This article will provide ample historical evidence that Bhagat Kabir Ji and Guru Nanak Sahib were contemporaries. Not only were they contemporaries but they also met, and during this meeting, Bhagat Kabir Ji accepted Guru Nanak Sahib as his Guru and became a Sikh of Guru Sahib.
There is a lot of confusion and controversy around the birth and death of Bhagat Kabir Ji. This has led a lot of people to believe that Bhagat Kabir Ji lived before Guru Nanak Dev Ji came to this world physically in 1469 CE. However, examining historical evidence we learn that Bhagat Kabir Ji was alive during the time of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Bhagat Kabir Jiโs death has been accepted to have happened in the year 1518 CE or (1575 Bikrami). The followers of Bhagat Kabir Ji in their writings confirm that Bhagat Ji passed away in the city of Maghar in 1575 Bikrami (1518 CE):
เจชเฉฐเจฆเจฐเจพเจ เจธเฉ เจชเจเจคเจฐเจพ เจฎเจเจนเจฐ เจเฉเจ เจเจพเจเจฃ เฅค
เจฎเจพเจ เจถเฉเจฆเฉ เจเจเจพเจฆเจถเฉ เจฎเจฟเจฒเฉ เจชเจตเจจ เจฎเฉ เจชเจพเจเจจ เฅค
Bhagat Kabir Ji himself confirms in Gurbani that he came to Maghar to die:
เจฎเจฐเจจเฉ เจญเจเจ เจฎเจเจนเจฐ เจเฉ เจฌเจพเจธเฉ เฅฅเฉฉเฅฅ
now that my time to die has come, I have come to dwell at Magahar. ||3||
Guru Nanak Dev Ji lived physically on earth from 1469 to 1539. This would make the two contemporaries. Furthermore, a follower of Bhagat Kabir Ji named Anant Das, wrote a book that was written in 1642 Bikrami (approx. 1585โ86 CE). Anant Das writes in his book that he wrote this Katha of Bhagat Kabir Ji in 1642 Bikrami (1585โ86 CE):
เจธเฉฐเจฎเจค เจธเฉเจฒเจน เจธเฉ เจฌเฉเจคเจพเจฒเจพ ,เจฌเจพเจฃเฉ เจฌเฉเจฒเฉ เจฌเจเจจ เจฐเจธเจพเจฒเจพ,
เจ
เฉฐเจคเจฐเจเจพเจฎเฉ เจเจเจฟเจ เจเฉเจจเฉ, เจฆเจพเจธ เจ
เจจเฉฐเจค เจเจฅเจพ เจเจฐ เจฒเฉเจจเฉ เฅค
In this book, other Bhagats such as Bhagat Pipa, Ravidas and Naam Dev are mentioned as contemporaries of Bhagat Kabir Ji as well. Anant Das writes that Bhagat Kabir Ji passed away at the age of 120. This would put his death in the year 1518 CE.
A historian of Hindi Literature,ย Ram Chandra Shukla, is recognized to be the first person to ever scientifically study and codify Hindi literature. He wrote a book titledย Hindi Sahitya Ka Itihaasย (History of Hindi Literature) and in this book he writes (translated):
Kabir went to Maghar and passed away here. There is still a memorial for him here. It is accepted that his death took place in 1575 Bikrami (1518), which would put his age 120 at death.
In the bookย Kabir Granthavli,ย Shyam Sundar Das after studying old handwritten manuscripts of Bhagat Kabir Jiโs followers came to the conclusion that Bhagat Jiโs death took place in 1518 CE (1575 Bikrami).
One can conclude from the evidence provided that Bhagat Kabir Ji passed away in the year 1518 CE (1575 Bikrami) and thus was a contemporary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
For further evidence of Bhagat Kabir Ji and Guru Nanak Dev Ji being contemporaries, we can use the writings of Anant Das on the topic of Bhagat Kabir Jiโs tortures at the hands of Sikander Lodhi. Anant Das writes that when Sikander Lodhi came to the city of Kashi (Varanasi) he tortured and tried to kill Bhagat Kabir at the behest of both Muslim and Hindu priests.
