Sant Kabirdas Jayanti 2025

• 12 Jun 2025

Why in News? 

The Prime Minister paid tribute to Sant Kabirdas on the occasion of his 648th birth anniversary, observed as Kabirdas Jayanti (Kabir Prakat Divas).  

Key Points 

• Historical Background: 
  • Kabirdas Jayanti falls on the Purnima Tithi (Full Moon Day) of the Jyeshtha month in the Hindu calendar. 
  • Sant Kabirdas was a 15th-century poet, saint, and social reformer, born in  1440 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh to a Hindu family but was raised by a Muslim weaver couple. 
  • He sought spiritual guidance from teachers such as Ramananda and Sheikh Taqi, shaping his unique philosophy. 
• Philosophy, Works, and Teachings: 
  • He was a notable figure in the Bhakti movement, which emphasised devotion and love for the divine. 
    • The Bhakti movement started in the 7th century in South India and spread to North India during the 14th and 15th centuries. 
  • He founded the Kabir Panth, a spiritual community that continues to have a large following. 
  • His key literary contributions include Bijak, Sakhi Granth, Kabir Granthawali, Anurag Sagar. 
  • He composed numerous Bhajans and dohas (couplets) that condemned superstition and promoted social reform, free thinking, and spiritual unity. 
  • His works, written in the Brajbhasha and Awadhi dialects, significantly influenced Indian literature and the development of the Hindi language. 
• Death and Symbolic Legacy: 
  • Kabirdas passed away in Maghar (UP) in 1518, where a conflict arose between Hindus and Muslims over his last rites. 
  • Saint Kabir’s legacy is honoured by both communities, with a samadhi built by Hindus and a mazaar built by Muslims standing side by side.