Kamaal Bodh

The 34th chapter of Kabir Sagar, titled Kamaal Bodh, is on page 1. However, most of the content in Kamaal Bodh within Kabir Sagar is incorrectly written.

The True Kamaal Bodh:

A tribe performed the final rites of their 12-year-old deceased boy by immersing his body in the river. The boy’s body was drifting with the current. To convince the Guru of Delhi's King Sikandar Lodi, Sheikh Taqi, Kabir Parmeshwar Ji revived the dead boy through His blessing and kept him with Him.

(Read the detailed story in this book under the summary of Kabir Charitra Bodh on pages 541 to 542.)

Reviving the Dead Boy Kamaal

Kabir Ji, along with King Sikandar, Sheikh Taqi, and the entire army, began their journey toward Delhi. On the way, they camped by a river. Early the next morning, while bathing and performing other morning rituals, Sikandar Lodi went to Sheikh Taqi's tent. He greeted him with "Salaam Alaikum," but the Sheikh did not respond. After repeated greetings, the Sheikh replied, "Now you have found yourself an infidel Guru. What is the need for a Muslim Guru? You brought him on your elephant and housed him in your tent. Once we reach Delhi, I will inform the Muslims that King Sikandar is no longer a Muslim; he has accepted the Hindu religion."

The ground seemed to slip beneath King Sikandar's feet. He pleaded, "Sheikh Ji, what do you want?" Sheikh Taqi said, "If Kabir revives a dead body in front of me, I will accept him." This issue was conveyed to Parmeshwar Kabir Ji. Kabir Ji instructed Sikandar, "Tell Sheikh Taqi to bring any dead body, and I will revive it." Sikandar quickly returned to Sheikh Taqi's tent and relayed Kabir Ji's words. Sheikh Taqi replied, "Now, whom shall I kill? Let someone die first, and then we'll see."

Sikandar Lodi became worried again, thinking, "What if no dead body is found for six months? My kingdom will be ruined." Kabir Ji, being all-knowing, understood Sikandar's inner turmoil. He knew Sheikh Taqi would not accept the truth, but the king might suffer a heart attack from the stress.

At that moment, the corpse of a 12-year-old boy, which had been immersed in the river as part of his last rites, was seen floating downstream. Sheikh Taqi also arrived at the scene. Kabir Ji said, "O Sheikh Taqi, you try to revive the corpse first so that you cannot later claim you could have done it too." All the soldiers present agreed, saying, "You also claim to be a saint, so show us by reviving the dead."

Sheikh Taqi performed his rituals and chants, but all his efforts failed. Then it was Kabir Ji's turn. By that time, the corpse had floated two furlongs (approximately one kilometer) downstream. Kabir Ji gestured with His hand, and the corpse floated back against the river's current. It stopped and became motionless in front of everyone. The water continued to flow below, but the corpse remained still.

Kabir Ji then said, "O soul, wherever you are, come at Kabir's command and enter this boy's body." Immediately, the corpse trembled, and the boy came out of the river alive. He bowed to Kabir Ji in reverence.

Everyone present exclaimed, "Kabir Ji has performed a miracle, a marvel!" The boy was named Kamaal, and Kabir Ji kept him with Him. He raised Kamaal like a child, immersed him in devotion, and imparted spiritual knowledge.

Kamaal Das served Parmeshwar Kabir Ji with great dedication. However, he became proud of his service and would openly claim that no one could serve the Guru as he did. Listening to Kabir Ji's discourses, Kamaal Ji also developed pride in his own spiritual wisdom. Some ignorant followers began to praise Kamaal Ji, even claiming that Kamaal Ji's discourses were better than the Guru's. They began to hold Kamaal in higher regard than Kabir Ji.

Parmeshwar Kabir Ji often said:

However, their intellect was clouded as if covered by stone. When a devotee becomes arrogant, considers themselves superior to the Guru, or violates the Guru's discipline, their initiation gets disrupted (naam khand). After that, they start doing everything wrong. Eventually, influenced by Kaal, they abandon their Guru. They either accept another saint, who is an agent of Kaal, as their Guru or become a Guru themselves, leading innocent people into Kaal's trap. In doing so, they themselves become destined for hell.

To break the pride of Kamaal Das Ji, Parmeshwar Kabir Ji performed a divine act. This was similar to when Arjun became proud, thinking there was no devotee like him who served Shri Krishna Ji. To humble Arjun, Shri Krishna Ji performed a divine act. Shri Krishna Ji, taking Arjun with him, went to King Mordhwaj's palace and rested in his garden. Both of them wore the attire of saints. Shri Krishna Ji, through his divine powers, had a lion accompany them.