Sikander Khan Lodhi lived from July 17 1458 to November 21 1517 CE. He ruled the Delhi Sultanate after the death of his father, Bahlul Khan Lodhi. Historically, Sikander Lodhi visited Kashi twice. In 1497 CE after defeating Hussain Shah in a battle, Sikander stayed in Kashi. It was here that the local Brahmins and Qazis filled his ears with slander of Bhagat Kabir. Even Bhagat Kabir Jiโs old teacher, Fakir Takki slandered Bhagat Kabir to Sikander. Sikander wanted to prove himself to be a strict Muslim, due to the fact that his mother was a Hindu, so he began his torture of Bhagat Kabir Ji.
In one instance, Bhagat Ji was tied up with metal chains and thrown into the Ganga river.
Bhagat Ji mentions this in their Bani:
เจเฉฐเจ เจเฉเจธเจพเจเจจเจฟ เจเจนเจฟเจฐ เจเฉฐเจญเฉเจฐ เฅฅ เจเฉฐเจเฉเจฐ เจฌเจพเจเจงเจฟ เจเจฐเจฟ เจเจฐเฉ เจเจฌเฉเจฐ เฅฅเฉงเฅฅ
The mother Ganges is deep and profound. Tied up in chains, they took Kabeer there. ||1||
เจฎเจจเฉ เจจ เจกเจฟเจเฉ เจคเจจเฉ เจเจพเจนเฉ เจเจ เจกเจฐเจพเจ เฅฅ เจเจฐเจจ เจเจฎเจฒ เจเจฟเจคเฉ เจฐเจนเจฟเจ เจธเจฎเจพเจ เฅฅ เจฐเจนเจพเจ เฅฅ
My mind was not shaken; why should my body be afraid? My consciousness remained immersed in the Lotus Feet of the Lord. ||1||Pause||
เจเฉฐเจเจพ เจเฉ เจฒเจนเจฐเจฟ เจฎเฉเจฐเฉ เจเฉเจเฉ เจเฉฐเจเฉเจฐ เฅฅ เจฎเฉเจฐเจฟเจเจเจพเจฒเจพ เจชเจฐ เจฌเฉเจ เฉ เจเจฌเฉเจฐ เฅฅเฉจเฅฅ
The waves of the Ganges broke the chains, and Kabeer was seated on a deer skin. ||2||
เจเจนเจฟ เจเฉฐเจฌเฉเจฐ เจเฉเจ เจธเฉฐเจ เจจ เจธเจพเจฅ เฅฅ เจเจฒ เจฅเจฒ เจฐเจพเจเจจ เจนเฉ เจฐเจเฉเจจเจพเจฅ เฅฅเฉฉเฅฅเฉงเฉฆเฅฅเฉงเฉฎเฅฅ
Says Kabeer, I have no friend or companion. On the water, and on the land, the Lord is my Protector. ||3||10||18||
Another time, Bhagat Ji was tied up and thrown in front of an enraged elephant. Bhagat Ji also alludes in their Bani that they were thrown into fire:
เจเจชเฉ เจชเจพเจตเจเฉ เจเจชเฉ เจชเจตเจจเจพ เฅฅ
He Himself is the fire, and He Himself is the wind.
เจเจพเจฐเฉ เจเจธเจฎเฉ เจค เจฐเจพเจเฉ เจเจตเจจเจพ เฅฅเฉงเฅฅ
When our Lord and Master wishes to burn someone, then who can save him? ||1||
เจฐเจพเจฎ เจเจชเจค เจคเจจเฉ เจเจฐเจฟ เจเฉ เจจ เจเจพเจ เฅฅ
When I chant the Lordโs Name, what does it matter if my body burns?
เจฐเจพเจฎ เจจเจพเจฎ เจเจฟเจคเฉ เจฐเจนเจฟเจ เจธเจฎเจพเจ เฅฅเฉงเฅฅ เจฐเจนเจพเจ เฅฅ
My consciousness remains absorbed in the Lordโs Name. ||1||Pause||
Although Bhagat Ji doesnโt name Sikander as the king who tortured him like this, one can conclude through historical evidence that it was indeed Sikander Lodhi who tortured Bhagat Kabir.
