‘Kabir was and is to the present a source of inspiration for those who questioned entrenched social institutions and ideas in their search for the divine.' Explain.

Kabir was a saint poet who lived during the 14^th and 15^th century. He emerged as an important personality who was and is to the present a source of inspiration for those who questioned the entrenched social institutions and ideas in their search for the divine. The thoughts and literary works of Kabir was a challenge to the emerging way of tradition and thinking in society.

The different works and verses attributed to Kabir are preserved by three unique and overlapping traditions - the Kabirpanth in Varanasi and Uttar Pradesh, the Kabir Granthavali in Rajasthan and other literary works in the Adi Granth Sahib. The works of Kabir is written in the special language of nirguna poets - the Sant bhasha and ulatbansi.

Kabir illustrated upon a wide range of traditions to describe the ultimate reality. These include Islam and Vedantic traditions. He defined the ultimate reality in different forms like Allah, Khuda, Hazrat and Pir, which are mostly of Islamic origin. He also used terms like alakh (the unseen), nirakar (formless), Brahman and Atman which had Vedantic roots. Many terms like shabda (sound) or shunya (emptiness) had yogic influence. Many unique and contradictory ideas were expressed through his works. Some poems based on Islamic ideas use monotheism and iconoclasm to criticise the Hindu polytheism and idol worship. Some others used the Sufi concept of zikr and Ishq to explain the Hindu ideology of nam-simaran i.e reverence towards God. Thus, his legacy is still carried on by several groups, who follow his thoughts and teachings.