Bhakti – Sufi Traditions

Bhakti  – Sufi Traditions

Bhakti (7th – 12th century) rose as a reaction against feudal oppression and Rajput – Brahman domination. Presence of priests is not required. Sources = Bhagwat Geeta, Katha upanishad, Shvetashvatara upanishad, Narada Sutra and Sandilya Sutra.

Two school of Bhakti : Mystical love for God. Poems in vernacular language, included lower caste. Critical of ritual practices.

They were opposed to Caste System, Brahmanical domination, Jainism and Buddhism.

Lingayats / Virashaiva Tradition : Kalachuri Dynasty in Karnataka. Rejected caste system. Initiated by Basavanna, Allamaprabhu and AkkaMaha Devi.

Nathpanthis, Siddhas and Yogis :

Advocated renunciation of the world. Path to salvation lay in Meditation. Low caste.

IN MAHARASHTRA : 

• centred around Vitthal Shrine – manifestation of Krishna.
• rejected renunciation and ritualism.
• divided into 2 sects :

Great saint belonging to Vithoba cult : 

• Jnaneshwar = wrote commentary on Bhagwat Gita called Jnaneswari. Other work : Amrutanubhav on Yoga and Philosophy. 
• Namdeva = belonged to Dadu Panth tradition as one of the five revered gurus, others are Dadu, Kabir, Ravida and Hardas.

Remembered as Nirgun Saint in North. His versus (Abhangas / Dohas ) are included in Guru Granth Sahib.

• Eknath = Poet of Varkari Sampradaya. Sagun form of worship. Introduced Bharood ( Marathi religious Song ) 
• Tukaram = Shudra by birth. Contemporary of Shivaji and created background for Maratha Nationalism = Parmarathas. 
• Ramdas = worshipper of Hanuman and Rama. Spiritual guide of Shivaji. Wrote Dasbodh. Founder of Samarth Sect. Inspired Tilak.

PROMINENT SAINTS : 

• Shankaracharya ( 8th C. ) : propounded Advaita (monism) and Nirgunabrahman. Mathas at Sringeri, Dwarka, Puri and Badrinath.

Books : Upadesh Shastri, Vive Chudamani, Bhaja Govindam Stotra.

• Ramanujam ( 11th cen. ) : influenced by Alvars = devotion to Vishnu. Opposed Shankaracharya. Propounded Vishishta Advaita or qualified monism.

Advocated Prabattimarga or self surrender to God. Salvation attained through Bhakti, Karma.

 Books : Sri Bhashya, Gita Bhashya, Vedantasara, Vedanta Dipa.

• Madhavacharya ( 13th century ) : propagated Dvaita or Dualism of Jivatma and Paramatma. He founded Brahma Sampradaya.

Salvation only through grace of God.

• Nimbarka (13th Cen ) : propounded Dualistic monism / Dvaita – Advaita Philosophy / Bheda – Abheda. Analogy = Sun and sun beam. Vaishnavite Bhakti. Founded Sanak Sampradaya. Salvation = Karma, Vidya, Dhyana, Prapatti (devotion), Gurupasatti ( self surrender to Guru) 
• Vallabhacharya (15th Cent. ) – court of Krishnadeva Raya. His disciple = Surdas. Propounded Shudha Advaita ( Pure – Monism ). Philosophy = Pushtimarg. Founder of Rudra Sampradaya.

Books = Subodhini and Siddhant Rahasya.

BHAKTI MOVEMENT – NORTH INDIA – 15th and 16th cen.

• Tulsidas : Follower of Rama. Composition in Awadhi. Wrote RamcharitraManas, Hanuman Chalisa. Followers of Tulsi founded Radha Vallabhi Sect. 
• Surdas : Krishna. Compositions = Sursagar, Surasavavali, Sahitya Lahari. Wrote in Brij. 
• ShankarDev of Assam : Started Ekasarana (one – God) Movement. Famous work = Kirtana Ghosha. Teachings = Bhagavati Dharma. Introduced and reformed cultural art = Ankia Nat, Bhaona, Borgeet, Sattriya Dance. 
• Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ( 1486 – 1534 ) : He gave Achintya Bheda Abheda. Inspiration behind ISKCON. He wrote Siksastakam. Popularised Kirtans.

NON – SECTARIAN BHAKTI MOVEMENT :  who do not belong to any religion.

also = Nipakh Path.