Anant Das writes the following in his book that was written in 1585โ86 CE:
เจเจ เจธเจฎเจฏ เจเจธเฉ เจนเฉเจตเฉ เจเจ เฅค เจฌเจฟเจงเฉ เจธเฉฐเจฏเฉเจ เจจเจพ เจฎเฉเจเจฟเจ เจเจพเจ เฅค
เจธเจฟเจเจน (เจถเจพเจน) เจธเจฟเจเฉฐเจฆเจฐ เจเจพเจเจถเฉ เจเจเจ เฅค เจเจพเฉเฉ เจฎเฉเฉฑเจฒเจพเจ เจเฉ เจฎเจจ เจญเจพเจเจ เฅค
เจธเจญ เจฎเจฟเจฒ เจเจคเฉเจฐ เจเจพเจ เจชเฉเจเจพเจฐเจพ เฅค เจเจจเจ เจเจจเจเจพ เจฎเจพเจจเจธ เจฎเจพเจฐเจพ เฅค
เจเจฌเฉเจฐ เจเฉ เจฐเจเจฟเจ เจเจฐเฉ เจญเจตเฉฐเจค เฅค เจธเฉ เจเจธ เจเจพเจตเฉ เจฆเจพเจธ เจ
เจจเฉฐเจค เฅค
Here Anant Das states that King Sikander came to Kashi (Varanasi) and after listening to the Qazis and other Muslim priests tried to kill Bhagat Kabir, however Kabir was saved by Bhagwant (God).
A follower of Bhagat Kabir Ji,ย Garib Das,ย writes in his Granth:
เจเฉเฉ เจคเฉเจ เจฌเฉเจฐเฉ เจเจฒเฉ เจฎเฉเจ เจเฉฐเจเฉเจฐ เฅค เจฒเฉเจงเฉ เจธเจฟเจเฉฐเจฆเจฐ เจฆเจ เจนเฉ เจเฉ เจชเฉเจฐ เฅค
Here he also names Sikander Lodhi as the king who tortured and tried to kill Bhagat Kabir Ji.
These instances prove that Bhagat Kabir Ji was alive in the year 1497 CE in which Sikander Lodhi tried to kill him. Guru Nanak Dev Ji lived between 1469 and 1539 CE. Therefore further proving that Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Bhagat Kabir were contemporaries.
One of the oldest sources of Gurbani are the Goindwal Pothis. They were written at the time of the third Guru, Guru Amar Das Ji. The Bani in this Pothi is organized into Raags and after the Bani of the Gurus appears Bhagat Bani. At several places before the start of Bhagat Bani, in the form of a heading, the following line or its variation appears:
เจจเจพเจฎเจพ เจเจฌเฉเจฐ เจญเจเจค เจเฉเจฐเฉ เจฌเจพเจฌเฉ เจเฉ
Naam Dev and Kabir were devotees of Guru Baba (Guru Nanak Dev Ji).
One can see an example of this below:
Another example:
Guru Amar Das Ji later expands on this in his Bani by writing:
เจจเจพเจฎเจพ เจเฉเจฌเจพ เจเจฌเฉเจฐเฉ เจเฉเฉเจฒเจพเจนเจพ เจชเฉเจฐเฉ เจเฉเจฐ เจคเฉ เจเจคเจฟ เจชเจพเจ เฅฅ
เจฌเฉเจฐเจนเจฎ เจเฉ เจฌเฉเจคเฉ เจธเจฌเจฆเฉ เจชเจเจพเจฃเจนเจฟ เจนเจเจฎเฉ เจเจพเจคเจฟ เจเจตเจพเจ เฅฅ
เจธเฉเจฐเจฟ เจจเจฐ เจคเจฟเจจ เจเฉ เจฌเจพเจฃเฉ เจเจพเจตเจนเจฟ เจเฉเจ เจจ เจฎเฉเจเฉ เจญเจพเจ เฅฅเฉฉเฅฅ
This Shabad is significant because it expands on the earlier principle that Bhagat Naam Dev and Bhagat Kabir were Devotees of Guru Nanak Sahib. It states that they were saved by the Perfect Guru and that their Bani is sung by humans and angelic beings and no one can erase their Bani. This last point is important as it shows that their Bani was accepted and that their Bani was already sung within the Sikh Sangat.