King Mordhwaj was a devotee of Shri Krishna Ji. The king was about to appoint his son, Tamradhwaj, as his successor in a coronation ceremony, and for that occasion, a religious sacrifice was being conducted. That day, Shri Krishna Ji changed his appearance, so neither King Mordhwaj nor his family could recognize him.

The king invited the saints to dine. Shri Krishna Ji replied, “First, feed our lion. It eats human flesh. Whoever becomes the lion's meal today will attain heaven. This is the saint’s promise. But listen! Do not bring some poor laborer or worker. Today, someone from your family must offer their flesh to the lion.”

The king first told his wife and son, “Let the son rule, and his mother will take care of him. I will become the lion’s meal for the saints.”

The queen said, “I am a devoted wife. I will die before my husband does. I will become the lion’s meal.”

The son said, “I have not yet served my parents. If either of you dies, I will fail in my duty as a son and will be guilty of sin. Therefore, I will protect your lives and fulfill my duty as a son, and then I will go to the divine court with honor.”

Finally, Shri Krishna Ji decided, “Tamradhwaj, you must cut yourself into two halves in the presence of your parents. Discard the left half; only the right half is pure and will be eaten by the lion. The left part is impure.”

The king and queen immediately ordered a saw and began sawing their son in half. Shri Krishna Ji, disguised as a saint, had also warned them that if tears appeared in the eyes of any of the three, the lion would not eat the flesh.

The parents placed their son, held the saw above his head, and began cutting him. The king and queen did not cry and hardened their hearts like stone. However, tears appeared in the son’s eyes. By then, he had already been sawed into two parts.

Shri Krishna Ji said, “Tamradhwaj has tears in his eyes. Their devotion is not true. Therefore, neither we nor the lion will accept this offering. We are leaving displeased.”

A voice came from the boy’s body, “O Lord! You are omniscient and know why I wept. I wept because I am a sinner, and my entire body is unworthy of serving you. It was with great difficulty that I got the chance to offer my body in service to you. Shri Krishna Ji had said that whoever donates their body as food for the lion in this auspicious moment will directly attain heaven.

All three of us—my parents and I—were eager for this opportunity, hoping to serve you. Each of us wished for our turn to come. When you decided that my body would be offered to the lion, I was overjoyed. But now, only half of my body has been useful to you. I will receive only half the benefit.”

At that moment, Shri Krishna Ji was pleased. He removed the saw from the boy’s body and revived him, granting all three of them entry into heaven.

Witnessing this act, Arjun was overwhelmed with shame and admitted, “O Lord! I had thought there was no one who served you as I do. But in the face of such sacrifice, my service seems insignificant.”

In the same way, Parmeshwar Kabir Ji sought to teach Kamaal Ji a similar lesson.

The Story of Nekee, Seu, and Summan's Sacrifice

One day, Sahib Kabir suddenly arrived at the home of His devotee, Summan, accompanied by two disciples, Kamaal and Sheikh Fareed. Summan's household consisted of only three members: Summan, his wife Nekee, and their son Seu (Shiv). Summan was so poor that there were times when there was no food at home, and the entire family would go to bed hungry. That day was no different.

Devotee Summan asked his Guru, Sahib Kabir, “Sahib, please tell us when you would like to eat. When will you take your meal?” Kabir Sahib replied, “Brother, I am hungry. Prepare some food.” Summan went inside his house and told his wife Nekee, “Our Guru, our Lord, has come to our home. Quickly prepare some food.”

Nekee responded, “There isn’t a single grain of food in the house.” Summan said, “Go to the neighbors and borrow some.” Nekee replied, “I already went, but no one gave me any flour. Even though they have flour, they deliberately refused to help. They are mocking us, saying, ‘Today your Guru has come to your house. You used to say that your Guru is God. If your Guru is truly God, why do you need to beg? He will fill your home Himself.’”

Summan said, “Let me pawn your shawl and bring three ser of flour.” Nekee replied, “This shawl is torn. No one will accept it as a pawn.” Summan, deeply distressed, cursed his misfortune and lamented, “How unfortunate I am! God Himself has come to my home today, and I can’t even serve Him food. O Lord! Why did you send such a sinful being to this Earth? I must have been so vile in my previous life that I earned no merits. Now, how will I face my Satguru?” Saying this, he went inside a small storeroom and wept bitterly.

Nekee consoled him, saying, “Have courage. Don’t cry. Parmatma has come to our home. If He sees us crying, He will feel hurt and think that His arrival has caused distress.”

Summan calmed down. Nekee then suggested, “Tonight, you and your son should go and steal three ser of flour, but only for the saints and devotees.”

