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School Social Studies Gap Book (Classes VI-X themes) · Chapter 8

Religion and Society: Religions, Bhakti and Sufi Movements

What to remember

  • India is the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, and has welcomed Christianity, Islam and Zoroastrianism. All teach moral life, but they differ in beliefs, texts and rituals.
  • The Bhakti movement stressed devotion to a personal God, equality and local languages, and the Sufi movement stressed love of God and service to people. Both reduced the force of caste and ritual.
  • Buddhism and Jainism arose in the sixth century BCE as protests against costly rituals and birth-based rank. Their teachings are non-violence, simple living and right conduct.

1. The major religions at a glance

ReligionFounder / originHoly textPlace of worshipKey ideas
HinduismNo single founder; grew from Vedic traditionsVedas, Upanishads, GitaTemple (mandir)Dharma, karma, rebirth, moksha
BuddhismGautama BuddhaTripitaka (in Pali)Vihara, stupa, chaityaFour Noble Truths, Eightfold Path
JainismMahavira (24th Tirthankara)AgamasJain templeAhimsa, five vows, anekantavada
SikhismGuru NanakGuru Granth SahibGurudwaraOne God, equality, service (seva)
ChristianityJesus ChristBibleChurchLove, forgiveness, service
IslamProphet MuhammadQuranMosqueOne God (Allah), five pillars
ZoroastrianismZarathustraAvestaFire templeGood thoughts, good words, good deeds

Common values. Every religion teaches truth, kindness and respect for others. Pluralism means living together with respect for different faiths. Religious festivals such as Diwali, Eid, Christmas, Buddha Purnima and Guru Nanak Jayanti show shared community life.

1A. More on Islam, Sikhism, Christianity and Hinduism

  • Islam rests on five pillars: the declaration of faith (*shahada*), prayer five times a day (*salat*), charity (*zakat*), fasting in the month of Ramzan (*sawm*) and pilgrimage to Mecca (*hajj*). Islam came to India through traders on the coast and later through rulers and Sufi saints.
  • Sikhism began with Guru Nanak, who taught that there is one God, that all people are equal and that one must earn an honest living and share it. The Guru Granth Sahib is the holy book. The tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, founded the Khalsa. The community kitchen (*langar*) serves everyone without distinction.
  • Christianity reached the Indian coast very early through traders and missionaries, and it spread widely under European rule. Christian missions opened schools, hospitals and printing presses in many regions, including the Telugu country.
  • Hinduism includes many beliefs and practices. The Vedas are its oldest texts, and the Upanishads discuss the soul (*atman*) and the universal spirit (*Brahman*). The epics Ramayana and Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita teach duty and devotion. Terms to remember are *dharma* (duty), *karma* (action and its result), *samsara* (cycle of birth and death) and *moksha* (freedom from the cycle).
  • Zoroastrians (Parsis) came to India from Persia and live mainly on the western coast. They are a small community that has contributed greatly to trade and industry.

Why religion and society are linked. Religion shapes festivals, food habits, art and law. Temples, mosques, churches and monasteries were also centres of learning and charity. At the same time, rituals and rules sometimes created divisions, so reform movements questioned them.

2. Buddhism and Jainism

Gautama Buddha. Born as Siddhartha in Lumbini (now in Nepal), he left his home, attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya under the Bodhi tree, gave his first sermon at Sarnath (the "turning of the wheel of law") and passed away at Kushinagar.

  • Four Noble Truths: life has suffering; suffering has a cause (desire); suffering can end; there is a path to end it.
  • Eightfold Path: right view, resolve, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness and concentration. It is also called the Middle Path.
  • The Sangha is the order of monks and nuns. The Tripitaka is the Buddhist canon, written in the Pali language.
  • Emperor Ashoka supported Buddhism and sent missions abroad. Andhra has major Buddhist sites at Amaravati, Nagarjunakonda, Bhattiprolu and Salihundam.

Mahavira. He was Vardhamana, the 24th Tirthankara of the Jains, born near Vaishali in the sixth century BCE. He stressed ahimsa (non-violence) and five vows: non-violence, truth, not stealing, non-attachment and celibacy. Jains hold that the truth has many sides (anekantavada). Jainism was spread by trader groups and monks and later divided into Digambara and Shvetambara.

PointBuddhismJainism
LeaderGautama BuddhaMahavira (24th Tirthankara)
Language of textsPaliPrakrit (Ardhamagadhi)
PathMiddle PathStrict self-discipline and non-violence
SoulNot stressed; focus on end of sufferingEvery living being has a soul
SectsTheravada, MahayanaDigambara, Shvetambara

3. The Bhakti movement

Bhakti means loving devotion to God. It grew in South India first, then spread north from about the eighth to the seventeenth century.

