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Revision as of 01:19, 8 July 2006
Kabir Panth is the religious tradition based on the teachings of Kabir who lived during 1440-1512, and who is said to have been a disciple of Ramananda.
Two main centers of Kabir panth are
- Kabirchaura Math in Benares in Uttar Pradesh
- Dharam Das Math in Kawardha in Chhatisgarh. It has a branch at Damakheda.
Dharam Das was a Kasaundhan Bania who was a disciple of Kabir. The Mahantas (chiefs) of the Kawardha Math (and its branches) are his direct descendants.
Initiation into the Kabir panth is by tying of a kanthi (necklace of beads) around the neck of an initiate by the Mahant.
The religious service in the Kabir panth is called a "chauka". It involves marking a square with 5 yard sides. The Mahant sits at one end and conducts bhajans.
It is hard to estimate the actual number of Kabir panthis in India, since religious affiliations tend to overlap, but estimates of 9,600,000 are given.
The Kabir panth has served as a model for numerous other religious sects in India.