Medieval History:

RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS

Lecture: 25
INDIAN MEDIEVAL HISTORY
EARLY
MEDIEVAL
INDIA

RELIGIOUS DELHI
MOVEMENTS SULTANATE

REGIONAL MUGHAL
STATES EMPIRE
 RELIGIOUS
MOVEMENTS
 RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS

Sufi Bhakti Sikh

Movement Movement Movement
Bhakti Movement
 Bhakti Movement

1) The Alvars and Nayanars of Tamil Nadu

2) Alvar Saints
3) Nayanar Saints
4) Women Devotees: Andal & Karaikkal Ammaiyar
5) Sankara
6) Ramanuja
7) Madhava
8) Nimbarka and Vallabhacharya
9) Surdas
 Bhakti Movement

10) Mirabai
11) Tulsidas
12) Ramananda
13) Kabir
14) Raidas
15) Chaitanya
16) Saints of Maharashtra
17) Nathpanthis, Siddhas, and Yogis
18) Importance of the Bhakti Movement
 Bhakti Movement
• The Bhakti Movement originated in the 7th- 8th century in Tamil,
South India (now parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala), and spread
northwards.
• It swept over east and north India from the 15th century onwards,
reached its peak between the 15th and 17th century CE.
• Initially Bhakti had its roots in Vedas & Upnishadas
• Bhagwatism in the Gupta period also highlighted Bhakti element
• But in Tamilnadu it took shape of a movement
• Bhakti was accepted as means to attain moksha along with jnana
and karma.
Medium to Attain Moksha

Bhakti jnana

Karma
 Bhakti Movement
• The development of this Bhakti Movement took place in South India
when the Nayanars and Alwars moved against the austerities
propagated by the Buddhist and Jain schools & professed that
ultimate devotion to god was means to salvation.
• People were no longer satisfied with a religion which emphasized
only ceremonies.
• Bhakti Movement is the combined result of the teachings of various
saints, through the then times.
• Each of them had their own views,
• but the ultimate basis of the cult was a general awakening against
useless religious practices and unnecessary strictness.
• The cult also emerged as a strong platform against casteism.
 Nature of Bhakti Movement
In Gupta period
• Related with feudalism
• Decentralisation leads to Bhakti sect & Shakti sect to make
favourable environment.
• Assimilation foreign & tribal elements in religion
• Decline in trade & commerce
• Lower class needs console due to harsh social & economic
conditions
• Bhakti concept led by Brahmins
 Nature of Bhakti Movement
In the South India
• Bhakti took form of movement
• Against Buddhist & jainism
• Pallav & Chola rulers need validity for rule from the people
• This moment led by lower class
• They believed in personal devotion towards God
 Nature of Bhakti Movement
North India in 13th & 14th century
1. Invasion of Muslim power
2. People lost faith in their religious system
3. Psychological pain in Hindu due to invasion
4. Hindu society faced challenged due to egalitarian & brotherhood in
the Islam
5. Sufism also influenced it
 The Alvars and Nayanars of Tamil Nadu
• In South India 7th to 9th centuries saw the emergence of new
religious movements, led by the Alvars (saints devoted to Vishnu)
and Nayanars (saints devoted to Shiva).
• They came from all castes including those considered
“untouchable” like the Pulaiyar and the Panars.
• They were sharply critical of the Buddhists and Jainas.
• They drew upon the ideals of love and heroism as found in the
Sangam literature (Tamil literature).
• Between 10th and 12th centuries the Chola and Pandya kings built
elaborate temples around many of the shrines visited by the saint-
poets, strengthening the links between the bhakti tradition and
temple worship.
 The Alvars and Nayanars of Tamil Nadu
• The Alvars and Nayanars led
some of the earliest bhakti
movements (c. sixth century).
1. Alvars – those who are
“immersed” in devotion to
Vishnu
2. Nayanars – leaders who were
devotees of Shiva

Alvars and Nayanars

The Alvars and Nayanars of Tamil Nadu
 The Alvars and Nayanars of Tamil Nadu
• The Alvars and Nayanars
initiated a movement of
protest against the caste
system and the dominance of
Brahmanas
• They attempted to reform the
system.

