Bhakti Movement

The development of Bhakti movement took place in Tamil Nadu between the seventh and twelfth
centuries. It was reflected in the emotional poems of the Nayanars (devotees of Shiva) and Alvars
(devotees of Vishnu). These saints looked upon religion not as a cold formal worship but as a loving
bond based upon love between the worshipped and worshipper.
Originally began in South India in the 9th century and spread over all parts of India and by the 16 th
century.

FEATURES OF BHAKTI MOVEMENT

1. Unity of God or one God though known by different names.
2. Condemnation of rituals, ceremonies, and blind faith.
3. Rejection of idol worship.
4. Surrender of oneself to God.
5. Emphasized both Nirguna and Saguna bhakti.
6. Salvation through Bhakti.
7. Open-mindedness about religious matters.
8. Rejected castes distinctions & believed in equality of all humans.
9. Rebelled against the upper caste’s domination and the Sanskrit language.
10. Use of local or regional languages for Preaching.
11. Creation of literature in local language.

Reasons that led to the rise of Bhakti movement:

1. Evils in the Hindu Society: Hindu society was full of many social anomalies like rigidity of caste
system, irrelevant rituals and religious practices, blind faiths and social dogmas. Common men in
general had developed an averse attitude towards these social evils and were in need of a liberal
form of religion where they could identify themselves with simple religious practices.
2. Complexity of religion: The high philosophy of the Vedas and Upanishads were very
complicated for the common people. They wanted a simple way of worship, simple religious
practices and simple social customs. Alternative was Bhakti marga—a simple way of devotion to
get salvation from worldly life.
3. Role of Religious Reformers: The chief exponents of the movement were Shankara, Ramanuja,
Kabir, Nanak, Shri Chaitanya, Mirabai, Ramananda, Namdev, Nimbarka, Madhava, Eknath,
Surdas, Tulsidas, Tukaram, Vallabhacharya and Chandidas. They were the propounders of Bhakti
movement and gave a call to the people to worship in the simplest possible way of devotion and
love.
4. Challenge from Rival Religion: the impact of the Muslim rule and Islam put dread in the heart of
Hindu masses. The Hindus had suffered a lot under some of the fanatic rulers. They wanted
some solace to heal their despairing hearts.
5. Influence of Sufism: The Sufi saints of the Muslim community also inspired the movement.
Some similar chords in the two evoked resonance.
Impact of Bhakti movement:
1. The Bhakti exponents raised their powerful voice against different types of immoral acts like
infanticide and sati and encouraged prohibition of wine, tobacco and toddy. Adultery and
sodomy were also discouraged. They aimed to set up a good social order upholding high moral
values.
2. Another remarkable impact was bringing about a unity among the Hindu and Muslim
communities. The movement tried to reduce the growing bitterness between the two and
bridge the gap. The saints of Bhakti movement and the Sufi saints spread message of friendship,
amity, tolerance, peace, and equality among all.
3. The method of worship and belief in God took a new turn during the movement. Henceforth,
importance was given to devotion and love for God who is the God of all-God of both Hindus as
well as Muslims. Bhakti or devotion for the Almighty was the central theme of this movement.
4. The spirit of tolerance, harmony and mutual respect which was inaugurated by the Bhakti saints
had another everlasting impact – the emergence of a new cult of Satyapir. It started under the
initiative of King Husain Shah of Jaunpur which later paved the way for the spirit of liberalism
adopted by Akbar.
5. The Bhakti movement promoted the growth of vernacular language and literature in different
parts of the country. Kabir Nanak and Chaitanya preached in their respective vernacular tongues
– Kabir in Hindi, Nanak in Gurmukhi and chaitanya in Bengali.

Conclusion
With such long-lasting impacts, the religious depression of the medieval society was set aside. The
teachings acted as a healing balm to the suppressed classes. A deep-rooted change came about to lay
the foundations of a liberal and composite Indian society.

Sufi Movement
In the early centuries of Islam in around 12Ad, a group of religious minded people in Persia
called Sufis turned to asceticism and mysticism in protest against the increasing materialism of the
Caliphate as a religious and political institution.
 Sufism is a mystical form of Islam, a school of practice that focuses on the spiritual search for
God and shuns materialism.
 In India, Sufi movement began in 1300 A.D & came to South India in 15th century.
 The term ‘Sufi’ is probably derived from the Arabic ‘suf’ word which means ‘one who wears
wool’. This is because woolen clothes were generally associated with ascetics.
 There is a lot of emphasis on love and devotion towards God.

Features of Sufi Movement

1. Sufism derives its inspiration from Islam.
2. The Sufis rejected the elaborate rituals and codes of behaviour demanded by Muslim religious
scholars.
 3. Sufism stressed on Love & devotion as an effective & only mean of realization of God & attaining
salvation.
4. According to Sufism, Love of God meant love of humanity, They believed service to humanity is
tantamount to service to God.
5. Sufism emphasized upon leading a simple life. Sufi saints preached in Arabic, Persian and Urdu
etc.
6. Self-discipline was key to gain knowledge of God by perception.
7. The Sufis often rejected the elaborate rituals and codes of behaviour demanded by Muslim
religious scholars.
8. Sufism discards caste system.
9. The Sufis were divided into 12 orders each under a mystic Sufi saint like Khwaja Moinuddin
Chisthi, Fariuddin Ganj-i-Shakar, Nizam-ud-din Auliya etc.

There were two broad Sufi orders:

1. Bashara – Those who obeyed Islamic laws.
2. Beshara – Those who were more liberal.

Influences
1. Unity: Sufism played a key role in bringing the Hindu and Muslim communities together.
2. Religious Tolerance : It brought tolerance of religion to the mindset of the people and the rulers.
3. Bhakti Movement : It led to the popularity of the Bhakti Movement.
4. Liberal Ideas: It had a liberalizing effect on the state policy of many Indian rulers.
5. Egalitarian society : Sufism discards caste system and believes in the concept of equality and
brotherhood.

Bhakti Movement Sufi Movement

The movement largely influenced Hindus It was followed mainly by Muslims

The Saints of the Bhakti Movement sang Bhajans to Sufi Saints sang Qawwalis – a form of music to inspire
worship Gods and Goddesses religious devotion

The Bhakti movement has its origination in eighth- The Origins of Sufism can be traced to the early days of
century South India Islam in seventh-century Arabian Peninsula

The Bhakti Movement is regarded by scholars as an It has been misunderstood as another sect of Islam, but it
influential social revival and reformation movement is a religious order for any Islamic denomination
in Hinduism

From its point of origins in South India, the Bhakti It spans many continents and cultures.
movement swept over East and North India from the
15th century onwards

The Bhakti Movement shared direct emotional and Sufism laid emphasized on simplicity and austerity, which
intellection of the divine. found many adherents due to the worldliness of medieval
empires and kingdoms

Kabir Das, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Nanak, Hasan of Basra, Amir Khusrau, Moinuddin Chishti
Meerabai,