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Bhakti and Su Movement in India

On January 7, 2014 By Rajiv Singh
Category: Religion in India

Bhakti and Su Movement

The Bhakti and Su Movement in India played an important role in bringing harmony between the Hindus
and the Muslims.

Bhakti Movement
The Bhakti Movement was a reform movement in Hinduism. It occupies a signi cant position in bringing
about harmony and normal relationships between the Hindus and Muslims.

The development of the Bhakti cult rst began in South India in the 7th-8th century in order to bridge the
gulf between the Shaivas and the Vaishnavas. It stood for intense personal devotion and complete self-
surrender to God. It believed in the unity of godhead, brotherhood of man and equality of all religions. The
roots of the Bhakti Movement can be traced to the Upanishads, the Puranas and the Bhagvad Gita.
Shankaracharya is reputed to have been the rst and principal exponent of this reform movement.

After the advent of Islam, the necessity of making Hinduism a living active force in the life of the common
people was felt deeply. Islam with its liberal outlook, equality of status among its followers, and concept of
one God, posed great threat to Hindu society that was suffering from ritualism, rigid caste system, evils of
untouchability and multiplicity of gods and goddesses. In this situation many lower class Hindus were
attracted by the catholic outlook of Islam in these respects. They were also tempted to adopt Islam which
could afford them better status in society and a less cumbersome religion.But at this critical juncture the
preachers of Bhakti Movement tried to bring harmony among various religons. The often condemned the
Hindu Caste System.Though the Bhakti cult had a long tradition, it was during this time that the cult grew to
a new dimension.

Features of Bhakti Movement

Its proponents preached the unity of the god-head and emphasized that devotion to God and faith in him
led to salvation. It also laid stress on equality of all human beings and universal brotherhood. The other
tenets of the Bhakti cult were purity of heart and honest behaviour. The basic features of this cult thus had
many similarities with those of Su sm. This helped greatly in checking the growth of Islam in India.

Impact of Bhakti Movement

The Bhakti movement became popular among the common masses as its teachings were preached in the
form of hymns in various popular languages. In this accessible form Bhakti ideas were spread among wide
strata of the population and the hymns frequently became folk songs. Amongst the leaders of the Bhakti
movement, Ramananda, Kabir,Ramanuja, Sri Chaitanya, Nanak etc. were prominent.

Su Movement
The Su Movement had twofold aims:

1. To make their own spiritual progress and

2. To serve the mankind.

Su sm, which started as a reform movement, laid emphasis on free-thinking, liberal ideas and toleration.
They believed in the equality of all human beings and brotherhood of man. Their concept of universal
brotherhood and the humanitarian ideas of the Su saints attracted the Indian mind. A movement similar to
Su sm, called the Bhakti cult, was already afoot in India on the eve of the Muslim conquest of the country.
The liberal-minded Su s were, therefore, welcomed in India. The Su movement proved very helpful in
bridging the gap between the followers of the two religions and in bringing the Hindus and the Muslims
together.

The Su movement gained impetus during the reign of Akbar who adopted a liberal religious policy under
the in uence of the Su saints.

Abul Fazal had mentioned the existence of 14 Silsilahsin India. A close link that existed between the leader
or Pir and his murids or disciples was a vital element of the Su system.

The Su sm reached India in the 12th century A.D. Its in uence grew considerably during the thirteenth and
fourteenth centuries. In India, Chisti and Suhrawardi Silsilawere most prominent.

Chisti order was founded in India by Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. His dargah at Ajmer became a centre of
veneration for both the Muslims and Hindus. After his death in 1236 A.D., his devotees continued to
celebrate an annual Urs festival at Ajmer. But the most famous Su saint of the Chisti order was
Nizamuddin Auliya. He led a simple austere life and lived in Delhi. By his vast learning, religious knowledge,
and tolerant attitude to all religions, he earned devotion of both the Hindu and Muslim masses.

The Su Movement in India helped in establishing peace and amity among the Hindus and Muslims.

Impact of Su sm
The liberal ideas and unorthodox principles of Su sm had a profound in uence on Indian society. The liberal
principles of Su sects restrained orthodox. Muslims in their attitude and encouraged many Muslim rulers
to pursue tolerant attitude to their non-Muslim subjects. Most Su saints preached their teachings in the
language of common man that contributed greatly to the evolution of various Indian languages like Urdu,
Punjabi, Sindhi, Kashmiri and Hindi. The impact of Su Movement was deeply felt on some renowned poets
of the period, like Amir Khusrau and Malik Muhammad Jayasiwho composed poems in Persian and Hindi
in praise of Su principles.

Related Posts:
1. Su sm in India
2. Su sm
3. What were the Impact of Su sm in India?
4. In uence of Islam on Hindu Religious Thoughts
5. Bhakti Movement in India
6. Main Features of Su sm (Su Movement in Medieval India)
7. Origin of Bhakti Movement
8. Importance of Bhakti Movement
9. Impact of Bhakti Movement

Category: Religion in India

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1. Su sm in India

2. Su sm

3. What were the Impact of Su sm in India?

4. In uence of Islam on Hindu Religious Thoughts

5. Bhakti Movement in India

6. Main Features of Su sm (Su Movement in

Medieval India)

7. Origin of Bhakti Movement

8. Importance of Bhakti Movement

9. Impact of Bhakti Movement

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