Bhakti Movement

Essence of Bhakti

No caste or gender distinction

Personal devotion/complete surrender

Nirguna/Saguna Bhakti

Purity of heart, character, righteous actions

Upanishads

Bhagavad Gita

Bhagavad Purana

Salvation

Monotheism

Bhakti movement

Religious texts -Puranas, Epics

Tamil Bhakti movement (6th-7th century AD)

Early trends of Bhakti

Bhakti Acharyas

Political factors

Spread of the Bhakti movement in South India (from 6th - 7th century CE)Shaivism - Nayanmar saints Vaishnavism - Alvar saints

Spread of the Bhakti movement in North India(from 10th century CE)

Gangetic plains - Ramananda and his disciples West• Rajasthan - Meera Bai• Maharashtra dharma saints• GujaratEast• Tantrism - Shakti cult• Bengal - Vaishnavism of Chaitanya• Assam - Vaishnavism of Sankaradeva

Tamil Devotional Bhakti

1. Nayanmars (worshippers of Shiva)

2. Alvars (devotees of Vishnu)

Nayanmars

• 63 Nayanmars popularised the fame of Shiva &

Shakti

• Famous Nayanmar saints - Appar, Sundarar,

Thirugnana ambandar & Thirunavukkarasar.

• Women saints also - ‘Karaikkal Ammiyar’

• Collection of the hymns “Tirumurai”

• 8th Tirumurai ‘Tiruvachakam’ known as the Tamil

Upanishad

Shaivism

• Popular Shaivite works :

- Sekkizhar’s Periyapuranam (Biographies of Nayanmars)

- Devaram (a collection of hymns of the last three Nayanmars)

- Thiruvasagam & Thirumurai (devotional hymns)

• Major schools of Shaivism

1. Shaiva Siddhanta

2. Kashmir Shaivism

3. Veerashaivism

Shaiva Siddhanta

• One of the primitive schools of Shaivism with origin in N.

India and later a sect

• Authority from the 28 Agama

• SHIVA - ‘ultimate reality’ ‘Omniscient’ and ‘Omnipotent’

• Distinction between ‘jiva’ but not same as ‘Shiva’

• Jiva suffers from impurities

Kashmir Shaivism

• A non-dualistic philosophy emerging around 850 AD

• Monistic - Emphasis on relation between God, nature and

man

• Philosophy of ‘Pratyabhijna/recognition’ - writings of

Abhinavagupta and Utapaldeva

• Abhasavada or ‘theory of appearance’

• Meditation for attaining moksha

Veerashaivism

• A subtraction within Shaivism transmitted by Pancha

acharyas

• ‘Shri Siddhantha Shikhamani’ the holiest

Lingayat movement (12th century, Karnataka)

• Founder Basavacharya

• Minor differences between the beliefs of the two sects

• A ‘reformative’

• Basic texts - Vachanas

• In news

Alvars

• 12 Alvars

• Famous Alvars - Nammalwar, Periyalwar &Andal

• Only Women saint - ‘Andal’

• Composed about 4000 hymns

• Later these hymns were compiled by ‘NathMuni’ – Nalayira Prabandham

Vaishnavism

• Devotion to Vishnu

• Amalgamation of folk beliefs + mainstreambeliefs

• Doctrine of incarnation or Avatarvad

• Alvars - Further thrust to Vaishnavism

Tantricism

• Amalgamation of tribal beliefs intomainstream society

• Emphasis of sexo-yogic practices

• Primordial female power personified -Uma,Durga, Kali & Chandi gained popularity

Bhakti Philosophy

Bramha

Atma Prakriti

Advaita Vedanta (Shankaracharya, 8th AD)- Aham Brahmasmi - Four Peeth -

Shardha Peeth, Dwarka; Shrinegri Sharada Peeth; Govardhan Peetha,Puri; Badrikashram Jyotirpeeth.

Vishishtaadvaita(Ramanujacharya 11th AD)

Shhudhaadvaita Vallabhacharya (15th AD)

Dvaitadvaita

Nimbarkacharya (7th AD)

UPSC previous years questions

Q. Consider the following Bhakti Saints:

1.Dadu Dayal

2.Guru Nanak

3.Tyagaraja

Who among the above was/were preaching when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur took over?

