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Kabir was a fifteenth-century mystic poet and saint from Varanasi whose sharp, simple verses criticised religious ritual and caste and spoke of a formless God within. His poems are revered by Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims, and many are included in the Guru Granth Sahib.
Biography
A weaver of Varanasi
Little is known for certain about Kabir’s life. Tradition says he grew up in a family of Muslim weavers in Varanasi and earned his living at the loom. Some accounts link him to the Vaishnava teacher Ramananda.
A fierce voice
Kabir’s couplets (dohas) and songs mocked empty rituals of both Hindus and Muslims — idol worship, pilgrimages, fasting, circumcision and caste pride — and taught that God is found through love and inner devotion, not ceremony. He used plain, everyday language and images.
Scriptures and traditions
His verses were passed down orally and collected in the Bijak, revered by the Kabir Panth sect he inspired, and in other collections. More than five hundred verses attributed to him are included in the Guru Granth Sahib of the Sikhs.
Legacy
Tradition says that when he died at Maghar, both Hindus and Muslims claimed his body, and on lifting the shroud found only flowers, which they divided. Rabindranath Tagore translated a selection, Songs of Kabir (1915), introducing him to English readers, and his dohas are still taught in Indian schools.
Timeline
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1915
Tagore’s Songs of Kabir published in English
Notable works
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Bijak Poetry
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Kabir Granthavali Poetry
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Dohas Poetry
Couplets.
Did you know?
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1
Both Hindus and Muslims claim him.
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2
His verses are part of the Sikh holy book.
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3
Tradition says flowers were found under his burial shroud.
Connections
Frequently asked
Who is Kabir?
Kabir was a fifteenth-century mystic poet and saint from Varanasi whose sharp, simple verses criticised religious ritual and caste and spoke of a formless God within. His poems are revered by Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims, and many are included in the Guru Granth Sahib.
Where is Kabir from?
Kabir was born in Varanasi (traditional).
What is Kabir known for?
Kabir is best known for Dohas (couplets) criticising ritual and caste; the Bijak; verses in the Guru Granth Sahib.
References
- Kabir — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Kabir — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Kabir — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Kabir — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Kabir (Q312551) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Kabir”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 27 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Kabir.” TrackFame, last updated 28 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/kabir
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