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Sufi and Bhakti Movements Overview

The Sufi movement originated in the 14th-15th centuries as a result of Islamic philosophers being influenced by Hindu scriptures and interacting with Hindu sages in India. The Sufis differed from orthodox Muslims in believing in inner purity over external conduct and that love and devotion could unite the soul with God. They lived ascetic lives and were known as "Sufis" due to wearing wool garments as a symbol of poverty. Leading Sufi saints helped spread Sufism's message of intense devotion and love as a path to God.

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236 views2 pages

Sufi and Bhakti Movements Overview

The Sufi movement originated in the 14th-15th centuries as a result of Islamic philosophers being influenced by Hindu scriptures and interacting with Hindu sages in India. The Sufis differed from orthodox Muslims in believing in inner purity over external conduct and that love and devotion could unite the soul with God. They lived ascetic lives and were known as "Sufis" due to wearing wool garments as a symbol of poverty. Leading Sufi saints helped spread Sufism's message of intense devotion and love as a path to God.

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madhurivijay
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© © All Rights Reserved
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The Sufi movement was a socio-religious movement of fourteenth to

sixteenth century. The exponents of this movement were unorthodox


Muslim saints who had a deep study of vedantic philosophy and Buddhism
of India. They had gone through various religious text of India and had
come in contact with great sages and seers of India. They could see the
Indian religion from very near and realized its inner values. Accordingly
they developed Islamic Philosophy which at last gave birth to the Sufi
Movement.
The Sufi movement therefore was the result of the Hindu influence on
Islam. This movement influenced both the Muslims and Hindus and thus,
provided a common platform for the two.Though the Sufis were devout
Muslims, yet they differed from the orthodox Muslims. While the former
believed in inner purity, the latter believed in external conduct. The union
of the human soul with God through love and devotion was the essence of
the teachings of the Sufi Saints. The method of their realizing God was the
renunciation of the World and Worldly pleasures. They lived a secluded life.
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They were called Sufis as they wore garments of Wool (suf) as their budge
of poverty. Thus the name Sufi is derived from the word Suf. They
consider love to be the only means of reaching God. Historian Tara Chand
says, Sufism indeed was a religion of intense devotion, love was its
passion; poetry, song and dance, its worship and passing away in God its
ideal.
The Sufis did not attach importance to namaz, hajj and celibacy. That is
why they were misunderstood by orthodox muslims. They regarded Singing
and dancing as methods of inducing a state of ecstasy which brought one
nearer to realisation of God. There were some leading Sufi saints like
Khwaja Muinuddin Chisti, Fariuddin Ganj-i-Shakar, Nizam-ud-din Auliya
etc.
The Bhakti movement refers to the theisticdevotional trend that emerged in medieval Hinduism[1] and later
revolutionised in Sikhism.[2] It originated in the seventh-century Tamil south India (now parts of Tamil Nadu and

Kerala), and spread northwards.[1] It swept over east and north India from the 15th century onwards, reaching
its zenith between the 15th and 17th century CE. [3]
The Bhakti movement regionally developed around different gods and goddesses, such
as Vaishnavism (Vishnu), Shaivism (Shiva), Shaktism (Shakti goddesses), and Smartism.[4][5][6] The movement
was inspired by many poet-saints, who championed a wide range of philosophical positions ranging from
theistic dualism of Dvaita to absolute monismof Advaita Vedanta.[7][8]
The movement has traditionally been considered as an influential social reformation in Hinduism, and provided
an individual-focussed alternative path to spirituality regardless of one's caste of birth or gender. [3]Postmodern
scholars question this traditional view and whether the Bhakti movement ever was a reform or rebellion of any
kind.[9] They suggest Bhakti movement was a revival, reworking and recontextualisation of ancient Vedic
traditions.[10]
Scriptures of the Bhakti movement include the Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavata Purana and Padma Purana.[11][12]

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