Ocean of Love: The Anurag Sagar of Kabir

by Kabir

English (translation)

Genres: Spirituality, Poetry, Mysticism, Islam, Hinduism

219 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Kabīr was a mystic poet and saint of India, whose writings have greatly influenced the Bhakti movement. The name Kabir comes from Arabic al-Kabīr which means "The Great" – the 37th name of God in Islam. Kabir's legacy is today carried forward by the Kabir panth ("Path of Kabir"), a religious community that recognises him as its founder and is one of the Sant Mat sects. Its members, known as Kabir panthis, are estimated to be around 9.6 million. They are spread over north and central India, as well as dispersed with the Indian diaspora across the world, up from 843,171 in the 1901 census.[5] His writings include Bijak, Sakhi Granth, Kabir Granthawali and Anurag Sagar.

Kabir's early life is not firmly established. In Indian tradition, he is commonly supposed to have lived for 120 years from 1398 to 1518, which "permits him to be associated with other famous figures such as Guru Nanak and Sikander Lodi" Historians are uncertain about his dates of birth and death. Some state 1398 as a date of birth,5 whereas others favour later dates, such as 1440Some assign his death date to the middle of the 15th century – for example, 1440 or 1448whereas others place it in 1518Lifespans commonly suggested by scholars include from 1398 to 1448, and from 1440 to 1518.

According to one traditional version of his parentage, Kabir was born to a Brahmin widow at Lahartara near Kashi (modern day Varanasi). The widow abandoned Kabir to escape dishonour associated with births outside marriage. He was brought up in a family of poor Muslim weavers Niru and Nima. They could not afford formal education for Kabir and initiated him into their trade of weaving.According to American Indologist Wendy Doniger, Kabir was born into a Muslim family and "all these stories attempt to drag Kabir back over the line from Muslim to Hindu".[Kabir's family is believed to have lived in the locality of Kabir Chaura in Varanasi. Kabīr maṭha (कबीरमठ), a maṭha located in the back alleys of Kabir Chaura, celebrates his life and times.

Reviews

[Rishi Kaushal · Rating 2 out of 5]

So i started reading this book by the venerable Kabir a couple of days ago. I have not read this exact version, but a version by Maharaja Kehar Singh Ji, of Radha Soami Sect. The words of Kabir were broken down, blow by blow and some clarity was shed in regards to the beliefs and teachings of Kabir.

I am sad to say, I am not satisfied.

I don't know what Kabir exactly intended to say, but I have a hunch that the interpretation of Kehar Singh Ji is wrong. I have seen before to that Radhasoamis try to find meanings of old texts and mould them in a way that they appear to match their ideology. They have also done something in the book "Quest of Light" by the Dera, but moulded the Bible instead. It seems like a bunch of hocus-pocus outlining the creation of the world, going back further than what Hindus typically know or talk about. Singh talks about how the the Trinity of Brahma-Vishnu-Mahesh were born and how their roles we assigned. It is also discussed about how "we" came to be, and how and why are personalities vary.

All would be good if there had been given some logic or scientific basis or proof for all these things. But there is none. Its just the words of Kabir/Singh. I guess you have to just have some blind belief if you want to follow this theology. If this is what i wanted to do, i could just randomly choose any belief system and start following it. But this would be wrong for the analytic mind.

The stories told by Kabir seem even more far-fetched than those told by Hindu Pandits. Until some proof or logic is given, its all fiction with no substance. Urggghhhhh. I am irked. I will stop my rant here.

If you want to read a weird view-point of an individual, where the only proof of anything would be his words alone, then read this book. If you think your spiritual questions will be answered, look elsewhere.

Peace.

[Emmett]

It's wonderful. Lyrical, fascinating and a deep insight into the Journey of Soul

[Mrs Kashmir.Chander · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book of my life

This book fulfills my thirsty mind and satisfies my wholeness and shows the things I always wanted to know.
That is why it's the best book of my life.
Everyone should get a chance to read this book.

[Ayaan]

its good