Medieval Chapters

1. Early Medieval Period2. North India (Rajputana Period)3. South India (Cholas and Others)4. Sultanate Period I5. The Delhi Sultanate II6. Vijayanagar and Other Kingdoms7. Religious Movements (Medieval)8. Bhakti Movement9. Sufi Movement10. Mughal Period11. Maratha State and Maratha Confederacy12. The Advent of the Europeans

Religious Movements (Medieval Period)

The Bhakti and Sufi movements emerged in medieval India to reform religious practices and promote spiritual equality, love, and devotion.

Bhakti Movement

  • Started between 7th to 8th century CE in South India (Tamil Nadu).
  • Popularized by Alvars (Vishnu devotees) and Nayanars (Shiva devotees).
  • Spread to North India between 12th to 17th century CE.
  • Main philosophy: devotion (bhakti) to a personal god as the path to salvation.
  • Rejected caste system and ritualistic practices.

Major Bhakti Saints and their Teachings

  • Ramanuja – Advocate of Vishishtadvaita philosophy.
  • Kabir – Criticized both Hinduism and Islam; promoted a formless God.
  • Ravidas – Stressed on equality and humanity.
  • Meera Bai – Devotee of Lord Krishna; composed devotional poems in Rajasthani.
  • Guru Nanak – Founder of Sikhism; emphasized Nam Japna, Kirat Karni, Vand Chakna.
  • Chaitanya Mahaprabhu – Promoted Krishna Bhakti in Bengal.

Sufi Movement

  • Islamic mystical movement emphasizing love, devotion, and union with God.
  • Originated in Persia and spread to India by 11th century.
  • Focused on tolerance, brotherhood, simplicity, and inner purity.
  • Sufis lived in Khanqahs (hospices).
  • Rejected rigidity of orthodox Islam.

Major Sufi Saints and Orders

  • Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti – Founder of Chishti order in India (Ajmer Dargah).
  • Nizamuddin Auliya – Prominent saint of Delhi; spread message of love.
  • Sheikh Salim Chishti – Akbar’s spiritual advisor.
  • Bahauddin Zakariya – Suhrawardi order.
  • Shah Waliullah – Islamic scholar and reformer in 18th century.

Bhakti vs Sufi Movements

Aspect Bhakti Movement Sufi Movement
Religion Hinduism Islam
Goal Moksha through devotion Union with God through love
Method Bhajans, poetry, prayers Zikr, Qawwali, meditation
Rejects Caste, rituals Orthodox Sharia, materialism
Institutions Temples, ashrams Khanqahs (hospices)

Impact of the Religious Movements

  • Promoted communal harmony and religious tolerance.
  • Challenged caste system and social hierarchies.
  • Enriched Indian literature, music, and art.
  • Prepared ground for reformist movements like Sikhism and Bhakti-Sufi synthesis.

Previous Year Questions with Answers

  • SSC CGL 2021: Who founded the Chishti Sufi order in India?
  • → Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti
  • HSSC 2022: Meera Bai was a devotee of which deity?
  • → Lord Krishna
  • RRB NTPC 2020: Guru Nanak gave how many teachings?
  • → Three core teachings
  • SSC CHSL 2019: What was the main objective of Bhakti Movement?
  • → Devotion to God irrespective of caste
  • UPSC Prelims 2018: Which Bhakti saint believed in Nirguna Bhakti?
  • → Kabir
  • SSC GD 2020: What is Zikr in Sufi tradition?
  • → Repetition of God’s name
  • RRB JE 2019: Chaitanya Mahaprabhu spread the Bhakti movement in?
  • → Bengal
  • SSC MTS 2022: Nizamuddin Auliya was associated with which order?
  • → Chishti Order
  • SSC CPO 2021: Ravidas belonged to which social group?
  • → Dalit/Untouchable community
  • HSSC JE 2021: What did Bhakti saints oppose?
  • → Idol worship, caste, rituals
Note: The synthesis of Bhakti and Sufi movements promoted a secular and humanist outlook in Indian society, which is still relevant today.

Conclusion

The Bhakti and Sufi movements reshaped medieval Indian society by promoting unity, simplicity, and love for the divine. Their inclusive ideologies challenged orthodoxy and strengthened the cultural roots of India.

StartPreparation