What is Sant bhasha?

Sant bhasha refers to the special language used by the nirguna poets of the Bhakti movement [1]. These poets, such as Kabir and Guru Nanak, expressed their devotion to a formless, attribute-less God (Nirguna) [2]. Kabir's poems, which have survived in various dialects, were often composed in this specific 'sant bhasha' [1]. This is distinct from 'ulatbansi', which refers to 'upside-down sayings' or paradoxical verses used by the same mystics to describe the nature of Ultimate Reality [1]. While some sources use 'Nirakar' (formless) interchangeably with 'Nirguna' in a philosophical sense, the specific term 'sant bhasha' is academically and textually defined as the language of the nirguna poets [1]. These vernacular compositions allowed the message of the Bhakti saints to reach the common people, bypassing the traditional dominance of Sanskrit [3].

Sources

1. [1] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions > 8.1 Weaving a divine fabric: Kabir > p. 161
2. [2] https://www.caluniv.ac.in/academic/History/Study/Bhakti-Saint.pdf
3. [3] https://sathee.iitk.ac.in/ncert-books/class-12/themes-in-indian-history/chapter-06-bhakti-sufi-traditions-changes-in-religious-beliefs-and-devotional-texts/