Kabir Temple, Bandhavgarh, Madhya Pradesh

Kabir Temple, Bandhavgarh, Madhya Pradesh

Kabir Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Saint Kabir located in Bandhavgarh Village in Bandhavgarh Taluk in Umaria District of Madhya Pradesh in Central India. This temple is situated in the Bandhavgarh fort at the hilltop inside the core zone of Bandhavgarh National Park.

History

Saint Kabir was a 16^th century CE mystic poet and saint. He chose the ancient caves of the Bandhavgarh fort for meditation. He stayed in this place during the reign of Baghel ruler Virbhanusingh of Rewa State. Later, he became a disciple of saint Kabir. There is a Kabir Temple at the fort where Saint Kabir spent most of his time indulging in meditation.  Dharam Das Naam Sahib, the wealthiest merchant of Bandhavgarh, was one of his first disciples who was initiated at the Bandhavgarh fort.

There is an interesting story as to how Kabir gave his salutation to whole Central India. When Kabir arrived in Bandhavgarh, Maharaja of Rewa did not know how to greet him as Kabir was not a Brahmin by birth and the Maharaja could not have touched his feet. Kabir greeted him by saying Salaam Sahib and solved the problem instantly. This salutation became the most famous and most common salutation in central India thereafter.

The Temple

The temple is situated inside the Bandhavgarh Fort on the Bandhavgarh hill at an elevation of 811 meters above sea level in the Vindhyan mountain range. This temple is situated on the banks of Kabir Talab inside the core zone of Bandhavgarh National Park. Kabir Chabuthara can be seen next to the temple. There is a cave called Kabi Guga situated at about 2 Kms from the main temple. It is the place where Saint Kabir meditated for several years.

Festivals

Kabir Darshan Yatra is celebrated for two days during the last week of December month. The festival is held in honor of Kabir, a 16th century CE holy man who lived on the premises of Bandhavgarh Fort. The fort is open to the normal public during these days. The devotees of Saint Kabir undertake a walking trip to the Kabir temple in the hill top and return back. The trip to the temple and back forth may take five hours.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 10 Kms from Tala, 35 Kms from Umaria, 36 Kms from Umaria Railway Station, 63 Kms from Beohari, 82 Kms from Shahdol, 183 Kms from Jabalpur Airport and 228 Kms from Khajuraho Airport. The temple is situated at about 10 Kms to the south of Tala on Umaria to Beohari route. This temple is situated in the Bandhavgarh fort at the hilltop inside the core zone of Bandhavgarh National Park. It can be reached through safari vehicle only, after permission from Forest Department. The temple can be reached only for two days on foot during the Kabir Darshan Yatra.

Location