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6 BHAKTI SUFI TRADITION

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (3 MARKS)

1: What do you mean by Hagiography?

● Hagiography means biographies of saints or religious preachers. ● The Historians collect
information from the hagiographies written by the followers to reconstruct the history of the rise of
religion or sect. ● For example, Munis al Arwah of Jahanara on Sheikh Muinddin Chisti.
2: What are the two main processes that worked for the integration of cults during 8 to 18th
century?
● There were at least two processes that worked for the integration of cults.
● Spreading of Brahmanical ideas: - As a result Puranas, Vedas, Ramayana & Mahabharata like
Brahmanical texts were compiled & composed in simple Sanskrit verses by which the lower class
people & women got an access to it.
● Besides, the Brahmans accepted and reworked on the beliefs, practices and traditions of other
social categories. For example, growth of Jagannath cult.
3: What do you mean by Great & Little Traditions?
● Great & little traditions were coined by a sociologist named Robert Redfield who described the
cultural practices of peasant societies.
● Rituals & customs which came from dominant social categories were classified as Great
Traditions.
For e.g. The Brahmanical texts like Puranas, Epics were composed, compiled in simple Sanskrit
verses by which the common men & women got an excess to the Vedic literature.
● Similarly, peasants also followed practices that did not necessarily correspond with great
tradition.
● The Brahmins also accepted & reworked beliefs & practices of other social categories termed as
little traditions, for e.g. Lord Jaganath .
● Likewise, many of the traditions emerged during that period were due to the integration of
various cultures.
Q4: What do you mean by Tantricism? **
● Tantrik practices were wide spread in several parts of the country like Bengal, North Eastern
states which were open to both men & women.
● It was a form of practice in which varieties of Goddess were worshipped ignoring difference of
caste & class within the ritual context.
● The practitioners used to cure varieties of diseases as well as so miracle power through magic
charms and spells.
● Those who engaged in tantric practices frequently ignored the authority of the Vedas.
Q5. Discuss the main Characteristics of Bhaktism:
● Bhakti means the sense of devotion & dedication to the God.
● The Bhakti movement was a movement against the methods of worship.
● The movement was generally monotheistic whether it is formless God or a God with a form.
● Both Sagun & Nirgun Bhakti rely on the philosophy of Upanishads.
● The saints of south & North India have considered gyan or knowledge as the necessary tool to
Bhakti.
● The Bhakti movement was a egalitarian movement. The differences of caste & creed were
opposed by this movement.
● The movement protested against the superiority of priests & Brahmins.
● The saints of Bhakti movement preached on the language of the local people.
● The movement widely influenced the Indian peninsula & developed a sense of brotherhood &
unity among the people.
Q.How did local customs and practices influenced Islam? Give two examples. **
● The local customs and practices influenced Islam a lot in India.
● The Khojahs, a branch of the Ismails( shi’a sect) developed the modes of communication
through indigenous & literary genres. These included the ginan(knowledge), devotional poems in
Punjabi, Multani, Sindhi, Hindi, Gujrati, & songs in especial ragas during daily prayer meetings.
● The Arab Muslim trader who settled in Kerala adopted local language Malayalam & adopted
local customs like matriliny and matrilocal residence.
● Similarly Moplah peasants in Kerala practiced three times namaz instead of five times. : How
was Islamic architecture influenced with local traditions? *
● Local traditions also highly influenced Islamic architecture in different parts of India. It is
perhaps best exemplified in architecture of mosques.
Q. ● The shah Hamadan mosque in Srinagar is one of the best examples of Kashmiri wooden
architecture where one cannot find the typical tombs & minarets. Similarly, a mosque in Kerala
built in 13th century has Shikhara like roofs. Atiya mosque in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh
was built with brick.
● However mihrab and minbar were constructed with universal pattern and orientation was
towards Mecca.
13: Who were Mlechhas?
● Mlechhas were those people who did not observe the norms of caste, society & spoke
languages that were not originated from Sanskrit.
● Sometimes, the term was used as a derogatory connotation.
● During medieval period it was generally used for various migrant communities like Arabs.
14: Differentiate between Besharia & Ba-sharia sufis. ***
● Be-sharias were those people who deliberately defied sharia. For e.g.- Kalandars, Madaris,
Haidaris and Malangs . Whereas Ba- sharia accepted sharia
● Be-sharias ignored rituals & observed extreme forms of asceticism. But Ba-sharias accepted
Islamic principles as it is.
● Some Be-sharia mystics initiated movements based on a radical interpretation of Sufi ideals.
Many scorned the khanqah and took to mendicancy and observed celibacy. But Ba-sharia sufis
compiled with it.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (8 MARKS)

1: Discuss the attitude of Alvars and Nayanars towards the caste system & women. ***
● The followers of Alvars and Nayanars were against the caste system & dominance of Brahmins.
