Lehartara
The place of Sant Kabir’s emergence and advent

Before descending on the importance of Kabirchaura we would like to give an insight of the place of appearance of Sant Kabir - Lehartara. Situated within the reaches of Varanasi, Lehartara pond is the place at whose shores the world was enlightened and made a richer place by the presence of this great saint. Lehartara is 6 km from the Kabirchaura Math and Varanasi, and the Varanasi Railway Station is about 3 km from the Math as well as from Lehartara. The Lehartara pond and its vicinity are a sacred place that is linked inexorably with the saint. A small distance away from this sacred compound is said to house the hut of Sant Ashtanand Swami. He was a sage, savant and saint. He used to ruminate in his hut situated on the hillock near the Lehartara pond. The compound now shelters Swami Ashtanand’s mound.

It was a Monday and happened to be the eve of Poornima (full moon) in the hot summer month of Jyeshtha of the Vikrami Samvat (year) 1456. Neeru was returning from Maandur village (present Maduwadeeh) and going to Narharpura (present Kabirchaura) with his wife Nima after the Dwiragaman ceremony (when the bride goes to her in-laws place for the first time after marriage). It was the last day of the month of Jyeshtha. The heat wave was at its peak. Even at sunset, people had seen no respite from the heat and were desperate to have some relief.

Maduwadeeh, where Neeru’s in-laws lived, is located on the southern borders of the city of Varanasi. Neeru was a weaver (julaha/bunkar) and a believer of Islam. Since about two generations his family had given up Hinduism to embrace Islam. Neeru lived in Narharpura, a part of the present-day Kabirchaura. And the house where he then lived is now known as Neeru Teela (mound).

Seated in a palanquin, the couple was heading towards Narharpura, when they sighted a hillock surrounded by lush greenery, in the midst of the Lehartara pond. Lehartara was once famous for a huge pond that came alive with the constant swirls of waves and lotus flowers blooming in its expanse. The pond’s surface was almost covered with incessant colonies of lotuses. Exhausted from the suffocating insides of the palanquin, Nima at once found the fanning and cool shadows of the trees immensely inviting. The couple was grateful for this respite in the simmering heat of the killing Indian summer, and was swept off by the heady scent of blooming lotuses.

The lush greenery seemed to invite everyone to take some rest. The calm breeze and scented atmosphere lulled Neeru to sleep, and Nima wandered around the greens admiringly. Being thirsty she started walking towards the pond, yearning for a quenching drink. She had just collected water in her palms to have a sip when suddenly she heard the cries of a newborn in this wilderness. She got panicky and abandoned her thirst. She ran a look all over the place when she noticed a baby kicking and crying amongst the thick lotus growth on the hillock in the pond.

She was surprised to see the baby and tried to run away from it. But instantly there came a voice from her inner soul that told her not to be frightened and that this baby was a gift to her from the Almighty. Nima gathered strength and went near the baby. Seeing the baby’s innocence, beauty and divine aura Nima couldn’t keep herself from taking it in her arms. She shouted for Neeru at once. When Neeru heard Nima’s call he ran to her and was shocked to see a baby in her arms.

They debated for some time on whether to keep the baby with them or not. What would people say, and how would they react on seeing the baby. He was returning with his wife to his village for the first time after marriage, so the weaver couple was afraid of people’s reaction that may weaken the couple’s high standing in society. Both of them decided to pluck some lotuses and prepare a bed for the baby and leave it there. When they laid the baby on the lotus bed, instead of crying the baby started giggling. Being extremely soft hearted, Nima was instantly filled with an overwhelmingly strong motherly feeling. She reached out and nestled him in her arms.

On Nima’s insistence Neeru was prepared to take the baby home. Nima gathered some water in her palms and put a few drops in the baby’s mouth. The few drops of water proved to be drops of the elixir of life and the baby’s face brightened instantaneously. The baby seemed to possess divine qualities. Every moment spent with the baby seemed like a blessing. The couple decided to face the wrath and non-acceptance of society as well as the administration.

In Narharpura was Neeru’s home. And it was her that Kabir grew up. The place where Kabir played and stayed in his childhood days is today known as Neeru Teela. Since Neeru was a weaver by profession it was but obvious that Kabir also chose this as his profession. When Kabir felt the craving for spiritual enhancement and fulfilment, he became a disciple of Swami Ramanand, and became famous in a matter of time, with crowds thronging the little hut where he lived, to attend his sermon. A small distance away from Neeru Teela, a platform was erected to accommodate the growing numbers of seekers of enlightenment. This platform came to be known as Kabir Chabutara (platform). The same Kabir Chabutara is now famous as Kabirchaura.