At the times of Guru Amar Das Ji it was accepted that the Bhagats and in particular Bhagat Kabir and Bhagat Naam Dev were Sikhs of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
For further evidence of Guru Sahib and Bhagat Ji meeting, we must explore the Janam Sakhis. Firstly, the Meharvaan Janam Sakhi mentions the meeting of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Bhagat Kabir Ji.
The Janam Sakhi mentions that Guru Nanak Dev Ji went to Kashi and met Bhagat Kabir Ji. When Bhagat Kabir Ji realizes that Guru Nanak has come to the city he says:
เจ เจฐเจพเจฎ! เจเจน เจเจธ เจงเจฐเจคเฉ เจฌเจพเจฌเจพ เจจเจพเจจเจ เจเฉ เจเจเจ เจนเฉโฆ
Oh Lord! Baba Nanak has come to this landโฆ
When the two of them met and recognized each other, Guru Nanak Dev Ji stood up and Bhagat Kabir Ji said:
เจเฉเจ เจฌเฉเจ เฉ เจฐเจนเฉเจ เจนเจฐ เจฌเฉเจฒเฉเจ ! เจนเจฐ เจฌเฉเจฒเฉเจ, เจนเจฎ เจเจธเฉ เจเจตเจจ เจเจนเจพเจตเจนเจฟ เจเจฟเจจเจฟ เจเจ เจเจ เจเฉฑเจ เจ เจพเจขเฉ เจญเจ เจคเฉเจฎ?
Bhagat Ji says to Guru Sahib, who am I that has caused you to stand up? Please sit down and speak. Guru Sahib out of humility praises Bhagat Kabir Ji, to which Bhagat Kabir Ji says:
เจจเจพ เจเฉ, เจคเฉเฉฐ เจเจเจค เจเฉเจฐเฉ เจนเฉ, เจนเจฎ เจคเฉเจฐเฉ เจฆเจพเจธ เจนเฉ เฅค
Respectfully no, You are the Guru of the World, and I am your slave.
The two of them had a conversation, a few select lines from that conversation are presented below:
เจจเจพเจจเจ เจเฉ เจคเฉเจฎ เจเจเจค เจเจงเจพเจฐเจจ เจเจ เจนเจเจ, เจคเฉเจฎเจฐเฉ เจชเฉเจเฉ เจเจเจค เจเจงเจฐเฉเจเจพ เฅค
Oh Nanak Ji, you have come to save this world, through you, the whole world will be saved!
เจฌเจพเจฌเจพ เจเฉ! เจเจเจฟเจ เจชเจพเจฐเจฌเฉเจฐเจนเจฎเจฟ เจเฉ เจนเฉ, เจเจฟ เจคเฉเจฎเจพเจฐเฉ เจชเฉเจเฉ เจเจเจค เจจเจฟเจธเจคเจฐเฉเจเจพเฅค เจคเฉเจฎ เจเจเจค เจคเจพเจฐเจจ เจเจ เจนเจเจ เฅค
Baba Ji! It is is the will of Parbrahm (God), that the whole world will be saved through you. You have come to save the whole world.
Another Janam Sakhi that mentions a meeting between Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Bhagat Kabir Ji is the Puratan Janak Sakhi, also called the Valait (foreign) Janam Sakhi. This is widely considered to be the oldest known Janam Sakhi of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Written in the 1630s or 1640s CE, during the time of the sixth Guru. It was discovered in 1872 CE by H.T Colebrook and was donated to the library of the East Indian Trading Company, hence the name Valait Janam Sakhi. Another copy of this Janam Sakhi was discovered in Hafizabad. A third copy has also been discovered. It is important to note that many scholars date this Janam Sakhi to have been written even earlier than the 1630s CE. In the Puratan Janam Sakhi a meeting between Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Bhagat Kabir Ji is also recorded on page 103.
The story goes as such:
เจธเจพเจเฉ เจฌเจพเจฌเฉ เจเฉ เจเฉ เจเฉฐเจฌเฉเจฐ เจญเจเจค เจจเจพเจฒ เจนเฉเจ:
เจซเจฟเจฐ เจฌเจพเจฌเจพ เจเฉ เจเจฅเฉเจ เจเจฒเฉ เฅค เจเฉฐเจฌเฉเจฐ เจญเจเจคเฉ เจจเจพเจฒ เจเฉเจถเจ เจนเฉเจเฅค
The story of Baba Ji and Bhagat Kabir: Then Baba Ji left there. He had a conversation with Bhagat Kabir:
เจเฉฐเจฌเฉเจฐ เจตเจพเจ: เจเจฐเจจเจฟ เจฒเจพเจ เจเจฐเจ เจฌเฉเจจเจคเฉ เจเฉเจชเฉ เจจ เจเจฐเฉเจ เจฆเฉเจตเจพ
Kabir: I fall at your feet and make this request, please do not be upset.
