Dharamdas

Dhani Dharamdas was a prominent saint of the Nirguna tradition of Kabir and played a pivotal role in propagating the Kabir Panth. He is revered as the chief disciple of Kabir Saheb and the primary founder of the Kabir Panth. According to Dr. Ram Ratan Bhatnagar, "Dharamdas is the founder of the Kabir Panth.^[7]

Dhani Dharamdas was born in Samvat 1452 (Vikram Era) into a prosperous Vaishya family in Bandhavgarh, which was then part of the Rewa state (present-day Umaria district, Madhya Pradesh) to his father, Manmahesh. He was married in Samvat 1480 to Sulakshanawati of Patharhat, who is known as 'Amin Mata' in the Kabir Panth tradition. In Samvat 1520, in Bandhavgarh, he and his wife received initiation (Diksha) from Sadguru Kabir Saheb in the presence of a vast congregation. Pleased by his immense devotion, Kabir Saheb appointed him as his primary successor and blessed the lineage of the Kabir Panth to continue under his guidance for 'Atal Bayalis Vansha' (the eternal forty-two lineages)^[8].^[9] It is said that after becoming a disciple of Kabir Saheb, he gave away all his rich possessions.^[10] Dharamdas made two gurus in his life: the first Guru was Roopdas and the second Guru was Kabir Saheb.^[11] He had two sons, the first son was Narayan Das who opposed Kabir's knowledge and the second son was Chudamani (Muktamani).

Since childhood, he was very religious. He used to like attending Satsang, Puja, pilgrimages, etc. Earlier, he used to worship idols.One day he met with Kabir.^[12] Both discussed spiritual knowledge. In the first meeting, he did not accept the spiritual knowledge that was given by Kabir. But after he understood the spiritual knowledge from Kabir, he left  idols' worship.^[13] After giving initiation to Dharamdas, Kabir Saheb took him to the Satlok (Immortal place). After coming from satlok, he wrote Kabir Sagar, Kabir Beejak, and Kabir Sakhi which were narrated by Kabir.

Aaj mohe darshan diyo ji Kabir ||tek|| Satyalok se chal kar aaye, kaatan jam ki janjeer ||1||^[14] Thaare darshan se mhaare paap katat hain, nirmal hovae ji shareer ||2|| Amrit bhojan mhaare Satguru jeemaen, shabd doodh ki kheer ||3|| Hindu ke tum Dev kahaaye, Musalmaan ke peer ||4|| Dono deen ka jhagda chhid gayaa, tohe na paaye shareer || 5|| Dharmdas ki arj Gosaain, beda lagaaio parle teer ||6||

After the founding of Kabir Chaura by Kabir's disciple Surat Gopal, whom was the first Kabirpanthi missionary, Dharamdas would slightly later found the Dham Khera (Damakheda) maṭh (also known as māī meaning "mother) located in modern-day Chhattisgarh.^[15] It conducted missionary activities in central India and had branches located in Raipur, Bilaspur, and Chindawara.^[15]