(a)1 and 3

(b)2 only

(c)2 and 3

(d)1 and 2

Bhakti Saints in North India Ramananda

•Follower of Ramanujacharya

•First Bhakti saint to preach in Hindi

•Rama cult

•Emphasis on perfect love for God & also brotherhood

•Disciples - Kabir (weaver), Ravidas (Cobbler), Dhana(peasant), Sena(barber), Pipa(a prince), Sadhana(a butcher), Narahari(a goldsmith), Padmavati & Surasari

Kabir

• Emphasis on mysticism, good deeds

• Teachings are contained in his dohas or couplets

• Compilation of his teachings - Bijak

• Hindu Muslim unity

• Monotheism

UPSC previous years questions

Q. Who among the following was the first Bhakti saint to use Hindi for the propagation of his message?

(a)Dadu

(b)Kabir

(c)Ramananda

(d)Tulsidas

UPSC previous years questions

Q. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:

A B C D

(a)2 3 1 4

(b)3 2 4 1

(c)3 2 1 4

(d)2 3 4 1

Bhakti Saints in North India Tulsidas

• Rama cult

• Ramcharitmanas in Awadhi

• Other works - Dohavali, Geethavali, Kavitavali, Vinaya patrika etc

Surdas

• Disciple of Vallabhacharya

• Krishna Cult

• Author of Sursagar, Sahitya Lahari etc.

Vallabhacharya:• Krishna devotee

• Telugu Vaishnavite saint

• SHUDDHADVAITA (pure monism)

• God -Omnipotent & omniscient

• Salvation through ‘ Pushtimarga’ or the path of

grace

UPSC previous years questions

Q. Consider the following statements:

1.‘Bijak’ is a composition of the teachings of Saint Dadu Dayal

2.The Philosophy of Pushti Marg was propounded by Madhavacharya

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)1 only

(b)2 only

(c)Both 1 and 2

(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Bhakti Saints in East India:

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

• Regarded as an Avatar or incarnation of Lord Vishnu

• Bheda-Abheda (dualistic, non dualistic) philosophy

• Advocated ‘Ragamarga’ as a means to salvation - Kirtana

Sankaradeva

• Spread Vaishnava Bhakti in Assam.

• Founded the institution of ‘Satra’ – monasteries

• Dance, Drama and Music to preach Bhakti

• Founded the ‘Mahapurushiya Dharma sect’

• Insisted upon Nishkama Bhakti and monotheism

• Against caste system and preached in Brajabuli of Assam

Maharashtra Dharma Saints

Jnanesvara

• Wrote the Marathi commentary on the Bhagavad Gita‘Bhavartha Dipika’

• Associated with the ‘Varkari sect’ - worship of Vithoba,Pandharpur

Namdeva

• Devotee of Vithoba

• Associated with Varkari Panth

Eknath• Popularised Bhagvad Gita• Commentary on Ramayana - “Bhavartha Ramayana”• Preached the path of Bhakti for a householder

Bhakti Saints in West India:

Tukaram

• Composed devotional poetry for Varkari pilgrims

Ramdas

• Last of the Maharashtra saints

• His collection of writings and sermons – Dasabodha

Meera Bai

• Married in the Mewar royal family

• Lord Krishna devotee

• Composed many bhajans

• Spent last days in Dwarka

Dadu Dayal:

• A disciple of Kabir, he was the supporter of Hindu -Muslim unity.

• His followers were known as “Dadu Panthis”

• Compilation of his teachings -‘Dadu Ram ki bani’ in Hindi

Sikhism

Guru Nanak

• Born in Talwandi in Khatri family, led a householder life• Philosophy - Guru(charismatic leader), Shabd(ideology),

Sangat (organisation)• Repudiated idol worship, pilgrimage and rejected incarnation

theory • Belief in the unity of GOD• Need of a GURU for revelation• Principles of conduct and worship - Sach, Halal (Lawful

earning), Khair(wishing well of others), niyat (right intention)

• Emphasised on good deeds• His verses focus on : Sach and Naam (word)• Influence of Sufism in his teachings

• For universal fraternity• Singing of his verses - Disciple Mardana played Rabab

Guru Nanak

Philosophy - Realisation of God

through Guru, Shabd (ideology) & Sangat

- Monotheism

Social reform- No caste distinction- Langar- Against rituals,

idolatry

Individual reform - Sach- Halal- Khair- Niyat

Sufism - Baba Farid - Music

Guru Angad:(1538 – 1552 C. E. ) • Invented a New script ‘Gurmukhi’• Composed ‘Janam Sakhi’ (Nanak’s

biography)• Promoted LangarGuru Amardas:(1552 – 1574 C. E. )• Composed ‘Anand Sahib’• Started ‘Manji System’• Regularised Langar• Made Guruship hereditary• Led struggle against sati & purdahGuru Ramdas(1574 – 81 C. E. )• Founded Amritsar in 1577C. E. on the land

granted by Akbar.• Began Masand system

Guru Arjandev:(1581 – 1606 C.)

• Developed the masand system

• Founded the Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar.

• Compiled Adi Granth in 1604.

• Founded ‘Tarn Taran’

Guru Hargobind Singh: (1606 – 1645 C. E. )

• Transformed the Sikh into a militant community.

• Established Akal Takht and fortified Amristar.

• Founded ‘Hargovindpur’ at Amritsar

• Adopted the title ‘Sachcha Padshah’

Guru Har Rai (1645 – 1661 C. E. )

Guru Har Krishan (1661 – 1664 C. E.)