South India:

  • Alvars worshipped Vishnu and Nayanars worshipped Shiva. They sang in Tamil and welcomed people of all castes.
  • Shankaracharya (about the eighth century) taught Advaita: the soul and Brahman are one.
  • Ramanujacharya (about the eleventh-twelfth century) taught Vishishtadvaita: God and soul are related, and devotion leads to freedom.
  • Basavanna (Karnataka, twelfth century) founded the Virashaiva or Lingayat tradition, which opposed caste and rituals and supported women's equality.

North and West India:

  • Kabir and Ravidas criticised idol worship and caste. Kabir's dohas speak of one God for both Hindus and Muslims.
  • Guru Nanak founded Sikhism and taught one God, honest work and sharing.
  • Mirabai was a devotee of Krishna; Surdas and Tulsidas wrote about Krishna and Rama; Chaitanya spread Krishna bhakti in Bengal; Tukaram, Namdev and Eknath were Maharashtra saint-poets of Vitthala.
  • Ramananda is linked to teaching bhakti to people of all castes.

Telugu country:

  • Annamacharya (Tallapaka) composed thousands of devotional songs on Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala.
  • Bhakta Ramadasu of Bhadrachalam composed songs on Lord Rama.
  • Potana translated the Bhagavata into Telugu.
  • Vemana composed simple verses on morals that criticise caste and ritual.
  • Tyagaraja composed in Telugu for Carnatic music, although he lived in Tamil country.

Features of the Bhakti movement: personal devotion, equality, use of local languages, rejection of rituals and caste, and saint-poets from all communities. The movement made religion more open and enriched regional literature and music.

4. The Sufi movement

Sufis were Muslim mystics who stressed love of God and service to humanity. They lived simply and welcomed all communities.

  • Sufis were organised into orders (silsilas). The Chishti order was the best known in India.
  • Sufi centres were called khanqahs or dargahs. Sufi music, qawwali, is sung there.
  • Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti of Ajmer, Nizamuddin Auliya of Delhi and Baba Farid are well-known Chishti saints. Amir Khusrau was a poet-disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya.
  • Sufis used local languages such as Hindavi, Punjabi and Dakhni to reach common people.
PointBhakti saintsSufi saints
ReligionMainly HinduMuslim
Core ideaDevotion to a personal GodLove of God and humanity
PlaceTemple, home, roadKhanqah, dargah
Shared messageEquality, simplicity, rejection of empty ritualsEquality, simplicity, rejection of empty rituals

Bhakti and Sufi thought together built the composite culture of India. Their influence is seen in Kabir and Guru Nanak.

5. Teaching religion in the classroom

A teacher should present religions as part of the shared heritage, without ranking any of them. Useful activities: a class calendar of festivals from all faiths, a simple chart of founders, texts and symbols, and group presentations on saints. Children should learn respect and tolerance, and teachers must avoid stereotypes.

Exam traps

  • Lumbini vs Bodh Gaya vs Sarnath vs Kushinagar: birth, enlightenment, first sermon, death of the Buddha.
  • Shankara vs Ramanuja: Advaita (one) vs Vishishtadvaita (qualified one).
  • Alvars vs Nayanars: Vishnu vs Shiva.
  • Bhakti vs Sufi: Bhakti belongs to Hindu tradition; Sufi to Islam. Both stress love and equality.
  • Pali vs Prakrit: Buddhist texts in Pali; Jain texts in Prakrit.
  • Digambara vs Shvetambara: Jain sects; Theravada and Mahayana are Buddhist.
  • Annamacharya vs Ramadasu: Venkateswara of Tirumala vs Rama of Bhadrachalam.
  • Chishti saints: Ajmer is Moinuddin Chishti; Delhi is Nizamuddin Auliya.

One-liners

  • 1. Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath.
  • 2. Buddha attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya.
  • 3. Mahavira was the 24th Tirthankara.
  • 4. The Buddhist canon is the Tripitaka.
  • 5. Ahimsa is the core of Jainism.
  • 6. Shankaracharya taught Advaita; Ramanuja taught Vishishtadvaita.
  • 7. Alvars worshipped Vishnu and Nayanars worshipped Shiva.
  • 8. Basavanna founded the Lingayat tradition.
  • 9. Kabir criticised caste and idol worship.
  • 10. Guru Nanak founded Sikhism; the Guru Granth Sahib is its holy book.
  • 11. The Chishti order is the best known Sufi order in India.
  • 12. Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda are famous Buddhist sites in Andhra.

Practice questions

  1. Where did Gautama Buddha give his first sermon?

    1. Lumbini
    2. Bodh Gaya
    3. Sarnath
    4. Kushinagar
    Answer

    C. Sarnath

    The first sermon at Sarnath is called the turning of the wheel of law.

