54 RELIGIOUS SECTS 



The origin of the founder of this sect Is variously narrated, although in 

 the main points, the traditions are agreed : the story told in the Bhalda Mala, 

 is, that he was the son of the virgin widow of a Brahman , whose father was a 

 follower of RamXnandj at his daughter's repeated request, he took her to see 

 EXmanand, and that teacher, without adverting to her situation, saluted her 

 with the benediction he thought acceptable to all women, and wished her the 

 conception of a son : his words could not be re-called, and the young widow, 

 in order to conceal the disgrace thus inflicted on her, contrived to be privately 

 delivered, and exposed the child : it was found by a weaver and his wife, and 

 brought up as their own. 



The followers of Kabir do not admit more than the conclusion of this 

 legend: according to them, the child, who was no other than the incarnate deity, 

 was found floating on a Lotus in Laliartaldb, a lake, or pond near Benares, by 

 the wife of a weaver, named Nima, who, with her husband Nuri, was attend- 

 ing a wedding procession : she took the child up, and shewed it to her hus- 

 band, who being addressed by the child, and desired to take him to Kasi, 

 fled with terror, thinking they had got hold of some incarnate demon : after 

 having run to the distance of about a mile, he was surprised to find the child 

 before him, by whom his fear was tranquillised, and he was persuaded to re- 

 turn to his wife, and bring up, without anxiety or alarm, the infant they had 

 so marvellously discovered. 



All traditions concur in making Kabir the disciple of Ramanand, al- 

 though various stories are narrated of the method by which he obtained that 

 distinction, and overcame the objections started to him as a man of low 

 caste, or, according to very general belief, of the Mohammedan persuasion : 

 he succeeded at last by surprise, having put himself in the way of that 

 teacher on the steps of the ghat down which he went at day break to bathe, 

 so as to be struck with his foot, on which Ramanand exclaimed Ham, Rdtrts 



