Bhaktism
|
|
Timeline
|
|
North
|
|
Features
|
|
Impact
|
|
Limitation
|
|
Significance
|
|
Personality
|
|
1 Bhakti
1. Before large kingdoms emerged, different groups of people worshipped their own gods and goddesses. As people were brought together, new ideas began to develop. Integration of cults happened - by disseminating of Brahmanical ideas to others & Brahmanas accepting and reworking beliefs of the others. E.g. Jagannatha was identified as a form of Vishnu. Great traditions (emanated from ruler and priestly class) and little traditions (local practices). Local deities were incorporated within Puranic framework with an identity as wife of principal male deity. Forms of worship associated with goddess were classified as Tantric, influenced Saivism & Buddhism. All living things pass through countless cycles of birth and rebirth performing good deeds and bad came to be widely accepted. Similarly, the idea that all human beings are not equal even at birth gained ground during this period. The belief that social privileges came from birth in a “noble” family or a “high” caste was the subject of many learned texts. Vedic vs Puranic traditions - principal deity of Vedic pantheon were Agni, Indra and Soma, which get marginalized while authority of Vedas is still unchallenged. Vishnu, Shiva and goddess were in Vedic mantras but little in common with Puranic mythologies.
2. The emergence of Rajput states led to consolidation of Brahmanas with the ruling elites in North India. Non-Brahmanical leaders such as Naths, Jogis, Siddhas from artisanal groups questioned the authority of vedas but couldn't win support of ruling elites. However, establishment of Delhi Sultanate undermined power of Rajput states and associated Brahamanas
3. Many people were uneasy with such ideas and turned to the teachings of the Buddha or the Jains according to which it was possible to overcome social differences and break the cycle of rebirth through personal effort. Others felt attracted to the idea of a Supreme God who could deliver humans from such bondage if approached with devotion (or bhakti). This idea, advocated in the Bhagavadgita, grew in popularity in the early centuries of the Common Era. In course of evolution of forms of worship, poet-saints emerged as leaders around whom community of devotees developed. This tradition accommodated women and lower castes. Bhakti traditions can be classified into 2 broad categories - saguna (with attributes, Shiva Vishnu Devi) and nirguna (without attributes, abstract form of god).
4. Vedanta is an umbrella term for many sub-traditions, ranging from dualism to non-dualism, all of which developed on the basis of a common textual connection called the Prasthanatrayi. Prasthanatrayi is a collective term for the Principal Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita basis of Vedanta Philosophy. Some of the better known sub-traditions of Vedanta include Advaita (non-dualism), Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism), and Dvaita (dualism).
5. Importance - As caste system was condemned by the Bhakti saints, the lower classes were raised to a position of great importance. The importance of women in society was also increased because the Bhakti movement gave equal importance to them. Bhakti movement gave to the people a simple religion, without complicated rituals. They were required to show sincere devotion to God. Regional languages developed well.
6. Nayanars and Alvars: 7th to 9th centuries saw the emergence of new religious movements, led by the Nayanars (saints devoted to Shiva) and Alvars (saints devoted to Vishnu) who came from all castes including those considered “untouchable” like the Pulaiyar and the Panars. 63 Nayanars, who belonged to different caste backgrounds. Best known were Appar, Sambandar, Sundarar and Manikkavasagar. Karaikkal Ammaiyar was a woman in Nayanar. Manikkavacakar was not a Nayanar. There are two sets of compilations of their songs – Tevaram and Tiruvacakam. There were 12 Alvars, who came from equally divergent backgrounds, the best known being Periyalvar, his daughter Andal, Tondaradippodi Alvar and Nammalvar. Their songs were compiled in the Divya Prabandham. One of the major themes of Tamil bhakti hymns is opposition to Buddhism and Jainism because of competition between members of religious tradition for royal patronage. Chola rulers supported Brahmanical and Bhakti traditions (Shiva and Vishnu temples constructed). Vellala peasants revered both Nayanars and Alvars.
7. Shankara - born in 8th century Kerala - advocate of Advaita or the doctrine of the oneness of the individual soul and the Supreme God which is the Ultimate Reality. Adi Shankara started a Hindu revivalist movement. Credited with unifying and establishing main current of thoughts in Hinduism. Work in Sanskrit discuss unity of atman (self) and nirgun brahmana (beyond all description and conceptualization). Present cosmos is covered by veil of illusion (not delusion) as detailed by Adi Shankaracharya in the theory of Advaita Vedanta.
8. Ramanuja, born in Tamil Nadu in the 11th century, was deeply influenced by the Alvars (Vaishnavites). He propounded the doctrine of Vishisht advaita or qualified oneness in that the soul even when united with the Supreme God remained distinct (non-dualistic). Saguna Brahman is “Ultimate Reality assigned with attributes”, the Supreme Spirit conceived as the universal principle endowed with such cosmic functions as creation, maintenance, and dissolution. Also advocated prabattimarga or surrender to God.
9. Madhava (1238-1317) from Kannada region propagated Dvaita (dualism of jivatma and paramatma). World not an illusion but a reality.
10. Nimbaraka (13th C.): Dvaita-Advaita and worshipper of Krishna
11. Vallabhacharya (15th-16th) philosophy shuddha-advaita was from Telangana and settled in Kashi. Propounder of Pushti marg. Surdas was disciple of Vallabhacharya and popularized Krishna in North India. Mirabai did the same in Rajasthan with her devotion to Krishna. Tulsidas wrote Ramcharitmanas and was a worshipper of Ram.