Kabirchaura is Sant Kabir’s demesne of work and chief centre of meditation. The Lehartara pond and the ancient temple come under the domain of Kabirchaura. Kabir’s personality and knowledge earned him recognition worldwide. There are several sects and sub-sects that have adopted and follow his philosophy and are also aptly named after him. Numerous monasteries have been made in the great saint’s name and millions of people have adopted his teachings as a way of life, but the place where it all started lies neglected and bare. But recently there have been plans to beautify the place and accord it the due respect and recognition it deserves.

The place where Neeru and Nima had laid the baby Kabir on a bed of lotuses was turned into a temple centuries ago. This temple is the actual symbol and the only remnant standing evidence to the arrival of Kabir into this world. The couple had first seen the baby Kabir at this very spot and that moment heralded the advent of Kabir into this world; and the spot where Nima took the baby in her arms enjoys the status of a place of pilgrimage.

The importance and momentousness of Lehartara is a natural truth. This place enjoys the presence of purity at its peak, which is why saints and savants like Sant Kabir chose this place to deliver their message to the world. The soil of Lehartara was beholden and grateful to have someone like Kabir enrich the land by his presence. Kabir too was equally obliged to Lehartara for sheltering and embracing him. Because of the pre-eminence of Kabir, and the sanctity of this land, people come here by the thousands to touch and feel this holy land. Nature protected and sheltered Kabir and he in turn made Lehartara the chosen place through which one can reach Heaven.

The saint was a sheer nature lover and this love was intrinsic and instinctive. Right from the beginning mother earth took him into her arms, trees provided him with shade, and a few drops of water provided him with life and nourishment. This is why trees, mountains, water, earth, all held great importance in his life. Kabir said that water is divine and preached that earth should be worshipped as one’s mother. Forests, mountains and the like are natural heritage as also something from which man derives his strength. Kabir considered sages, trees, mountains, rivers and earth to be benevolent and has accorded them a very high status in man’s life. He preached that one’s life and being is not for oneself but for others. Kabir also equated Nima with mother earth.

Neeru and Nima have actually given life to baby Kabir for if they had not seen the baby there in the desolate place then Kabir would have been lost to the world. The couple raised Kabir as their own child. Whenever Neeru visited Mudwadeeh, either alone, or with Nima, he always used to stop at the place where Nima found the baby and refresh his memory. Even Kabir used to visit the place once in a while along with his parents, but when he came to know of the story and the significance of the place in his life, he started going there all by himself.

Kabir derived great strength from his ‘birth place’ and this strength gave him the courage to face difficulties and even death. When Kabir came to know of the story of his ‘birth’, he was not befuddled a bit. He derived strength and encouragement from his story. He thought that being born in a forest and being surrounded by dangers on all sides, there indeed is a divine power without whose authority nothing can happen to anyone. This thought expelled all fears of death from his mind. Nature gives birth to all beings and protects and conserves them, so why should anyone fear death, he said. In fact, transgressing the fear of death, in itself, is the attainment of the divine.

Handing over the reigns of his life to nature, Kabir dedicated his entire life for the benefit of mankind. This is why we find that principles of fearlessness, death, life and dedication rank highest amongst his philosophy. In fact, his deep faith in God made him say, “Jaako raakhe Saaiyan maar sake na koi”, which is a very famous adage today, which means that if God wants to save somebody, then no one can bring any harm to that person.

Kabir regularly and continuously came to Lehartara. Sometime in the past, the pond depended on the river Ganga for its supply of water. Thus, this pond was considered as one of the distributaries of the Ganga. It is believed that whenever the Ganga was flooded, its waves touched Lehartara, which is why it came to be known as ‘Lehartara’. Even the neighbourhood came to be known as Lehartara. But gradually with time, Ganga left the banks of Lehartara and changed its course. Initially it was a huge pond but later on some farmers occupied some parts of the pond. A religious faction of the Kabirpanthis has decided to take back some land from these farmers and build a monument at the site of the pond.

A large portion of Lehartara and adjoining areas is already under the Uttar Pradesh government and the archaeological department. Though a part of the place is forcefully occupied by residents, the rest of the available space is being developed by Kabirchaura as gardens and flowerbeds.

The Lehartara pond, the ancient temple and its vicinity are deeply related to the Kabirchaura Math. The UP government has constructed a huge Kabir Sabha Bhavan that also has provisions for rooms for saints to stay. The spot once had an ancient Math and a cave as well. Both the things have been done away with. But remnants of the ancient temple still fight the assault of time and people. Plans and programmes of beautification of the Lehartara pond and development of an elaborate Kabir Smarak (memorial) at the place of Kabir’s emergence are being seriously considered. In fact, work has already started towards this end. Many Vaastu specialists have also been engaged for this purpose. The main motive of this endeavour is to promote the Lehartara pond and the Kabir Smarak for the purpose of projecting Varanasi, through these places, as a major attraction for devotees as well as tourists.