In India men put on ochre, saffron, yellow, blue or white dress, smear ash on their body, apply sandalwood paste to their forehead, wear rosaries of different types around their neck, believing that all these things are an essential part of holiness, necessary for realizing God. They worship idols with flowers and leaves; they serve them by bathing them, waving a fan over them and offering them fruits and sweets. Kabir says that such devotees have taken God to be a plaything. Lost in their own world of make-believe, they have no idea of the path of true devotion. Saints do not bother with such external formalities and shows of holiness. Outwardly they live, dress and behave like ordinary men, but within they have realized God and become one with Him. Worldly people, unaware of their inner attainment, criticize and malign them. Kabir says that in order to attain the inner state of the Saints, a seeker should give up all external formalities and worship and serve a perfect Master.

People put saffron marks on their forehead,
Carry rosaries in their hands
And don religious garb;
They take God to be a plaything!
If I am mad, O Lord, I am still Thine;
What do others know of my inner state?
I'll not pluck leaves,
I'll not worship idols,
For other than devotion to God
All worship is futile.

What do people know
Of my inner state?

I only worship my true Master;
Ever, ever I try to please him —
And through such service
I'll attain bliss in the Lord's court.

If I am mad, still I am Thine, O Lord;
How can others know my inner state?

People say Kabir has gone mad,
But only the Lord knows Kabir's state of bliss.

A.G., Bhairau, p. 1158
Māthe tilak hath mālā bānā