12. Virashaiva - 12th century movement in Karnataka led by Basavanna, followers were called Virashaivas or Lingayats. They worship Shiva in his manifestation as a linga. Jangama or wandering monks are also revered by them. They believe that on death the devotee will be united with Shiva and not return to this world - bury the dead and not cremate. Lingayats challenged the idea of caste and pollution by Brahmanas and questioned the theory of rebirth. Encouraged idea of post-puberty marriage and remarriage of widows - which was disapproved by Dharmashastras. Vachanas by Lingayats. Virashaiva movement initiated by Basavanna and his companions like Allama Prabhu and Akkamahadevi. This movement began in Karnataka in the mid-12th century. Virashaivas argued strongly for the equality of all human beings and against Brahmanical ideas about caste and the treatment of women. They were also against all forms of ritual and idol worship. Basavanna spread social awareness through his poetry known as Vachanaas. introduced new public institutions such as the Anubhava Mantapa (or, the “hall of spiritual experience”), which welcomed men and women from all socio-economic backgrounds to discuss spiritual and mundane questions of life, in open.
13. Period after 13th century saw a new wave of the bhakti movement in north India. This was an age when Islam, Brahmanical Hinduism, Sufism, various strands of bhakti, and the Nathpanths, Siddhas and Yogis influenced one another. Some of them like Kabir and Baba Guru Nanak rejected all orthodox religions. Others like Tulsidas and Surdas accepted existing beliefs and practices but wanted to make these accessible to all. This tradition also included saints like Dadu Dayal, Ravidas and Mirabai. Medieval Bhakti movement was due to influence of Islam and sufi saints, whose ideas such as monotheism, equality and brotherhood of man, rejection of rituals and class divisions shaped the thinking of Bhakti reformers.
14. Ramananda (14th -15thC)- was follower of Ramanuja, later founded own sect and chose disciples from all sections (Kabir was most famous). Opposed caste system and simplified worship for the masses. Was worshipper of Rama.
15. Mirabai (15th -16th C). became a disciple of Ravidas (contested), a saint from a caste considered untouchable; devoted to Krishna and composed innumerable bhajans. Her songs openly challenged the norms of the “upper” castes and became popular with the masses in Rajasthan and Gujarat. Was married to a prince of Sisodia clan. Defied the traditional role and recognized Krishna as her lover. Guru was perhaps Raidas. Raskhan, a Muslim poet, was a devotee of Lord Krishna.
16. Kabir, who probably lived in the 15-16th centuries, was one of the most influential saints. He was brought up in a family of Muslim julahas or weavers settled in or near the city of Benares. His guru was Ramananda, but that is contested. His ideas are from collection of verses called sakhis and pads, said to have been composed by him and sung by wandering bhajan singers. Some of these were preserved in the Guru Granth Sahib, Panch Vani (text of the Dadupanthi tradition within Hinduism) and Bijak (Kabirpanthi's text). The language of his poetry was a form of spoken Hindi. Kabir’s teachings were based on a complete, indeed vehement, rejection of the major religious traditions. His teachings openly ridiculed all forms of external worship of both Brahmanical Hinduism and Islam, the pre-eminence of the priestly classes and the caste system. Kabir believed in a formless Supreme God and preached that the only path to salvation was through bhakti or devotion. Kabir drew his followers from among both Hindus and Muslims. Kabir drew range of traditions to describe the Ultimate Reality - khuda, alakh, shabda, shunya. Kabir and his rich corpus of verses present source of inspiration for those who questioned entrenched religious and social institutions, ideas and practice in search of divine. Emphasised the essential oneness of all religions by describing Hindus and Muslims ‘as pots of the same clay’.
17. Tulsidas conceived of God in the form of Rama. Tulsidas’s composition, the Ramcharitmanas, written in Awadhi. Kavitavalli and Vinaya Patrika.
18. Surdas was an ardent devotee of Krishna. His compositions are in Sursagara, Surasaravali and Sahitya Lahari.
19. Shankaradeva - late 15th century, leading proponent of Vaishnavism in Assam. His teachings are known as Bhagavati dharma, based on Gita and Puranas. Need for naam kirtan, sat sang and satra (monasteries) for transmission of spiritual knowledge. Major composition is kirtana-ghosha.
20. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu - Chaitanya was a saint from Bengal. He was a devotee of Lord Krishna. Though he was a Brahman he condemned the caste system and emphasized on the equality of all. Founded Gaudiya Vaishnavism in 15th century. Achintya bhed Abheda was given by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
21. Dadu Dayal: Influenced by Kabir, was a mocha and become Nirguna Saint.
22. Maharashtra: From the 13th to the 17th centuries Maharashtra saw a great number of saint-poets, whose songs in simple Marathi continue to inspire people. The most important among them were Jnaneshwar, Namdev, Eknath and Tukaram, Samartha (Ramdas) as well as women like Sakhubai and the family of Chokhamela, who belonged to the “untouchable” Mahar caste. Eknath number of Marathi bhakti poems, Abhangas. This regional tradition of bhakti focused on the Vitthala (a form of Vishnu) temple in Pandharpur, as well as on the notion of a personal god residing in the hearts of all people. //abhang (Marathi devotional hymn for Vithoba). and Abhangs by Pandharpur warkaris (god Vithoba) also inspired Sufism. //Dhyaneswar & Tukaram are saints of warkaris.
23. Nathpanthis, Siddhacharas and Yogis criticized the ritual and other aspects of conventional religion and the social order, using simple, logical arguments. They advocated renunciation of the world. Nathpanthis - Shaivism sub-tradition within Hinduism. A medieval era movement, it combined ideas from Buddhism, Shaivism and Yoga traditions in India. Siddhacharas - devotional group popular among the lower caste people as they did not advocate rituals but called for renouncing worldly rituals Yogis - also referred to members of the Nath siddha tradition of Hinduism.
Comments
Post a Comment