{"id":1892,"date":"2024-05-16T16:37:13","date_gmt":"2024-05-16T11:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/knowledgekart.in\/blog\/?p=1892"},"modified":"2024-07-22T16:21:54","modified_gmt":"2024-07-22T10:51:54","slug":"bhakti-and-sufi-movement-must-read-for-upsc-ias","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/knowledgekart.in\/blog\/bhakti-and-sufi-movement-must-read-for-upsc-ias\/","title":{"rendered":"BHAKTI AND SUFI MOVEMENT MUST READ FOR UPSC IAS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
BHAKTI AND SUFI MOVEMENT<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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  • It was a religious reform movement<\/strong> during medieval times which emphasized single-minded intense devotion to God. BHAKTI AND SUFI MOVEMENT<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Bhakti movement was based on the doctrine that the relationship between god and man is through love and worship<\/strong> rather than through performing any ritual or religious ceremonies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • The origin of Bhakti is traced in Vedas<\/strong>, but its real development took place after the 7th<\/sup><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • It was initiated by Shaiva Nayanars & Vaishnavite Alwars <\/strong>in south India, later spread to all regions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Emotional Side<\/strong> of Vaishnavism represented by: Alvars<\/strong> through collective songs \u2013 \u201cPrabhandas<\/strong>\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Intellectual side<\/strong> of Vaishnavism represented by: \u201cAcharyas\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
    NAYANARS<\/strong><\/td>ALVARS<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    Devotees of  Shiva<\/strong><\/td>Devotees of Vishnu<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    Tirumarai<\/strong> \u2013 Compilation of  hymns of Nayanars by the highest priest of Raja RajaCholaI, Nambiyandar Nambi. The details of the lives and of the saints are described in the work \u2018Tevaram\u2019<\/strong> which is also called the Dravida Veda.<\/strong><\/td>Divya Prabandha<\/strong>\u2013 Compilation of the hymns of the Alvars saints \u2013 poets.<\/td><\/tr>
    Imp saints \u2013<\/strong>          Tiru Neelakanta,         Meiporul,          Viralminda,          Amaraneedi,         Karaikkal Ammaiyar (woman)<\/td>Imp saints \u2013<\/strong>          Andal (only female Alwar saint who is referred to as the \u2018Meera of the South\u2019<\/strong>)          Thirumazhisai Alvar          Thiruppaan Alvar          Nammalwar          Kulasekara<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    The Bhakti saints were divided into two schools depending on the way they imagined God:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Nirgun<\/strong><\/td>        Believe invisible formless god<\/strong>, without attributes.         Nirguna bhakta\u2019s poetry was Jnana-shrayi<\/strong> or had roots in knowledge.          Nirgun Saints:<\/strong> 1.       Guru Nanak 2.       Ravidas 3.      <\/strong>Kabir<\/td><\/tr>
        Sagun<\/strong><\/td>         Believe God with form & attributes<\/strong>.          Saguna bhakta\u2019s poetry was Prema-shrayi, or with roots in love.[          Saguna Saints:<\/strong> 1.       Tulsidas 2.       Surdas 3.       Meerabai<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    FEATURES OF BHAKTI MOVEMENT:<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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    • Unity of God or one God though known by different names.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Condemnation of rituals, ceremonies and blind faith.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Rejection of idol worship.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Surrender of oneself to God.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Emphasized both Nirguna\u00a0and\u00a0Saguna bhakti.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Salvation through Bhakti.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Open-mindedness about religious matters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Rejected castes distinctions & believed in equality of all humans.