• This is supported by the fact that bhaktas or disciples hailed from

diverse social backgrounds ranging from Brahmanas to artisans and
cultivators and even from castes considered “untouchable”.
 The Alvars and Nayanars of Tamil Nadu
• Tevaram – a collection of songs of
Nayanars, compiled and classified
in the 10th century by Appar,
Sambandar, and Sundarar.

• Divya Prabandha The collection of

Bhakti songs of Alvars

Tevaram Songs
 Alvar Saints
• The 12 Alvars were Tamil poet-saints, who lived between 6th
and 9th centuries AD.
• Among them one was Brahmin, Periyalwar and one women
Andal. The early Alwars Pudattalwar, Peyalwar and Poygaialwar
were probably present around 7th century A.D.
• They started composing the Pirabandhams in Tamil. During 7th
-8th century, the Alwar poets Tiruppan, Tirumalasai,
Tirumangai, Kulasekhara, Periyalwar, Andal or Godadevi
flourished.
• And in 9th -10th century, Nammalwar, the greatest of the Alwar
poets flourished. The Alwar poets however never reacted
against the Vedas and Puranas rather there movement was a
reaction against Buddhism and Jainism.
• Bhakti to Visnu-Krishna in their songs. The devotional songs,
Divya Prabandha of the Alvars were created during the Early
medieval period of Tamil history. They can be called the
pioneers of the Bhakti Movement in India.
 Nayanar Saints
• The 63 Nayanars saints
• Followers of the Shiva
• who lived between 5th and 10th centuries.
• One saint “Appar” is said to have
converted Pallava King Mahendravarman
to Saivism.
• The compilation of their poetry / literature
Tirumurai is also called “Tamil Veda”.
• These 63 Nayanar saints, along with the 12
Alvars are known as South India’s 75
Apostles of Bhakti movement.

