Kabir: He Spoke Of Tolerance And Mercy
an Amar Chitra Katha comic book, Vol 623
source: Reading Notes Guide
Today, I read an Amar Chitra Katha comic book. Have you heard of Amar Chitra Katha? I hadn't either, but they are incredibly famous in India, and generations have now been able to enjoy them. There are more than 400 titles, in more than 20 different languages, that retell stories from the great Indian epics, mythology, history, folklore, and fables in comic book format. It was originally created by Anant Pai, beginning in 1967.
Kabir: Famous Poet Who Spoke of Tolerance towards all religions and Mercy
- Found as a baby by a newly betrothed Muslim couple on their journey back home to Varanasi after their wedding(Year: 1398 A.D.) Father Niru, a weaver, and mother Nima
- Child named by a Muslim Priest:
- Kabir, one of God's names
- But the son of a weaver could not have God's name for a name, even though the texts declared it to be so, as seen by several colleagues of the priest. Niru wanted to end the child's life due to the outrage, so he took him to the forest to leave him alone for the animals. But, as he turned to go, he heard a voice "Stop! There is no evil in him. He shall be the wisest of men. His form, his very name, would spell holiness." "Kabir.... destined to be great?" Niru kept the baby and raised him in Islam.
- As Kabir grew, he struggled to differentiate between the god of Islam and the god of Hinduism, so he sought out a Hindu swami (swami Ramanand, a Vaishnava Saint)
- Swami Ramanand taught him that "In the Eyes of God, all men are equal irrespective of caste, creed, and colour."
- Kabir wed, and had a child, but thought only of God. "I have neither roof nor hut, I have neither caste nor name; thy name alone, O God, is enough for me." Kabir's wife, Loi, was very sad because they had not enough clothes or food even to eat, because Kabir gave everything away.
- When a burglar came in to rob them, he tripped and fell, and Kabir turned on a lamp and helped him up, offering anything that he had to him.
- Kabir was accused of mixing religions, being immoral and an infidel. He was brought before the King, but refused to bow. They chained him and attempted to drown him, but he came back up again. They tried to burn him alive, but he came out of the flames of the fire unharmed. A third time they tried to kill him, by throwing him under the feet of an elephant to be trampled to death. However, the elephant saw a group of angry lions charging at him, a miracle, as it was only Kabir standing there, and the elephant ran away scared.
- Millions became Kabir's followers, and his Bhajans (Hindu word for holy songs, interestingly) were on their lips.
- Shortly before Kabir's death, he desired to go to Maghar, the place where if people die there, they do not get into Heaven. He did this because he was determined to free the people from superstition.
- Controversy over burial practices ensued: burial? cremation?
- Kabir appeared to his followers in a vision: "I belong to all of you. Please don't fight." And his followers found no body, only the shroud that had covered his body and a bed of flowers. They took the flowers and shared them amongst his followers.
-I find it interesting that many of the saints, or even incarnations of the gods, are often "found" as babies, and raised up and destined to be great.
-I like the idea of Kabir, as a child wearing a Muslim skull cap, putting the forks of Vishnaivism on his head, diregarding the differences between the god of each religion. He learns the word for god of hinduism by cleverness, "Hare Ram!" and declares himself to be a student of the Swami.
-He defied death three times, and sought to abolish idol worship and separations between people
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