The Growth of Sufism
- Sufis, a group of religious adherents, turned to mysticism and austerity as a form of protest against the Caliphate’s increasing materialism.
- They demonstrated their ardent love and devotion to God by carrying out His will.
Khanqahs and Silsilas
- By the eleventh century, Sufism had grown into a fully formed movement with its literature and Sufi traditions.
- Around the hospice, or khanqah (Persian), which was supervised by a teacher known as a shaikh (Arabic), pir, or murshid (Persian), communities were first established by the spiritual leaders.
- He appointed a khalifa (successor) and gathered followers (murids).
- He established rules on spiritual behaviour and relations between laypeople, the prisoner master, and the latter.
- Sufi silsilas, or chains, began to solidify in different parts of the Islamic world in the twelfth century.
- The inmates took an oath of loyalty, shaved their heads, and put on a patched tunic.
- Since Shaikh’s followers believed that saints rejoined with God after death, his tomb shrine (dargah) became the centre of devotion following his departure.
Outside the Khanqah
- Based on a radical interpretation of Sufi values, certain mystics started movements.
- Many turned their backs on the khanqah and adopted mendicancy and celibacy.
- They practised severe types of asceticism and disregarded ceremonies.
- They went by a variety of names, including Haidaris, Qalandars, Madaris, and Malangs.
Poems of Prayer Early Traditions of Bhakti| Class 12 History Notes
This is a thorough guide for Class 12 History Notes, specifically for Chapter 6: “Poems of Prayer: Early Traditions of Bhakti.” We will explore the various religious beliefs and practices, discuss the Poems of Prayer Early Traditions of Bhakti, and much more!