Title Chapter 6 Devotional Paths to the Divine.pdf ✅

HISTORY Chapter 6: Devotional Paths to the Divine
(1) DEVOTIONAL PATHS TO THE DIVINE 06 Devotional Paths to the Divine The medieval period in India was not only known for several political developments and the establishment of a stable empire in India, but also for the emergence of various movements within the fold of existing religions. Many saints stressed on true devotion to God and criticised the prevalent caste system. Religious developments at this time were largely marked by the bhakti and the sufi movements. The Worship of a Supreme God • In ancient times, people worshipped many gods and goddesses. However after the formation of large empires, people started believing in the idea of life after death. • They also believed in the caste system which denied equality to all people. Later, many people began to oppose these notions and accepted Buddhism and Jainism in order to overcome social differences. • A section of people began to believe in the existence of one supreme god, who could liberate them from the inequalities which existed in the society through the path of bhakti or devotion. • The three gods Shiva, Vishnu and Durga began to be worshiped as they came to be regarded as supreme deities. • These developments also became the part of the Puranas. While the Puranas introduced the methods of worship in the society, they also stressed on an idea that a person can attain grace of god irrespective of his caste through the path of devotion. • Later, this principle of bhakti became so widespread that it was even adopted by the Jains and the Buddhists.
(2) DEVOTIONAL PATHS TO THE DIVINE 06 The Bhakti Movement in South India • In the seventh century, new religious movements emerged in South India led by the Nayanars (saints who were worshippers of Shiva) and the Alvars (saints who were worshippers of Vishnu). The people of these two religious movements also belonged to the lower castes such as the Panars and the Pulaiyars. • The followers of these movements criticised Buddhism and Jainism and stressed that only by worshipping Shiva or Vishnu, could the path of salvation achieved. • They were proud of the Sangam literature and blended them with the values of Bhakti. • The Narayans and the Alvars visited villages and composed many poems in praise of the deities which were enshrined in the nearby temples. • Later, the Chola and the Pandaya kings constructed temples around these shrines