Mahendravarman
 Women Devotees

Karaikkal
Andal
Ammaiyar
 Andal
• A woman Alvar the
compositions of Andal were
widely sung (and continue to
be sung to date).
• Andal saw herself as the
beloved of Vishnu;
• Her verses express her love
for the deity.
Andal
 Karaikkal Ammaiyar
• Another woman
saint.
• A devotee of Shiva,
• adopted the path of
extreme asceticism
in order to attain her
goal.
Karaikkal Ammaiyar
Development
of Bhakti
Movement
Vallabhacharya
 1. Shankaracharya
• A Hindu revivalist movement giving a new
placement to Hinduism was started by
Sankara.
• Kaladi in Kerala is his birthplace.
• Also known as Prachchan Budhha
• His doctrine of Monotheism or Advaita was
too abstract (संक्षेप) to appeal the common
people.
• The Advaita Concept of Nirguna Brahman (God
without attributes) received contradictory
reaction with the emergence of the idea of
Saguna Brahman (God with attributes). Sankara
 1. Shankaracharya
• Philosophy and Bhakti
1. Shankara was an advocate of Advaita or the doctrine of the
oneness of the individual soul and the Supreme God which is the
Ultimate Reality.
2. He taught that Brahman, the only or Ultimate Reality, was
formless and without any attributes.
3. He considered the world around us to be an illusion or maya,
4. preached renunciation (त्याग) of the world
5. Adoption of the path of knowledge to understand the true nature
of Brahman salvation.
Mathas established by Shankaracharya
 2. Ramanujacharya
• He was born at Sriperumbudur near modern Chennai.
• He preached Visishtadvaita (literally "Advaita with
uniqueness”; a non-dualistic school of Vedanta philosophy) in
the12th century.
• Brahman alone exists, but is characterized by multiplicity in
that the soul, even when united with the Supreme God,
remained distinct.
• According to him God is Saguna brahman.
• He encouraged Pravritti marga or path of self-
surrender to God.
• He invited the downtrodden to Vaishnavism.
• Ramanuja was from the South and he taught in the
language of the common people.
• His disciple was Ramananda who took his Guru’s
message to the northern parts of India. Ramanuja
 2. Ramanujacharya
• There are three key principles of Vishishtadvaita:
1. Tattva: The knowledge of the 3 real entities
namely, jiva (living souls); ajiva and Ishvara (Vishnu-
Narayana ).
2. Hita: The means of realization, as
through bhakti (devotion) and prapatti (self-surrender).
3. Purushartha: The goal to be attained, as moksha or
liberation from bondage.
 3. Madhavacharya
• Madhava is from Kannada region
• preaching prevailed in the 13th
century
• He spread Dvaita/dualism concept of
Jivatma and Paramatma.
• His philosophy was that the world is
not an illusion but a reality.
• God, soul, matter are unique in
nature.
Madhava
 4. Nimbarkacharya
• He was founder of the Radha-Krishna cult. He introduced Radha with
Krishna. Devotion, according to Nimbarka, consists in prapatti, or self-
surrender.
• It was also used as an example of God’s love to the people. He
established Sanakādi Sampradāya.
• Dvait-advait philosophy, duality and non duality at the same time
• According to Nimbarka, there are three categories of existence,
namely Isvara (God); cit (jiva, the individual soul); and acit (lifeless
matter).
• Cit and acit are different from Isvara, in the sense that they have
attributes (Guna) and capacities (Swabhaava), which are different from
those of Isvara.
• At the same time, cit and acit are not different from Isvara, because they
cannot exist independently of Him. Isvara is independent and exists by
Himself, while cit and acit exist in dependence upon Him. Acharya Nimbarka
 5. Vallabhacharya
• He belonged to a Telugu Brahmin family and was
born in 1479 Banaras, when the family was on
pilgrimage to the place
• Propounded of Shuddha Adwaita or pure non-
duality.
• Equality in "essence" of the individual self with God. The
soul is both a doer and enjoyer. God is not only the
creator of the universe but is the universe itself.
• It is atomic in size, but pervades the whole body through
its essence of intelligence (like sandalwood makes its
presence felt through its scent even if sandalwood can't
be seen).
• Denied any distinction between God and individual
soul
• Regarded Bhakti as the means for the soul to escape
its bandage due to delusion, माया.
Vallabhacharya
 5. Vallabhacharya
• Astachhap
• Eight Disciples of Vallabhacharya are called the Ashta-chhaap,
meaning, eight reprints (of the Master). Those are:
• सरू दास, कुं भनदास, कृष्णदास, परमानन्ददास, गोववुंदस्वामी, छीतस्वामी, नुंददास,
चतभज ु दास.
• Surdas is considered to be the foremost among them.
• Therefore, the poetry composed by the eight Ashta Chhap poets is
meant to be sung to music.
• Its essence is rhythmic invocation, and its real meaning is best
expressed when performed as part of devotional service.
 6. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
• Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486 – 1533), was chief proponent of
the Achintya Bheda Abheda (Inconceivable,समझ से बाहर Difference/One-
ness) Vedanta school.
• In Sanskrit achintya means 'inconceivable‘. simultaneous oneness and
difference.
• Like spider and its web; earth and plants that come forth and hair on the
body of human being.
• He also expounded the Vaishnava school of Bhakti yoga based on Bhagavata
Purana and Bhagavad Gita.
• He popularised the chanting of the 'Hare Krishna mantra’ and composed
the Siksastakam (eight devotional prayers) in Sanskrit.
Bhakti Movement
Bhakti Movement
Ramanujacharya: Ramananda who took his Guru’s message to the
northern parts of India.
Vallabhacharya: Surdas
 Surdas
• He was the disciple of
Vallabhacharya
• He popularized Krishna cult in the
Northern part of India.
• Surdas is considered to be the
foremost among Ashta-chhaap
• his composition the Sur Sagar in
Braj Bhasha
• His compositions are also found in
the Guru Granth Sahib

Surdas
 Mirabai
• She was a 16th-century Hindu mystic poet and devotee
of Krishna.
• She is a celebrated Bhakti saint, particularly in the North
Indian Hindu tradition.
• Mira was born into a Rajput royal family of Kudki district of
Pali, Rajasthan, India.
• She became popular in Rajasthan for her bhajans.
• One of her most popular compositions remains "Paayoji
maine Ram Ratan dhan paayo" (पायो जी मैंने राम रतन धन
पायो।
• Her songs are very popular all over India.
• It is Bhakti or devotion to Lord Krishna that can alone ensure
salvation from the endless circle of births and deaths.
• Prem Ambodh Pothi includes poetry of Mira Bai as one of
sixteen historic bhakti sants
Mirabai
 Tulsidas
• He was a worshipper of Rama.
• He composed the famous Ramcharitmanas, the Hindi
version of Ramayana.

