Nirgun Songs

Nirgun Songs are devotional songs dedicated to the unseen formless god. The tradition of these songs was initiated by the saint-poets belonging to the Bhakti movement, notable among them being Saint Kabir. These songs depict the sufferings of person in this world and his / her longing to be united with the Almighty. Use of common words to depict the lord has contributed greatly towards the popularity of these songs. They are very popular among the ‘chamar’ (shoe maker) community.

The Nirgun songs pertain to Hinduism’s ‘nirgun’ form of worship, which believes in the formless god rather than in idol worship. This system considers god as a guiding power residing within a devotee. It also believes in god’s omnipresence. The lyrics in these songs suggest an analogy with the concept of separated lovers. God is shown as a beloved who resides very far away. The world is seen as path leading to the god. This theme of separation is termed as ‘biraha’ and it refers to a state in which the soul, being aware the separation, longs for a reunion with the lord.