Page 45 - Journeys Through Society-7
P. 45
lower castes. He was an ardent supporter of Hindu- Wow Fact
Muslim unity and his disciples belonged to both the
According to a legend, Tulsidas took 12
communities. months to come out of his mother’s womb,
The followers of Kabir formed a group which came to and had 32 teeth from birth. According to a
be known as Kabirpanthis. His words were put down in popular belief instead of crying after birth he
chanted ‘Ram’. Therefore he was named
writings called Kabirvani. Later on his philosophy was
Rambola, after the name of Shri Ram.
composed as Kabir Granthavali and Bijak.
Guru Nanak: Guru Nanak was born
in Talwandi, northwest of Lahore in Kabir composed sakhis and dohas in simple Hindi,
1469 CE, now popularly known as which find mention in the Adi Granth. Guru Angad
Nankana Sahib. He was the founder compiled the preaching of Guru Nanak in the Adi
of Sikhism. His goal was to unify the Granth and organised Gurmukhi, the script of Punjabi
Hindus and Muslims. So he studied language.
both religions and Sikhism, which Guru Nanak
Main teachings of the Bhakti Saints
combined the best of both. ‘Sikh’ means ‘disciple’ and
Guru Nanak believed that one can evolve or achieve 1. All human beings are born equal and there is no
salvation only through direct contact with a true high or low caste.
master or a sadguru. 2. Music is central to the concept of Bhakti.
He showed no interest in family life and left home in 3. There is only one God and the different religions
search of the truth. He is most marked for his love for are the different paths to the same God, who is
one almighty God who, he said, was called by various also nirguna or formless and can only be felt.
names like Ram, Rahim, Allah etc. Guru Nanak’s 4. God cannot be reached through meaningless
teachings are recorded in the Adi Granth, which forms rituals but through love, devotion and purity of
the basis of Sikh theology. heart.
He introduced Sangats (people gathering together to 5. Salvation can be attained through knowledge
listen to a Guru) and Pangats (people eat together in a (gyan marga) which can be acquired through a
langar or free community kitchen). He encouraged guru, who is essential for a bhakt or devotee.
women to join the Bhakti trend and emphasised that
woman should be given respect. He travelled Sufism and its Teachings
extensively to spread the message of love and The term ‘Sufi’ is an Arabic word meaning ‘wool’ as the
brotherhood and preached through kirtans, bhajans Sufi mystics often wore a coarse woollen garment.
and ragas. People flocked to listen to him. They derived their teachings from the Hadith (sayings
of Prophet Muhammad) and the Koran.
Bhakti Period: A Saga of Literary
Sufism is also known as Islamic mysticism. It was
Development
considered as a reform movement within Islam. The
Both Alvar and Nayanar saints compiled songs in Tamil Sufis were often not liked by the orthodox ulema as
in works such as Divya Prabandham, Tevaram and they did not abide by the codes and behaviour
Tiruvakam. The Alvars and Nayanars produced a rich prescribed by Islamic law, the Shariat.
volume of literature comprising songs, poems and
The Sufis emphasised love and devotion as means of
hagiographies.
reaching closer to God as against meaningless fasts,
Tulsidas compiled the Ramcharitramanas in the rituals and prayers. The Sufis led a simple life and kept
Awadhi language which is spoken in eastern Uttar themselves away from worldly pleasures. They were
Pradesh. Surdas, a worshipper of Krishna, compiled deeply religious and led a simple life, stressing self-
Sursagar, Sur Saravali and Sahitya Lahri. discipline. Sufis believed that the heart could be
trained to look at the world in a different way.
45
