Kabir Saheb's journey to Maghar

This time, Kabir saheb’s body appeared extra-ordinarily worn out. His hair and beard had turned gray like the fibers of the sun hemp. From the constricting veins and wrinkles on the face one could easily guess that this body belonged to some centenarian great man. By the powerful influence of Yoga, Kabir’s body was still radiant. At heart, he was still enthusiastic to undertake even hard work. One can easily guess the harsh conditions that might have existed six hundred years ago, particularly while making journeys because no fast means of transport were available those days.

This time, when Kabir saheb returned from a long journey, all of his prominent disciples gathered around him. Many of them had accompanied him on the journeys, so they were quite aware of the problems Kabir saheb had faced during the journey. All of them were insisting unanimously that Sadguru saheb should not undertake more travels. ‘Now is the time to give some rest to your worn out body. Problems in the world are unending. People have so much pains, so much miseries... that will never come to an end. Sadguru saheb, you have yourself experienced that,’ they insisted.

While Kabir saheb was on his tours, Nawab Bijali Khan Pathan, the ruler of Magahar, had arrived in Kashi and was awaiting there eagerly for the return of Kabir saheb.

He wished to take Kabir saheb to Magahar with him because at that time Magahar was reeling under prolonged drought and famine because of a curse of a saint. Bijali Khan Pathan knew that only Kabir saheb was such a saint and Faqueer at that time who could undo the effect of the saint’s curse and rescues Magahar from the clutches of famine. Since Magahar was the domain of Nawab Bijali Khan Pathan, it was natural for him to think about and ensure the well being of his subjects. Besides, Magahar had been declared as a hell on the earth, so Nawab Bijali Khan Pathan was also eager to get this designation removed from the name of Magahar.

As soon as Kabir saheb returned from the journey, Nawab Bijali Khan Pathan also arrived there to see Kabir saheb. In Kashi, first of all, Bijali Khan accepted the disciple-hood of Kabir saheb, then he related the condition of Magahar, that the people there are forced to live under the condition of prolonged drought and famine... ‘only a great saint like you can do away with the agony of drought and famine... the land of Magahar has been calling you for years,’ the Nawab requested. Kabir saheb was very kind-hearted. He could not contain himself after hearings about the woes of the people in Magahar and at once gave his consent to visit there. Bijali Khan Pathan was overjoyed by the decision. He at once sent some of his men to herald the arrival of Kabir saheb in Magahar in advance.

When the disciples and Kashi king Veerdev Singh learnt about the decision they felt very sad. All of them said – ‘Sadguru, now your age is not fit to make more travels. Moreover you have just returned after a long journey, and once again you are making your mind to undertake another.’

Kabir saheb said – ‘I am a traveler of the life and path simultaneously... whether be it the journey of life or on a path... a man must never feel nervous. This human body also is a journey. No one knows, how many incarnations one travels through before getting into this human body. Hence, I have said, and say it again –

‘Bahata Paani Niramla, Bandha Ganda Hoy’.

A saint is only that who keeps on travelling always, constant travelling makes the inner atmosphere of a man pure. And the purity of a man is the only way to salvation.

A Vyasji from Mithila was the fast friend of Kabir saheb. He was a learned person and had full command over the religious scriptures. Both of them were very informal with each-other. In a requesting tone, Vyasji said –

Kabir saheb, now please put off this journey. People come to Kashi at their last time and you are planning to go to Magahar when your last time seems near. According to the writings in Puranas Magahar is a hell-region, and a man, who dies there, takes rebirth as an ass. Kashi is a region of redemption, you should stay in Kashi and leave your ephemeral body here.’

At this Kabir saheb said –

‘Jo Kabira Kashi Marai, To Raamhin Kaun Nihoraa’

The words of Vyasji became the last challenge for Kabir saheb. Kabir saheb said – “For all through my life, I kept on fighting against radical thinking, ostentation and superstitions. But still, this greatest superstition attached to Kashi remains. If I don’t break it, people will cease to have faith in their devotion to Rama and even the path to liberation will be lost forever. The name of Rama is so great that whoever knows its essence, sees Kashi and Magahar alike. Without the devotion for Rama, no one can experience the light of Knowledge. Only the ignorant people believe that after dying in Magahar, one takes rebirth as an ass. For the learned once there is liberation everywhere. I have conquered the death, so I have no fear whether of die in Kashi or Magahar. Only I can break this tradition of radical superstition.’

