Vaishnavism, Shaivism and Minor Religious Systems v1.c4.s19.36

v1.c4.s19.36

Here the first group contains a condemnation of the current religious doctrines; the second gives a specimen of Kabīr's moral teachings; and the third explains the way in which God's grace operates towards the deliverance of man. Kabīr, therefore, was as much a constructive reformer as destructive. In Sākhī 260 of the first group Kabīr, it will be seen, condemns the worship of idols. The religion which he promulgated, therefore, was a pure spiritual theism. The mode of worship used by his followers up to the present day consists of prayers and praises only. Kabīr founded a Pantha, or a sect, and the Maṭhas, or establishments, of that sect exist in several parts of India. The principal one is at Benares, with a branch at Maghar in the Gorakhpur district, where he died. This last is said to be in the charge of a Mahomedan Mahant, or superior. The second was established by Dharmadās, his chief disciple, in the Chattisgarh district of the Central Provinces¹). The followers of Kabīr's sect are to be found principally among the lower castes, but the sage is highly venerated by all Vaiṣṇavas of whatever caste or class.