● The followers were from diverse social groups like from artisans, cultivators & other folks of life.
● They discarded the authoritarian approach of the Vedas & composed Nalayira Divya
prabandhan
(compositions of 12 Alvars), the Tamil Veda.
● The saints like Appar, a Nayanara saint discarded gotra & Kula and advised to go to Marperu
(abode
of Lord Shiva).
● Both Alvars and Nayanars had much respect towards women. They were given equal position
along
with men. For e.g. Andal a woman Alvar composed poems which are sung till date. Her verses
expressed her
love for the deity Vishnu.
● Similarly Karaikal Ammaiyar, a devotee of Shiva adopted the path of extreme asceticism. Her
compositions were preserved with Nayanara traditions.
● This movement renounced their social obligations & their compositions posed a challenge to
patriarchal norms.
2: Discuss the relations of Alvars and Nayanars with the state. **
● Both Alvars and Nayanars were rewarded by the common people as well as Kings.
● The rulers tried to win their support as they had enjoyed the support of the mass.
● The Chola Kings constructed huge temples which were adorned with stone & metal sculpture of
popular saints to proclaim divine support.
● The kings also introduced the singing to Tamil Shaiva hymns in the temples under royal
patronages & complied them into Tevaram or text.
● The Chola Kings like Parantak I had developed metal images of Appar, sambandar & Sundarar
in Shiva temple.
● these images were carried in processions during the festivals of the saints.
● Besides the Chola Kings like Rajaraja the Great constructed Brihadeshwar temple at Tanjavur.
● During this period some of the most spectacular bronze sculptures of shiva as Natraj were
produced by the artists and got royal patronages too.
● Above all the saints were also interested to get the royal support in order to compete with other
sects like Buddhism and Jainism.
3: Who founded Virshaiva tradition in Karnataka? Write a note on the believes & practices.
***
● Basavana was the founder of virshaiva tradition in Karnataka.
● In the 12th century, he launched this powerful movement in Karnataka whose followers were
known as virshaiva or heroes of Shiva or Lingayat, the wearers of Linga.
● The followers worship shiva in his manifestation as Linga & generally wear a small Linga in a
silver case on the left shoulder.
● The lingayats believes that on death, the devotee will be united with shiva & free from cycle of
rebirth. so they do not practice funerary rights such as cremation. Rather they ceremonially burry
the dead.
● They challenged the idea of caste & pollution practised in the Hindu society.
● They questioned the theory of rebirth & supported post puberty of marriage & remarriage of
widows.
● Vasavana, through Bachanas attacked the evils of the society, one of his famous Bachana
highlighted rituals & the real world by citing examples of a serpent curved in stone or metal and a
real serpent.
● Among the Lingayats, those who are most revered were called Jangama or wondering monks.
● Bachanas were the sayings of Basavanna , Allama Prabhu, Akka Mahadevi, Siddharama,
Channabasavanna, Siddalinga, Chamarasa, Somanatha and other Gurus.
4. What is meant by Khanqah? Write a note on the life in a Chishti Khanqahs.
● Khanqahs were the hospice (holy place) of Sufi saints. It was the centre of social life too.
● It comprised several small rooms and a big hall called a Jama-at-Khana.
● A sufi saint was living along with his family members, attendants & murids. Life in chishti
Khanqahs –
● Chishti were the most prominent & influenced Sufi silsilas in India.
● They successfully adapted to the local environment & composed their writings in local languages
too.
● Shaikh Mainuddin chishti of Ajmer or Nijamuddin Aluia of Delhi had their hospice in Ajmer &
Delhi respectively.
● Nizamuddin’s hospice was comprised of several small rooms and a big hall.
● The shaikh along with his family members’ attendants & disciples were living in the hospice.
● The shaikh was living in a small room on the roof of the Jamat-at-Khana. There he was shower
blessings to the visitors during morning & evening.
● A verandah surrounded the courtyard and a boundary wall ran around the hospice.
● There was an open kitchen run on futuh. From morning till late night People from all walks of
life - soldiers , saints, poets, travellers , rich & poor ,Hindu Yogis & Kalandars came to the shaikh
for his blessings or for healing power or for discipleship of the shaikh.
● Sometimes in fear of invasion people were taking shelter inside the Khanqahs too. ● Various
practices were also adopted inside the Khanqah like bowing before the shaikh or kissing his feet,
offering water to visitors, shaving the heads of initiates, yogic exercises etc were performed
regularly.
● After the death of the shaikh, tombs were constructed near the hospice called s darghas. People
were arranging pilgrims called ziyarat to the tombs of Sufi saints to get spiritual grace or barakat.
Also part of Ziyarat is the use of music & dance including mystical chants performed by Qawwals
to evoke divine ecstasy. Sufis remember God either by reciting the Zikr or evoking His presence
through sama.