Kabir saheb said – ‘Vyasji, if you are really a Vyas from Mithila, a learned person having full command over scriptures and if you have obtained a knowledge of the self according to the scriptures, you should also choose to die in Magahar.’ At that time, all the region outside Kashi was known as the hell, that is Magahar. These words of Kabir saheb pinched Vyasji and he at once left Kashi. Beyond the Ganges, opposite to Raaj Ghat, Vyasji erected his hutch where he lived till last and left his ephemeral body to attain salvation. Even today, Vyasnagar is situated in Trans-Ganges area opposite to Raaj Ghat.

When Kabir saheb finally began his departure for Magahar, leaving Kashi, thousands of people gathered there. They were getting sentimental and wailing and crying – Kashi will become like a desert without Kabir saheb. Such as a marriage procession has no importance and decor without the groom... a fruitless tree and waterless river have no importance... an elephant has no attraction without Gajamukta (a pearl that was supposed to emerge from the head of an elephant)... a human being has no importance without new clothes, similarly, without Kabir saheb. Kashi will have no importance.’ Indeed the sorrow of Kabir saheb’s leaving Kashi was so great that people began to feel as if some calamity would be fell on them.

A huge crowd also departed from Kashi to Maghar accompanying Kabir saheb. Among the Gurubhai (those who have been disciples together under the same Guru) were Saint Ravidasji, Senji, Peepaji and Dhannaji. Among the disciples were included Suratigopal saheb, Jaagu saheb, Bhaagu saheb, Kamaal saheb, Padmnabh saheb and Malook saheb, Kashi king Veerdev Singhji was leading the procession. The king of Bandhavgarh Ram Singh had also joined the crowd. It was indeed a huge procession, in which many kings and royalties and all the important saints were participating. Crowd of common people could be spotted separately. The difference of Hindus and Moslems was absent in the journey procession, because followers of both the religious were the disciples of Kabir saheb.

When the procession of the saints reached Gorakhpur, Kabir Saheb decided to make a halt in Kasarbal village at the bank of Aami river. Kabir Saheb made a small fire ( Dhooni ) right at that place to sit comfortably and ordered Bijali Khan Pathan that Bhajan Keertan (singing of devotional songs with music) would be organized there first, ‘so arrange for the feast.’ In the feast, Baba Gorakhnath, the then supremo of Gorakhnath peeth, had been also invited. Many other important Nath, Siddh, Yogi etc. of the Gorakhpur region had also attended that spiritual gathering. Arrangements had been made on large scale for the feast. But the water was in short supply. Kabir Saheb said to Gorakhpnathji – ‘Nathji, it is your area. Kindly arrange for the water in the feast.’ Gorakhnathji pressed the ground with his thumb and a fountain of water sprang from the earth. But it was not sufficient to meet the entire demand for water. So Kabir Saheb invoked the clouds.

In no time, clouds gathered in the sky and soon it began to rain torrentially flooding all the surrounding areas. Rivers-rivulets, ponds, wells etc. all filled with water. A wave of joy ran across the people. The entire region of Magahar was now free from the curse. The public began to shout slogans praising Kabir Saheb and Bijali Khan. In Kasarbal Village, Kabir Dhooni and Gorakh Talaiya are still famous among the people. Unfortunately, the Uttar Pradesh government has filled Gorakh Talaiya and constructed a highway on it... thus there is now no trace of Gorakh Talaiya in Kasarbal village, but Kabir Dhooni still exists there as an historical place.

After the feast was over, Kabir Saheb and all of his followers crossed the river Aami and pitched their tents there. Now, Aami had begun to flow with tremendous force. At some distance from the river, a Parn Kutir (hut of leaves) was erected for Kabir saheb. There too a grand feast had been organized. The river was flowing at a distance from the purnkuti and where the feast had been organized. Kabir saheb invoked the river and the river bent slightly and flowing in reverse direction, acme to touch the parnkuti. Still at this place, the river flows in a bow-shape course.

Kabir saheb called all of his disciples hear him and addressing them said – ‘Now, all of my work is finished. Make a bed of flowers in the parnkuti. I want to rest forever now.’

