Swami Sri Bolananda Giri Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Giri Maharaj!

Chapter – 1

Smt. Nanda Devi and her husband Bhrama Das had no offspring after several years of marriage.  The elderly women of the village advised Nanda Devi to conduct fasting, worship Peepal tree, conduct veneration of Lord Mahadev, and perform charity to saints and holy men.   Nanda Devi sincerely followed the advice of elderly people and conducted the veneration of Lord of Lords Mahadeva.   In due course of time Nandadevi conceived a child and the child was named as Rathan Das, it was the traditional practice in their household to address the firstborn in the name of paternal grandfather.  Rathan Das was brought up in a happy and loving atmosphere.  This child has grown up to an adult, soon the boy went missing.  Nanda Devi and Bhrama Das shattered at the missing of their only child Rathan Das, they were tormented at his separation, and they lost peace and happiness.   They were tortured by his thoughts without knowing the whereabouts of the child.  They were constantly worried at the thought of “Where did he go? How did he manage to get meals? Where did he sleep?”.  When Rathan Das was at home, he never asks for a meal, it was his mother dutifully feed him on time.  The parents were spent their days in tears and distress.   She sincerely prayed to Lord Mahadev to bring her son back to their life otherwise they would give up their life in grief.  The parents were inconsolable at the separation of their son. 

Sant Kabir Das Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Kabir Das Maharaj!

Chapter – 9

Once a twice-born approached Kamali for water to quench his thirst while serving him water they both had the discussion about 'Kumara Sambhava' the great work of poet Kalidasa,  the twice-born felt the girl is highly educated with the knowledge in scriptures, he admired her, she introduced herself as the daughter of Sant Kabir Das but the stranger who belongs to the twice-born family felt that he had committed sin by accepting water from a Muslim girl.   Sant Kabir Das advised the stranger if the heart is pure there is no need for atonement, water has pure nature, and if the mind is impure the water also reflects the same.  The stranger was extremely impressed at the viewpoint of Kabir Das, wanted to prostrate before him.  Kabir Das introduced himself as the father of Kamali.  The twice-born introduced himself as Hardev Bhatt, the son of illustrious preceptor Mahadev Bhatt.   He was anxious that if he did not perform any atonement for his sin, his clan will discard him from their religion.  Sant Kabir Das enlightened him with the knowledge that a sacred thread across the chest will not make a twice-born flawless, an individual who attains the knowledge of Bramham which has the nature of supreme bliss is called Bhramin and described the knowledge of Bramham with the marvelous verses of “ Bhaja Govindam” written by Sri Adhi Shankara Bhagavadpadha.  Hardev Bhatt felt ashamed of his thought, Sant Kabir Das advised him to follow the instructions of his father.  Later, Hardev Bhatt revealed his desire to become a disciple of Kabir Das and started living in the Ashram.

Sant Kabir Das Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Kabir Das Maharaj!

 Chapter – 8

Once, Kabir Das invited holy men for a meal, Loi found there was not enough grains to cook, Kabir Das Maharaj said, “ Do something and prepare the meal for the saints, you can pledge anything you want.”  She went to borrow grains from a merchant, he said he cannot give grains on loan, he had wicked idea to persuade her, she remembered her husband’s order to pledge anything and bring grains, she reluctantly agreed for his wish and brought grains, and a sumptuous meal was served to the holy men.  Loi could not control her tears; she wept bitterly and informed her husband all that happened in the shop.  On that night, the merchant was impatiently waiting for Loi he could see her with her husband in front of his home, suddenly he lost eyesight, and soon he regained the sight and saw Lord Rama in place of Kabir Das.  The merchant fell at the feet of Kabir Das and Loi begging for forgiveness. He revealed his willingness to serve Kabir Das, but he was advised to perform his duty.

Kabir Das had to face the rage of Muslims who blamed them that he is too compassionate towards holy men and Hindus, he clearly mentioned that he never look upon the religion, he always serves people who suffer from hunger and thirst.  Finally, the villagers threatened the couple to leave the village otherwise they have to face serious consequences.  They were not scared of the threat, they amicably left the village and ancestral home.