Bhagat Kabir Ji continues on and at the end he says:
เจเจนเจค เจเฉฐเจฌเฉเจฐ เจธเฉเจจเจนเฉ เจเฉเจฐเฉ เจชเฉเจฐเฉ เจเจฟเจ เจชเจพเจเจ เจชเฉเจฐเจฌ เจชเจพเจฐเฉ เฅค
Says Kabir, please listen Oh Perfect Guru, How can I meet Akaal Purakh?
Guru Nanak Dev Ji replies:
เจธเฉเจจเจนเฉ เจฐเฉ เจเฉเจฒเจพ เจธเจฟเจเจฟเจ เจเจ เจนเจฎเจพเจฐเฉ เฅค
Listen Oh Disciple to this teaching of mine
Guru Nanak Dev Ji goes on to give Bhagat Kabir Ji several lessons. The important message here is that Bhagat Kabir Ji called Guru Nanak Dev Ji the Perfect Guru and Guru Nanak Sahib calls Bhagat Kabir Ji his Chela or disciple. This shows that Bhagat Kabir Ji accepted Guru Nanak as his Guru and Guru Sahib made Bhagat Kabir Ji his Sikh.
Another noteworthy line during this conversation is as follows:
เจเฉเจเฉ เจเฉเจเฉ เจเฉเจฐเฉ เจจเจพเจจเจ เจเจชเจฟเจ เจเฉเจ เจฎเฉเจฐเฉเจฆ เจเจฌเฉเจฐ เฅค
เจธเฉเจจเจฟ เจเจชเจฆเฉเจถ เจชเฉเจฐเฉ เจธเจคเจฟเจเฉเจฐเฉ เจเจพ เจฎเจจ เจญเจเจ เจ
เจจเฉเจฆ เฅค
เจฎเฉเจเจคเจฟ เจเจพ เจฆเจพเจคเจพ เจฌเจพเจฌเจพ เจจเจพเจจเจ เจฐเฉฐเจเจ เจฐเจพเจฎเจพเจจเฉฐเจฆ เฅค
In all the ages Guru Nanakโs name should be repeated, says his (Guru Nanakโs) lowly disciple Kabir.
Listening to the teachings of the Perfect Satguru, my mind is filled with Bliss.
The giver of Salvation is Baba Nanak, Ramanand is nothing.
These three lines are very important as very clearly, Bhagat Kabir Ji rejects his earlier guru, Bhagat Ramanand. He calls himself the lowly disciple of Guru Nanak and that it is only Guru Nanak that can give him Mukhti (liberation).
Bhagat Ramanand is a very famous Indian Bhagat who was the guru of many other great Bhagats. He has one Shabad in Guru Granth Sahib. Bhagat Ramanand also met Guru Nanak Dev Ji and became his Sikh. This will be explored in another article.
Furthermore, another Janam Sakhi was found by Giani Gurdit Singh in Burhanpur. In this Janak Sakhi a meeting between Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Bhagat Kabir Ji is also mentioned. Interestingly, this Janam Sakhi includes something of an introduction as to why Bhagat Kabir Ji wanted to meet Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Bhagat Kabir Ji had heard that his old guru, Ramanand had met Guru Nanak Dev Ji and had all of his doubts cleared after becoming Guru Nanakโs Sikh. So Bhagat Kabir Ji also went in search of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, when he met Guru Sahib he said the following on page 250:
เจฎเฉเจจเฉเจ เจธเฉเจจเจฟเจ เจนเฉ เจเจชเจจเฉ เจฐเจพเจฎเจพเจจเฉฐเจฆ เจเฉ เจเจพ เจธเฉฐเจธเจฏเจพ เจฆเฉเจฐ เจเฉเจ เจนเฉเฅค เจนเจฎเจพเจฐเฉ เจญเจฐเจฎ เจเจพ เจญเฉ เจเฉเจฆเจจ เจเจฐเฉเฅค เจคเฉเจฎ เจเฉ เจญเจเจคเจพเจ เจตเจฟเจเฉ เจเฉเจฐเฉ เจธเฉเจฐเจ เจชเฉเจฐเจเจพเจถ เจญเจ เจนเฉ , เจธเจฐเจฌ เจเจเจค เจเจฒเจฟเจเจฃ เจฒเจ เจคเฉเจฎเจฐเจพ เจ
เจตเจคเจพเจฐ เจนเฉเฅค
I have heard that you displaced the worries and doubts of Ramanand. Please remove my doubts as well. You are a Guru, like a the light of the sun, you have come on earth to save all of humanity.
