Samacheer Class 7 Social Science - New Religious Ideas and Movements

1. Periyazhwar was earlier known as Vishnu Chittar. He was one of the twelve Azhwars, who are revered poet-saints in the Vaishnavite tradition of South India, known for their devotional hymns in praise of Vishnu. 2. Guru Granth Sahib is the holy book of the Sikhs. It is a voluminous sacred scripture considered the living Guru by Sikhs, containing hymns and teachings of the Sikh Gurus and other saints. 3. Meerabai was the disciple of Ravidas. She was a 16th-century Hindu mystic poet and devotee of Krishna, whose devotional songs are popular throughout India. Ravidas was a North Indian mystic and poet of the Bhakti movement. 4. Ramanuja's philosophy is known as Vishishtadvaita. This philosophical school of thought, meaning 'qualified non-dualism,' posits that Brahman (the ultimate reality) is characterized by attributes and is the supreme personal God, distinct from the individual soul yet intrinsically connected. 5. Gurudwara Darbar Sahib is situated at Kartarpur in Pakistan. It is a highly revered Sikh shrine, built at the site where Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, spent the last years of his life and established the first Sikh community.

Sufis
2. …………….is based on Vishnu’s avatars, particularly Krishna and Rama.
Vishnu-bhakti
3. Nammazhwar’s fame lies in his……………..stanza Thiruvaimozhi.
1,102
4. The Thiruppavai and the Nachiyar Thirumozhiare are …………….. celebrated works.
A war
5. ……………..is said to have compiled the songs of all of the Nayanmars.
Nambi Andar Nambi
6. ……………..is a fundamental text of the Vedanta school.
Brahma-sutra7. …………….. center of learning were Badrinath, Puri, Dwarka, and Sringeri.
Adi Shankara
8. …………….., Ramanajun was the most influential thinker.
Vaishnava saint
9. Thenkalai Vaishnavism centred on ……………..
Srirangam
10. In Tulsidas’s Hindi retelling of the story of Rama in the……………..
Ramcharitmanas
11. Chisti, Suhrawardi, and Firdausi were the three important order of ……………..
Sufis
12. ……………..tried to reconcile Hinduism and Islam.
Kabir13. The ……………..and the ……………..were collections of Kabir’s verses.
Granthavali, Bijak
14. He visited many holy places and finally settled in ……………..near Lahore.
Kartarpur
15. Guru Nanak preached that ……………..
God is without form

The following statements are true or false as indicated: Sufism was responsible for the spread of Islamic culture is False, as Sufism was a spiritual movement within Islam focused on mysticism and devotion rather than the primary agent of cultural spread. The best known Sufi sage of the early medieval period was Nizamuddin Auliya of the Chishti order is True. Guru Nanak is considered the first guru of Sikhs is True, as he founded Sikhism and established the tradition of Gurus. Sufis believed that realization of God can be achieved only through passionate devotion to God and intense meditation is True, reflecting the core spiritual practices of Sufism. The basic Tamil Saivite sacred canon consists of 12 books is True, referring to the Tirumurai collection of Tamil Shaivite literature.

Tukaram was a 17th-century saint-poet of Maharashtra who played a significant role in the Bhakti movement of the region. He was deeply devoted to Vitthoba, an avatar of Krishna, and the Vitthoba temple at Pantharpur, also known as Pandaripuram, in the Sholapur district of Maharashtra was central to his spiritual life and teachings. Tukaram composed numerous devotional songs and poems in praise of Vitthoba and made pilgrimages to the temple. His spiritual influence and devotional practices made him a major figure in Maharashtra's religious and cultural life. Just as Chaitanya Deva was the most important saint-poet of Bengal during the medieval period, Tukaram held a similar position of spiritual and cultural significance in Maharashtra, inspiring countless devotees through his passionate devotion to Vitthoba.

Kabir's spiritual ideas appealed to the lower classes because they were revolutionary and challenged the existing social hierarchy. As a Muslim who came under the influence of the Varanasi-based Saint Ramananda, Kabir accepted some Hindu ideas and attempted to reconcile Hinduism and Islam, showing that spiritual truth transcended religious boundaries. He opposed discrimination based on religion, caste, and wealth, which were the primary sources of oppression for lower-class people. Kabir believed that God is one with different names and forms, promoting the idea of religious unity and equality before God. His teachings emphasized that spiritual realization was accessible to all people regardless of their social status, caste, or religious background. This message of equality, simplicity, and direct devotion to God resonated deeply with the marginalized sections of society who were excluded from religious privileges by the upper classes and orthodox religious institutions.

