Bhakti Sufi Traditions: Class 12 NCERT History Chapter 6
Bhakti Sufi Traditions: Class 12 NCERT History Chapter 6
Bhakti Sufi Traditions: Class 12 NCERT History Chapter 6
• Little Tradition: These were that tradition which do not correspond with the
Great Tradition.
• Saguna Bhakti: Bhakti focused on the worship of Shiva, Vishnu and Devi.
Instagram
@tireless.study
• Nirguna Bhakti: Worshipping a shapeless or an abstract
form of God.
1. A major part of South India was ruled by Chola Kings during the period 9th
to 13th Century. They gave great patronage to the Bhakti movement saints
including Nayanars. Thus, they did by making grants of land and constructing
temples of Shiva and Vishnu for the saints of Bhakti movement.
The rulers tried to establish connections with the Nayanars and this is explained by
the aforesaid description. The reason why they did is not far to seek. One reason
could be to bring sanctity to the their rule. By giving alms to the temple and the
preachers of Nayanar sect the rulers also announced their wealth and might. Next
such acts might have endeared the rulers to the masses.
In the 12th Century, Delhi and a considerable part of India fell to the rule of Muslim
rulers. This rule is known as the period of Delhi Sultanate. The rulers of Delhi
Sultanate claimed themselves under Khalifate of Kabul and tried to legitimize their
rule. The next step could have been establishing the rule of Shari‘a laws. However,
the rulers realised for the very beginning that it was impractical. Under the Delhi
Sultanate most of the people were not Muslim. Shari’a laws were not feasible also
because lacked flexibity which a ruler needed to govern. The rulers of Delhi
Sultanate wanted to take a practical path of governance without renouncing Islam.
Sufi tradition gave them this opportunity. The same idea prevailed during the rule
of the great Mughals too. Hence the rulers of Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal
empire adopted the tradition of sufism. Instagram
@tireless.study
Q) Analyses, illustrations, why bhakti and sufi thinkers adopted a variety of
languages in which to express their opinions.
Ans. In medieval India, though Sanskrit and Persian may be the language of the
educated people or at the court, the vast number of people living in villages
conversed in the local languages. It was, therefore, needed that the Bhakti and
Sufi saints preached in the languages of the common people. This was in fact
essential in order to make these movement truly popular.
1. The traditional Bhakti saints composed the hymns in Sanskrit. Such hymns
were sung on special occasions often within temples.
2. The Nayanars and the Alvars were wandering saints. They travelled far and
wide, often walking on foot. They met people in different villages. These saints
would sing the verses in praise of God all in the language of the local people
only. The language was Tamil only. These travelling saints established temples
where prayers took place in Tamil and the devotional songs were composed by
the Bhakti Saints.
Instagram
@tireless.study
3. In North India the language was different. Here too the saints took
to the language of the common people. Guru Nanak created Shabad
all in Punjabi. Baba Farid and Swami Raidas (Ravidas) all composed in
Punjabi and Hindustani.
Thus, we are inclined to agree with the view that the Saints of Bhakti
and Sufi Movement composed in many languages and the languages
of the common people to connect with them. Instagram
@tireless.study
Read any five of the sources included in this chapter and discuss the social
and religious ideas that are expressed in them.
Ans. The period of the Bhakti Movement and Sufi Movement also has many
sources that contribute to the history of those days. Some of the major social
and religious ideas expressed in the various sources of history are as follows:
2. The next important source of history is the composition of the saints both
Bhakti
and Sufi. In terms of content they are religious but they are not the divine
textbooks of religion that are sacrosanct. The compilation throws light on the
life of common men and village lifestyle. They also impact the music and art
of those days.
Instagram
@tireless.study
3. Another very important source of the history of those days is the
biographies of the Saints. The biographies include the description of the
society and prevalent beliefs and practices. It is notable that such biographies
may not be in the written form still they can give insight into the life of those
days. It is the story prevalent that I when Kabirdas died, both Hindus and
Muslims fought for his dead body later on his body turned into flowers. Some
were taken by Muslims and others by Hindus.
This represents that there conflict and collaboration between both Hindus
and Muslims of those days.
4. This was also the period of rise of religious leaders who were intermediaries
between common men and God. Earlier it was only the Brahmins who got this
role. Now many people from other background also joined in. To some extent
it acted as the the force that idolised equality and fraternity.
5. The other source is the folklore. They are described in our art forms. It may
be dance, paintings, and sculpture and so on. They all talk about the universal
brotherhood of mankind and love for one and all.
Instagram
@tireless.study
Q. Choose any two of the religious teachers/thinkers/saints mentioned
in this chapter, and find out more about their lives and teachings.
Prepare a report about the area and the times in which they lived, their
major ideas, how do we know about them, and why you think they are
important?
Ans. Following are the two saints of the Bhakti movement who are
described as follows:
Guru Nanak:
Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Gurus of the
Sikhs, was born in the village of Talwandi on 15th April, 1469. The village
now is known as Nankana Sahib. He belonged to a Khatri caste. Before
Guru Nanak departed for his heavenly abode on 22nd Sept., 1539, his
name had travelled not only throughout India’s north, south, east and
west, but also far beyond into Arabia, Mesopotamia (Iraq), Ceylon (Sri
Lanka), Afghanistan, Turkey, Burma and Tibet. Instagram
@tireless.study
His teachings included:
Equality of humans: Guru Nanak preached against discrimination and prejudices due to race,
caste, status, etc. He said: “See the brotherhood of all mankind as the highest order of Yogis;
conquer your own mind, and conquer the world.”
Universal message for all people: Normally preachers confined their preachings to the men of their
own religion. But Nanak reached out. He spoke to hindus and muslims both and said to all “To
take what rightfully belongs to another is like a muslim eating pork, or a hindu eating beef.”
Equality of women: Nanak promoted women’s rights and equality—a first for the 15th century! He
asked:
“From woman, man is born; within woman, man is conceived; to woman he is engaged and
married. Woman becomes his friend; through woman, the future generations come. When his
woman dies, he seeks another woman; to woman he is bound. So should why we call her bad?
Namdeo
Saint Namdeo was born in the year 1270 in the village of Narasi-Bamani, now located in the Hingoli
District in Maharashtra. He is a great Saint Poet of Maharashtra. He was one of the earliest writers
who wrote in the Marathi language. He is the foremost proponent of the Bhagwad-Dharma who
reached beyond Maharashtra, right into Punjab. He also wrote some hymns in Hindi and Punjabi,
Namdev travelled through many parts of India, reciting his religious poems. In difficult times, he
played the difficult role of uniting the pendle of Maharashtra spiritually, He is said to have lived for
more than twenty years in the village of Ghuman in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab. The Sikh
brethren in Punjab consider him one. Instagram
@tireless.study