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Rebelled against the upper caste\u2019s domination and the Sanskrit language.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Use of local or regional languages for Preaching.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Creation of literature in local language.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Causes for the emergence of Bhakti Movement:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      • Influence of Vaishnavism<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Evil practices of the Hindus<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Fear of spread of Islam<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Influence of Sufi sects<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • The emergence of great reformers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
        VEDANTA SAINTS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION:<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
        VEDANTA SAINTS<\/strong><\/td>CONTRIBUTION<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
          Shankararcharya  (788 \u2013 820 AD<\/strong><\/td>         Birth- Kelara, Death- Uttarakhanda (Kedarnath)          Guru \u2013 Govidhabhagavath pada         Integrated the essence of Buddhism in Hindu thought and interpreted the ancient Vedic religion Consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedant (Non-Dualism)- God & created world is one and <\/strong>The individual soul is not different from Brahman.         Organizer of the Dashanami monastic order and unified the Shanmata tradition of worship.          Brhat-Sankara-Vijaya by Citsukha is the oldest biography of Adiushankara<\/td><\/tr>
        Ramanujarcharya (1017-1137 A.D)<\/strong><\/td>         Birth \u2013 Tamilandu          Guru \u2013 yadavapreksha          Propagator of Vishishtadvaita Vedanta or qualified monism \u2013 T<\/strong>here exists a plurality and distinction between \u0100tman (soul) & Brahman (metaphysical, ultimate reality).         Exponents of the Sri Vaishnavism tradition within Hinduism          Literary works:<\/strong>  Vedartha Sangraham, Sri Bhashyam, Gita Bhashyam<\/td><\/tr>
          Nimbarka<\/strong><\/td>        He was contemporary of Ramanuja.          He propounded the philosophy of \u2018bheda-bheda\u2019<\/strong> -the God, the soul and the world were identical yet distinct<\/td><\/tr>
          Madhvarchaya (1238-1319 AD)<\/strong><\/td>         Was critic of Adi Shankara\u2019s Advaita Vedanta<\/strong> and Ramanuja\u2019s Vishishtadvaita<\/strong> Vedanta teachings.<\/strong>          He preached \u201cDvaita<\/strong>\u201d or dualism<\/strong>, where the divinity was separate from the human conscience\/soul.          Liberation- only through the grace of God          Book \u2013 Anuvyakhyana<\/strong>.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
        Nathpanthis, Siddhas, and Yogis<\/strong>  <\/td>        Criticised the ritual and other aspects of conventional religion and the social order, using simple, logical arguments.         They advocated renunciation of the world.          To them, the path to salvation lay in meditation on the formless god.          To achieve this they advocated intense training of the mind and body through practices like yogasanas, breathing exercises and meditation.          These groups became particularly popular among \u201clow\u201d castes.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
        VIRASHAIVISM\/ SHARANA MOVEMENT<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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        • The Virashaiva movement began in Karnataka<\/strong> in the mid-twelfth century.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • It was initiated by Basavanna<\/strong> and other virshaivas like Allama Prabhu and Akkamahadevi<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • They\u00a0fought\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0equality of all human beings\u00a0and\u00a0against\u00a0the\u00a0Brahmanical ideas\u00a0of\u00a0caste\u00a0and\u00a0poor treatment\u00a0of\u00a0women.