Chadariya jheeni re jheeni

Kabir Das, the 15th century saint poet, explains the origin, meaning and purpose of human body in easy words by using the symbol of the Charkha (the spinning wheel). 

The human body is like 'Jheeni chadariya'.. The fabric/shawl of life is very very transparent and thin. When this body immerses itself in Bhakti rasa, by chanting 'Ram Naam', all sins are washed away. The body is then pure.  

How and where does life start? Where does it end? 

Life was at the beginning of the universe and will last till the end and beyond that too. 

Life, for the human soul, starts in the Mother's womb. 

Chadariya jheeni re jheeni  

Ram naam ras bheeni chadariya jheeni re jheeni 

Ashtakamal ka charkha banaya 

Paanch tatva ki pooni 

Nau-das maas bunan ko laage 

Moorakh maili kinhi 

Chadariya jheeni re jheeni 

Kabir mentions that the basic structure to weave the 'chaadar' is 'Charkha' and the 'pooni' or the spindle is the tool that facilitates weaving. The human body is structured on the spinning wheel of the 8 chakras in the human body. 

Mooladhar, Swadishthan, Manipur, Anahat, Vishuddha, Aagya, Bindu, Sahasrar. 

And the spindle, made of the five elements of nature viz Earth, Water, Air, Fire, Ether, is used to weave the beautiful fabric of the human body. 

God, the master weaver, weaves it to perfection. The time taken to weave this fabric is 9 - 10 months. But once woven, and handed over by God to the human being, the user spoils it by letting 'Ego' print it’s impressions on it.  

Jab mori chaadar ban ghar aayi 

Rangrez ko deenhi 

Aisa rang ranga rangrez ne 

Laalo laal kar deenhi 

Chadariya jheeni re jheeni 

Kabir further says that when his fabric/shawl was woven by God and before it came in use, it was given in the hands of the master dyer, the Guru! He dipped it in the brightest hue of red color (which symbolises energy).  

Chaadar odh shanka mat kariyo 

Ye do din tumko deenhi 

Moorakh log bhed nahin jaane 

Din din maili keenhi 

Chadariya jheeni re jheeni 

Dhruv Prahlad Sudama ne odhi chadariya 

Shukdev mein nirmal keenhi 

Das Kabir ne aisi odhi 

Jyon ki tyon dhar deenhi 

Chadariya jheeni re jheeni 

He goes on to say that one gets this body just for two days. One shouldn't doubt one’s mortality. 

The human body has been worn by great devotees like Dhruv, Prahlad and Shukdev. Their devotion towards the Lord made their fabric purer. Kabir is aware that he has received this fabric, woven by God. So, he will return his shawl in the same condition that he had got it in from the master weaver.  

There are many versions of this doha, sung by many singers. I like the one rendered by Mukhtiyar Ali too. 

The doha may start by the verse in some of the renditions available on YouTube

Kabira, jab hum paida hue 

Jag hanse hum roye 

Aisi karni kar chalo 

Hum hanse jag roye' 

I'm no one to comment on the dohas of Sant Kabir. But my gut feeling tells me that this verse must have been a later addition, since it doesn't fit his usual 'style' of writing. 

He always refers to himself at the end. 

I found two versions sung by Mukhtiar Ali, where, in one version, he starts with the above-mentioned verse. And in another, he doesn't.