Andal was the only female Azhwar, a saint-poet of the Tamil Bhakti movement, and holds a unique and revered position in Hindu religious history. She grew up in the temple town of Srivilliputhur in Tamil Nadu and became known as Andal, which means 'she who ruled,' reflecting her spiritual authority and influence. Andal was deeply devoted to Krishna and composed beautiful devotional songs and poems expressing her love and devotion to the deity. Her father, Periyazhwar, who was earlier known as Vishnu Chittar, was also a renowned saint-poet who composed songs on Krishna. Andal's compositions are part of the Tamil Saivite sacred canon and are recited in temples as part of worship. She is celebrated as a symbol of feminine devotion and spiritual power in Hindu tradition, and her life and teachings continue to inspire devotees across generations.

Meera Bai was born in the sixteenth century and was the wife of the crown prince of Mewar. She was an ardent and devoted follower of Lord Krishna and spent her life in devotion and worship. Meera Bai became a disciple of the saint Ravidas, who greatly influenced her spiritual path. She is remembered primarily for her beautiful and devotional bhajans, or devotional songs, which were composed in praise of Krishna. These bhajans expressed her deep love and devotion to the deity and became very popular among common people. Through her bhajans and spiritual teachings, Meera Bai gained widespread popularity and became an important figure in the Bhakti movement. Her life exemplified the principles of the Bhakti movement, which emphasized personal devotion to God and rejected ritualistic practices. Meera Bai's contributions to devotional literature and her role in spreading the message of love and devotion to Krishna made her one of the most celebrated saints in Indian history.

Vaishnavite Saints (12Azhwars):
Eg: Poigai Azhwar, Bhoothathu Azhwar, and Pei Azhwar.
Saivite Saints (63 Nayanmars):
There are 63 legendary Nayanmars. Among them, Gnanasampandar, Appar, and Sundarar (often called “the trio”) are worshipped as saints through their images in South Indian temples.
Adi Shankara:
He preached the Advaita philosophy.
Shankara enthusiastically endeavoured to restore the orthodox Vedic tradition.
Ramanuja:
Ramanuja, a Vaishnava saint, was the most influential thinker of Vaishnavism.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, Vaishnavism spread across India.
He established centres to spread his doctrine of devotion, Srivaishnavism, to God Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi.
MeeraBai:
Meera Bai, the wife of the crown prince of Mewar, was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna.
Chaitanyadeva:
Chaitanya deva popularised Krishna worship through ecstatic songs.
Tulsidas:
He is retelling of the story of Rama in Hindi.

Sufism:
The word Sufi takes its origin from suf, meaning wool.
The Sufis wore coarse garments made of wool and hence they were called Sufis.
Sufism in India:
The advent of Suf is to India dates back to the Arab conquest of Sind.
It gained prominence in the 10th and 11th centuries during the reign of the Delhi Sultans.
Sufism adopted many native Indian concepts such as yogic postures, music and dance.
Sufism found adherents among both Muslims and Hindus.
Sufis in medieval India were divided into three major orders.
They were Chisti, suhrawardi, and Firdausi.
Moinuddin Chishti made Chisti order popular in India.
His resting place is in the Ajmer Sharif Dargah in Ajmer, Rajasthan.

Impact of the Religious / Bhakti Movement:
Vedic Hinduism was regenerated and thus saved from the onslaught of Islam.
The Islamic tenets – unity of God and universal brotherhood – emphasised by the saints promoted harmony and peace.
Bhakti was a movement of the common people; it used the language of the common people for its devotional literature.
Bhakti movement opened up space for Indian languages to grow.
It stimulated literary activity in regional languages.
What sustained Sanskrit,despite its decline during this period, was the support extended by the rulers of Hindu kingdoms.
Tamil was the only ancient Indian language remained vibrant during this period.
Caste system and social disparities came to be criticised.