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • They were also\u00a0against\u00a0religious rituals and\u00a0idol worship<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Challanged caste system, questioned the theory of rebirth<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Encouraged post puberty marriage & widow remarriage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Basavanna spread social awareness through his poetry, popularly known as\u00a0Vachanaas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • He established Anubhava Mantapa<\/strong>\u2013 academy of mystics, saints and philosophers of the \u2018Lingayath\u2019s\u2019 faith.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
          SAINTS<\/strong><\/td>THEIR CONTRIBUTION<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
                Ramanada<\/strong> (14-15th century]<\/strong><\/td>He was a follower of Ramanuja. Founder of Sant-parampara<\/strong> (literally, the tradition of bhakti saints) in north India. Substitute the worship of Rama in place of Krishna. He has 12 disciples \u2013 \u201cAvadutas\u201d<\/strong>. Disciple(s):<\/strong>  Kabir, Ravidas, Bhagat Pipa, Sukhanand, sena &sudhana. Literary works:<\/strong> Gyan-lila and Yog-cintamani (Hindi), Vaisnava Mata Bhajabhaskara and Ramarcanapaddhati (Sanskrit). His verse mentioned in Guru Granth Sahib.<\/td><\/tr>
              Kabir Das<\/strong> (1440-1510 AD)<\/strong><\/td>Disciple of Ramananda He was the first to reconcile Hinduism and Islam.<\/strong> He was a Nirguna saint<\/strong> and openly criticised the orthodox ideas of major religions like Hinduism and Islam.         Denounced idol-worship, fastings, pilgrimages and religious superstitious beliefs, bathing in holy rivers, formal worship like nama. His poems are called \u201cBanis\u201d (utterances) or \u2018Dohe\u2019<\/strong>. His works are compiled in the famous book \u201cBijak\u201d<\/strong>. Kabir says: \u201cRam Rahim are same\u201d<\/strong>.<\/td><\/tr>
          Guru Nanak Dev<\/strong> (1469-1538 AD)<\/strong><\/td>Birth \u2013 Talvandi Viilage & Death Kartarpur ( Both are in Pakistan) Founder of Sikh religion & the first Guru of ten Sikh Gurus. Intially worked as Accountant<\/strong>. Preached middle path<\/strong> & need of Guru for liberation. He composed hymnes and sang along with the help of instrument called \u201dRabab\u201d<\/strong> played by his attendant \u201cMardana\u201d<\/strong>. Travelled across the Asia including Mecca & Baghdad and spread the message of \u201cIk Onkar\u201d <\/strong>\u2013 One God. Opposes idol worship, pilgrimage and caste system, and emphasized purity of character and conduct. Called God as \u201cWaheguru\u201d <\/strong>that is shapeless, timeless, omnipresent & invisible ( Nirgun Bhakti ) He started Guru-Ka-langer <\/strong>(Community Kitchen) He promoted \u201cTauhid-e-wazidi\u201d<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
          Purandar Das<\/strong> (1483-1564)<\/strong><\/td>One of the chief founding-proponents of the South Indian classical music (Carnatic Music).         He is often quoted as Karnataka Sangeeta Pitamaha<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
          Dadu Dayal<\/strong> (1544-1603 AD)<\/strong><\/td>Disciple of Kabir<\/strong> He was a supporter of Hindu-Muslim unity<\/strong> His followers were called Dadu Panthis<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
           Chaitanya Mahaprabhu<\/strong> (1486-1533 AD)<\/strong><\/td>Founder of modern Vaishnavism in Bengal.<\/strong> He was a Saguna<\/strong> and popularized \u201cKirtans<\/strong>\u201d (religious songs) as a form of worshipping God. Popularized the chanting of \u201cHare Rama, Hare Krishna<\/strong>\u201d. He made famous the practice of worshipping Radha and Krishna together<\/strong>. He gave the \u201cAchintaya Bheda-Abheda\u201d <\/strong>philosophy. Didn\u2019t reject scriptures or idol worship called god as Hari.<\/strong> He wrote \u201cSiksastakam<\/strong>\u201d, a text in Sanskrit, where he elaborated his philosophy.          He is the inspiration behind the world renowned ISKCON<\/strong> (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) that was founded in the 20th century.<\/td><\/tr>
