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104
I am the Soul
taking care of it. A child grows into the faith and calling of his home. Niru - Nima were Muslims and weavers by occupation. Hence, Kabir too was named a Muslim. Since he was a weaver, he was considered to be of a low caste.
Whatever one's caste or calling, the dormant nature of the Soul is bound to wake up someday. Kabir too was drawn towards the intrigue of the Soul, but the lack of a guide kept him away from the true path. He was yearning for a Guru, but in those days being a Guru to a low caste child carried a stigma. Hence, nobody was willing to accept him as a disciple.
Kabir came up with a solution. A great accomplished saint by name 'Swami Ramanand' was his contemporary. He would visit the embankment of river Ganga early morning everyday. Kabir knew about this. One fine morning, very early when it was still dark, he went to the embankment and lay down on one of the steps that led to the river. Ramanand was returning after his ablutions. As he was climbing the steps, he stepped on Kabir and happened to say “Ram, Ram' at that very moment. Kabir absorbed it. Kabir decided, that the one who had touched him with his feet, and in doing so had offered him disciple-hood through touch, was to be his Guru and the words that he had uttered at that precious moment were to be his mantra - key.
Kabir, for the rest of his life, looked upon Swami Ramanandji as his Guru, and took the name of 'Ram' as his mantra for penance. With a total dedication he worshipped his Sadguru, akin to Eklavya. And not just that! He has composed ballads in appreciation of the endless favours received from his Guru. He says -
सत् गुरु की महिमा अनंत, अनंत किया उपकार,
लोचन अनंत उघाडिया, अनंत दिखावणहार ।
Just as Kabir found a Sadguru who showed him the path to eternity and devoted himself at the Guru's feet, we too will have to find a Sadguru who will guide us on the path of upliftment of
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