About the Monastic Order and Tradition
The parampara (the tradition) of
Kabirpanth, a worldwide sect of the followers of the great saint
Kabir Saheb headquartered at Siddhapith Kabirchauramath Moolgadi
in Varanasi where saint Kabir lived, obviously starts with
Sadguru Kabir Saheb. Kabirpanth is though not established by
Kabir Saheb himself, but by his followers in 1518 A.D. just
after he passed away. Since then, the generations of Acharyas
came and led the Moolgadi when the previous Acharya takes
voluntary retirement or passes away.
Following is a list of Acharyas of the Moolgadi is considered as
the chief and supremo of the entire Kabirpanth. Kabir Saheb
naturally was the first-one to lead the Moolgadi- and since
then, the total number of 24 Acharyas has taken charge over the
centuries. Including Kabir Saheb they are:
1. H.H. Sadguru Kabir Saheb (d. 1518 A.D.)
2. H.H. Shruti Gopal Saheb (d. 1551 A.D.)
3. H.H. Gyan Saheb (d. 1570 A.D.)
4. H.H. Shyam Saheb (d. 1585 A.D.)
5. H.H. Lal Saheb (d. 1626 A.D.)
6. H.H. Harisukh Saheb (d. 1640 A.D.)
7. H.H. Sheetal Saheb (d. 1650 A.D.)
8. H.H. Sukh Saheb (d. 1675 A.D.)
9. H.H. Hulas Saheb (d. 1696 A.D.)
10. H.H. Madhav Saheb (d. 1710 A.D.)
11. H.H. Kokil Saheb (d. 1721 A.D.)
12. H.H. Ram Saheb (d. 1740 A.D.)
13. H.H. Maha Saheb (d. 1762 A.D.)
14. H.H. Hari Saheb (d. 1770 A.D.)
15. H.H. Sharan Saheb (d. 1800 A.D.)
16. H.H. Pooran Saheb (d. 1823 A.D.)
17. H.H. Nirmal Saheb (d. 1850 A.D.)
18. H.H. Rangi Saheb (d. 1897 A.D.)
19. H.H. Guru Prasad Saheb (d. 1916 A.D./ submitted his charge
in his life-time to H.H. Prem Saheb who committed jal-samadhi
years before H.H.Guru Prasad Saheb passed away)
20. H.H. Prem Saheb (d. 1914 A.D.)
21. H.H. Ram Vilas Day Saheb (d. 1972 A.D.)
22. H.H. Amritdas Saheb (d. 1989 A.D.)
23. H.H. Ganga Sharandas Shastri Saheb (took voluntary
retirement in 1999 A.D.)
24. H.H. Vivekdas Acharya Saheb
At present Sant Vivekdas Acharya Saheb is the Acharya of
Moolgadi, and thus the supremo of the entire Kabirpanth. Sant
Vivekdas has reestablished the critical intellectual tradition
of the panth as well as in understanding of Kabir philosophy. He
has single handedly battled against the distortions and
deviations, which had crept in the panth, in different branches
of Kabirpanth and in the philosophy itself through
misinterpretations and counter
practices. He has opened a new vista in the panth by attracting
an array of intellectuals, philosophers and scholars.
Vivekdas is the first Acharya of
Moolgadi who has opened the doors of monastery for all from
different corners of world. International activities have taken
a quantum jump during his Acharya hood.
Kabirpanth is a widespread religious-spiritual sect. It has as
much as 108 wings within the sect. All these wings are active
under the flagship of the Moolgadi and engaged for a long time
in spreading the ideas of Kabir Saheb as per the directives
given by the global headquarter of Kabirpanth.
Apart from these wings, there are
numerous sub-sects formed following the footprints of the saints
who have anyhow been inspired by the ideas and preaching of
Kabir Saheb or by the drives conducted by the Moolgadi over the
time. All these sub-sects are not though directed and governed
by the Moolgadi, but all of them revere the Moolgadi and Kabir
Saheb as they trace their origin in the sayings of Kabir Saheb.
The founders of all these sub-sects are the gems of the Bhakti
movement initiated and shaped by Kabir Saheb. Since his regime,
the Siddhapith Kabirchauramath Moolgadi has been patronizing
this centuries-long tradition covering undoubtedly a wide range
in the terms of time and space both besides a huge committed
following.
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