Kabir Das and family settle out of the village, in a small hermitage surrounded by the rich natural beauty.  Once his son Kamal asked for the necessity   of belief/religion in human life, Sant Kabir Das explained, everyone should have a belief to know the true nature of the self which is none other than supreme spirit, he explained the essentialities of Dharma which is the essence of humanity and religion as well.

Sant Kabir Das Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Kabir Das Maharaj!

Chapter – 7

Sant Kabir Das gives lectures to villagers on the highest philosophies and Upanishads in a most simple manner, he insists the soul is the dwelling place of Paramathma, therefore it should be kept pure, and any Dharmic rite without the purity of the heart will not earn piousness, he was strictly disapproved the idol worship and emphasized the Namasmaran.  He firmly exposed his ideas against the cruelties to animals, all the religions and their beliefs have good as well as the bad in it.  Though he had taken all efforts to bring communal harmony, Hindus and Muslims have disliked his ideas, therefore he had huge enemies in the village.  Once the Hindus and Muslims joined together in search of Kabir to teach him a lesson preaching against their beliefs, they attacked him in the forest and left him alone.  He was all wounded managed to sit under a tree, there he met a beautiful woman Loi who was in search of Kabir.  She has remembered her father’s predictions before leaving the village,  about the person who will be her groom in the future, she found all those symbols in Kabir, he was uttering Ram Nama, and his turban was decorated with the feather of a peacock.  They had conversations, Kabir Said “ My life is dedicated to Lord Rama, and my way of life is filled with thorns,  Loi said “ My life is dedicated to Kabir Das, it’s my pleasure to be with you in the path filled with the thorns” she pleaded him to accept her as wedded wife. 

Kabir Das and Loi got married, Loi was taught weaving, together they started weaving work to earn livelihood.  In due course of time these the couple had two children, the living condition at home was getting worse day by day, Loi found it difficult to meet both the ends, she expressed her displeasure in feeding the saints while they are struggling for a meal, but Kabir Das did not like the idea of his wife.   Loi found it difficult to put off the hunger of her children Kamal and Kamali.  It brought troubles in their relationship, Kabir Das taught the significance of attainment of wisdom and knowledge, which could restrict the senses and achieve unison with the Bramham, Kabir was against the wealthy who spends money on the worship of Lord instead of feeding the hungry, and he disapproved sons who does not take care of their elderly parents while they are alive and performs ancestral rites in an elaborate manner after their death.

Sant Kabir Das Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Kabir Das Maharaj!

Chapter – 6

Once the King of Kashi had a severe infection, a messenger was sent to inform Swamiji seeking for help.  The low cast man who was with Kabir in the chamber of Swamiji recommended Kabir's name before him.   Swamiji said, “If you know the cure for an illness, you should not keep quiet.”  Kabir replied that the knowledge he got to know from his father who was a sincere follower of Navanath and Swami Gorakhnath.  Swamiji asked Kabir to accompany him to the Kingdom of Kashi for the treatment of the King.   After inspecting the wound of the King, Kabir went to collect a rare herb from the forest, once it was applied on his wound, King got relieved from the troubles of pain, and gradually the wound started healing.  King was pleased with the service of Kabir and offered half of the Kingdom as a gift,  which was amiably refused by Kabir.  At home his father’s illness has become critical; they waited for the arrival of Kabir.  He returned home and found his father’s time has arrived to leave this world, he described the reason for his missing from the village, and his father was extremely pleased to know that his son had saved the life of King of Kashi and left his mortal coil in extreme peace.

  Kabir Das took up weaving job after the death of his father and took great care of his mother.  In leisure hours he gives lectures on spirituality  “ Ram resides as a soul in a living being, he is all-pervading, he is the supreme spirit, he is omnipresent,  he has neither beginning nor end, he is void of impurities, he is eternal, he is pure and flawless,” he earned great respect among the people of his village with his commendable virtues.  On the other side, the Muslims felt Kabir growing too lenient towards Hinduism.  Once, wife of a merchant who received clothes for sale from Kabir asked, “Why you need money if you are a great truth-seeker?” He said “I have a mother to take care of, my house is the shelter place for holy men and saints, I have to serve them with the meals. Therefore I need to earn money.”

