Kabirpanth-Achariya Suratigopal Saheb

Suratigopal was also a prominent disciple of Kabir saheb. While Kabir saheb was on tours to south India, a learned lady had met him in Tiruanantpuram near Madras. She was the mother of Suratigopal. She had expressed her worries to Kabir saheb about her son, that my son Sarvanand is plagued by the ego on his knowledge. He keeps on travelling throughout the country with loads of books and treatises and debates with the learned ones just to get himself called as Sarvajit. He returns victorious from every place and insists us to call him as Sarvajit. She said Maharaj, by your grace, his ego can be removed. Kabir saheb asured the lady and said – Send your son to Kashi whenever you get a chance.

Once Sarvanand returned home after emerging victorious in every direction, and said – ‘Mother, this time I have defeated all the Pundits in entire India. Now called me Sarvajit.’ Mother said – ‘O son, you are not yet complete victorious. Your victory is incomplete yet. Go to Kashi and defeat Kabir there, only then I will call you Sarvajit.’ Sarvanand said – ‘Mother, I had gone to Kashi also. Kabir is a weaver saint. He does not believe in religious scriptures. What will of discuss with him there ?’ But the insistence of mother once again sent Sarvanand to Kashi.

So taking a few cart-loads of scriptures Sarvanand once again arrived in Kashi. Inquiring the way, he reached at the platform known as Kabir-chabutara, where Kamaali was lifting water from a well. Sarvanand inquired her for the way to reach Kabir saheb. Seeing the cart-loads of scriptures, Kamaali understood that Punditji had come to have a debate with Kabir saheb. Citing a couplet of Kabir saheb, Kamaali showd Sarvanand the way to Kabir –

Kabir Ka Ghar Sikahr Par, Jahan Silhali Gail !
         Panv Na Tikai Pipilika, Pundit Laade Bail !! 

The reply deeply pinched Sarvanand. He though : When a girl, who stays in the vicinity of Kabir, can reply so wittingly, how would the replies of Kabir saheb then ?

Pandit Sarvanandji reached to Kabir saheb proposed for a debate with him. Kabir saheb said – I have not read these scriptures. How can I debate with you on these books ? Sarvanandji said – I had already told my mother about it. Not known why then she insisted me to come to you for a debate ? If you don’t want to have a debate, then write in your handwriting a Vijayshri (winning note) for me.

Kabir saheb said – you write a Vijayshri in your handwriting, I will put my signature on it. In the winning note, Sarvanandji wrote – ‘Kabir lost and Sarvanand won.’ Kabir saheb put his signature on it. In jubilant mood, Sarvanandji took the winning note and returned to his home and handed that note to his mother. But when, the winning note was opened, the matter had been reversed. It was found written in the note – ‘Kabir Jeeta, Sarvanand Haara’ i.e. ‘Kabir won, Sarvanand lost.’ Pundit Sarvanand said – ‘How can it happen, mother ? I had myself written in my handwriting on this winning-note.’ For long, Pundit Sarvanand kept fretting that how could this miracle happen. Then he remembered the words of Kamaali. Then all the incidents flashed back in his mind... remembering the words of Kabir; he felt as if a storm were setting in his heart.

Pundit Sarvanand began to though that the girl was speaking the truth that Kabir’s home is on a lofty peak. Even an ant can not hold its legs there. What a depth of spirituality ? I very futilely was wasting my life in carrying the loads of these scriptures. Thus, as the darkness of ignorance dispersed, a light of knowledge illuminated the heart of Punditji... he felt no more attachment with the world... renunciation began to emerge in his mind... the whole mundane conduct began to appear as futile. That is the grace of Sudguru (true teacher). Spontaneously Pundit Sarvanand uttered – ‘Mother, you have opened my eyes. I was misguided by the confusion. Now by your grace, I am saved from the agony of life and birth.’ Since that moment, Pundit Sarvanand felt intense love for Kabir saheb. He said to mother – ‘Mother, I will depart for Kashi right today.’

Once again, Pundit Sarvanandji reached at Kabir-chabutara in Kashi. Meeting Kabir saheb, he begged for his pardon and said, ‘I will remain obliged life-long for the grace you have bestowed on me. You are a true-teacher... an ocean of kindness... an ocean of knowledge... unfathomable like the sea and forgiving like the earth. It is not my defeat but my victory. When I opened the winning-note, then I felt as if my defeat had changed into my victory. I could not stay put even for a moment. Now, kindly remove my darkness, O ture teacher.’ Kabir saheb said – ‘Punditji, now your love has annihilated in Nirati (absence of attachment for mundane object). Earlier, you were Sarvajit (win all) of the scriptures, now you are Sarvajit of your senses also.’ Thus, formally carrying out convocation custom for Pundit Sarvanandji, he was renamed as Suratigopal. Since he had a knowledge of the scriptures also, he got another name Shrutigopal. After the demise of Kabir Saheb, Suratigopal became the head Acharya of Kabir-panth. It was Suratigopal who developed the places like Kabir-choura, Magahar, Lahartara and Neeruteela as a centers of pilgrimage for Kabir-panth. He was appointed as the first Acharya of Kabir-panth. A scheme was worked out under the supervision of Suratigopal to propagate Kabir-panth all over the country. According to the scheme, Jaagu saheb, Bhaagu saheb, Kamaal saheb, Padmnaabh saheb migrated out of Kabir-chaura and founded many more kabir-mathas in order to propagate and expand Kabir-panth.