Tulsidas
 Tulsidas
• Awadhi works – Ramcharitmanas, Ramlala
Nahachhu, Barvai Ramayan, Parvati
Mangal, Janaki Mangal and Ramagya
Prashna.
• Braja works – Krishna Gitavali, Gitavali,
Sahitya Ratna, Dohavali, Vairagya
Sandipani and Vinaya Patrika.
 Ramananda
• Ramananda was first Bhakti saint and founder of
Bhakti Movement of northern India.
• He was born at Allahabad. Educated at Varanasi
• Initially he was a follower of Ramanuja.
• Later he founded his own sect and preached his
principles in Hindi at Banaras and Agra.
• Ramananda was the first to employ the vernacular
medium to spread his ideas.
• He opposed the caste system and chose his
disciples from all sections of society irrespective of
caste.
Ramananda
 Ramananda
• He preached in Hindi, the language of the masses.
• His 12 disciples included Anantananda, Sursurananda, Sukhanand,
Naraharidāsa, Bhavanand, Bhagat Pipa, Kabir, Sen, Dhanna,
Ravidas and two women disciples viz. Sursuri and Padyawati.
• Among them, Kabir was most radical and adopted non-conformist,
प्रचलित धमु या ववश ्वास का ववरोधी stand later on.
 Ramananda
• Ramananda’s disciples were:
1. Kabir, was a weaver, जलु ाहा
2. Raidasa, he was a cobbler, मोची
3. Sena, he was a barber
4. Sadhana
5. Dhanna, he was a Jat farmer
6. Naraharai, he was a goldsmith
7. Pipa, he was a Rajput prince

Ramananda’s Disciples
 Kabir
• Kabir was the most famous disciple of Ramananda.
• He was brought up by a Muslim couple who were
weavers by profession.
• He stood for doing away with all the unnecessary
customs and rituals in both religions and bringing
union between these religions.
• He was Nirguna saint
• He had a curious mind in learning new things and he
learnt much about Hinduism in Benares.
• Kabir’s aim was to reunite Hindus and Muslims and
form harmony between them.
Kabir
 Kabir
• He is seen as one who balanced the life of a householder, a mystic and a
tradesman.
• Bijak, Sakhi Granth, Kabir Granthawali and Anurag Sagar are compositions of
Kabir. He is regarded as the greatest of the mystic saints. His followers are
called Kabirpanthis.
• In the 14th and 15th centuries, Ramananda, Kabir and Nanak remained the
great apostles of the Bhakti cult.
• They aided the common people to shed age-old superstitions and attain
salvation through Bhakti or pure devotion. He Criticized all forms of worship of
idols. His thought close to socialism
• We note here that Kabir was born in 1398 and had died in circa 1448 {not
confirmed}. India was attacked by Timur in 1398 and after that Sayyids and
Lodis ruled Delhi.
 Raidas
• Raidas or Ravidas was another Nirguna
Bhakta disciple of Ramananda.
• He belonged to a family of leather
workers.
• Some of his verses found place in Guru
Granth Sahib, the main text of Sikhism.
• Mirabai, a Rajput lady of a royal family
of Rajasthan, was one of the followers
of Ravidas.
Raidas
 Saints of Maharashtra
• The most important among them were Janeshwar, Namdev, Eknath and Tukaram as
well as women like Sakkubai and the family of Chokhamela, who belonged to the
“untouchable” Mahar caste.
• This regional tradition of bhakti focused on the Vitthala (a form of Vishnu) temple in
Pandharpur, as well as on the notion of a personal god residing in the hearts of all
people.
• These saint-poets rejected all forms of ritualism and social differences based on
birth. It is regarded as a humanist idea, as they insisted that bhakti lay in sharing
others’ pain.
• Janeshwa wrote Gnaneswari a commentary of Bhagavat Gita
• The teachings of Namdev are included in the Guru Granth Sahib.
• Tukaram was was a contemporary of Sivaji. His poetry was devoted to Vitthala or
Vithoba, an avatar of Hindu god Vishnu. Responsible for creating a background for
Maratha nationalism.
 Nathpanthis, Siddhas, and Yogis

