Kabir, the mystic poet

A weaver by profession, Kabir ranks among the world's greatest poets. Back home in India, he is perhaps the most quoted author, with the exception of Tulsidas. The Holy Guru Granth Sahib contains over 500 verses by Kabir. The Sikh community in particular and others who follow the Holy Granth, hold Kabir in the same reverence as the other ten Gurus.
Kabir openly criticized all sects and gave a new direction to the Indian philosophy. This is due to his straight forward approach that has a universal appeal. It is for this reason that Kabir is held in high esteem all over the world. To call Kabir a universal Guru is not an overexaggeration.
Although Kabir has criticized perhaps all existing sects in India, he is still mentioned with respect by even orthodox authors. Vaishnav author Nabhadas in his Bhakta-Mal (1585) writes:

hindú turuk pramán ramainí sabadí sákhí
pachchhapat nahiñ bachan sabahiñ ke hit kí bhákhí

[His ‘ramaini’, ‘shabda’, ‘sakhi’ (sections of his Bijak) are accepted by Hindus and Muslims alike. He spoke without discrimination for the good of all]

He lived perhaps during 1442-1518. His birth and death are surrounded by legends. He grew up in a Muslim weaver family, but some say he was really son of a Brahmin widow who was adopted by a childless couple. When he died, his Hindu and Muslim followers started fighting about the last rites. The legend is that when they lifted the cloth covering his body, they found flowers instead. The Muslim followers buried their half and the Hindu cremated their half. In Maghar, his tomb and samadhi still stand side by side.