In Gurbani, Bhagat Kabir Ji says:
เจธเจคเจฟเจเฉเจฐเฉ เจเจพเจฐเจฟ เจเจเจ เจญเฉเจฐเจฎเฉ เจฎเฉเจฐเจพ เฅฅเฉจเฅฅ
Meeting the True Guru my doubts have been burnt.
This echoes what Bhagat Kabir Ji has said in the Janam Sakhi. Meeting Satguru Nanak Dev Ji, his doubts were cleared.
Another noteworthy part of this conversation from the Janam Sakhi is presented below:
เจธเจคเจฟเจชเฉเจฐเจ เจธเจคเจฟเจเฉเจฐ เจคเฉ เจชเจพเจฏเจพเฅค เจคเจฌ เจธเจคเจฟเจจเจพเจฎ เจฒเฉ เจฐเจฟเจฆเฉ เจตเจธเจพเจฏเจพเฅค
เจฎเฉเจเจค เจญเจ เจธเจคเจฟเจเฉเจฐ เจเฉ เจถเจฌเจฆเฉ เจฌเจฟเจจเจธเฉ เจธเจญเจฟ เจนเฉ เจชเฉเจฐเจพเฅค
I have found the True Purakh (God) through Satguru ( Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji). He has given me the Sat Naam (True Naam) and I have enshrined it within myself. I have been liberated through the Shabad (Naam) of Satguru, and all of my pain has been destroyed.
The Janam Sakhi continues on to say:
เจเจฌ เจเจธเจพ เจเจชเจฆเฉเจถ เจธเฉเจฐเฉ เจฌเจพเจฌเฉ เจเฉ เจเจฌเฉเจฐ เจฏเฉเจ เจเฉเจคเจพ เจคเฉ เจธเจคเจฟเจจเจพเจฎ เจเจพ เจจเจพเจฎ เจฎเฉฐเจคเจฐ เจฆเจฟเฉฑเจคเจพ, เจคเจพเจ เจฌเจพเจฌเฉ เจเจเจฟเจ: เจเจนเฉ เจเจพเจฐเจ
เฉฑเจเจฐ เจคเฉเจฐเฉ เจนเจฟเจฐเจฆเฉ เจเจพ เจคเจฎ เจนเจฐเจจ เจนเจพเจฐเฉ เจนเฉเฅค
After giving Bhagat Kabir Ji Updesh (teachings), he was found deserving and Guru Nanak Dev Ji gave Bhagat Kabir the Mantar of the True Naam and said to him: This four letter Mantar (Gurmat Naam) will destroy your ignorance.
To this Bhagat Kabir Ji replied:
เจ
เฉฑเจ เจฎเฉเจฐเฉ เจญเจเจคเจฟ เจธเฉฐเจชเฉเจฐเจจ เจนเฉเจ เจคเฉ เจธเจฐเจต เจชเฉเฉฐเจจ เจเจพ เจซเจฒ เจฎเฉเจจเฉ เจชเจพเจเจ เจนเฉ เจเจฟเจเจ เจเฉ เจชเฉเจฐเจคเฉฑเจ เจชเจฐเจฎเฉเจถเจฐ เจเจพ เจฆเจฐเจถเจจ เจนเฉเจเจ เจนเฉเฅค เจงเฉฐเจจ เจญเจพเจ เจนเฉ เจฎเฉเจฐเฉเฅค
Today my Bhagti has been completed and I have received the fruit of all my good actions, because today I have seen Parmeshar (God). Great are my fortunes!
