SHABAD OF KABIR SAHIB सतगुरु है रँगरेज, चुनर मेरी रँगि डारी ॥

 

 

 

SHABAD OF KABIR SAHIB

सतगुरु है रँगरेज, चुनर मेरी रँगि डारी ॥
स्याही रंग छुड़ाइ के रे, दियो मजीठा रंग ॥
धोये से छूटै नहीं रे, दिन दिन होत सुरंग ॥
भाव के कुंड नेह के जल में, प्रेम रंग दइ बोर ॥
चसकी चास लगाई के रे, खूब रंगी झकझोर ॥
सतगुरु ने चुनरी रँगी रे, सतगुरु चतुर सुजान ॥
सब कुछ उन पर वार दूं रे, तन मन धन औ प्रान ॥
कहै कबीर रंगरेज गुरु रे, मुझ पर हुए दयाल ॥
सीतल चुनरी ओढ़ि के रे, भइ हौं मगन निहाल ॥

Preface

Kabir Sahib frequently uses the symbols of the चुनरी (chunri) and चादर (chadar) to represent the integrated human reality of body, mind, and consciousness. In their primordial state, these were pure, luminous, and unstained. However, through identification with ego, desires, worldly attachments, and the illusion of separateness, this inner garment becomes soiled and loses its original radiance.

Kabir Sahib writes:

सो चादर सुर नर मुनि ओढ़े,
ओढ़ कै मैली कीनी चदरिया ॥
दास कबीर जतन से ओढी,
ज्यों कीं त्यों धर दीनी चदरिया ॥

"Gods, human beings, and sages have all worn this garment, yet through their worldly involvement, they stained it. Kabir says: I have worn this garment with great care, so that I may return it in the same pure condition in which it was given."

Against this background, the imagery of the Satguru as the रंगरेज (master dyer) acquires a profound significance. The Satguru is not merely one who colours the garment with Divine Love; He is also the one who cleanses it of the accumulated stains of ego, attachment, and forgetfulness of God. Through the grace of the Satguru and the power of the Divine Shabad, the seeker's body, mind, and consciousness are gradually purified and restored to their original state of purity and harmony.

Thus, Kabir Sahib's praise of the Satguru is an acknowledgement of this immense spiritual grace. The Satguru transforms the soiled चादर and dyes the चुनरी in the imperishable colour of Divine Love, restoring the soul to its primordial purity and making it fit for acceptance by the Lord. In this sense, the Satguru acts both as the supreme cleanser and the master dyer, removing the stains of worldly existence and re-establishing the seeker in the original state of Divine remembrance and spiritual wholeness.

This Shabad of Kabir Sahib refers to the complete inner transformation of a seeker (murid) through the grace of the Satguru. By Satguru, one means the manifestation of the Divine Shabad in human form, who guides the seeker towards inner realization and union with the Divine. Through the Satguru's grace, the seeker's mind, consciousness, and entire being become imbued with the Divine colour, just as a master dyer permanently dyes a cloth.

This understanding is beautifully echoed in Gurbani:

बलिहारी गुरु अपने दिउहाड़ी सद वार॥
"I am a sacrifice to my Guru hundreds of times a day."

The verse continues:

जिनि माणस ते देवते कीए करत न लागी वार॥
"Who transformed human beings into divine beings in no time at all."

This is precisely the theme of Kabir Sahib's declaration:

सतगुरु है रंगरेज, चुनर मेरी रंगि डारी॥

The "garment" symbolizes the soul-consciousness or inner being. The Satguru removes the temporary colours of ego, worldly attachments, desires, and duality, and dyes the seeker in the permanent colour of Divine Love. The result is not a superficial change in conduct but a profound transformation of perception, identity, and consciousness itself. The seeker gradually begins to view the entire creation through the lens of Divine Presence. The Satguru does not merely impart teachings; He reshapes the disciple's inner being.

स्याही रंग छुड़ाइ के रे, दियो मजीठा रंग ॥

"The Satguru removed the dark and temporary colour and dyed me in a deep, permanent, and unfading Divine colour."

This verse represents the very heart of Kabir Sahib's teaching on spiritual transformation. The expression "स्याही रंग" (dark colour) symbolizes the accumulated stains of ego, pride, desires, worldly attachments, and identification with the body and mind. These are not the soul's original qualities. They are acquired through immersion in the world and through forgetfulness of our true spiritual nature.

Against this background, "मजीठा रंग" symbolizes a deep, permanent, and unfading Divine colour. Just as a cloth thoroughly dyed in a fast colour can never easily return to its previous state, the soul touched by the grace of the Satguru undergoes a lasting transformation. The Satguru removes the false colours of ego and separation and replaces them with the enduring colour of Divine Love, Divine Remembrance, and God-consciousness.

Thus, the Satguru does not merely improve the seeker; He restores the soul to its original purity and reconnects it with its Divine Source. This truth is beautifully echoed in Gurbani:

मन तू जोति सरूपु है अपना मूलु पछाणु॥

"O mind, you are the embodiment of Divine Light; recognize your original source."