Seu, their son, objected, “Mother, Guru Ji says that stealing is a sin. You also taught me that one should never steal because those who steal face destruction. What are you saying, Mother? Should we commit sin? Our devotion will be ruined, and we will suffer in 84 lakh life forms. Please don’t say such things, Mother. I swear by you!”

Nekee replied, “Son, you are right. Stealing is a sin. But, my child, we won’t be stealing for ourselves but for the saints. We will do it to protect the honor of this town.”

Nekee further explained, “Son, the people of this town are very hostile toward us. We told them that our Guru, Sahib Kabir (the Complete God), has come to Earth. He brought a dead cow and her calf, which had been butchered into pieces by Sikandar Lodi, back to life. He resurrected a boy and a girl, cured King Sikandar Lodi of his leprosy, and even brought His Guru, Shri Swami Ramanand Ji, back to life after Sikandar Lodi killed him with a sword.

But the people of this town mock us and say, ‘If your Guru Kabir is truly God, He will fill your home with food Himself. Then why are you wandering from door to door begging for flour?’

Son, these people are naive beings. If today Sahib Kabir leaves this town without eating its food, even Kaal, will become so angry that this town might be destroyed. O son! To prevent this calamity, we must steal some food. We will not eat it ourselves; we will prepare a meal for our Satguru and the devotees who have come with Him."

Saying this, Nekee's eyes filled with tears, and she added, "Son, do not refuse—do not object."

Wiping his mother's tears, the boy Seu said, "Mother, don’t cry. Your son will obey your command. Mother, you are so good, aren’t you?

At midnight, both the father (Summan) and son (Seu) set out to steal. They made a hole in the wall of a wealthy merchant's shop. Summan said, "Son, I will go inside. If anyone comes, softly call out, and I will hand you the flour. You can take it and run." Seu replied, "No, father, I will go inside. If I get caught, they might forgive me, thinking I’m just a child." Summan said, "Son, if they catch and kill you, how will your mother and I survive?"

Praying, Seu entered the shop through the hole. Summan instructed, "Son, bring only three ser (an old measure, approximately three kilograms) of flour, no more." Seu gathered about three ser of flour into his torn, old sheet. As he moved, in the dark, he accidentally stepped on the scale’s pan, causing a loud noise that woke the merchant. The merchant caught Seu, shouting, "Thief! Thief!" and tied him up with a rope. Before being caught, Seu managed to toss the sheet with the flour through the hole and said, "Father, the merchant has caught me. Take the flour, prepare food for Satguru and the devotees, and don’t worry about me."

Summan took the flour home. When Nekee didn’t see Seu, she asked, "Where is the boy?" Summan replied, "The merchant caught him and tied him to a pillar." Nekee said, "Go back and cut off Seu's head. If the boy is recognized, they will trace him to our home. Seeing Satguru, the townspeople might say, 'These are the ones who incite theft.' They may even trouble Satguru. We sinful beings should not let our Lord be imprisoned instead of being served food."

Saying this, Nekee urged her husband to cut off their son's head for their Gurudev. Summan, taking a long knife, went to the shop and said, "Seu, son, stick your neck out once. I have some important things to discuss. We might not meet tomorrow; they may kill you." Seu told the merchant, "Merchant, my father is standing outside. He wants to speak to me urgently. Please loosen the rope enough so that I can stick my neck through the hole." The merchant agreed, loosening the rope so Seu could easily put his neck through the hole.

Seu then said, "Father, cut my neck. If you do not cut it, you are not my father. If they recognize me, the merchant will come to our home. He has connections with the king and may have our Gurudev killed. Father, how will we ever face Him?"

Hearing this, Summan immediately used the knife to sever his son’s head and took it home. The merchant, seeing that the boy had been killed, dragged his body to an abandoned kiln nearby and dumped it there.

When Nekee told Summan to go back and bring the body as well, Summan returned to the shop. By that time, the merchant had sealed the hole in the shop wall. Summan followed the drag marks left by the body and reached the spot where it had been discarded. He picked it up, brought it home, placed it inside a room, covered it with old rags, and placed the severed head on a shelf inside a cupboard, closing the window securely.

As time passed, the sun rose. Nekee bathed and prepared food for Satguru and the devotees. She respectfully requested Satguru Kabir Sahib to partake in the meal. Nekee served the food with great reverence before Kabir Sahib and the two devotees, Kamaal and Sheikh Farid. Kabir Sahib instructed, "Divide this food into six portions and all of you sit together to partake in this blessed meal."

Despite much pleading from Nekee, Kabir Sahib insisted, and the food was divided into six portions. Five of them, including Summan and Nekee, sat down to eat.

