Religion

RELIGION
• Exchange of ideas between Hindus & Muslims led to development of two popular movements ‘Sufi’ & ‘Bhakti’
1. THE SUFI MOVEMENT:-
• Mystics of Islam are called ‘Sufis’
• Sufi holy men typically adhered to Sharia, but they also stressed inner realization of divine presence, the practice of moral & physical disciplines
• Founders of important Sufi lineages are Chisti, Suhrawardi, Qadiri & Naqshbandi, were central Asian origin
• Qadiri order was introduced in India by Shaikh Niamtullah & Makhdum Muhmmad Jilani
• The name Sufi may have been derived from Sufa (pure) – because of purity of their heart; suf (wool) – coarse of woolen garments they wear; Suffa – low clay built verandas attached to Prophet Muhammad’s mosque in Medina where poorest of his followers used to sit; Arabic word Safwe – those who are selected
• Eventually the word came to be identified with seekers of spiritual enlightenment
• This movement came as a reaction against the degeneration that had taken place amongst Muslims
• Sufis believe that there was the a small circle of such men around the prophet Muhammad prominent among them was the cousin & son in law of prophet, to whom prophet transmitted the knowledge of gnostic sciences, Imam Ali, who was to communicate these to his sons, such as Imam Hasan & Husayn & to a few close pupils, such as Imam of Basra & so chains of enlightenment have contributed up to our present time
• Mystics were also to start their spiritual collection with study of Quran, Hadith & Fiqh
• The ignorant Sufi was considered a danger to himself & community
• Sufi orders sprang up around a recognized master – Pir or Shaikh, (Shia) Sufi teachings spread from Sind & Punjab across north & central India
• Sufi saints – Nizam-ud-din Auliya & his disciple Shaikh Nasir-ud-din Chirag-i-Dehlavi
• Qawali was familiar form of singing at their gatherings
• Some Sufi orders in India – Chisti in north India; Suhrawardi in Sind & Firdausi in Bihar 


2. BHAKTI MOVEMENT:-
• Bhakti movement was continuation of earlier devotional cult. But it distinguished from earlier with Sufi ideas particularly of social justice
• Relationship of man & god was based on love & worshipping the god with devotion was better than merely performance of religious ceremonies
• Bhakti teachers – Ramananda (1360-1470), Kabir (1440-1550), Guru Nanak (1469-1539), Mirabai (1498-1550), Dadu (1544-1603), Tukaram (1608-1649), & Chaitanya (1486-1533)


3. KABIR & NANAK:-
• Kabir (1440-1550) either denied Hindu & Muslim ideas of god or else equated them by stating that they were identical
• Nanak (1469-1539) went a step further & described god without reference to either Hindu or Muslim concepts
• Kabir expressed his ideas in single couplets called dohas which were compiled on his death. His followers were known as Kabirpanthi
• Nanak’s teaching in the form of verses was collected in the Adi-granth
• He grouped his followers together & on his deathbed appointed a guru to be their leader
• Five characteristics of Sikhs – 5K’s – kasha (hair); kanga (comb); kara (iron bracelet); kripan (daggar) & kachha (underwear)


INFLUENCES ON ARCHITECTURE, PAINTING & MUSIC
1. ARCHITECTURE:-
• Turks & Afgans brought new techniques such as true arch & dome
• When these combined with earlier styles they resulted in new forms
• True arch – pointed arch which was not supported by a beam but by stones placed obliquely to form the point
• Another structure widely used was Minaret
• Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque & Qutub Minar are good examples of this
• Lodis reverted to more elegant style; double domes
• Persians introduced enameled tiles


2. PAINTING & MUSIC:-
• Miniature paintings continued & tradition of illustrating books with exquisite miniatures developed
• Music was enriched with new forms. The Hindustani style which developed at this time was influenced by forms from Persia & Arab World
• In addition certain instruments such as the Sitar, Sarangi & Tabla became popular