Music Maestro
Pt Bhimsen Joshi Ji  

Pandit Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi (Kannada: ಪಂಡಿತ ಭೀಮಸೇನ ಗುರುರಾಜ ಜೋಷಿ, Marathi: पंडित भीमसेन गुरुराज जोशी), (February 4, 1922 - January 24, 2011) was an Indian vocalist in the Hindustani classical tradition. A member of the Kirana Gharana (school), he is renowned for the khayal form of singing, as well as for his popular renditions of devotional music (bhajans and abhangs). He is the most recent recipient of the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, awarded in 2008

He was born into a Kannadiga family in the town of Ron which was then in Gadag District in northern Karnataka state of India.His father, Gururaj Joshi, was a school teacher. Bhimsen was the eldest in a family of 16 siblings. Some of the siblings still live in their ancestral home in Gadag.Bhimsen lost his mother when he was young, and his step mother raised him. His parents lived initially with his grandfather as tenants of a Kulkarni household, but then moved to Gadag District.

As a child, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi's craving for music was evident to his family as he managed to lay his hands on a 'tanpura' used by his 'Kirtankar' grandfather, which had been kept away from his gaze at home. Music had such a magnetic pull over him that a 'bhajan singing' procession or just 'azaan' from a nearby mosque was said to draw him out of house.

Today 24 January 2011 he died in Pune's Hospital due to health problems.He was 89 year old.

curtsy- wiki

Kabir
a biography

Kabīr (also Kabīra) (Hindi: कबीर, Punjabi: ਕਬੀਰ, Urdu: کبير‎) (1440—1518) was a mystic poet and saint of India, whose writings have greatly influenced the Bhakti movement. The name Kabir comes from Arabic Al-Kabīr which means 'The Great' - the 37th Name of God in the Qur'an.

Apart from having an important influence on Sikhism, Kabir's legacy is today carried forward by the Kabir Panth ("Path of Kabir"), a religious community that recognizes him as its founder and is one of the Sant Mat sects. Its members, known as Kabir panthis, are estimated to be around 9,600,000. They are spread over north and central India, as well as dispersed with the Indian diaspora across the world up from 843,171 in the 1901 census.

Not much is known of Kabir's birth parents, but it is known that he was brought up in a family of Muslim weavers. He was found by a Muslim weaver named Niru and his wife, Nima, in Lehartara, situated in Varanasi. They adopted the boy and taught him the weaver's trade.

The story is told that on one particular day of the year, anyone can become a disciple by having a master speak the name of God over him. It is common for those who live near the Ganges to take their morning bath there in the sacred waters. The bhakti saint Ramananda was in the habit of arising before dawn to take his bath. On this special day too, he awoke before dawn and found his way down to the steps of the Ganges. As he was walking down the steps to the waters, a little hand reached out and grabbed the saint's big toe. Ramananda was taken by surprise, and he involuntarily called out the name of God. Looking down, he saw in the early morning light the hand of the young Kabir. After his bath, he noticed that on the back of the little one's hand was written in Arabic the name Kabir. He adopted him as son and disciple and brought him back to his ashrama, much to the consternation of his Hindu students, some of whom left in protest.

Not much is known about what sort of spiritual training Kabir may have received. He did not become a sadhu, nor did he ever abandon worldly life. Kabir chose instead to live the balanced life of a householder and mystic, a tradesman and contemplative.

Kabir's family is believed to have lived in the locality of Kabir Chaura in Varanasi. Kabir Math (कबीर मठ), a temple of sorts located in the back alleys of Kabir Chaura, celebrates the life and times of Kabir. Accompanying the property is a house named "Niru Teela" (नीरू टीला) which houses Niru and Nima's 

graves.The house also accommodates students and scholars who live there and study Kabir's work.

He believes that God is everywhere , this is your Karma which gives you Swarg or Narak. He says --

क्या कशी क्या उसर मगहर रामे कौन निहोरा I

To prove his saying , in the end of his life he leaves Kashi and went to Maghar and died there.

After that his glory going on and on...

कबीर निर्वान स्थली मगहर 

You can watch Maghar's Video also from following link 


Kabir's Maghar

Manas Maghar

Recently world renounced RAM KATHA singer Param Pujya Shri MORARI BAPU Ji was at Maghar to give his tribute to Sant Kabir.

In this context he gave us his blessings of Ram katha as Manas Maghar.Here he relates the concepts of Ram Charit Manas with the Sant Kabir's  philosophy about human nature, life and society.The main idea of Manas Maghar revolved around following Chaupai of Ram Charit Manas -

Main Chopai: Bal Kand – Doha 5

Kaasi mag sursari kramnasa|

Maru marav mahidev gavasa|| 

Sarag narak anurag biraga|

Nigamagam gun dosh bibhaga||

Meaning:

Kasi or Varanasi and Magadha or North Bihar (the accursed land), the holy Ganga the river of the celestials – and the unholy Karmanasa (in Bihar), the desert land of Maravara (Western Rajaputana and Sindha) and the rich soil of Malava, the Brahmana – who is a veritable god on earth – and the barbarian who feeds on the cow, heaven and hell, attachment and dispassion. The Vedas and other sacred books have sifted good from evil.

This Katha was 677'th katha of Morari bapu ji (From 5 - 13 Sep 09) arranged by Mr. Deen Dayal Jalan (Varanasi) , Mr. Roongata (Khalilabad ) , Mahant Shri Vichar Saheb (Maghar) & with local public.

Me and my freinds (Pradeep) were also a small part of it.

For more information about Morari bapu ji and upcoming Ram Kathas you can go to the following link http://www.iiramii.net