Socio Political Significance of Bhakti Movement in Medival India

During the Mughal era, the process of converting of Hindus to Islam started (Stearns 32). It should be emphasized that this process appeared when the Delhi sultans were reigning. In spite of the fact that a substantial portion of the Indian peasantry decided to remain Hindu, most of the urban dwellers, lower-caste Hindus and residents of some regions, for example, east Bengal, without any compulsions, accepted the faith of the Mughal sultans (Stearns 32). Nonetheless, according to the article of Peter Stearns, there was a reason why some people converted to Islam; it was because of the political and economic pressures that rendered by the Mughal conquerors (32). Due to these conversions from Hinduism to Islam, the religious map of India was substantially changed (Stearns

Upon reading about the historical and religious background of Ancient India, one can clearly assume that the country was strongly influenced by three main religious teachings: Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. These three sects in religious thinking have many similarities as all recognize the life-cycle and the need of liberation, they worship one central deity that used to be a human who gained enlightenment and they all recognize the existence of the eternal soul and after-death re-incarnation. However, they also share a lot of differences that mark the underlying principles of practicing them. I will identify the scope of differences and similarities in these ancient religions in an attempt to understand why each attracted followers, why

Hindus were divided by their social status, called the caste system. This made Hindus fall under one of the varnas such as Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra and the Untouchables (Strayer, 150-168). Priests and teachers were classified as Brahmins, warriors and kings were Kshatriya, merchants and landowners were known as Vaishya, peasants and serfs were classified as Shudras, and those that didn’t have a place on the caste system were defined as the untouchables because they had no social status. Hindus were unable to change their position in the caste system, until after reincarnation (Strayer, 150-168). There are scriptures such as the sacred text, The Vedas, and it leads to the fact that Brahmins empowered and dominated the top of the caste system and played specific roles in the religious lives of the people even from the start of India’s influence. Hindus became adjusted with these scared texts and grew used to it. They learned to follow religious values and traditions to have a better after life.

of Buddhism. He fled his country (i.e Tibet) and took safety in India in 1959 during the revolt

First, I would like to introduce the religion of Hinduism. The term Hinduism was derived a river of South Asia, the Indus. This term was used by the ancient Persians to classify the people of that region of the North-West territory of the subcontinent. Indian religion, Hinduism, was the term given by the British in the nineteenth century to the population of India that were neither Muslim or Christian.

What was the other main religion of India and how did it influence the people?

In Chapter ten the history of Hinduism is discussed in America and India. Instead of illustrating the religious doctrines of Hinduism. The author lists statistics about the livelihoods of Asian Indians. For example, there are eighteen different official languages in India. As the author emphasizes that doctrines have nothing to do with Hinduism, but the actions that individuals commit. The orthodoxy is a set of responsibilities that Hindus must carry out. If they wish to be reincarnated into a higher caste. In addition, the origin of Hinduism is mentioned within the chapter. That Hinduism is the only major religion that does not have a founder and has no beginning as there is not a specific known date of when it originated. Moreover, Hinduism is the oldest major religion and is the only polytheistic faith among the five popular creeds.

Siddhartha was a significant person in history for the reason of formulating the religion of Buddhism and teaching what he has learned over the years to a small, growing community whose members came to see him as “Buddha” which means teacher. His teachings included the Four Noble Truths, The Eightfold Path, and The Middle Way which spread and became one of the most common religions in Asia.

Hinduism is a very broad term that encompasses a multitude of different backgrounds, traditions, beliefs, and practices. Hinduism, as we know it today, has gone through many changes. To fully understand how Hinduism became as it is currently, knowledge of its development over the course of history is essential. This paper will demonstrate the primary shifts of its central beliefs, practices, and goals between periods of Early Vedic, Late Vedic, and Classical Hinduism.

Siddhartha was a Brahmin’s son, of the upper class in India. He is loved throughout his community. He is revered by all that knows him. He spends his day in meditation and thought.

Religion and philosophy such as Hinduism and Buddhism could have affected India in many ways. First of all, it affected the way people acted. Second, It also affected the gods you would pray to. In the article it states, “Buddhists still paid attention to Hindu gods.” This Shows,” Everyone had a god to pray to.” There is also something called nirvana. Tou can reach nirvana by being a good person and also through meditation. Lastly, there is Ahimsa which means non-violence.

The Indian civilization has achieved complexity and sophistication in its culture through the intertwining of the Harappan and Aryan cultures. The Harappan society was based off a trade and alliance system that has maintained it in a cohesive environment, while the Aryans were a pastoral group that eventually came to settle down within these lands. From root of the mingling of these cultures, Brahmanism was established as the religion and has affected much of the social and political aspects of the Indian civilization. As a response to Brahmanism, Buddhism ventured outward from these practices and established a more collaborative environment that has influenced various regions of Asia.

Siddhartha Gautama was born around 566 – 486 BCE to a royal family in the village of Lumbini in present day Nepal according to The Buddha. He had a normal life growing up, marrying and having children of his own. “Then one day when Siddhartha went outside the royal enclosure where he lived. When he went outside he saw, each for the first time, an old man, a sick man, and a corpse” ("The Buddha"). Siddhartha had a revelation when he saw these men that no matter what happens in life sickness, age, and death are inevitable for all human beings. After this revelation he decided to leave the wealthy life and become a holy homeless man. As he travels his eyes are opened to the sufferings of this cruel world. Siddhartha tried to escape inevitable fates of life by studying with religious men, following a life of self-denial and discipline, and even meditating but could not

He began preaching the way to enlightenment and God after receiving a vision. After his death a series of nine Gurus, regarded as reincarnations of Guru Nanak. Led the movement until 1708. At this time these functions passed to the Panth and the holy text. This text, the Shri Guru Granth Sahib, was finished by the tenth Guru, Gobind Singh. It consists of hymns and writings of the first 10 Gurus, along with texts from different Muslim and Hindu

Siddhartha Gautama was born between 563 and 480 BCE as the prince of Lumbini (in what is now Nepal). His mother died in either in childbirth or shortly thereafter and and his father was left to raise him. During his birth celebrations, it was predicted that Siddhartha would either become a great king or a great spiritual leader. His father wanted him to take over the throne, so he avoided religious teachings and sheltered him from suffering. Siddhartha, unsatisfied with with the life he was leading and yearning to learn about the world, he left his home at twenty-nine to seek the true meaning of life. On his travels he saw an old man, a diseased man,