Question

Explain the sources of reconstructing religion thoughts and ideas leading to the growth of Composite Culture with reference to:

Bijak’s contents

With reference to the sources of composite culture in India, state the significance of the following:

Bijak

Answer 1

Bijak is the compilation of the verses of Kabir. It comprises three main sections called Sakhi, Ramaini, and Shabda and a fourth section containing miscellaneous folk song forms.

1. The Sakhi is composed in the Doha or couplet form.
2. The Ramaini form is usually written in the meter called chaupai and is usually based upon a musical raga.
3. The third form, the Shabda is metrically the loosest form. Since it is the popular song form it has been altered from region to region and from singer to singer. Kabir has drawn inspiration from various traditions — Islam, Vedas, and yogic traditions to describe the Ultimate Reality. For example, he has used the terms like alakh (the unseen), nirakar (formless), Brahman and Atman, from Vedantic traditions.