The Idea of a Supreme God
Before the emergence of large kingdoms, people were not only free
to worship their gods and goddesses but were also brought together
through the growth of towns, trade, and empires and also shared
new ideas. The idea that all living things pass through countless
cycles of birth and rebirth performing good deeds and bad came to
be widely accepted. Besides that, the idea that all human beings are
not equal even at birth gained ground during this period. People had
believed that social privileges came with a child who was born in a
noble family. Slowly people who were not comfortable with such
concepts turned towards new religions like Buddhism and Jainism.
Nayanars and Alvars - New Kind of Bhakti in South India.
The 7th to 9th centuries saw the emergence of new religious
movements, led by the Nayanars (saints devoted to Shiva) and
Alvars (saints devoted to Vishnu) who came from all castes including
those considered 'untouchable' like the Pulaiyar and the Panars but
critical of the Buddhists and Jainas and preached ardent love of
Shiva or Vishnu as the path to salvation.
The Nayanars and Alvars went from place to place composing
exquisite poems in praise of the deities enshrined in the villages
they visited and set them to music. Between the 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.
Philosophy and Bhakti
Shankara
Shankara, one of the most influential philosophers of India, was born
in Kerala in the 18th century. He advocates Advaita or the doctrine
of the oneness of the individual soul and the Supreme God that
declares that there is but Ultimate Reality, that the individual self
and the Brahman are one. He opines that the reality of the world is
then relative as opposed to the absolute nature of Brahman. He
considered that the world is an illusion or maya and preached
renunciation of the world and adoption of the path of knowledge to
understand the true nature of Brahman and attain salvation.
Ramanujan
In the 11th century, Ramanujan was born in Tamil Nadu. Alvars
swayed him. He stated that one could get salvation through an
intense dedication of God Vishnu.He propounded the doctrine of
Vishishtadvaita or qualified oneness in that the soul even when
united with the Supreme God remained distinct. Ramanuja's
doctrine greatly inspired the new strand of bhakti which developed
in north India subsequently.
Basavanna’s Virashaivism
The connection between the Tamil bhakti movement and temple
worship, in turn, led to a reaction that is best represented in the
Virashaiva movement initiated by Basavanna and his companions
like Allama Prabhu and Akkamahadevi. This movement began in
Karnataka in the mid-12th century. The Virashaivas argued strongly
for the equality of all human beings and against Brahmanical ideas
about caste and the treatment of women. They were also against all
forms of ritual and idol worship.
The Saints of Maharashtra
During the 13th to 17th century, Maharashtra saw several saint
poets who sang Marathi songs and inspired many people. The most
important among them were Dnyaneshwar (Gyaneshwar), Namdev,
Eknath, and Tukaram as well as women like Sakhubai and the family
of Chokhamela, who belonged to the “untouchable” Mahar caste.
These saint-poets rejected all forms of ritualism, outward display of
piety, and social differences based on birth.
Nathpanthis, Siddhas, and Yogis
A number of religious groups that emerged during this period
criticised the ritual and other aspects of conventional religion and
the social order, using simple, logical arguments. Notables among
them were the Nathpanthis, Siddhacharas, and Yogis. They
advocated renunciation of the world & which can be achieved by
intense training of the mind and body through practices like
yogasanas, breathing exercises, and meditation.
Islam and Sufism
Sufis were Muslim mystics.
They rejected outward religiosity and emphasised love and
devotion to God and compassion towards all fellow human
beings.
Muslim scholars developed a holy law called Shariat.
A large number of Sufis from Central Asia settled in Hindustan
from the 11th century onwards. This process was strengthened
with the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate when several
major Sufi centres developed all over the subcontinent.
They developed elaborate methods of training using zikr
(chanting of a name or sacred formula), contemplation,
sama(singing), raqs (dancing), discussion of parables, breath
control, etc. under the guidance of a master or pir.
New Religious Development in North India
The period after the 13th century saw a new wave of the
bhakti movement in North India.
Kabir and Baba Guru Nanak rejected all orthodox religions.
Tulsidas and Surdas accepted existing beliefs and practices but
wanted to make these accessible to all.
Tulsidas conceived of God in the form of Rama. Tulsidas's
composition, the Ramcharitmanas, written in Awadhi (a
language used in Eastern Uttar Pradesh), is important both as
an expression of his devotion and as a literary work.
Surdas was an ardent devotee of Krishna. His compositions,
compiled in the Sursagara, Surasaravali, and Sahitya Lahari,
express his devotion.
Shankaradeva of Assam (late 15th century) who emphasised
devotion to Vishnu, and composed poems and plays in
Assamese. He began the practice of setting up namghars or
houses of recitation and prayer, a practice that continues to
date.
Mirabai was a Rajput princess married into the royal family of
Mewar in the sixteenth century. Mirabai became a disciple of
Ravidas, a saint from a caste considered “untouchable”. She
was devoted to Krishna and composed innumerable bhajans
expressing her intense devotion.
Kabir
Kabir, who probably lived in the fifteenth-sixteenth centuries,
was one of the most influential saints.
He was brought up in a family of Muslim julahas or weavers
settled in or near the city of Benares (Varanasi).