  2. Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment at

    1. Rajgir
    2. Vaishali
    3. Sarnath
    4. Bodh Gaya
    Answer

    D. Bodh Gaya

    He meditated under the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya.

  3. The holy book of the Buddhists is the

    1. Guru Granth Sahib
    2. Avesta
    3. Tripitaka
    4. Agamas
    Answer

    C. Tripitaka

    The Tripitaka was written in Pali.

  4. The Eightfold Path of Buddhism is also known as the

    1. Royal Path
    2. Middle Path
    3. Path of Knowledge
    4. Path of Penance
    Answer

    B. Middle Path

    It avoids both luxury and extreme self-denial.

  5. Which is NOT one of the Four Noble Truths?

    1. Rituals bring release from rebirth
    2. Suffering can be ended
    3. Life has suffering
    4. Suffering has a cause
    Answer

    A. Rituals bring release from rebirth

    The truths speak of suffering, its cause, its end and the path to it.

  6. Mahavira was the ____ Tirthankara of the Jains.

    1. 12th
    2. 1st
    3. 23rd
    4. 24th
    Answer

    D. 24th

    Mahavira was the last of the 24 Tirthankaras.

  7. The central principle of Jainism is

    1. meditation alone
    2. sacrifice
    3. bhakti
    4. ahimsa
    Answer

    D. ahimsa

    Ahimsa means non-violence in thought, word and deed.

  8. Jain sacred texts were written mainly in

    1. Pali
    2. Tamil
    3. Prakrit
    4. Persian
    Answer

    C. Prakrit

    Buddhist texts are in Pali; Jain texts are in Prakrit.

  9. Digambara and Shvetambara are sects of

    1. Jainism
    2. Zoroastrianism
    3. Buddhism
    4. Sikhism
    Answer

    A. Jainism

    Theravada and Mahayana are Buddhist sects.

  10. Which of the following is a major Buddhist site in Andhra Pradesh?

    1. Sanchi
    2. Amaravati
    3. Bodh Gaya
    4. Sarnath
    Answer

    B. Amaravati

    Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda are known for stupas.

  11. The Alvars were devotees of

    1. Surya
    2. Durga
    3. Shiva
    4. Vishnu
    Answer

    D. Vishnu

    The Nayanars were devotees of Shiva.

  12. The Nayanars worshipped

    1. Vishnu
    2. Rama only
    3. Ganesha only
    4. Shiva
    Answer

    D. Shiva

    Nayanars were Tamil saints devoted to Shiva.

  13. Shankaracharya's philosophy is called

    1. Dvaita
    2. Bhakti yoga
    3. Advaita
    4. Vishishtadvaita
    Answer

    C. Advaita

    Advaita holds that the soul and Brahman are one.

  14. Ramanuja taught the doctrine of

    1. Vishishtadvaita
    2. Eightfold Path
    3. Anekantavada
    4. Advaita
    Answer

    A. Vishishtadvaita

    It means qualified oneness and stresses devotion.

  15. Basavanna founded the

    1. Chishti order
    2. Lingayat (Virashaiva) tradition
    3. Satyashodhak Samaj
    4. Khalsa
    Answer

    B. Lingayat (Virashaiva) tradition

    It opposed caste and ritual in Karnataka.

  16. Which saint criticised both idol worship and caste and was claimed by both Hindus and Muslims?

    1. Surdas
    2. Kabir
    3. Tulsidas
    4. Tukaram
    Answer

    B. Kabir

    Kabir's dohas speak of one God.

  17. The founder of Sikhism was

    1. Guru Nanak
    2. Guru Gobind Singh
    3. Kabir
    4. Mirabai
    Answer

    A. Guru Nanak

    Guru Nanak taught one God and equality.

  18. Mirabai was a devotee of

    1. Shiva
    2. Vitthala
    3. Krishna
    4. Rama
    Answer

    C. Krishna

    She composed songs in praise of Krishna.

  19. Annamacharya composed devotional songs on

    1. Lord Rama of Bhadrachalam
    2. Lord Shiva of Srisailam
    3. Lord Venkateswara
    4. Lord Narasimha only
    Answer

    C. Lord Venkateswara

    He lived at Tirumala and composed songs on Venkateswara.

  20. Bhakta Ramadasu is associated with the temple at

    1. Bhadrachalam
    2. Srisailam
    3. Simhachalam
    4. Tirumala
    Answer

    A. Bhadrachalam

    His songs are on Lord Rama of Bhadrachalam.

  21. Who translated the Bhagavata into Telugu?

    1. Annamacharya
    2. Vemana
    3. Tyagaraja
    4. Potana
    Answer

    D. Potana

    Potana's Andhra Maha Bhagavatamu is a Telugu classic.

  22. Vemana is remembered for

    1. a temple at Tirumala
    2. moral verses that question caste and ritual
    3. the Khalsa
    4. Buddhist stupas
    Answer

    B. moral verses that question caste and ritual

    His simple verses are called Vemana Satakam.