           Shankaradeva<\/strong>  (1499-1569 AD)<\/strong><\/td>Spread the Bhakti cult in Assam<\/strong> Translated Ramayana & Mahabharat into Assamese, He started the Ekasarana movement (Neo-Vaishnavite movement).<\/strong> He believed in the worship of \u2018Ekasarana\u2019<\/strong> (One God) in the form of Krishna. He also called Krishna by different names like Hari, Narayan and Rama. His most famous work is \u201cKirtana Ghosha\u201d,<\/strong> written in a simple language understood by the masses. He wrote in Assamese and Brajavali (mixture of Maithili and Assamese).<\/td><\/tr>
            Vallabhacharya<\/strong> (1479-1531 AD)<\/strong><\/td>Exponent of Krishna cult<\/strong> Founded philosophy of \u201cSuddhadvaita<\/strong>\u201d (Pure Non dualism) and his philosophy is known as \u2018Pushti Marg\u2019<\/strong>. He worshipped Krishna under the title \u201cSrinathji<\/strong>\u201c<\/td><\/tr>
            Guru Ghasidas<\/strong> (1756-1836 AD)<\/strong><\/td>He was a famous saint from Chhattisgarh<\/strong> and he established the \u201cSatnami Community\u201d <\/strong>there.   He strongly believed in equality<\/strong> and criticized the oppressive caste system.         He was a monotheist<\/strong> and was against idol worship<\/strong>.<\/td><\/tr>
            Surdas<\/strong> (1483-1563 AD)<\/strong><\/td>Disciple of Vallabhachary He wrote \u201cSursagar\u201d <\/strong>and \u201cSursurvali<\/strong>\u201d. Showed intense devotion to Radha and Krishna Regarded as the outstanding devotional poet in<\/strong> Brajbhasha<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
          Mirabai<\/strong> (1498-1546 AD)<\/strong><\/td>Staunch devotee of Lord Krishna Composed number of songs and poems in honor of Krishna.     She composed \u2018bhajans\u2019<\/strong> (short religious songs) which are sung even today.<\/td><\/tr>
          Haridas<\/strong> (1478-1573 AD)<\/strong><\/td>A great musician saint who sang the glories of Lord Vishnu<\/td><\/tr>
          Tulsidas<\/strong> (1532-1623 AD)<\/strong><\/td>Depicted Rama as the incarnation Wrote \u201cRamcharitmanas\u201d<\/strong>          He was Varkari<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
            Namdeva<\/strong> (1270-1350AD)<\/strong><\/td>Disciple of Vishoba Khechar He was a devotee of Vittoba (Vishnu) Opposed Caste system          Only Nirguna saint<\/strong> in Maharasthra. He belongs to Varkari tradition<\/strong>.<\/td><\/tr>
            Dnyanesvar<\/strong> (1275-1296 AD)<\/strong><\/td>He was founder of the Bhakti Movement in Maharashtra<\/strong> in the 13th century.          Wrote \u201cDnyaneswari<\/strong>\u201c, a commentary on the Bhagavad-Gita. His other work is \u201cAmrutanubhav<\/strong> \u201c on Yoga and philosophy. He was a worshipper of Vithoba (Vitthala)<\/strong> who is considered a manifestation of Vishnu. He was a follower of Nath Yogi Tradition<\/strong>. He also drew inspiration from the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita.<\/td><\/tr>
          Eknath<\/strong> (1533-1599)<\/strong><\/td>Wrote commentary on verses of the Bhagavad-Gita<\/strong>  Devotee of Vithoba. He criticized the Caste distinctions.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
           Tukaram<\/strong> (1598-1650)<\/strong><\/td>Contemporary of Maratha king Shivaji Devotee of Vithal<\/strong> He founded the Varkau sect<\/strong> His teachings are contained in Abhangas<\/strong>.<\/td><\/tr>
          Ram Das<\/strong> (1608-1681)<\/strong><\/td>Author of \u201cDasabodh\u201d<\/strong> His teachings inspired Shivaji to establish an independent kingdom in Maharashtra.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
          VERNACULAR LITERATURE:<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
          Hindi<\/strong><\/td>Kabir, Surdas, Tulsidas, etc.<\/td><\/tr>
          Marathi<\/strong><\/td>Jnandeva, Namdev, Eknath, etc.<\/td><\/tr>
          Bengali<\/strong><\/td>Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Chandidas<\/td><\/tr>
          Rajasthani (Braj)<\/strong><\/td>Meerabai, Bihari, etc.<\/td><\/tr>
          Punjabi<\/strong><\/td>Guru Nanak<\/td><\/tr>
          Assamese<\/strong><\/td>Shankaradeva<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
          IMPACT OF BHAKTI MOVEMENT:<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n