This chapter is about how people loved God in different ways and different ways of devotion. It starts with the idea of one Supreme God long ago. Then it tells about south India saints like Nayanars and Alvars. It also shows Sufis, Kabir, and Guru Nanak spreading bhakti in the north. All these paths mixed love and equality for everyone.
1. Introduction to Devotion
- What Devotion Looks Like:
- People show devotion by praying or singing bhajans and kirtans.
- Some repeat God’s name silently and cry with love.
- Legacy of Bhakti and Sufi:
- This deep love for God comes from bhakti and Sufi ways.
- These movements started from the 8th century onwards.
2. The Idea of a Supreme God
- Before Big Kingdoms:
- Long ago, people worshipped their own gods and goddesses.
- Different groups had their own beliefs.
- New Ideas with Growth:
- Towns, trade, and empires brought people together.
- New thoughts about life started to grow.
- Cycles of Birth and Rebirth:
- People believed life goes through many births and deaths.
- Good and bad deeds decide what happens next.
- Social Differences:
- Many thought all people are not equal from birth.
- Being born in a high caste gave special rights.
- Unease with Old Ideas:
- Some didn’t like these unequal beliefs.
- They turned to Buddha and Jaina teachings instead.
- Supreme God Belief:
- Others liked the idea of one Supreme God.
- Loving this God could free them from life’s cycle.
- Bhakti’s Rise:
- This love for God, called bhakti, became popular.
- It started early in the Common Era in the Bhagavad Gita.
- Worshipping Deities:
- People began loving gods like Shiva and Vishnu.
- Goddesses like Durga also became important.
- Bhakti for All:
- Bhakti meant devotion to a chosen god.
- Rich or poor, high or low caste, all could follow it.
- Mixing with Local Beliefs:
- Local stories joined bigger Puranic tales.
- Puranas said God’s grace was open to everyone.
3. Bhakti in South India: Nayanars and Alvars
- New Movements:
- From the 7th to 9th centuries, new groups started.
- Nayanars loved Shiva, and Alvars loved Vishnu.
- Who They Were:
- They came from all castes, even “untouchables.”
- Examples include potters, peasants, and hunters.
- Their Beliefs:
- They didn’t like Buddhists or Jainas much.
- They said loving Shiva or Vishnu saves you.
- Using Sangam Ideas:
- They took love and heroism from Tamil Sangam poems.
- They mixed these with bhakti feelings.
- Spreading Their Message:
- They travelled to villages singing beautiful poems.
- These songs praised village gods and had music.
- Famous Nayanars:
- There were 63 Nayanars with different jobs.
- Appar, Sambandar, and Sundarar were well-known.
- Nayanar Songs:
- Their songs are in Tevaram and Tiruvacakam books.
- These were collected later on.
- Famous Alvars:
- There were 12 Alvars from many backgrounds.
- Periyalvar, Andal, and Nammalvar stood out.
- Alvar Songs:
- Their songs are in the Divya Prabandham collection.
- These were put together later too.
- Temples and Bhakti:
- Chola and Pandya kings built big temples.
- These were near places the saints visited.
- Writing Their Stories:
- Between the 10th and 12th centuries, their lives were written.
- These biographies help us know bhakti history.
4. Philosophy and Bhakti
- Shankara’s Ideas:
- Shankara was born in Kerala in the 8th century.
- He said the soul and God are one, called Advaita.
- Shankara’s Teachings:
- He believed Brahman is the only real thing.
- The world is an illusion, and knowledge saves you.
- Ramanuja’s Ideas:
- Ramanuja was born in Tamil Nadu in the 11th century.
- He was inspired by the Alvars’ love for Vishnu.
- Ramanuja’s Teachings:
- He said loving Vishnu brings you to God.
- Souls stay separate even when joined with God.
- Impact of Ramanuja:
- His Vishishtadvaita idea influenced north India.
- It shaped new bhakti ways there.
5. Basavanna’s Virashaivism
- Virashaiva Start:
- Basavanna began this movement in Karnataka.
- It started in the mid-12th century.
- Who Joined:
- People like Allama Prabhu and Akkamahadevi helped.
- They came from different backgrounds.
- Their Beliefs:
- They wanted equality for all people.
- They didn’t like caste or rituals.
- Against Old Ways:
- They said no to idol worship and Brahman rules.
- They fought for women’s rights too.
6. Bhakti in the Deccan
- Maharashtra Saints:
- From the 13th to 17th centuries, saints sang in Marathi.
- Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, and Tukaram were big names.
- Women and Low Castes:
- Women like Sakhubai and the Chokhamela family joined.
- They were from the “untouchable” Mahar caste.
- Focus on Vitthala:
- They loved Vitthala, a form of Vishnu.
- The Pandharpur temple was their centre.
- Simple Living:
- They didn’t like rituals or show-off religion.
- They lived with families and helped others.
- New Ideas:
- They said bhakti is sharing others’ pain.
- God lives in everyone’s heart.
7. Nathpanthis, Siddhas, and Yogis
- Who They Were:
- These groups started during medieval times.
- They didn’t like usual religion or caste.
- Their Path:
- They said leave the world to find God.
- Meditation on a formless God was key.