  23. Which of the following is a feature of the Bhakti movement?

    1. Strict rules of caste
    2. Use of only Sanskrit
    3. Ban on music
    4. Devotion in local languages, open to all castes
    Answer

    D. Devotion in local languages, open to all castes

    Bhakti saints spoke to ordinary people in their own languages.

  24. The Sufi saints were

    1. Muslim mystics who stressed love of God
    2. Vedic priests
    3. Jain Tirthankaras
    4. Buddhist monks
    Answer

    A. Muslim mystics who stressed love of God

    Sufis served the poor and welcomed all.

  25. The best-known Sufi order in India was the

    1. Lingayat
    2. Chishti
    3. Theravada
    4. Digambara
    Answer

    B. Chishti

    The Chishti silsila had many dargahs.

  26. Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti's dargah is at

    1. Hyderabad
    2. Agra
    3. Ajmer
    4. Delhi
    Answer

    C. Ajmer

    Nizamuddin Auliya's dargah is in Delhi.

  27. The devotional music of the Sufis is called

    1. kirtan
    2. qawwali
    3. ghazal
    4. bhajan
    Answer

    B. qawwali

    Amir Khusrau is linked to its early development.

  28. The place where Sufis lived and taught is called a

    1. khanqah
    2. gurudwara
    3. mutt
    4. vihara
    Answer

    A. khanqah

    Khanqahs were centres of Sufi teaching.

  29. The Guru Granth Sahib is the holy book of the

    1. Buddhists
    2. Jains
    3. Sikhs
    4. Parsis
    Answer

    C. Sikhs

    It contains the teachings of the Gurus and saints.

  30. Zoroastrians in India are also called

    1. Jains
    2. Sikhs
    3. Bohras
    4. Parsis
    Answer

    D. Parsis

    They came from Persia and follow Zarathustra.

  31. Which of the following is one of the five pillars of Islam?

    1. Hajj
    2. Eightfold Path
    3. Langar
    4. Ahimsa
    Answer

    A. Hajj

    Pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the pillars.

  32. A teacher plans a lesson on religious harmony. Which activity is best?

    1. A debate on which religion is best
    2. A test on religious rankings
    3. Excluding festival topics
    4. A calendar of festivals of all faiths made by students
    Answer

    D. A calendar of festivals of all faiths made by students

    Inclusive activities build mutual respect.

  33. Which pair is correctly matched?

    1. Basavanna - Chishti order
    2. Kabir - Khalsa
    3. Shankara - Advaita
    4. Ramanuja - Advaita
    Answer

    C. Shankara - Advaita

    Ramanuja taught Vishishtadvaita.

  34. Bhakti and Sufi saints were alike in that both

    1. insisted on rituals
    2. supported caste divisions
    3. stressed love of God and equality
    4. used only classical languages
    Answer

    C. stressed love of God and equality

    Both challenged empty ritual and rank.

  35. Consider the statements: 1. Buddha was born at Lumbini. 2. Buddha gave his first sermon at Bodh Gaya. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    The first sermon was at Sarnath, not Bodh Gaya.

  36. Consider the statements: 1. The Alvars were devotees of Vishnu. 2. The Nayanars were devotees of Shiva. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

  37. Consider the statements: 1. Shankaracharya taught Vishishtadvaita. 2. Ramanuja taught Advaita. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    D. Neither 1 nor 2

    Shankara taught Advaita and Ramanuja taught Vishishtadvaita.

  38. Consider the statements: 1. Buddhist texts were written in Pali. 2. Jain texts were written in Prakrit. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

  39. Consider the statements: 1. Sufis lived simply and served the poor. 2. Sufi saints were opposed to local languages. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    Sufis used local languages like Hindavi to teach.

  40. Consider the statements: 1. Kabir supported the caste system. 2. Guru Nanak taught that there is one God. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    Kabir criticised caste; Nanak taught one God.

  41. Consider the statements: 1. Jainism stresses ahimsa. 2. The Eightfold Path is a teaching of Buddhism. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

  42. Consider the statements: 1. Nagarjunakonda and Amaravati are associated with Buddhism. 2. The Bhakti movement began in North India and later spread south. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    Bhakti began in South India with the Alvars and Nayanars.

  43. The Khalsa was founded by

    1. Guru Nanak
    2. Guru Gobind Singh
    3. Guru Tegh Bahadur
    4. Guru Arjan
    Answer

    B. Guru Gobind Singh

    The tenth Guru founded the Khalsa order.

  44. Chaitanya spread Krishna bhakti mainly in

    1. Karnataka
    2. Bengal
    3. Kerala
    4. Punjab
    Answer

    B. Bengal

    Chaitanya was a Bengal saint of Krishna devotion.

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