State PCS - Uttar Pradesh (UP PCS)

• 12 Jun 2025

Sant Kabirdas Jayanti 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.