Question

Saint Kabir wrote poems which are known as:
A. Tripitakas
B. Keerthanas
C. Dohas
D. Bhajans

Answer 1

Hint: Kabir Das was born in a Muslim family of weavers. He is famous among Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims. The meaning of Kabir’s name in Islam means ‘The Great’.

Complete answer:
Kabir was spiritual from the beginning. He was a disciple of Guru Ramananda. In the beginning Ramananda refused to accept Kabir as his disciple. So one morning Kabir was reading the Rama-Rama mantra and fell at the feet of Ramananda. Ramanada felt guilty and agreed to make him his disciple. Kabir did not associate himself neither with Hinduism nor with Islam. Kabir was a mystic poet of the 15th century. He refused to call himself a Hindu or a Muslim. It is in his poetry one finds the infusion of all beliefs. Saint Kabir’s poems are known as Dohas. Dohas are defined as poetry composed in the form of Matrika metre. This genre of poetry emerged in the Apabrahmasa and usually used in Hindi poetry.
Kabir’s verses have been recorded in the Adi Granth of the Guru Granth Sahib. Many people believed that Saint Kabir had influence on Guru Nanak who founded the religion of Sikhism. Mirabai, Tulsidas and Kabir are known for their famous dohas.

Looking at the options:
Option A: Tripitakas are Buddhist traditional scriptures. Hence this is an incorrect answer.
Option B: Keerthans are narration, depiction of a story which is used in indian religions. This is not the right answer.
Option C: Dohas are poetry written by Rahim, Tusidas,Kabir and many others. This is the correct answer.
Option D: Bhajans are found in various traditions of Hindu religious practices and Kabir did not associate himself with any particular religion. Hence this too is an incorrect answer.

Hence the correct answer is option C.

Note: Kabir has been criticised because of his derogatory views on women. Kabie was of the belief that a woman destroys everything when she comes near a man. While answering the question do not confuse Kabir with Mirabai. Mirabai’s hymns are known as bhajans.