Chapter 8: Devotional Paths to the Divine
ईश्वर से अनुराग (नयनार व आलवार, बसवन्ना का वीरशैव आंदोलन, कबीर, मीराबाई, सूफी सिलसिला)
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- South Indian Bhakti Traditions (7th–9th Centuries):
- - Nayanars (नयनार): Saints devoted to SHIVA (63 saints, including Appar, Sambandar, Sundarar, Manikkavasagar; songs compiled in TEVARAM and TIRUVACAKAM). Came from all castes including untouchables (Pulaiyars, Panars).
- - Alvars (आलवार): Saints devoted to VISHNU (12 saints, including Periyalvar, his daughter ANDAL [only female Alvar saint!], Nammalvar; hymns compiled in DIVYA PRABANDHAM).
- Virashaivism in Karnataka (12th Century): Initiated by Basavanna and his companions Allama Prabhu and Akkamahadevi. Vehemently argued for human equality, rejected caste hierarchy, denounced temple rituals and idol worship.
- The Saints of Maharashtra: Centered around Vitthala (a form of Vishnu) temple in Pandharpur. Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Eknath, Tukaram, Sakkubai, and family of Chokhamela (who belonged to 'untouchable' Mahar caste). Rejected all outward rituals, asceticism, and renunciation of family life; advocated serving suffering humanity.
- North Indian Bhakti Renaissance:
- - Kabir (15th–16th Century): Raised in family of Muslim weavers (julahas) near Varanasi. Ideas expressed in verses called Sakhis and Pads, later preserved in Guru Granth Sahib, Panch Vani, and Bijak. Denounced religious hypocrisy, priestly classes, and caste distinctions.
- - Guru Nanak (1469–1539): Born at Talwandi (Nankana Sahib). Established common dining kitchen (LANGAR) and prayer center (Dharamsal, later Gurdwara). Three core teachings: Nam-Japna (chanting God's name), Kirt-Karna (honest livelihood), Vand-Chhakkna (sharing with others). Guru Angad, Guru Arjan compiled the hymns into Guru Granth Sahib.
- - Mirabai: Rajput princess married into Mewar royal family; devoted disciple of saint Ravidas (an untouchable leather-craftsman); composed bhajans dedicated to Krishna, defying royal patriarchal orthodoxies.
- Sufism & Chishti Silsila: Mystics of Islam who rejected outward religiosity and stressed love, devotion, and compassion. Chishti Silsila was prominent: Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti (Ajmer), Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki (Delhi), Baba Farid (Punjab), Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya (Delhi). Met in Khanqahs (hospices).
- Trap: Who was the only female saint among the 12 South Indian Alvars? Correct: ANDAL (आंडाल).
- Trap: Nayanars were devoted to Shiva (63 saints); Alvars were devoted to Vishnu (12 saints).
- Trap: Who initiated the Virashaiva movement in Karnataka? Correct: BASAVANNA along with Allama Prabhu and Akkamahadevi.
NCERT Core Facts: Bhakti & Sufi Reformist Traditions
Bhakti compilations, egalitarian saint lineages, and Sufi khanqahs appear consistently in CTET:
1. South Indian Bhakti Traditions Matrix
| Tradition | Deity Revered | Total Saints | Canonical Hymn Compilation | Notable Luminaries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nayanars (नयनार) | Lord Shiva (शिव) | 63 | Tevaram (तेवरम) & Tiruvacakam | Appar, Sambandar, Manikkavasagar |
| Alvars (आलवार) | Lord Vishnu (विष्णु) | 12 | Divya Prabandham (दिव्य प्रबंधम) | Nammalvar, Periyalvar, Andal (महिला संत) |
2. Egalitarian Bhakti Movements across India
- Virashaivism (वीरशैव मत): Led by Basavanna, Allama Prabhu, and Akkamahadevi in 12th-century Karnataka. Championed equality of all humans and opposed idol worship and temple monopolies.
- Kabir's Sakhis & Pads: Preserved in the Bijak, Panch Vani, and the Sikh scripture Guru Granth Sahib. He proclaimed that supreme God is formless (Nirguna), reachable solely through love.
- Guru Nanak's Sacred Triad:
- Nam-Japna (Right worship)
- Kirt-Karna (Honest, productive work)
- Vand-Chhakkna (Community sharing and charity through Langar)
Test Your Mastery: Devotional Paths to the Divine
Authentic CBSE exam questions tested directly from this NCERT chapter.
Which of the following female saints belonged to the South Indian Vaishnavite Alvar tradition whose devotional hymns are preserved in the 'Divya Prabandham'?
निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सी महिला संत दक्षिण भारतीय वैष्णव आलवार परंपरा से संबंधित थीं, जिनके भक्ति गीत 'दिव्य प्रबंधम' में संरक्षित हैं?
The Virashaiva movement which strongly advocated for human equality and rejected rituals and idol worship was launched in 12th-century Karnataka by:
12वीं सदी के कर्नाटक में मानव समानता की पुरजोर वकालत करने और कर्मकांडों तथा मूर्तिपूजा को खारिज करने वाला वीरशैव आंदोलन किसके द्वारा शुरू किया गया था?
Which sacred text contains the compiled devotional hymns of the 12 Alvar saints of South India?
The Divya Prabandham (दिव्य प्रबंधम).
Who was Andal, and what makes her historical contribution unique in the Alvar movement?
Andal was the only woman Alvar saint whose passionate devotional poems to Lord Vishnu became part of the classical sacred literature of South India.