have been revered across religious traditions—by Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs alike. Through his poetry, he acted as both a teacher and a social reformer, challenging ritual practices, idol worship, caste hierarchies, and the authority of both Hindu and Muslim clergy.

His followers formed the Kabirpanth sect, which continues to revere him as their guru.

Within Sikhi, Kabir’s writings hold equal status alongside those of Satgur Nanak, Satgur Ravidas, the Bhatts, and other contributors whose compositions are preserved in the Guru Granth Sahib. Sikhs bow to the scripture as their Guru, which includes Kabir’s hymns as part of its universal message about devotion to one God.

Historical Facts about Bhagat Kabir in Guru Granth Sahib

Birth

According to the Guru Granth Sahib, Kabir was born into a Muslim Weaver household. The scripture itself makes reference to his background and the practices of his family:

ਜਾ ਕੈ ਈਦਿ ਬਕਰੀਦਿ ਕਲ ਗਊ ਰੇ ਬਧ ਕਰਹਿ ਮਾਨੀਅਹਿ ਸੇਖ ਸਹੀਦ ਪੀਰਾ ॥
And he whose family killed cows at the festivals of Eid and Bakareed, who revered Shaykhs, martyrs and pirs,

ਜਾ ਕੈ ਬਾਪ ਵੈਸੀ ਕਰੀ ਪੂਤ ਝਸੀ ਸਰੀ ਤਿਹੂ ਰੇ ਲੋਕ ਪਰਸਿਧ ਕਬੀਰਾ ॥੨॥
whose father engaged in such acts — his son Kabir rose to greatness and became renowned throughout the three worlds. (SGGS 1161)

These verses clarify that Kabir’s family background was Muslim.

Spiritual Journey and Seekership

References from the Guru Granth Sahib indicate that Bhagat Kabir was a true seeker, devoted to discovering the essence of life. In his quest, he initially followed the mala (spiritual practices) under Ramanand Ji, but finding no ultimate truth in ritualistic observances, he renounced both the Pundits (Hindu priests) and the Moolas (Muslim religious scholars or Maulanas).

Kabir spent much of his life in Shivpuri (Kashi/Varanasi), dedicating himself to penance and meditation. However, he later reflected that his years in Kashi were spent in vain, entangled in worldly illusions and hypocritical practices:

ਸਗਲ ਜਨਮ ਸਿਵ ਪਰੀ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥
I wasted my whole life in the city of Shiva;

ਬਹਤ ਬਰਸ ਤਪ ਕੀਆ ਕਾਸੀ ॥
For many years, I practiced penance and intense meditation at Kaashi;

ਮਰਤੀ ਬਾਰ ਮਗਹਰਿ ਉਠਿ ਆਇਆ ॥੨॥
At the time of my death, I moved to Magahar. (SGGS 1369)

In Maghar, Uttar Pradesh, Kabir finally encountered the true spiritual path (Gurmat), either through the company of realized Gurmukhs, study Brahmngyan and through his own direct communion with Akal Purakh. He expressed that the divine vision and the extinguishing of his spiritual suffering came in Maghar, after which he returned to Kashi with this realization:

ਤੋਰੇ ਭਰੋਸੇ ਮਗਹਰ ਬਸਿਓ ਮੇਰੇ ਤਨ ਕੀ ਤਪਤਿ ਬਝਾਈ ॥
Relying upon You, I can live even in the cursed place of Magahar; You have put out the fire of my body.

ਪਹਿਲੇ ਦਰਸਨ ਮਗਹਰ ਪਾਇਓ ਫਨਿ ਕਾਸੀ ਬਸੇ ਆਈ ॥੨॥
First, I obtained the Blessed Vision of Your Darshan in Magahar; then, I came to dwell at Benares. (SGGS 1369)

Thus, Kabir’s spiritual journey emphasizes the futility of ritual without understanding and the transformative power of direct communion with the Divine, which he ultimately realized in Maghar.

Bhagat Kabir composed hymns both before and after his spiritual enlightenment.

The hymns revealed after his enlightenment are known as Pakki Bani (Bani from Dhur), which are preserved in the Guru Granth Sahib and reflect divine wisdom.