The above appears in the Hindi version of the Pran Sangli that was published by Sant Sampooran Singh. It it believed to have originally been written between 1570 and 1574 Bikrami around 1513โ18 CE. This Pran Sangli is also present in several old Janam Sakhis.
In Gurbani Bhagat Kabir Ji says:
เจเจฌเฉเจฐ เจธเจพเจเจพ เจธเจคเจฟเจเฉเจฐเฉ เจฎเฉ เจฎเจฟเจฒเจฟเจ เจธเจฌเจฆเฉ เจเฉ เจฌเจพเจนเจฟเจ เจเจเฉ เฅฅ
Kabir says, I have met the True Satguru who has given me the One Shabad.
This Shabad, if understood using the historical evidence presented above from the Janam Sakhis, clearly shows that Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji met Bhagat Kabir Ji and gave him Naam Gurmantar, just as the Janam Sakhis mention.
Again in Gurbani Bhagat Ji writes:
เจเจฐเจฎเฉ เจธเจคเจฟเจเฉเจฐเฉ เจชเจพเจเจ เจเจฟเจจเจฟ เจนเจ เจฒเฉเจ เจเจกเจพเจ เฅฅเฉจเฉฆเฉฏเฅฅ
Through my good karams I have met the True Guru, who has saved me.
This evidence from the Janam Sakhis proves beyond doubt that during the times of the Gurus, it was an accepted fact that Guru Nanak Dev Ji met Bhagat Kabir Ji and made him his Sikh and have him Naam.
For further evidence, we can look at a non-Sikh source as well. In the Kabir Panth, the followers of Bhagat Kabir have several granths. One of the Granths is theย Kabir Mansoorย and on page 1358 it is written that Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Bhagat Kabir Ji met in the year 1553 Bikrami (approx. 1496-97 CE). In that same granth on page 641 the following is written:
เจจเจพเจจเจเจถเจพเจน เจชเฉฐเจเจพเจฌ เจธเฉ เจญเจฐเจฎเจฃ เจเจฐเจคเฉ เจนเฉเจ เจเฉเจฐเจเจเฉเจคเจฐ เจเจเฅค เจตเจนเจพเจ เจธเฉ เจนเจฐเจฟเจฆเจตเจพเจฐ เจชเจนเฉเฉฐเจเฉเฅคเจตเจนเจพเจ เจธเฉ เจชเฉเจฒเจญเฉเจค เจนเฉเจคเฉ เจนเฉเจ เจ
เจฏเฉเจงเจฟเจ เจ เจฌเจฟเจฐเจพเจเฉเฅค เจตเจนเจพเจ เจธเฉ เจเจพเจเจธเฉ เจฎเฉ เจเจพ เจเจฐ เจเจฌเฉเจฐ เจเฉ เจธเฉ เจฎเจฟเจฒเฉเฅค
Nanak Shah (Guru Nanak Dev Ji) left Punjab and traveled through Kurukshetr, Hardiwar, Pilibhit and Ayodhya. After that, they met Kabir Ji in Kaasi.
Having examined the Janam Sakhis, the works of the Kabir Panthis (followers of Bhagat Kabir Ji), as well as other academic literature we can conclude that:
The greatness of Guru Nanak Dev Ji can never be fully understood or written down by humans. Guru Nanak Sahib is the form of Akaal Purak himself, so any attempts to fully understand or praise Guru Sahib will fail. No one can ever be saved without the blessing of my Guru, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, but my Guru is so benevolent that he will save all of humanity.
Dhan Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Without Giani Gurdit Singhโs effort to collect and publish all of the evidence that was used in this article, it would have been impossible to write this. A great deal of gratitude is given to Giani Ji and his book Itihaas Sri Guru Granth Sahib: Bhagat Bani Edition.
References:
Ahmad, Nazir (1953). The Labjat-I-Sikandar Shahi, a unique and exhaustive book on Indian Music of the time of Sikandar Lodi (1489โ1517).
George, Dr.ย K. M.ย (1997).ย Masterpieces of Indian literature, Volume 1.
Machwe, Prabhakar (1968).ย Kabir.
Singh, Giani Gurdit (1990). Itihaas Sri Guru Granth Sahib: Bhagat Bani Edition
– Written by Gagan Singh
