Kabir’s Divine Love

What is love? Well, we usually associate the term love with loving another person; usually of opposite sex. Now that is the kind of love that we nurture with another person of flesh and blood. However, let us explore another dimension of love. This love is neither for a person; nor of a romantic type, as it is immortalized in the legions of books like Romeo and Juliet, or Heer and Ranja etc. Instead it is love for God and that too it is steeped in a deep sense of reverence. The love that Kabir Ji is referring to is not for a person, but a personal nature and a trait.

Kabir Ji has developed a firm conviction, a firm faith in God. It is because of these emotions he feels the experiences of being completely absorbed in the divine love. So, what are those feelings? As we are not familiar with those kinds of feelings, let us ask Kabir Ji to share his impressions with us in his own words. Kabir Ji says in Guru Granth Sahib:

“Karvat bhalaa n karvatt taeree.
Laag galaae sun binatee maeree." (SGGS, Pg. No. 484)

Meaning:
I would rather be cut apart by a saw, than have You turn Your back on me. Hug me close, and listen to my prayer.

Here Kabir Ji is sharing the excitement and the enthusiasm that has welled up in him for God. He says that getting sawed to pieces is acceptable to him, but turning of God’s back is not. He further pleads for embrace and asks:

“Hau vaaree mukh pher pyarae.
Karvatt dhae mo ko kaahae ko maarae.” (SGGS, Pg. No. 484)

Meaning:
I am a sacrifice to You - please, turn Your face to me, O Beloved Lord. Why have You turned Your back to me and killing me?

Here he implores to God to please turn His face towards him. He asks God as to why He is killing him by turning His back towards Kabir?

“Jau tan cheerah aang n morao.
Pind parai tau preet na taurao.” (SGGS, Pg. No. 484)

Meaning:
Even if You cut my body apart, I shall not pull my limbs away from You. Even if my body falls, I shall not break my bonds of love with You.

In our worldly love, how many of us are willing are to get sawed to pieces for our beloved? But Kabir has no hesitation or qualms. He declares that even when the body drops still he will not break that deep bond that he has experienced with these words:

“Hum tum beech bhaeiou nahee koee.
Tumehe s kant naar hum soee.” (SGGS, Pg. No. 484)

Meaning:
Between You and I, there is no other. You are the Husband Lord, and I am the soul-bride.

He declares that there is no other between him and God. The relationship and bond is like that of a husband and wife. Kabir Ji declares that God; You are my husband and I am your soul bride. In the concluding line Kabir Ji turns towards the world and declares:

“Kahat Kabir sunahu rae loee.
Ab tumree parteeth n hoee.” (SGGS, Pg. No. 484)

Meaning:
Says Kabir, listen, O people: now, I place no reliance in you.

Kabir Ji’s declaration to the world that I do not take notice of you implies that the material world cannot entice him any longer. This strong a bonding of love that Kabir Ji experienced and shared with us through his writings is different from our worldly experiences. Although; we can feel the pangs of separation, the feelings of emptiness, anxiousness, and anxiety are like those experienced in the worldly love scenario, yet there are few added dimensions. One dimension is willingness to give his life by the saw and another dimension is a keen desire for reunion with God.

As Kabir Ji has talked about divine love, let us ask him 2 questions:

1. Kabir Ji! Will you please share with us your achievement in divine love?

2. How can we develop divine love?

Let us look for answers from his writings. In answer to the first question, Kabir Ji talks about his achievement in these words:

“Raam Kabira aek bhaae hai koe n sakai pashhaanee.” (SGGS, Pg. No. 969)

Meaning:
The Lord and Kabir have become one. No one can tell them apart.

Here Kabir Ji is declaring that he has become one with God and no one can distinguish them apart. Now in answer to question number two Kabir Ji says:

“Preet binaa kaisae badhhai sanaehu.
Jab lag ras tub lag nehee naehu.” (SGGS, Pg. No. 328)

Meaning:
Without love, how can one's affection increase? As long as there is worldly attachment to pleasure, there can be no spiritual love.

Kabir Ji says that as long as the mind is enticed by worldly pleasures, divine love cannot emanate there. Without the divine love how can its affection be intensified? Thus by posing a question in his response Kabir Ji is implying that for the tree of divine love to grow the weeds of worldly attachment has to be pulled out. So, now let us ask how this can be accomplished. Kabir Ji says:

“Kabir taa siyo preet kar jaa ko Thakur raam.” (SGGS, Pg. No.1365)

Meaning:
Kabir, be in love with only that one, whose Master is the Lord.

Kabir Ji addresses himself to advise us that we should develop love for those who consider God as their Lord. His experience is scholarship; rule over vast stretches of land is not going to help in achieving divine love. In the company of those who are imbued with this divine love already, we can also plant a sapling within ourselves. When that sapling is nurtured it will not only grow into a big tree. With it all the doubts, questions, and the vacillations of mind will end. Kabir Ji’s advice is:

“Kabir preet aik sio kee-ae aan dhubidhhaa jaa-ae.” (SGGS, Pg. No.1365)

Meaning:
Kabir, when you are in love with the One Lord, duality and alienation depart.

Let us pray, hope, aspire that we get to taste this divine love in our lives. The words referred to above serve as an inspiration for us that we need to develop and nurture such a deep relationship. Let these words fuel our desire for this divine love. Our singing of these words may not just be repeating the words of Kabir Ji on a musical scale, but a true heart rendering. God’s blessing is all that we need and aspire for, and we may be blessed to experience the feeling of divine love within. May we actually feel the experience the rising up in True Love?