So a bed of flowers was made and Kabir saheb closed himself in the parnkuti. As soon as Kabir saheb closed himself in the parnkuti, Kashi king Raja Veerdev Singh and Nawab Bijali Khan Pathan hold discussion for some time. Then both of them parted and stood at the opposite corners. Both of them had come with their armies, so both the parties were now prepared for war, just to take possession of Kabir saheb’s body.

Now the Hindus and Moslem followers and devotees of Kabir saheb were ready to fight with and kill each other. Hindu followers were claiming that they would cremate Kabir saheb as per their rituals, while Moslem followers claimed that they would busy him as per their custom. Hindus claimed that Kabir saheb was their Guru, while Moslems claimed that he was their Peer. Both the groups drew out sword and Kurukshetra-like atmosphere became there around the parnkuti. There was panic among the common devotees and followers. Some people began to even run amok amidst the raising slogans of Rama and Allah. Forgetting all the principles, the devotees and followers were griped by an impulse of frenzy.

Meanwhile, a loud thundering sound came from within the parnkuti and a bright beam of light illuminated the sky and entire Magahar region. Attention of the mob now attracted towards the sky. This seemingly impossible, miraculous event shook the conscience of the devotees and the followers. They were now no more covered by the darkness of ignorance.

Spontaneously all them realized the futility of their fight. The beam of bright light was spreading slowly and everyone felt that through that beam, Sadguru saheb wanted to broadcast some important message for the devotees... ‘Yours and my body neither belongs to a Hindu nor to a Moslem. This ephemeral human body is an effigy of five elements. Each of these elements finally anihilates within its source. This is the ultimate fact and eternal rule of the nature. A microcosm soul stays in this body. That soul is imaging and immortal. It can never be destroyed. This mingles with the Paramatma to be anihilated in Paramatatva (Supreme element). Water has mingled with water. Now all the hair pulling would not get you even an essence of all this. You are all afflicted with passion, attachment and narrow mindedness, you would not get anything in this condition.

...All through my life I preached you about the ephemeral nature of this world. Aatma (soul) is immortal and the only truth. I passed my life among you to make you realize this fact and gulp the potions of immortality. But like the moths that thrive on Neem tree, you like Neem only. Potions of ambrosia does not pass below your throat. Now no expiation would get you anything... the bird has flown away long ago. Now you would not get even the why in place of khoya (condensed milk). Like the fish, earth-worm and snake, you are old caught in mundare lust and luxuries. Such as these creatures lose their life running after short comforts, similarly you will also lose your lives. Believe in my teachings and follow the righteous course, your welfare is hidden in it.’

All of the warriors automatically dropped their swords. The entire mob stood unmoved. All the people began to pull their hair in a gesture of expiation and wail loudly. When the doors of the parnkuti were opened, the body was not found inside it, for which they were ready to kill one another only a few moments ago. Only a few flowers and bed-sheet were all that the followers could find the Hindus and Moslems devotees and followers divided the sheet and flowers between them. Hindus built a Samadhi in Magahar on the flowers they had received and the Moslems buried the flowers they received to build a tomb over there. Suratigopal saheb also brought some flowers to Kabir-chaura in Varanasi and will a Samadhi exactly at that spot where Kabir saheb lived and practiced Sadhana and worked all through his life.

Thus, ultimately it happened that the same communalism and religiousity, against which Kabir saheb kept on protesting and struggling, that same frenzy divided Kabir saheb in to two distinct religious moments after his departure. All long his life, Kabir saheb kept on preaching about the futility of Hindu and Moslem religious and that day he was buried in two religious. It is the first instance in the world that a saint had been buried in two religious and the followers of both the religious worship as per their own rituals and customs the Samadhi and the tomb of a single and same saint. Thus, this Samadhi and tomb represent the biggest center of faith for the human beings of the entire world.

Thus, the journey of Kabir saheb’s life ended in Magahar. He attained salvation in Magahar, but his name has become immortal. Hence, he says about his life and death...

‘Hum Na Marihain, Marihani Sansara…Hum Ko Mila Jiyavanhara’.

The of Kabir saheb’s life had never been blemished. He put his vesture off as clean as it was given to him.