The Satguru does not create something new within the seeker. Rather, He removes the layers that conceal the soul's inherent luminosity and reveals its true nature. He is therefore both the supreme cleanser and the master dyer. He cleanses the stained चादर and dyes the चुनरी in the permanent colour of Divine Love, restoring the seeker to the original state of purity in which the soul becomes worthy of acceptance by the Beloved Lord.

In this way, "स्याही रंग छुड़ाइ के रे, दियो मजीठा रंग" describes not merely a change of behaviour but a complete transformation of body, mind, and consciousness through the grace of the Satguru and the power of the Divine Shabad. The colour of ego fades away, and the colour of the Divine becomes the seeker's very identity.

The second verse deepens this symbolism:

धोये से छूटै नहीं रे, दिन दिन होत सुरंग ॥
भाव के कुंड नेह के जल में, प्रेम रंग दइ बोर ॥

This sacred colour cannot be washed away; rather, it grows deeper and more radiant with time. Immersed in the reservoir of Divine Love and devotion, the soul undergoes a lasting transformation. The True Satguru directs the seeker's inner journey so that thoughts, emotions, and aspirations gradually align with the soul's innate longing for its Divine Source.

The concept of spiritual colouring appears throughout the writings of the saints and Sufis. Baba Bulleh Shah beautifully expresses that while people may adopt many outward identities and colours, the colour bestowed by the Murshid is rare and transformative:

कोई रंग काला कोई रंग पीला कोई लाल गुलाबी करदा
बुल्ले शाह रंग मुरशद वाला किसे किसे नूं चढ़दा

"Some dye themselves in black, some in yellow, some in red-pink; Bulleh Shah says that the Murshid's colour descends only upon a chosen few."

The next stage of the journey is described in the following lines:

चसकी चास लगाई के रे, खूब रंगी झकझोर ॥
सतगुरु ने चुनरी रँगी रे, सतगुरु चतुर सुजान ॥

Here Kabir Sahib speaks of the awakening of an irresistible spiritual taste. The Satguru implants within the soul a longing for the Divine that surpasses all worldly attractions. Once the soul experiences even a glimpse of this inner sweetness, it can no longer find complete satisfaction in transient pleasures. The Satguru, described as "चतुर सुजान" (perfectly wise and knowing), skillfully shakes the disciple free from habitual attachments and dyes the inner being so thoroughly that every aspect of life begins to reflect Divine remembrance.

This spiritual attraction is celebrated in Gurbani:

 हरि हरि नामु अम्रितु रसु मीठा गुरमति सहजे पीजै // PAGE 1323

"The Name of the Lord is the sweet nectar; through the Guru's wisdom it is naturally imbibed."

Likewise, the Sufi tradition teaches that Divine Love awakens a yearning that gradually eclipses all lesser desires. What begins as attraction ultimately becomes transformation.

The Shabad then moves naturally toward complete surrender:

सब कुछ उन पर वार दूं रे, तन मन धन औ प्रान ॥
कहै कबीर रंगरेज गुरु रे, मुझ पर हुए दयाल ॥

Having experienced such grace, Kabir Sahib expresses total gratitude and devotion. He offers body, mind, wealth, and life itself at the feet of the Satguru. This does not imply mere external sacrifice but the surrender of ego, self-will, and possessiveness. The disciple realizes that true spiritual progress is not achieved solely through personal effort but through the compassionate grace of the Satguru.

This sentiment finds a parallel in the words of Baba Farid:

फरीदा जे तू मेरा होइ रहहि सभु जगु तेरा होइ॥ page 1382

"Farid, if you truly become His, the entire world becomes yours."

The transformed disciple recognizes that the greatest blessing is not worldly gain but the grace that reconnects the soul with its Divine Origin.

The Shabad concludes with the final fruit of this transformation:

सीतल चुनरी ओढ़ि के रे, भइ हौं मगन निहाल ॥

The dyed garment has now become a cooling robe of grace. The fires of ego, anxiety, craving, and separation have been extinguished. The soul experiences inner peace, contentment, and spiritual fulfilment. Having been coloured in Divine Love, the seeker abides in a state of inward serenity and joyful absorption.

Guru Amar Das Ji describes a similar state:

मनु तनु सीतलु सांति सहज लागा प्रभ की सेव ॥ page 299

"Mind and body become cool and tranquil in intuitive peace and poise when they are attuned with the sewa of Bhajan and simran of the Lord.;

In Sufi terminology, this is the station of sukoon (inner repose) and itminan (deep spiritual contentment), where the turbulence of the lower self gives way to the peace of Divine remembrance.

Thus, the entire Shabad presents a complete map of the spiritual journey. The Satguru first removes the false colours of worldly identification, then immerses the soul in the colour of Divine Love, awakens within it an unquenchable longing for the Beloved, inspires complete surrender, and finally bestows the peace and bliss that arise from union with the Divine. The master dyer does not merely colour the garment; He transforms its very nature, making it radiant with the light and love of the Eternal.