• They condemned the ritual and other aspects of

orthodox religion and the social division, using
simple, logical arguments. They encouraged
renunciation of the world.
• Nathpanthis were influenced by the
Ramananda?
• To them, the path to salvation lay in meditation
and 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 “low” castes.
 Importance of the Bhakti Movement
1. Bhakti movement provided a spur for the development of
regional languages such as Hindi, Marathi, Bengali,
Kannada, etc.
2. The lower classes rose to a position of great importance.
3. The Bhakti movement gave equal importance to men and
women which gave way to the Importance of women in
society.
4. Established Harmony among the classes & religion.
Baba Guru Nanak (1469-1539) and Sikhism
 Baba Guru Nanak (1469-1539) and Sikhism

1) Baba Guru Nanak (1469-1539)

2) Guru Angad
3) Guru Arjan
4) Guru Gobind Singh
 Baba Guru Nanak (1469-1539)
• Guru Nanak was born in Talwandi near
Lahore on 15 April 1469 .
• Father--Kalyan Chand Das Bedi (Mehta Kalu)
• Mother- Mata Tripta
• Died on 22 September 1539 (aged 70) Kartarpur,
Pakistan
• He was founder of the Sikh Religion.
• He condemned caste difference and rituals
like bathing in holy rivers.
• He established a centre at Kartarpur named
Dera Baba Nanak on the river Ravi.
• His one of the famous sayings was “Abide
pure amidst the impurities of the world”.
Guru Nanak
 Guru Nanak & Sikh Religion
• He was a Nirguna saint who Believed in monotheism.
• started the langar system & arranged Sangata; similar to sangha
Company of men and women who meet religiously, especially in the presence of the
Guru Granth Sahib.
• His followers formed a community and were called Sikhs.
• Nanak rejected all types of religious rituals and Believed in formless God.
• God is omnipotent & only be expressed through 'Sabd‘; hymn or paragraph
or sections of the Holy Text that appears in Guru Granth Sahib.
• His idea of religion was highly practical and strictly moral in which
Rejected all kinds of social division
• Nath sect (Shaiva sub-tradition within Hinduism) & Islam had its influence on
Sikh community.
 Guru Nanak & Sikh Religion
• Guru Nanak's teachings were compiled by his disciple
Guru Angad in the Gurumukhi script.
• Guru Arjan Dev, fifth guru, compiled 'Gurugranthasahib’
• Believed in policy of religious harmony and social
harmony.
• Gurugranthasahib contains couplets of Sufi saints and
Nirguna devotees in addition to Sikh Gurus like Kabir,
Baba Farid, Namdev, Raidas, Pipa, Dhanna etc.
• expressed his spiritual experience through music.
• his disciples, Mardana, the first Sikh and longtime companion of
Guru Nanak Dev Ji, used to play the instrument 'Rabab'.
 Guru Angad
• Guru Angad also known as
Lehna was appointed by Guru
before his death.
• 2nd Sikh Guru
• Guru Angad compiled the
compositions of Guru Nanak
• Started a new script known as
Gurmukhi
Guru Angad
 Guru Arjan
• He was the 5th Guru.
• He composed Gurugranthsahib ,
teaching of Guru Nanak & other
Gurus
• He was executed by Jehangir in 1604.
• Gurugranthsahib also contained
writings of other figures like Baba
Farid, Sant Kabir, Namdev, Pipa,
Dhanna etc.
Guru Arjan
 Guru Gobind Singh
• He was the 10th & last Guru.
• In 1706, he authenticated the compilation of
Guru Granth Sahib.
• The town of Ramdaspur (Amritsar) had
developed around the central Gurdwara
called Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple) by
the beginning of the 17th century.
• Established Sikh state & military power when
Ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed by
Aurangzeb.
• It was almost self-governing and also
referred as ‘a state within the state’
community. Guru Gobind Singh
 Guru Gobind Singh
• Guru Nanak followers believed in collective/ common identity
• So they turned into community
• Further this Sikh community gained power & evolved into a state
• This led to power struggle with Mughal power
• Guru Govind Singh organized Sikh people & formed Khalsa
• This Khalsa had military character
• Introduced Kesh, Kangha, Kara, Kachera & Kripan
• Strategic location, Fertile & trade route and lastly rebel princes got
asylum here- these were the reason for struggle between Mughals
& Sikh community.
Five K’s in Sikh Religion
 Prelims Question
Who among the following was born into a Rathore royal family of Rajasthan
and was a 16th-century Hindu mystic poet and devotee of Krishna?
A. Ramananda
B. Mirabai
C. Tukaram
D. Kabir

