BHAKTI SUFI MOVEMENT MEDIEVAL INDIA

Ancient History, Uncategorized / By Amol Dharpure

BHAKTI SUFI MOVEMENT MEDIEVAL INDIA

BHAKTI SUFI MOVEMENT MEDIEVAL INDIA

Hagiographies= Biographies of saints written by their followers (or members of their religious sect).
The birth of bhakti movement in the Tamil country in 6^th century
Its flourished in south india for about three centuries under two wings i.e shavism & vaishnavism.
Follower of shaivism called Nayanars and Follower of Vaishnavism is called Allwars

Characteristics of Bhakti movements

The object of devote is to obtain “moksha”
It emphasized on purity of mind and heart.
Bhakti movement generally monotheistic either it is formless god(nirgun) or a god with form(sagun)
Both are based on Upnishad
Gyan or Knowledge is important element in Bhakti
Bhakti movement was egalitarian movement
Used simple laungauge
Against superiority of priests (varn system)

Two main objective of BHAKTI SUFI MOVEMENT MEDIEVAL INDIA movement is-

Reform in Hinduism that Hinduism should be strong in comparison with Islam.
To propagate the Hindu Muslim friendship and unity.

Saints of bhakti movement

Ramanand

First saint of north India in the first half of 15 century.
He worshipper of ram and believes on two principles

Perfect love for god
Human brotherhood

He had disciples of all caste and used Sanskrit and local language for preaching.
12 prominent disciples “Avadhuts” of Ramanand

Kabir =weaver
Raidas=cobbler
Sen=Barbar
Dhanna=Jat peasent
Pipa=Rajput
Bhavanand
Asanand
Sukhanand
Sursuranand
Parmanad
Shriananad
Mahananad

Kabir

His follower were called Kabirpanthi
He believes in Nirgun bhakti
He targeted evils of both the religion Hindu and Muslim.
He refused superiority of Brahmans and gave equal status to both Brahmans and shudras.
He thought Hindu-Muslim unity
The chief scripture of kabir panth is well known as Bijak.

Guru nanak

In north India between 15^th and 16^th century got extraordinary successes
He asserted that Hindu and Muslim were children of one god
He stood for unity of Hindu Muslim and his principle was social equality.
He wrote inspirational songs and peom that later published as “Adi Granth”

Mera bai

Greatest lady saint of bhakti movement from Rajasthan
After her husband death she consider Krishna as husband
She was deeply devoted to the Krishna
She composed poetry in Rajasthani and brij

Vallabhacharya

He was from Krishna cults
He wrote many books in Sanskrit and brijbhasha
He consider pushtimarg the means to realize the god

Dadu

He was from Gujarat spend his most of time naraina in Rajasthan
He was cobbler by caste
He supported Hindu-Muslim unity and opposed rigid caste system and idol worship
His follower is know as Dadupanthi

Surdas and Tulsidas

Surdas =Krishna cults
Tulsidas =Ram cults
Both in 16 th century
Both composed poetry

Sant Gyaneshwar

He was in Maharashtra in 13^th century
He wrote commentary on Geeta know as “Gyaneshwari” in Marathi

Namdev

Also from Maharashtra
Devotee of Vithobha or Vishnu
He opposed caste system

Eknath

He said nirvana is possible through devotion

Tukaram

Most popular in mahashtra
He was founder of Varkari sect
He preached through “Abhang”

Note –All saints of Maharashtra worshiped the idol worship of Pandhurnga,Vithoba or Vishnu centralized at Pandharpur

Sufism

Ulemas– the schoolars who thaught how to run the government in accordance with orthodox sunni ideas called ulemas

The Sufi –

Contrary to ulemas were the Sufis
They oppose the vulgar display of wealth in publics
The were against the formal worship, rigidity and fanaticism in religion
They used mediation to achieve religious satisfaction
Sufis were divided into silsilah
Each silsilah having guide i.e (per) or Kwaja or sheikh.
Silsilah were divided into two types
Ba-Shara = followed sharia
1. Chisti(silsilah)
2. Suhawardi
3. Firdwasi
4. Qadiri
5. Nashbandi

Be-shara= not followed sharia

Qalandar (silsilah)
Among them chistis were most popular in India founded by the Kwaja Muinuddin Chisti. Ajmer was the teaching center