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The Bhakti Movement: A Comprehensive Overview

1. Origins, Nature, and Common Features

• Founders: Started by the Alwar (Alvar) Saints.
• Time of Origin: Began in the 8th century in the Dravida region (South India).
• Revival: Reborn and gained prominence in North India during the 15th -16th century AD.
• Context: Started as a challenge to Buddhism and spread in the North during a period of Islamic rule.
• Practice: Main spiritual practice is loving devotion (Bhakti) to a personal god.
• Sects: Early proponents included the Shaiva Nayanars and Vaishnava Alvars.
• Language: Saints composed verses in local languages (e.g., Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi), which helped develop these languages.
• Social Message: Promoted ideas against caste discrimination.
• Shared Philosophy: A common belief between Buddha and Mirabai was that “the world is full of sorrow.”

2. Key Saints and Their Contributions

• Ramananda
  • First Bhakti saint to use Hindi for propagation.
  • Dictum: “Let no man ask a man’s sect or caste.”
  • Accepted disciples from all backgrounds.
  • Teacher of Kabir.
• Kabir
  • Disciple of Ramananda.
  • Was a weaver by profession.
  • Composed ‘Bijak’ (sacred text for Kabirpanthis), ‘Amarmul’, ‘Sakhi’, ‘Sabad’, and ‘Ramaini’.
• Guru Nanak
  • Born in Nankana Sahib (now in Pakistan) in 1469.
  • Founded Sikhism during the reign of Sikandar Lodi (1489-1517).
  • Taught that God does not recognize caste.
  • Started the communal kitchen ‘Guru Ka Langar’.
• Mirabai
  • A Rajput princess from Merta, Rajasthan.
  • Married Rajkumar Bhojraj, son of Rana Sanga of Udaipur.
  • Author of ‘Rag-Govind’.
  • Contemporary of Tulsidas, Guru Nanak, and Chaitanya.
• Namdev
  • A Bhakti saint from Maharashtra (1270-1350 AD).
  • Highly influential saint of the Varkari Sect.
  • Was a tailor by profession.
  • Initiated by Vishobha Khechar; traveled with saint Gyaneshwar.
  • Influenced by Islam; spoke against idol worship.
  • Some compositions are in the Guru Granth Sahib.
• Shankaradeva
  • Popularized Vaishnavism in Assam and Cooch Behar.
  • Founded the Ekasarana sect which opposed idolatry and rituals.
• Tukaram
  • Prominent Bhakti saint; contemporary of Mughal emperor Jahangir (lived 1608-1649).
• Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
  • Related to the Vaishnava sect.
  • A devotee of Krishna who preached in Vrindavan.
• Other Saints:
  • Dadu Dayal: Lived between 1544 and 1603 AD.
  • Ravidas: Was a cobbler by profession.
  • Sena: Was a barber by profession.
  • Malukdas: A saint-poet from Kada (Kaushambi).
  • Ghasidas: A saint from Chhattisgarh; his father’s name was Mahangu.
  • Tyagaraja & Vallabhacharya: Proponents of the Bhakti cult.
  • Nagarjuna: Was not a proponent (Buddhist philosopher).

3. Philosophical Schools of Vedanta

• Advaita Vedanta (Non-dualism): Propounded by Shankaracharya (8th century CE).
• Vishishtadvaita (Qualified Non-dualism): Propounded by Ramanujacharya. His followers are called Vaishnava.
• Dvaita (Dualism): Propounded by Madhvacharya.
• Shuddha Advaita (Pure Non-dualism): Propounded by Vallabhacharya (born in Champaranya). Founder of the Krishna-focused Pushti Marg sect.
• Dvaitadvaita (Dualistic Non-dualism): Propounded by Nimbarkacharya (a Vaishnava philosopher dated to 11th or 12th century).

4. Chronology of Key Figures

• Correct Order (Philosophers): Shankaracharya (8th Century) -> Ramanuja (1017-1137 AD) -> Chaitanya (1486-1534 AD)
• Correct Order (Saints):
  • Kabir (1398-1518) -> Guru Nanak (1469-1539) -> Chaitanya (1486-1534) -> Mirabai (1498-1557)
  • Namdev (1270-1350) -> Kabir (1398-1518) -> Guru Nanak (1469-1539) -> Mirabai (1498-1557)

