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Born in a small village in the Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh, Harisharan Das Shastri was strongly influenced by the Kabir Panth saints who would visit his village and perform bhajans and kirtans. He thought that the saints lived a good life, and he, too, wanted to be a saint and experience the joy and peace of such a life. He renounced his worldly life and took the holy vows at 16 despite much opposition from his family, particularly his father, who was sceptical of Harisharan’s resolve.
Although he could have lived a quiet life as a saint in the ashram at Paharpur, Chauri Chaura, he understood that to indeed be a saint and contribute productively to society, it is important to study and contemplate on the teachings and fully understand their essence. He moved to Varanasi, which is also Kabir’s place of birth and his childhood home, and studied there for about 15 years, earning a PhD. in Philosophy. He has published four books on the life and teachings of Kabir. Today, he works with the other saints at the ashram to model it as a place of refuge for people from all walks of life and all backgrounds and to bring them all together and unite us all as Kabir wanted to.
Harisharan and his group perform bhajans and sayings of Kabir, known as Kabir Vaani, in various folk forms and tunes of the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh, like Purbi, Kajari and Nirgun. The core essence of these teachings is the impermanence and transient nature of life, and how one must realize their true Self beyond worldly illusions and cultivate love and compassion for the world. Harisharan is also active on YouTube and is keen to take Kabir’s teachings ahead through the internet and reach out to the younger generation.
- Purvanchal
- Uttar Pradesh