Ans: B
 Prelims Question
Which ascetics of the Yoga school of Hindu philosophy influenced the
Ramananda?
A. Kabir panthi
B. Krishna Cult
C. Nathpanthi
D. None of the above

Ans: C
 Prelims Question
Who among the following was the reformer and philosopher from Ramanandi
Sampradaya in the lineage of Jagadguru Ramanandacharya renowned for his
devotion to the Lord Shri Rama?
A. Ramananda
B. Tukaram
C. Valmiki
D. Tulsidas

Ans: D
 Prelims Question
Which Bhakti Saints writings influenced Hinduism's Bhakti movement and his
verses are found in Sikhism's scripture Adi Granth?
A. Ramananda
B. Kabir
C. Mirabai
D. Tukaram

Ans: B
 Prelims Question
Which Bhakti Saints venerated in Sikhism, as well as Hindu warrior-ascetic
traditions such as the Dadupanthis and the Niranjani Sampraday that emerged
in north India during the Islamic rule?
A. Ramananda
B. Eknath
C. Mirabai
D. Namdeva

Ans: D
 Prelims Question
Which is the correct chronological order?
A: Kabir-Nanak-Chaitanya-Tulsidas
B: Kabir-Chaitanya-Nanak-Tulsidas
C: Nanak-Chaitanya-Kabir-Tulsidas
D: Nanak-Tulsidas-Chaitanya-Kabir

Answer: A
 Prelims Question
Ramcharitmanas was written by Tulsidas during which reign?
A: Babar
B: Akbar
C: Jahangir
D: Humayun

Answer: A
 Prelims Question
‘Advaita’ is a philosophy of –
A: Shankaracharya
B: Ramanuja
C: Vasumitra
D: Kabir

Answer: A
 Prelims Question
Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below
List-I (Bhakti Saint) List-II (Profession)
A. Namdev 1. Barber
B. Kabir 2. Weaver
C. Ravidas 3. Tailor
D. Sena 4. Cobbler
Codes:
(a) A – 2; B – 3; C – 1; D – 4
(b) A – 3; B – 2; C – 4; D – 1 Ans: B
(c) A – 3; B – 2; C – 1; D – 4
(d) A – 2; B – 3; C – 4; D – 1
 Prelims Question
Who among the following was the first Bhakti saint to use Hindi for the
propagation of his message?
(a) Dadu (b) Kabir
(c) Ramananda (d) Tulsidas

Ans: C
 Prelims Question
Consider the following Bhakti Saints: [2013 - I]
1. Dadu Dayal
2. Guru Nanak
3. Tyagaraja
Who among the above was/were preaching when the Lodi dynasty fell and
Babur took over?
(a) 1 and 3 (b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 (d) 1 and 2

Ans: D
 Mains Question
1. What were the elements behind the genesis of Bhakti Movement?
What was the difference in the North & South Indian Bhakti
Movement?
2. Factor behind the rise of mystic movement in the Islam? What was
the basic philosophy of Sufism?
3. Role of bhakti saints in the social reform process? Were they
succeeded?
4. What were the characteristics of Bhakti & sufi movement? What was
their role in create a harmony between Hindu & Muslim community?
5. Role of women in the Bhakti movement?
6. Was Bhakti Movement a revival movement in North India In the 14th
century?
Only IAS Nothing Else