Then Kabir Sahib spoke:

As soon as Kabir Sahib uttered these words, Seu's head rejoined his body. There was no trace of the cut on his neck, and he sat down among them to eat. Everyone present exclaimed, "Glory to Kabir Sahib (Kavirmitauja)!"

(Kavir = Kavirdev = Kabir Parmeshwar, Amit + Oja = one whose power is infinite.)

Summan and Nekee were astounded. They saw no sign of any injury on Seu's neck and wondered how their son had come back to life. When they checked inside the room, the severed body and head were gone. Only bloodstains remained, left as evidence to remove any lingering doubts in their sinful minds.

Sat Sahib.

Such are the many divine plays performed by Kabir Sahib (Kaviragni), proving that He is the Supreme God. As stated in Samveda number 822 and Rigveda Mandal 10 Sukt 162 Mantra 2, Kavirdev extends the lifespan of His true devotees according to proper practice.

The Defection of Kamaal from His Guru

Witnessing this divine play, Kamaal realized that in comparison to the selfless devotion and sacrifices made by others, his efforts were like a mere lamp before the sun. However, his ego remained intact, and his connection to the true knowledge (Naam) was severed. Some time later, under Kaal’s influence, Kamaal abandoned Paramatma Kabir Ji and moved to another village with his followers, setting up residence there and initiating people into his path. Initially, many followers gathered around him, but later, they started facing losses. Some began worshipping deities; others turned to spirits.

The reason was that the devotion these seekers had performed while initiated by Kabir Ji sustained them only for a while. They attributed their benefits to Kamaal’s teachings and blessings. Once the grace from their earlier devotion waned, they faced hardships again and visited Kamaal occasionally as a formality. This situation was akin to an inverter with a partially charged battery that works for some time after being disconnected from the charger but eventually stops functioning once the charge depletes. Similarly, the lives of those misguided devotees became futile.

Kamaal lacked authorization to initiate people into true knowledge. Becoming a self-proclaimed guru, he destroyed the lives of his devotees and wasted his own life in the pursuit of self-glory.

One day, Kamaal noticed a decline in the number of his followers. A small ashram had been built for him by his supporters. However, many disciples of Kabir Parmeshwar Ji in the nearby villages were not swayed by Kamaal’s deceit. Kamaal announced in the surrounding areas, including his village, that Kabir Guru Ji’s birth anniversary would be celebrated on the full moon of Jyeshtha and invited everyone to participate and donate at the feast.

Despite the announcement, no one came from outside the village. The villagers, however, as per tradition, woke up early before sunrise to donate milk for the feast. Kamaal instructed the disciples in his ashram to set up a large pot covered with cloth to collect milk donations from the villagers. The disciples did as instructed. Kabir Parmeshwar Ji inspired most villagers with the thought, "Everyone will donate milk, but I have little at home. Let me mix water with the milk before donating." As a result, only two or three people donated pure milk; the rest added water to their contributions. In the darkness, the villagers completed their tasks and left.

In the morning, when the disciples checked the pot to prepare kheer, they found that it contained mostly white water instead of milk. Kamaal, who had assumed that the entire village was supporting him, was disillusioned. Seeing the pot of water, he realized the consequences of distancing himself from his Guru. Neither did he belong to the village nor to his followers.

During this time, Kamaal had initiated a Muslim disciple named Dariyakhan in Ahmedabad. Later, Kamaal cursed him, saying, "You will go to the spirit realm." In this way, Kamaal wasted his spiritual powers. Kabir Parmeshwar Ji had already warned Kamaal that his sect would not thrive because he had disregarded spiritual guidelines.

Kabir Parmeshwar Ji said: (Anurag Sagar page 138)

A few days later, Kamaal left the ashram during the night and disappeared to an unknown location. It is unknown where or how he died.

Reflection: A Lesson in Gratitude

This account illustrates the depth of ingratitude in Kamaal. The Supreme Master, who granted him life, nurtured him, and bestowed unparalleled spiritual knowledge upon him, was betrayed by Kamaal due to his insatiable hunger for glory.

This story also highlights an important distinction. While people revere Lord Krishna as God because He revived Tamaradhvaj, Kabir Parmeshwar Ji resurrected Shiv (Seu), the son of Summan, and granted him liberation. Lord Krishna only provided access to heaven, which is temporary, as souls in heaven eventually return to the cycle of birth and death.

Through the path of devotion prescribed by Kabir Parmeshwar Ji, complete liberation is achieved, as demonstrated by Shiv (Seu), Nekee, and Summan. In his third incarnation as Sultan Ibrahim Adham, Summan also attained complete salvation through the liberation mantra given by Kabir Ji.

Kamaal betrayed the Supreme Lord and wasted his life in foolishness.

The summary of the chapter "Kamaal Bodh" from Kabir Sagar concludes here.