Bhakti and Sufi Movement short note.
Bhakti Movement
The Bhakti Movement occured in the 16th and 17th century in India. The most important cause of Bhakti Movement was the religion persecution of the Hindus by the barbarian invaders who not only killed people but also destroyed their religious places and temples. Consequently, the saints and reformers like Guru Nanak, Tulsidas, Surdas, Mirabai, Sant Tukaram, Ramdas, Chaitanya, Vallabhacharya, Sankardev etc. moved from place to place and spread the Bhakti cult. They spread the teachings of their Gods and inspired the people to follow the path of religion. These Bhakti saints moved through the country singing the hymn and devotional song in praise of their Gods. Consequently, people developed great devotion towards God and religion. These great saints created a spirit of faith into the heart of the disgusted Indians who took shelter in the devotional spirit of Bhakti saints. As a result of this Hinduism revived and people felt spiritual peace in mind.
Sufi Movement
The Sufis were more liberal and humanistic than the Shias and the Sunnis. The Sufis laid emphasis on Bhakti and love of God. The Chisti cult of Sufism was highly influenced by the philosophy of Vedanta. The followers of Islam consider the relations of man and God as that between a slave and his master but the followers of Sufi sect believed that there is a relation of a lover and beloved in between man and God. The Sufi saints preached non-violence, meditation and physical penance. The other famous sects of Sufism were Suhrawardi, Kadiri and Naqshbandi. The liberal attitude of these saints brought the rival cultures quite close to each other. Sheikh Salim Chisti, Sheikh Abdul Kadir, Sheikh Ahmad Sirhindi, Sheikh Wali Ullah etc. were important saints of Sufism. It is to be mentioned that though the Sufi saints led a family life but they did not ask anything from anybody. They opened the door of salvation for all without any distinction of caste and creed and hence attained a lot of popularity during the Mughal period.