- Practices:
- They used yoga, breathing, and deep thinking.
- This trained the mind and body.
- Popularity:
- Low castes liked their simple ideas.
- They prepared the way for bhakti in the north.
8. Islam and Sufism
- Sufi Mystics:
- Sufis were Muslims who loved God deeply.
- They started from the 8th century.
- Islam’s Rules:
- Islam believes in one God and strict laws.
- Scholars made it complex over time.
- Sufi Difference:
- Sufis didn’t like fancy rituals.
- They wanted a personal bond with God.
- Sufi Methods:
- They used chanting, singing, and dancing.
- A pir guided them in these practices.
- Famous Sufis:
- Ghazzali, Rumi, and Sadi were big names.
- They came from Central Asia.
- Sufi Centres in India:
- From the 11th century, Sufis came to India.
- The Delhi Sultanate helped them grow.
- Chishti Order:
- The Chishti group was very famous.
- Muinuddin Chishti and Nizamuddin Auliya were leaders.
- Khanqahs:
- Sufi masters met people in their hospices.
- All kinds of people came to them.
- Miracles and Shrines:
- People believed Sufis had special powers.
- Their tombs became pilgrimage spots.
9. New Bhakti in North India
- Mix of Ideas:
- After the 13th century, many beliefs mixed.
- Bhakti, Sufism, and others influenced each other.
- New People Joining:
- Craftsmen, farmers, and traders followed saints.
- They spread these new ideas.
- Kabir’s Way:
- Kabir rejected all old religions.
- He believed in one formless God.
- Tulsidas’s Way:
- Tulsidas loved Rama as God.
- He wrote the Ramcharitmanas in Awadhi.
- Surdas’s Way:
- Surdas was devoted to Krishna.
- His songs are in Sursagara and other books.
- Shankaradeva’s Way:
- Shankaradeva loved Vishnu in Assam.
- He made namghars for prayer.
- Mirabai’s Way:
- Mirabai was a princess who loved Krishna.
- She left her palace to sing bhajans.
- Songs for All:
- Saints wrote in local languages.
- Poor people and women kept these alive.
10. A Closer Look: Kabir
- Kabir’s Life:
- Kabir lived in the 15th-16th centuries.
- He grew up with Muslim weavers in Benares.
- His Songs:
- His verses are called sakhis and pads.
- They’re in the Guru Granth Sahib and Bijak.
- His Ideas:
- He didn’t like Hindu or Muslim rituals.
- He laughed at priests and caste rules.
- Simple Language:
- He used easy Hindi everyone understood.
- Some sayings were hard to follow.
- God for Kabir:
- He believed in a formless God.
- Bhakti was the only way to reach Him.
11. A Closer Look: Baba Guru Nanak
- Guru Nanak’s Life:
- He was born in 1469 in Talwandi, now Pakistan.
- He died in 1539 after travelling widely.
- His Centre:
- He started a place at Kartarpur for followers.
- They sang his hymns together.
- Langar and Dharmsal:
- Everyone ate together in a common kitchen.
- His worship place was called a dharmsal.
- Successors:
- Guru Angad took over after Guru Nanak.
- He wrote Nanak’s songs in Gurmukhi script.
- Guru Granth Sahib:
- Guru Arjan made a book in 1604 with many saints’ works.
- Guru Gobind Singh finalised it in 1706.
- Sikh Growth:
- More people joined in the 16th century.
- Traders and craftsmen were common followers.
- Sikh Rules:
- Followers had to work and help the community.
- They gave money to support each other.
- Amritsar’s Rise:
- By the 17th century, Ramdaspur grew big.
- The Golden Temple became its centre.
- Political Turn:
- Jahangir killed Guru Arjan in 1606.
- Guru Gobind Singh started the Khalsa in 1699.
- Nanak’s Teachings:
- He said worship one God, not caste or gender.
- Live honestly and help others always.
12. Questions and Answers
12.1 Let’s Recall
- Matching:
- The Buddha questioned social differences.
- Shankaradeva set up namghars.
- Nizamuddin Auliya was a Sufi saint.
- Nayanars worshipped Shiva.
- Alvars worshipped Vishnu.
- Fill in the Blanks:
- (a) Shankara was an advocate of Advaita.
- (b) Ramanuja was influenced by the Alvars.
- © Basavanna and Allama Prabhu were Virashaivas.
- (d) Pandharpur was a bhakti centre in Maharashtra.
- Nathpanthis, Siddhas, Yogis:
- They left the world to find God.
- They meditated and did yoga for salvation.
- Kabir’s Ideas:
- He rejected rituals and caste.
- He sang in Hindi about a formless God.
12.2 Let’s Understand
- Sufi Beliefs:
- They loved God and helped people.
- They used singing and dancing, not rituals.
- Rejecting Old Ways:
- Teachers didn’t like unfair caste rules.
- They wanted simple love for God.
- Guru Nanak’s Teachings:
- He said worship one God and be equal.
- Work hard and share with others.
12.3 Let’s Discuss
- Virashaivas and Caste:
- They said all people are equal.
- They didn’t follow caste rules.
- Mirabai’s Memory:
- Poor people loved her songs.
- She spoke against high-caste norms.
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