Sufism in Medieval India

1. Major Sufi Orders (Silsilas)

• Chishti Order
  • Originally established in Chisht, Afghanistan by Ishaq Shami and Khwaja Abdal Chishti.
  • Introduced to India by Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti (arrived with Muhammad Ghori’s army in 1192 AD).
  • Settled in Ajmer; died in 1236 AD. Spiritual teacher was Khwaja Usman Haruni.
  • Believed devotional music (Sama) was a way to come close to God.
  • Silsila (Chain): Khwaja Muinuddin -> Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki (Delhi) -> Baba Farid (Ajodhan) -> Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya (Delhi).
• Suhrawardi Order: Introduced in India by Shaikh Bahauddin Zakaria. Main centers in Sindh and Multan.
• Naqshbandi Order: The most orthodox order. Strictly followed Shariat and against the use of music. Prominent saint: Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi (Mujaddid).
• Qadiri Order: First introduced in India by Shaikh Niamatullah and Makhdum Muhammad Jilani. Dara Shukoh was a famous follower.
• Firdausi Order: Active mainly in Bihar.
• Shattari Order: Prominent saint Shah Muhammad Ghaus regarded Lord Krishna as a mentor.

2. Key Sufi Saints & Details

• Baba Farid (Fariduddin Ganj-i-Shakar): His compositions are included in the Guru Granth Sahib.
• Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya:
  • Most reputed disciple of Baba Farid.
  • Lived during the reigns of seven Sultans but never visited their courts.
  • Refused an audience with Sultan Alauddin Khalji.
  • Known as ‘Mehboob-e-Ilahi’ (Beloved of God).
  • Conversations compiled by Amir Hassan Sizzi in ‘Fawaidul Fawad’.
• Shaikh Salim Chishti:
  • Lived in Fatehpur Sikri.
  • Given the title ‘Shaikh-ul-Hind’.
  • Contemporary of Akbar; Jahangir’s birth attributed to his blessings.
• Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi: A Naqshbandi saint, contemporary of Akbar and Jahangir (born after Kabir).
• Amir Khusrau: A famous poet and disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya; not associated with the Bhakti Movement.
• Amir Hasan-i-Dehlavi: Disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya; known as the ‘Sadi of India’.

3. Sufi Practices & Terminology

• Khanqah: A hospice or monastery where Sufis lived.
• Sama: A spiritual musical assembly (favored by Chishtis, opposed by Naqshbandis).
• Shaikh: A master or teacher in Sufism.
• Ulema: Islamic scholars well-versed in law; not directly related to Sufism.
• Pursuits: Meditation, breath control, ascetic exercises, recitation of songs to achieve ecstasy, and promoting communal harmony.

4. Historical Interactions

• The first Maratha chieftain to offer a gift at Khwaja Muinuddin’s dargah was Raja Sahu, grandson of Shivaji.

Sikhism

• The Gurmukhi script was developed and popularized by Guru Angad, the second Sikh Guru.
• The Sikh holy book, Guru Granth Sahib, is written in Gurmukhi and includes compositions from Bhakti and Sufi saints.

Hinduism

Jyotirlingas

• There are 12 Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva:
  1. Somnath (Gujarat)
  2. Kedarnath (Uttarakhand)
  3. Vishwanath (Varanasi, UP)
  4. Vaidyanath (Parali, Maharashtra)
  5. Mahabaleshwar (Ujjain, MP)
  6. Omkareshwar (Mandhata Island, MP)
  7. Nageshwara (Near Dwarka, Gujarat)
  8. Trimbakeshwar (Near Nasik, Maharashtra)
  9. Grishneshwar (Near Aurangabad, Maharashtra)
  10. Bhimashankar (Near Pune, Maharashtra)
  11. Mallikarjuna (Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh)
  12. Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu)

Sects & Movements

• Varkari Sect: Main seat (Peeth) is in Pandharpur, Maharashtra. They worship Vitthal (a form of Krishna).

Literature

• ‘Bhaktamal’: Written by Nabhadas.
• ‘Rasik Priya’: Written by Keshavdas (not Raskhan).
• ‘Ramcharitmanas’: Written by Tulsidas in Awadhi.
• Tulsidas also wrote ‘Gitavali’, ‘Kavitavali’, and ‘Vinay Patrika’.
• ‘Sahitya Ratna’: Written by Surdas (not Tulsidas).
• ‘Prem Vatika’ & ‘Sujan Raskhan’: Written by Raskhan.
• ‘Padmavat’ & ‘Barahmasa’: Written by Malik Muhammad Jayasi.

Christianity

• Jesus Christ: Born in Bethlehem in the 4th century BC.
• Saint Francis of Assisi: Famous for his love of animals and birds.
• Easter: Celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• Good Friday: Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Miscellaneous

• Haji Waris Ali Shah: A famous Sufi saint; an annual fair is held at his tomb in Dewa Sharif (near Barabanki, UP).
• Historical Context:
  • Guru Nanak was preaching when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur took over (1526).
  • Tulsidas was a contemporary of Mughal emperors Akbar and Jahangir.

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