9th social science 18 chapter

CHAPTER – 18: BHAKTI PANTHA

I. Fill in the blanks with suitable words:

1. Bhakti means pure trust in God.

2. The famous follower of Ramananda was Kabir.

3. Kabir’s followers are called Kabirpanthis.

4. The collection of Chaitanya’s philosophical thoughts is called Chaitanya Charitamruta.

5. The poetic work ‘Ramadhanya Charite’ was written by Kanaka Dasa.

II. Answer the following questions.

6. Who popularized the worship of Rama and Sita? What are his services to society?

• Ramananda was the reformer who popularized the worship of Rama and Sita.
• As a follower of Ramanuja’s philosophy, he established a Vaishnava school centered on love and devotion.
• He traveled extensively across North India, with Varanasi serving as his headquarters.
• He strongly condemned the caste system and welcomed individuals from all social backgrounds into his religious sect.

7. Who are the Sikhs? Which is their holy book?

Answer :- The followers of Guru Nanak are known as ‘Sikhs’. Their sacred holy book is the ‘Guru Granth Sahib’.

8. The role of Srimantha Shankardeva is prominent in the cultural and religious history of Assam. Explain.

• Srimantha Shankardeva (where 'Srimantha' is an honorary title) introduced significant innovations to Indian culture and music.
• He initiated the Bhakti movement in Assam, known as the 'Ekasarana Dharma' or Vaishnava movement, which exerted influence across other parts of India.
• His teachings emphasize developing unstinted love for Lord Krishna, singing His praises, and attaining devotion through listening to His glory.
• Unlike other Vaishnava traditions, his movement does not worship Radha alongside Krishna.
• He introduced the 'Sarniya' system, a formal method of initiation into his religious movement.
• He fought against social inequality, actively working to include all people in his movement, and advocated for faith in Krishna as the path to salvation.

9. Explain the concept of Bhakti by Purandaradasa.

• Purandaradasa emphasized true devotion while openly criticizing false worship and superficial religious philosophies.
• He rejected discrimination based on caste and creed, advocating for inner spiritual reflection over external rituals.
• He famously argued that external physical purity is meaningless without inner spiritual cleansing, stating, "What is the use of cleaning the external filth without cleansing the internal filth?"
• He stressed that religious acts, such as bathing in holy rivers, are useless without genuine faith.
• He celebrated the value of human life, urging people not to waste it, and became a beacon for a life of satisfaction.
• His vast wisdom is often referred to as the 'Upanishad of Purandaradasa', earning him the renown, "Dasa means Purandaradasa."

10. What are the effects of the Bhakti movement?

• The primary goals of the Bhakti movement were to reform Hindu practices and foster harmony between Hindus and Muslims.
• The reformers succeeded in addressing and removing many systemic weaknesses within Hindu society.
• The movement led to the flourishing of regional languages, as many reformers wrote their teachings in the vernacular to make them accessible to common people.
• This period significantly contributed to the overall development and integration of Indian culture.