5. Discuss the teachings of Guru Nanak. **
● GURU NANAK is not the sole monopoly of the Sikhs nor of India alone. He belongs to all
mankind.
● He bore witness to the glory of one God, one brotherhood, one law, the law of human fellowship
and love. He came to reconcile all religions and all faiths.
● He came to harmonise all the scriptures of the world.
● He came to announce the ancient truth in the common man's language, the one wisdom that is
so eloquent in the teachings of all the prophets, the apostles, the sages and the seers; and to
show that one flame of love shone in all the temples and shrines and sacraments of man.
● The love of God and the love of man were the very core of the message of Guru Nanak. We
need to learn to serve the poor gently, quietly, unostentatiously, and to have reverence for all the
saints of the past.
● The true saints, as a rule, have no quarrel with anybody. They talk gently and work quietly in the
service of God and man.
● He went about preaching in the name of God, asking nothing for himself, but anxious only to
serve the people and save them from degradation and downright damnation.
● There is no caste," said the Guru, "for we claim brotherhood with all." Each one of his followers
was lovingly addressed as a Bhai or a brother. All are "Bhais" (brethren), whether kings or slaves,
the rich or the poor. "No caste and creed counts in the court of the Lord.
● He who worships Him is dear unto Him, To reach God, teaches Guru Nanak, one must walk the
way of love. Love God alone, and if you love others--your children and friends and relatives, love
them for His sake. Yearn for Him. Develop within you an intense longing for Him. And when you
feel restless for Him, know that it will not be long before He will reveal Himself to you.
● Guru Nanak was a true mystic, in communion with God, and perceiving His all-pervading
munificent grace. He exclaimed "Nanak sees the Lord in all His glory." Intoxicated with the love of
the Lord, he remained in a state of perpetual ecstasy.
● It is in vain that the people look for the Guru in a tomb or on the cremation ground. The Living
Guru is ever in the hearts of those who keep the flowers of faith and love fresh and fragrant. He
came for all. He lived for all. His teachings remain for all.
● Nanak was the prophet of peace and good will, harmony and unity. He was the prophet of Light
and gave Light to all for seventy long years (1469-1539). His work of loving service to humankind,
as manifestation of the Unmanifest, was carried on vigorously by his successors.
● Guru Arjan, the fifth in the line of succession to Nanak, compiled the sayings of the Gurus in the
Holy Granth, the Bible of the Sikhs; including therein the sayings of several other saints of other
religions as well as could easily be collected for the purpose.
● Thus in the holy book, he laid the foundation of a great banquet hall and offered there-in choice
and dainty dishes of divine wisdom coming down through the ages.
Q.Describe the teachings of Kabir.
Kabir created a spirit of harmony between the Hindus and Muslims. His early life is shrouded in
mystery. He lived either towards the close of the fourteen century A.D. or in the beginning of the
15th. He became disciple of Ramananda. He did not leave his home. He was a pious householder
and used to earn his livelihood by weaving clothes.
His Teachings: The central teachings of Kabir are very simple.
● He laid stress on 'Bhakti'.
● He said that through Bhakti or devotion one would come nearer to God; one could be released
from the cycle of birth and death only by sincere love and devotion to God, which he called Bhakti.
● He sincerely tried to emphasise the unity of Islam and Hinduism by preaching those virtues
which were common to both religions.
● He made no distinction between Hindus and Muslims.
● To Kabir Allah and Rama were but different names of the same supreme being. To him Hindus
and Muslims were "pots of the same clay".
● According to Kabir salvation could be attained by doing good deeds or by means of Bhakti or
sincere devotion to God.
● Against Idol Worship : He did not believe in idol worship. He was also against the performance
of rituals and superstitions or pilgrimage to the so called holy places.
● Against the Caste System : Kabir denounced the caste system. He said that there should be no
discrimination on the basis of caste. He rejected the authority of both the Veda and the Koran. He
laid great emphasis on the equality of a men. He preached a religion of love which aimed at
promoting unity amongst all castes and creeds. He was full of humility and the first saint to
reconcile Hinduism and Islam. Kabir's teachings are contained in his Dohas. The devotional songs
or 'bhajans' of Kabir called Kabir Doha. Those Dohas are in the form of short poems in the Bijaka,
sacred book of the Kabir Panthis, the followers of Kabir.
● Kabir was a firm believer in the unity of God. He preached his teachings among the people in
Hindi. His devotional bhajans or Dohas appealed most to the common men, Hindus as well
Muslims.
● The message and the teachings of Kabir can be easily gathered from his 'Dohas1, which
criticise rituals and superstitions. Kabir said : "If by worshipping stones one can find God, I shall
worship a mountain."
● If by immersion in the water salvation be attained, the frogs who bathe continually would attain it.
As the frogs, so are these men, again and again fall into the womb".