• Ramananda (15th cen ) : link between South Indian and North Indian Bhakti. Social Reformer. Taught all varnas. Emphasis was on Bhakti, he avoided Gyaan and Karma Marg.

Followers are known as Ramanandis. Eg : Kabir, Ravidas, Nanak, Bhagat Pipa, Sena, Sadhana.

• Kabir (15th century ) : Equality of man before God. reconcile Hindus and Muslims. Path to salvation is devotion. Followers = Kabir Panthis. Poems = Banis. Compilations = Bijak. His verses are found in Adi Granth. He used Vedantic, Yogic and Mystical connotation for God.

• Dadu Dayal : Contemporary of Akbar. Followers = DaduPanths. Disciple of Kabir.

• Nanak : Founder of Sikhism. “Rab”. His hymns called shabad. Rejected Vedas. Used terms Nam ( right worship), Dan ( welfare of others ) and Insan ( purity of conduct ).

His principles of Conduct = Sach, Halal ( lawful earning ), Khair, Niyat and Service of Lord.

Three basic elements : Guru, Shabad, Sangat ( organisation)

Concept of Langar. Sacred Space = Dharmsal →Gurudwara.

Tradition of Akhara.

Ramdas Pur →now Amritsar.

Guru Arjun Dev : compiled Adi Granth. believed in Materialism. Collected income (1/10th) from Sikhs. First Martyr of Sikhism. (Jahangir )

Guru Har Govind / Saccha Padshah : established Akal Takht. Concept of Miri and Piri ( keeping two knives ) Clash with Shahjahan.

Guru Gobind Singh : organised Khalsa. 5 Symbols of Sikhism = Kesha, Kachh, Kirpan, Kara, Kanga. Clash with Aurangzeb.

Women in Bhakti Movement : 

• Bahinabai, Maharashtra.
• Janabai, Marathi religious poet.
• Akkamahadevi, Lingayat (Karnataka) religion, 12th century. A.k.a. Channamallikarjuna.

SUFISM : 8th century, developed 11th C. 

Sufis turned to asceticism and protested against growing materialism of the Caliphate.

• critical of dogmatic definitions of Quran.
• Prophet Mohd. = perfect being.
• No idol worship. Simplification of rituals.
• Some practices (fasting, holding breath) associated with Buddhists and Yogis. Amritkunda (Yogic book) translated into Persian.

Methods of training : Zikr ( chanting of name ) ; Sama ( Singing ) ; Raqs (Dance ) and (Pas – i- Anfas ) breath control.

Ideas : Fana ( self annihilation ), Hulul ( infusion of divine spirit ), Ishq (divine love), Qurbat ( divine proximity ), Ruh (soul).

There were three stages of Sufism :

Different Sufi Orders in India : 

12th century : Silsila (12) = chain ; continuous link between master (pir) and disciple (murids) – Every Pir nominated Wali to carry his work forward.

Khanqahs : Centres of learning and preaching.

4 popular Silsilas :

• Chistis : Founded by Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti in India (1192 – 1223) Philosophy = Panthetic Monism i.e. Wahadat – ul- Wajud / Tauhid / Unity of God = creator and created being.

Simple life, Language, Tolerant, Assimilation with locals. Refusal to accept grants. Relationship b/w man and god ( beloved and lover )

Bakityar Kaki.

Fariduddin : Punjab / Haryana. His poetry included in Adi Granth.

Nizamuddin Auliya : Mahboob -e- ilahi / Sidh. Amir Khusrau was his disciple.

Nasiruddin Mehmud : Chirdaag -e- Dilli.

Burhanuddin : established chisti order in Deccan. Composed poetry in Dakhani ( a variant of Urdu )

• Suhrawardi : Founded by Shihabuddin Suhrawardi. Bahauddin Zakariya founded in India. Hamid uddin Nagori. Active in Punjab and Sindh.

Three attributes : Property, knowledge, Enlightenment (Hal) – accepted grants, mingled in politics. Advocated fusion of mystics and ilm (scholarship).

• Naqshbandi Silsilah : by Khwaja Bahauddin Naqshbandi. Ahmed Sarhindi.

Followed shariat, Purity of Islam, opposed Sama, opposed interaction with Hindus and Shias, Critical of Akbar. Relationship b/w man and god ( Slave and Master ).

• Qadri Silsilah :  Popular in Punjab. Concept of Wahdat- al -Wajud / Unity of Existence. dismissed Orthodox elements.