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Beyond Empty Ritual: The Critique of Outward Religion
Kabir and Vemana's Fierce Rejection of Ritualism Without Understanding
January 29, 2026
•Shikshak Content Board
•8 minute read
Section 2 of 11
Kabir: The Fire That Burns Hypocrisy — God Cannot Be Contained in Structures
Kabir does not speak gently.
His verses are hammers meant to break illusion.
He attacks religion when it becomes:
• social performance
• ego decoration
• priestly control
• external habit without inner realization
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Kabir Doha (Hindi)
कंकर-पाथर जोड़ि के मस्जिद लई बनाय
ता चढ़ि मुल्ला बांग दे, क्या बहरा हुआ खुदाय?
Transliteration
Kankar-pāthar joṛi ke masjid laī banāy
Tā chaṛhi mullā bāng de, kyā baharā huā khudāy?
Meaning
You build a mosque from stone and brick,
then climb it and shout aloud—
Has God become deaf?
Commentary
Kabir exposes the absurdity:
If God is everywhere, why must He be summoned by noise?
If the Divine is infinite, why assume He lives inside structures?
Kabir's point is radical:
Religion becomes foolish when it forgets that God is not outside.
The true temple is awareness.
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