Kabir believed in a formless Supreme God and preached that
the only path to salvation was through bhakti or devotion.
Kabir drew his followers from among both Hindus and Muslims.
Baba Guru Nanak (1469-1539)
Born at Talwandi (Nankana Sahib in Pakistan), he traveled
widely before establishing a centre at Kartarpur (Dera Baba
Nanak on the river Ravi).
Before his death in 1539, Baba Guru Nanak appointed one of
his followers as his successor. His name was Lehna but he
came to be known as Guru Angad, signifying that he was a part
of Baba Guru Nanak himself.
Guru Angad compiled the compositions of Baba Guru Nanak, to
which he added his own in a new script known as Gurmukhi.
By the beginning of the seventeenth century, the town of
Ramdaspur (Amritsar) had developed around the central
Gurdwara called Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple).
Class 7 Social Science History Chapter 8 -
Devotional Paths To The Divine
The Idea of a Supreme God
Before the establishment of large kingdoms, a wide range of groups
of people was devoted and worshipped their goddesses and gods. As
the towns evolved and developed, empires and trade were united,
thereby giving rise to newer and much more elaborate ideas. The
very concept of living creatures passing through endless cycles of
birth and rebirth practising bad and good deeds was approved
vastly. In this section of the chapter, students can learn in detail
about the very concept of a supreme god. This concept of Bhakti
gained peak popularity among several devotees.
A New Kind of Bhakti in South India- Nayanars and
Alvars
The 7th to 9th-century eras encountered the emergence of newer
and distinguished religious movements. These movements were
primarily led by the saints devoted to Shiva (Nayanars) and saints
devoted to Vishnu (Alvars). These individuals resided from various
castes. Even the untouchables like the Panars and the Pulaiyars
were censorious of the Jains and Buddhists. The entire subtopic
under the chapter, ‘Devotional paths to the divine’, talks about
Nayanars and Alvars.
Philosophy and Bhakti
The most popular and impactful philosopher of India, Shankara, was
born in Kerala back in the 8th century. These philosophers were the
prime advocates of The doctrine of the oneness of distinguishing
souls or the Advaita, along with the Supreme god you that is known
to be the exclusive reality. Students will learn thoroughly about the
philosophy and Bhakti among the devotees of God. This section of
the chapter talks about the mere Bhakti and philosophy of the
devotees in the 8th century and later even.
Basavanna’s Virashaivism
The connection within the temple worship and Tamil Bhakti
movement influenced a supreme reaction best displayed in the
Virashaiva movement. This movement was introduced by
Basavanna and his closest companions like Akkamahadevi and
Allama Prabhu. This movement was led in Karnataka around the mid
12th century. The Virashaivas continually argued for the basic
equality of all human beings. In brief, the movement gave
paramount importance to issues of discrimination against women or
lower castes. Students will learn everything they need to know
about the Virashaiva movement and how it took place.
The Saints of Maharashtra
Between the 13th and 17th centuries, Maharashtra encountered a
significant number of saint-poets. These poets drafted simple
Marathi songs and played a fundamental role to motivate the people
of Maharashtra. Among these poets, Dnyaneshwar, Tukaram,
Eknath, and Namdev, are a few of the most noteworthy and famous
poets. This section of the chapter tells students more about the
prominent saints of Maharashtra and their influence on inspiring the
people of the state.
Nathpanthis, Siddhas, and Yogis
Over a myriad of religious groups evolved during this century. These
religious groups condemned the ritual and other similar elements of
standard religion. The social order, moreover, was quite simple.
Several logical arguments took place between these religious
groups. Some of these religious groups that most people were
familiar with include Siddhacharas, Nathpanthis, Yogis, and other
such groups that advised renunciation of the world. This subtopic of
the chapter deals with different religious groups that made a
significant impact in this era concerning the beliefs and other
religious aspects of the conventional religion.
Islam and Sufism
Saints generally favoured the Sufis. They incorporated a wide range
of ideas from each other. Sufis or Muslims were moreover Mystics.
Under ‘Islam and Sufism’, students will learn about the vital
connection between Islam and Sufism. Sufis were Muslims that
primarily didn’t give in to outward religiosity. Learn more about this
concept by referring to the Class 7 History Chapter 8 Notes.
New Religious Developments in North India
After the 13th century, a whole new wave of the already existing
Bhakti movement emerged in north India. Brahmanical Hinduism,
Islam, several strands of Bhakti, Sufism, along with the Nathpanths,
Yogie, and Siddhas impacted one another. In this section, you’ll
learn more about the developments that took place in North India
after the 13th century.
A Closer Look - Kabir
Kabir lived between the 15th and 16th centuries. He was recognized
as one of the most well-known and impactful saints. The Muslim
Julahas brought him up. Students will get more insights into the life
of Kabir and his influence in the century.
A Closer Look- Baba Guru Nanak
Baba Guru Nanak was born in the year 1469. He was born in
Talwandi and travelled extensively. He then introduced a centre at
Kartarpur. The last section of the chapter gives students brief
insights into the life of Baba Guru Nanak. It talks about what Baba
Guru Nanak did throughout his years of living and how he impacted
the religious beliefs of people.
