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Kabir Panth is the religious tradition based on the teachings of Kabir, an 15th century Indian mystical poet. Like various other movements, it attempts to bring Hindus and Muslims closer to each other and a member of any religion can become a Kabirpanti. It was modelled after the Sahaja Panth. The Kabir panth has served as a model for numerous other religious sects in India.
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 and a disciple of Kabir. The Mahantas of the Kawardha Math and its branches are his direct descendants.
Initiation into the Kabir panth is accomplished by the tying of a kanthi, or 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 sides of five meters in length. The Mahant sits at one end and conducts bhajans.
It is difficult to estimate the actual number of Kabir panthis in India, since religious affiliations tend to overlap, but estimates of 9,600,000 are given.
References
- Kabir - Chhatisgarh - Parishisht, (2003) ©IGNCA, last accessed Sept 3, 2007.
External links
- Website of the Kabir Chaura, home of the Panthis
- Mandir in the capitol of India, New Delhi
- website of the Kabirpanthi's in Holland and Surinam
- Information about Kabir Panth