Guru Teg Bahadur (1664 -1675 C. E.)

• Executed at Delhi by Aurangzeb.

Guru Govind Singh: (1675 -1708 C. E.)

• Founded khalsa in 1699 C. E. and introduced title ‘Singh’

• Headquarters at Makhowal or Anandpur.

• Fought battles against the Mughals

• Built forts on the foothills of Anandpur Kiratpur

• Compiled a supplementary Granth.

Sufi Movement

Advent of Sufism in India

Sufism

Philosophy - Direct relation

between Allah and Man

- Mysticism- Monotheism

Individual reform - Purification of heart

through ethical regeneration

- No distinction

Sufi path - Different stages (Maqammat) and psychological states

(hal)- Important role of Pir guiding Murid- Sama- Rise of Sufi Silsilahs - Khanqah

UPSC previous years questions

Q. With reference to the religious history of medieval India, the Sufi mystics were known to pursue which of the following practices?

1.Meditation and control of breath

2.Severe ascetic exercises in a lonely place

3.Recitation of holy songs to arouse a state of ecstasy in their audience

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a)1 and 2 only

(b)2 and 3 only

(c)3 only

(d)1, 2 and 3

SUFI ORDERS or SILSILAHS (12th - 13th century CE)

• Sufis organised themselves into 12 orders called as Silsilahs.

• A lineage system or continuous chain through which successive Khalifas traced their spiritual order

• Relationship between Pir and Murid • Silsilahs became popular in Iran, Central Asia and

Baghdad • Establishment of Delhi Sultanate - Rise of various

Sufi orders

Important Sufi Silsilahs

Chishti Silsilah

• Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chishti introduced Chishti Silsilah in India.

• Reached India after Md Ghori’s conquest and settled in Ajmer

• Led a simple, pious life in his Ajmer dargah - pilgrimage

• His murid Shaikh Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Qaki popularised it in

Delhi during Iltutmish’s reign

• Baba Farid - disciple of Bhaktiyar Kaki

• Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya (Baba Farid’s disciple) - Delhi

• Auliya gave Islamic touch to the socio-cultural atmosphere of the

capital

• Preached humanistic love as prerequisite for devotion to God

• Adopted ‘Yogic breathing exercise’

• Shaikh Nasiruddin Mahmud Chirag-i-Delhi - Followed policy of

conciliation with the ulemas

UPSC previous years questions

Q. The Sufi saint who maintained that devotional music was one way of coming close to God was

(a)Muin-ud-din Chisti

(b)Baba Farid

(c)Saiyid Muhammad Gesudaraz

(d)Shah Alam Bukhari

Q.8) Consider the following statements:

Assertion (A) : The sponsor and the most prominent figure of the Chisti order of the Sufis in India is Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti

Reason (R) : The Chisti order takes its name from a village Chisti in Ajmer

In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?

(a)Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

(b)Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A

(c)A is true but R is false

(d)A is false but R is true

Suhrawardi Silisila

• Shaikh Sahabuddin Suhrawardi - initiated inBaghdad

• Popularised in India by Shaikh Baha-ud-dinZakaria and Shaikh Jalaluddin Tabrizi

• Shaikh Zakariya - Active in Multan

• Unlike Chishtis they did not believe in leading alife of purity.

• Did not believe in using music as aninstrument to get near God

• Accepted the patronage of the state and evengovernment posts

Qadri Silsilah

• Founded in Baghdad by Shaikh AbdulQadir Gilani and in India introduced bySayyid Muhammad Gilani

• Active in Punjab, Sindh and Deccan• Orthodox orientation• Close relationship with the ruling class

Firdausi Silsilah• A branch of Suhrawardi order established in

Rajgir, Bihar• Prominent saints - Badruddin Samaragji

and Ahmed Ibn Yahya Manairi.

Naqshbandi Silsilah:

• Naqshbandi means to tie the Naqsh very well

• Khwaja Bahauddin Naqshbandi (14thcentury) - Founder

• Khwaja Baqi Billah introduced it in India

• Babur was a follower of Ubaidullah Ahrar whowas Naqshbandis.

• Sheikh Ahmed Sirhindi was a contemporaryof Akbar and Jahangir.

• Jahangir imprisoned Sheikh Ahmed Sirhindi.

• Aurangzeb was the follower of this silsilah.

UPSC previous years questions

Q. With reference to Sufism in Indian history, consider the following statements:

1.Shaikh Ahmed Sarhandi was a contemporary of Ibrahim Lodi

2.Shaikh Nasiruddin Chirg-i-Dehlavi was a disciple of Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya

3.Aurangzeb was a contemporary of Shaikh Salim Chisti

4.The Qadiri order of Sufis was first introduced in India by Shaikh Niamtullah and Makhdum Muhammad Jilani

Which of these statements are correct?

(a)1 and 2

(b)1 and 3

(c)2 and 3

(d)2 and 4