Popular Beliefs and Religious Debates Chapter Notes | Window on the Word Class 7: Solutions, Notes & Worksheets PDF Download

Introduction

In medieval India, there were religious movements and new faiths that challenged oppressive practices of orthodox religions. The Bhakti and Sufi movements and Sikhism were among the most significant. They aimed to promote equality, simplicity, and devotion to God, leading to profound changes in Indian society.

The Bhakti Movement and Its Spread

1. The Bhakti Movement Origins:

• The Bhakti movement started in South India around the 7th century CE.
• It emphasized worshipping God through surrender and devotion.

2. Prominent Bhakti Saints:

• The Nayanars (Shiva devotees) and the Alvars (Vishnu devotees) played crucial roles in spreading Bhakti.
• Nayanars and Alvars came from diverse backgrounds and rejected the caste system.
• They traveled, spreading their messages through poems and songs in local languages.

3. Bhakti Saints in the North:

• Bhakti ideas spread to the North, leading to the emergence of important saints.
• Adi Shankaracharya (8th century CE) promoted renunciation, knowledge, and rejected rituals.
• Ramanuja (1017 CE) stressed God's grace and equality, opposing rituals.
• Basavanna (12th century CE) founded Lingayat sect, advocating the worship of one God, Shiva.
• Meera Bai (16th century) composed bhajans, challenged the caste system, and gained popularity.
• Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (15th-16th centuries) popularized kirtans and welcomed all, regardless of caste or creed.
• Sankaradeva (15th-16th centuries) was a Bhakti saint and social-religious reformer in Assam.

4. Bhakti Saints of Maharashtra:

• Saint-poets like Tukaram, Jnaneshwar, Namadeva, Eknath, Chokhamela, and Sakhubai were Lord Vitthala devotees.
• They promoted equality, opposed rituals, and advocated living within family setups.

The Sufi Movement

1. Introduction to Sufis:

• Sufis were Muslim mystics from the Middle East who arrived in India in the 11th century CE.
• Sufi means "coarse cloth," signifying their simple lives.
• They rejected strict Islamic worship codes and emphasized love, tolerance, and equality.
• Devotion to God included dance, music, and poetry, with qawwali as a form of devotional music.

2. Organization of Sufis:

• Sufis formed different silsilahs (orders) led by a pir in a khanqah, with disciples.
• Pirs trained their disciples through methods like zikr, contemplation, sama, raqs, and parables.
• Chishti and Suhrawardi orders were prominent in India.
• Well-known Sufi saints included Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, Baba Farid, Nizamuddin Auliya, Salim Chishti, and Amir Khusrau.

3. Similarities with Bhakti:

• Like Bhakti saints, Sufi saints had a simple approach, reaching out to people of all religions and castes.
• They composed and taught in Hindi and used local languages.
• Both condemned elaborate and costly rituals.

Syncretic Teachings of Bhakti and Sufi Saints

Common Teachings:

• Bhakti saints and Sufi pirs believed in the oneness of God.
• Both condemned the caste system, promoting the equality of all humans.
• They advocated realizing God through simple living and serving others.
• Encouraged praying to God in a simple language, not reliant on priests.
• Both rejected elaborate rituals.

Case Study: Kabir and Guru Nanak

1. Kabir:

• Kabir absorbed teachings from both Hindu and Muslim saints.
• He emphasized unity, tolerance, and rejection of discrimination.
• Kabir's simple verses preached love and devotion to God, emphasizing their universality.

2. Guru Nanak:

• Guru Nanak founded Sikhism and promoted universal brotherhood.
• He believed in one eternal, formless God.
• Encouraged purity of character, honest livelihood, and communal meals (langars).
• Guru Granth Sahib, Sikhism's holy book, compiled his teachings.

Conclusion

The Bhakti and Sufi movements transformed Indian society, introducing democratic, joyful, and ritual-free forms of worship that allowed people to pray directly to God without priestly intervention. These movements promoted equality, simplicity, and devotion, leaving a lasting impact on India's religious landscape.