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Sufi saints and the saints of Hindu Bhakti movement differed on
  • a)
    The unity of God
  • b)
    Devotion to God
  • c)
    Need of Guru or Pir to attain God
  • d)
    Method of worship 
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
Sufi saints and the saints of Hindu Bhakti movement differed ona)The u...
The Sufi saints led a simple or rather ascetic life and believed in the renunciation of all worldly possessions and pleasures. They did not believe in image worship of any form. They regarded God as kind and benevolent and therefore they did not fear him but loved him. They regarded Desire as the primary enemy of human and therefore emphasised on giving it up. Music inspired them to remember God and therefore they engaged themselves in music and dance with ecstasy while remembering god. The Sufis believed in Guru (Master) whom they called Pir and thought that no one can approach near God without the assistance of a Guru. The Sufis were divided into different sects, most important of them being the Suravardi sect and the Chisti sect. The influence of Suravardi sect remained limited only to Sindh, Punjab and Multan but the Chisti sect became well accepted all over India including Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal, Orissa and South India. Many Sufi saints became quite popular during the period of the Delhi Sultanate. The most important of them were Shaikh Muinud- din Chisti, Baba Farid-ud-din, Nasir- ud- din Mahmud, Nizam- ud- din Auliya, Khwaja Shaikh Taki- ud- din and Malik Muhammad Jaysi. The Bhakti movement in Hinduism was a remarkable feature during the period f Delhi Sultanate. Hindu saints emphasised on Bhakti as a means to attain salvation and that resulted in the Bhakti movement. Hinduism had to face the challenge of Islam in the medieval period which gave birth to the Bhakti movement. The saints of the Bhakti movement believed in god who could be called by different names such as Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva or Allah. They were against the caste system or image worship and laid stress on Bhakti as the only means to attain salvation. The Bhakti saints believed that a devotee needed a Guru who could help and guide him to attain salvation, though that could be achieved only by the grace of God while the grace of God itself could be achieved only by one's own effort. The saints propagated these ideas among the people by means of their teachings in simple languages, poems and prayers. But the most effective way of preaching their thoughts was their personal dedicated lives to God. The saints preached their ideas not in Sanskrit but in other Indian regional languages of the people. The pioneers of the Bhakti movements were Ramanuja, Nimbakara and Madhavacharya. Bhakti movement rose to popularity through Ramananda who flourished in the fourteenth century. Other Bhakti saints like Kabir, Guru Nanak and Chaitanya contributed a lot in the expansion and popularity of Bhakti movement.
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Sufi saints and the saints of Hindu Bhakti movement differed ona)The u...
Sufi saints and the saints of Hindu Bhakti movement differed on the need of Guru or Pir to attain God.

Both the Sufi saints and the saints of the Hindu Bhakti movement shared a common goal of attaining a deep spiritual connection with God. However, they had different perspectives on the role of a Guru or Pir in achieving this goal.

Sufi Saints:
Sufi saints believed that a Guru or Pir was essential in the spiritual journey towards attaining God. They considered the guidance of a spiritual teacher as crucial in understanding the mystical aspects of Sufism and in progressing on the path of spiritual purification. The Sufi tradition emphasized the importance of a spiritual guide who had already achieved a high level of spiritual enlightenment and could lead others towards the divine truth. The Guru or Pir served as a mentor, providing teachings, guidance, and practices to their disciples. The relationship between the disciple and the Guru was considered sacred and was based on trust and surrender.

Saints of the Hindu Bhakti Movement:
In contrast, the saints of the Hindu Bhakti movement believed that a personal relationship with God was possible without the need for an intermediary such as a Guru or Pir. They emphasized the direct connection between the devotee and God, where devotion and love were the key elements in attaining spiritual enlightenment. The Bhakti movement placed a strong emphasis on individual experience and personal devotion to God, rather than relying on an external teacher. The devotee was encouraged to establish a direct and intimate relationship with the divine, without the need for any intermediaries. The saints of the Bhakti movement believed that God's grace could be obtained through sincere devotion and selfless love.

Conclusion:
While both the Sufi saints and the saints of the Hindu Bhakti movement sought to attain a deep connection with God, they differed in their perspectives on the need for a Guru or Pir. Sufi saints believed that the guidance of a spiritual teacher was essential, while the saints of the Hindu Bhakti movement emphasized the possibility of a direct and personal relationship with God without the need for an intermediary.
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Sufi saints and the saints of Hindu Bhakti movement differed ona)The unity of Godb)Devotion to Godc)Need of Guru or Pir to attain Godd)Method of worshipCorrect answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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