Sant Kabir Das Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Kabir Das Maharaj!

 Chapter – 5

The great Sant Kabir Das felt the presence of the supreme spirit in all the religions and beliefs; he worked hard to break the differences between the Hinduism and Islam, and brought communal harmony, he propagates the requirements of humility and righteousness in every religion.  There is no faith superior without righteousness, he emphasized people to follow modesty, love, and kindness.  Kabir Das became much loved by Ramananda and obtained permission to meet Acharyaji in his hermitage any time, though his disciples were not happy with this arrangement, they were not willing to accept a Muslim enter in the Hermitage.

Once Kabir Das arrived in the hermitage while Swamiji was in the worship of Lord Rama, he called out and asked Swamiji is there anything required to complete the worship, Swamiji did not notice that there was Tulsi leaves missing in the veneration of Rama, which was considered as essential for the worship, Kabir said “There are no Tulsi leaves. I have brought some Tulsi leaves for your worship, shall I come inside?”  Ramanandji happily permitted Kabir inside his chamber.  Kabir informed he brought a man of low caste with him, Swamiji advised: “Everyone can enter in this hermitage, the heart should be pure and objective should be superior.”  Kabir asked, “ Guruji, devotion is essential, is that necessary to worship an idol?”  Guruji replied, “Once the devotion attains the highest of state, then there is no need for the idol worship, Nama Smaran is enough.” 

Sant Kabir Das Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Kabir Das Maharaj!

Chapter – 4

 Once Ramanandji had to visit King of Kashi, Kabir Das got to know this information, he had a desire to get a glimpse of Swamiji and waited so long outside the Mutt, but he could not able to meet Swami Ramanandji.  King of Kashi received Swamiji with a great honor surprised to see the sudden visit of Swamiji to the fortress, he enquired why Swamiji took the trouble to visit him, if he had ordered, he would have met him in his hermitage.  Swamiji said “I am unhappy about the current situations in the Kingdom, people have become so selfish and unruly, Mughals are imposing taxes on Saints and holy men who have no money to meet taxes, and people have no freedom to die or live in this Kingdom.  Therefore take some immediate action to reduce tax on pilgrimage” King reverentially spoke to Swamiji “I will speak to the Mughal emperor on this matter and take immediate action on the tax upon pilgrim places.”  Swamiji left the kingdom of Kashi. Later, the request to Mughal emperor to reduce the taxes were rejected on top of that  ordered to impose a higher amount of tax on the Hindu holy men who conduct a visit to sacred lands.

Swamiji Ramanand arrived in his hermitage at night, there was a system that prevailed while Swamiji conducts visits to places he will be walking behind the screen, Kabir was waiting for Swamiji’s return from the Kingdom of Kashi, soon he found the disciples and Swamiji arriving in Mutt.  He rushed to the disciples with a request to meet Swamiji, but they refused and told him to move away because it is the custom of Swamiji to walk behind the screen.  Kabir said, “The greatest of the screen is mother’s womb, once we are out of that screen, is there any requirement for a screen to keep away from the worldly existence?” Swamiji asked, “Who is that?” Kabir replied, “I am your disciple Kabir Das.” Swamiji said, “I have not heard of your name.”  Kabir said, “You have met me in Panchaganga Ghat.”  Swamiji immediately remembered the incident in the morning.  Kabir said “All the preceptors give Dheeksha with the touch of their hand on the head of the disciple, you have given me Dheeksha with the touch of your feet on my head. You have advised the worship of Rama provides Mukthi, you have advised Ram Nama Japa is enough to cross the unfathomable ocean of worldly existence,”  Swamiji Ramanand ordered his disciples to remove the screen.  Kabir Das was extremely happy to witness Swamiji before him, he prostrated before Swamiji saying that “It is all the pastime of Rama”.  Ramanandji blessed Kabir Das and said, “ You can visit my hermitage whenever you feel.”  Kabir was thrilled.