Sufi saints came to India in the 11th century and spread their message of devotion and equality. They established khanqahs and belonged to mystical orders called silsilas. The Bhakti movement emerged in South India in the 7th century and challenged the caste system. Saints like the Alvars, Nayanars, Kabir, and Guru Nanak promoted universal brotherhood and opposed idol worship. The Virasaiva movement began in 15th century Karnataka under the leadership of Basavanna and stood against discrimination. All these movements helped promote social reforms through their devotional songs and teachings.

1. UNIT-6
INDIA, THE LAND OF SYNTHESIS
Submitted By,
NEETHU V. S.

3. SUFI MOVEMENT
• Sufi saints came to India in the 11th centaury
from Central Asia.
• Belonged to one of the 12 orders (fraternities)
which were called silsilas.
• Each order had a chief mystic Pir or Shaikh and
a follower, Murid.
• Khanqahs which were the residence of the
Sufis.

4. SUFI MOVEMENT
• Sufi’s give lot emphasis on pure devotion for
reaching near to god.
• Songs of devotion are called Qawwalis.
• Believe that one who really love God will be
close to God.
• Preached equality of all human being.
• Help to maintain cordial relation among different
religions.
• Important orders of Sufi saints in India are those
of Chisti and Suhrawardi.

5. • Some of the major Sufi saints with their respective places are
given below
SUFI MOVEMENT
SUFI SAINT PLACES
1 Baba Farid 1 Ayodha
2 Sayyid Mohammed Jesudaras 2 Gulbarga
3 Shah Alam Bukhari 3 Gujarat
4 Bahauddin Zakaria 4 Maultan
5 Shaikh Shihabudeen
Suhrawardi
5 Sathette

6. BHAKTI MOVEMENT
• Bhakthi means devotion to god or total
surrender oneself to personal god.
• First became popular in South India around 7th
centaury.
• It challenged the conservative Brahmanic
tradition
• Provide representation to the lower castes
and women.
• Contributions in the field of culture and music

7. BHAKTI MOVEMENT
• First revelation in Tamil Nadu by Alwar and the
Nayanar Saints.
• Alwars were devotees of lord
Vishnu(Vaishnavities).
• Nayanar were worshippers of lord
Shiva(Saivities).
• They spread the message peace and brotherhood
though devotional songs.
• They opposed caste distinctions.

8. BHAKTI MOVEMENT
• A new wave of Bhakthi movement emerge in
North India.
• Common people such as craftsperson,
peasants, traders and laborers thronged to
listen to these new saints.
• Some of the popular saints are Kabir and Guru
Nanak.

9. BHAKTI MOVEMENT
• KABIR
 Leading saints of North India.
Aim to unite people of all castes and religions.
Opposed caste system and untouchability.
 Rejected idol worship, pilgrimages and taking
bath in holy river.
He was not in favour of leaving family life for
accepting sainthood.

10. BHAKTI MOVEMENT
• GURU NANAK
 Focused on the ideas of monotheism.
 Tried to combine the ideas of Hinduism and Islam.
 Stood for full religious tolerance and universal
brotherhood.
 Against idol worship and pilgrimage.
 Promoted middle path spiritual life.
 Contribute prayer songs known as Shabad.
 Instructed followers to have food from common
kitchen (lunger).
 Ideas later led to the emergence of Sikhism.

11. BHAKTI MOVEMENT
• Many women attracted to Bhakti movement.
• Mirabai wife of the crown prince of Mewar
and a disple of sain Ravidas was one amongst
them.
• Devotee of lord krishna.
• She composed number of bhajans which is
still recited by the people of Gujarat and
Rajasthan even today.

12. BHAKTI MOVEMENT
• Many other women saints such as
 Lalded of Kashmir
 Bhahinabai of Maharashtra
 Akka Mahadevi of Karnataka.
 Andal

13. THE VIRASAIVA MOVEMENT
• Begun in Karnataka in 15 century A.D.
• Leadership of Basavanna.
• Wore Shiva linga in the neck.
• Stood against gender and caste discrimination.
• Akkammahadevi is a Virasaiva saint and writer

14. THE VIRASAIVA MOVEMENT
• Basavanna was the first who speak about the dignity of
labour.
• Basavanna also remained every job in this world has its
own greatness.
• Every individual should understand God through
duties.
• Basavanna, Allamaprabhu, Akka Mahadevi etc. made
tremendous contributions to Vachana
Sahityam(Kannada).
• Through Vachanas, Basavanna challenged the primacy
of the Vedas and also encouraged social reforms