<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>KAB&#298RPANTH&#298S</TITLE>
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<p class="C1">&#65279KAB&#298RPANTH&#298S, followers of Kab&#299r (1398-1448), a saint and reformer some of whose compositions have been included in Sikh Scripture, the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib. Kab&#299r did not found any sect during his own lifetime; it was after his death that a <i>ma&#7789h</i>, called Kab&#299r Chaur&#257, was established by S&#363rat Gop&#257l, said to be the first missionary of the Kab&#299rpanth, at V&#257r&#257&#7751as&#299 which had been Kab&#299r's seat for many years. His object was to propagate the teachings of his mentor. This <i>ma&#7789h</i>, known as <i>b&#257p</i> (father), with a branch establishment at Magahar, covered the states of the Punjab, Gujar&#257t, Uttar Pradesh and Bih&#257r. Another centre, established almost contemporaneously, was in Dh&#257m Khe&#7771&#257, in the Chhat&#299sga&#7771h district of Madhya Pradesh. This <i>ma&#7789h</i>, known as <i>m&#257&#299</i> (mother), was founded by Dharam D&#257s and, with branches at R&#257ipur, Bil&#257spur and Chhindw&#257&#7771&#257, it served to spread the message of Kab&#299r and gained adherents in central India.</p>
<p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;	A person freshly recruited must renounce polytheism and avow belief in One God. He must vow never to eat meat or drink wine. He must bathe daily and sing hymns to God, morning and evening. He is adjured to forgive up to three times those who trespass against him; to avoid company of all women of bad character and never to turn away from his house his lawful wife; never to tell lies; never to usurp the property of another man; never to bear false witness or speak ill of others on hearsay evidence. At the initiation ceremony, the candidate makes the required promise in the presence of the <i>gur&#363</i>.</p>
<p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;	For Kab&#299rpanth&#299s, <i>B&#299jak</i>, a collection of Kab&#299r's hymns, is the scripture. The Hindus among them recite the name of R&#257m whereas the Muslims that of <u>Kh</u>ud&#257. All of them greet each other with "Band&#257g&#299" (salutation to you) when they meet. The common people receive guidance from a <i>mahant</i> (celebrant) who presides over a centre. He wears a conical cap, a necklace (<i>ka&#7751&#7789h&#299</i>, a rosary of <i>tuls&#299</i> (sweet basil) and brick-coloured or white garments. Frontal mark, if borne, is usually of the Vai&#7779&#7751avite type, or he makes a streak with <i>sandal</i> or <i>gop&#299chandan</i> along the ridge of the nose. Marriage is not forbidden, though some of the <i>mahants</i> remain celibate.</p>
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BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> Westcott, G.H., <i>Kabir and the Kabir Panth</i>. Cawnpore, 1907<BR>
<li class="C1"> Rose, H.A., <i>A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province</i>. Patiala, 1970<BR>
<li class="C1"> Macauliffe, Max Arthur, <i>The Sikh Religion</i>. Oxford, 1909<BR>
<li class="C1"> Jodh Si&#7749gh, <i>Kabir</i> . Patiala, 1971<BR>
<li class="C1"> Machwe, Prabhakar, <i>Kabir</i> . Delhi, 1968<BR>
</ol><p class="CONT">B. S. Nijjar<br></p><BR>
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