Notes-Class 7-History-Chapter 3-Religious Synthesis-Maharashtra Board

Introduction :

• Diversity of languages and religions is an important characteristic of the Indian society.
• Indian Constitution has adopted the principle of secularism.
• In the medieval India, too, efforts were made to bring about religious synthesis by Bhakti movement, Sikh religion and the Sufi sect.
• The earlier emphasis on rituals and Brahmadnyan were replaced by Bhakti Marg the path of devotion. It did not give undue importance to hierarchies which further facilitated religious synthesis.
• Bhakti movements that emerged in the different regions of India in different forms.
• However, the Bhakti movement used the common people’s language instead of Sanskrit. This helped the development of regional languages.

Bhakti Movement

Bhakti movement in South India :

• It is believed that the Bhakti movement originated in South India.

• The Naynar and Alawar Bhakti movements emerged in this region.
• The Naynars were the devotees of Shiva and the Alawars of Vishnu.
• A third sect believed that Shiva and Vishnu were one and the same.
• They worshipped Harihar which depict idol of half Vishnu and half Shiva.
• Acharya Ramanuja and the other Acharyas strengthened the Bhakti movement in the south.
• They taught values such as love for God, humanity, compassion and mercy towards all.
• The teachings of Acharya Ramanuja had a great impact on the Bhakti movement in the north.

The Bhakti movement in North India :

• Sant Ramanand strengthened the Bhakti movement in North India.
• Sant Kabir did not give importance to places of pilgrimage, vratas and idol woship. For him Truth was God. He taught that unity of Hindu-Muslim and that all human beings were equal.
• Surdasa composed Krishnabhakti verses in his work Sursagar in Hindi.
• Tulsidas composed Ram bhakti verses in his Ramcharita Manasa.
• Sant Mirabai who belonged to the royal family of Mewad, immersed herself in devotion to Krishna. She composed many devotional verses in Rajasthani and Gujarati language. Her verses gave the message of devotion, tolerance and humanity.

Bhakti movement in Bengal and Assam :

• Chaitany Mahaprabhu popularised Bhakti movement in Bengal by underlining the importance of Krishnabhakti.
• He travelled all over India and preached people to recite the name of God with devotion.
• Under his influence people from all castes and creeds joined Bhakti movement.
• Deeply influenced by ChaitanyaMahaprabhu, Shankaradeva spread the movement in Assam.

Mahanubhav Panth :

• In the thirteenth century, Chakradhar Swami founded the ‘Mahanubhav Panth’ in Maharashtra.
• This sect preaches devotion to Krishna.
• Chakradhar Swami was a disciple of Shri Govind Prabhu.

• Mahanubhav sect had following among men and women of all sections of the society.
• It preached Krishnabhakti and equality in Marathi language.
• This sect had spread in Vidarbha and Marathwada regions of Maharashtra. Riddhipur in Vidarbha was an important place of Mahanubhav panth.
• This sect spread in distant regions like Punjab and Afghanistan.
• Mhaimbhat has compiled work of Chakradhar Swami in the book ‘Leelacharitra’.

Guru Nanak :

• Guru Nanak was the founder and the first Guru of the Sikh religion.
• His work could be regarded as the first attempt to achieve religious synthesis.
• He had visited many places of worship of the Hindus and the Muslims, including
• Mecca. He realized that the feeling of devotion is common everywhere.
• He taught us all persons should be treated equally. His teachings aimed at achieving Hindu-Muslim unity. He emphasized chaste behaviour.
• The teachings of Guru Nanak have been compiled in ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ and his disciples are known as the Sikhs (shishyas).
• This Holy Scripture also includes compositions of Sant Namdev and Sant Kabir.
• After Guru Nanak, there were nine Gurus of the Sikhs. Guru Gobindsingh was the tenth Guru. After him, Sikhs regard ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ as their Guru and recite it.

The Sufi Sect :

• The Sufi is a sect within Islam.
• The Sufi saints lived a simple life. They believed that God was full of love and only way to reach God is through love and devotion. They preached meditation, simple living and love for all human beings.
• Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, Shaikh Nijamuddin Avaliya were the prominent Sufi saints.
• Their teachings brought the Hindus and the Muslims close. Sufi music has made important contribution to the Indian music.