1

• The period between 1206 A.D. and 1526 A.D. her attempts to rule independently. o Tabaqat-i
in India’s history is known as the Delhi Nasiri (1260 CE) for Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud
Sultanate period Shah was written by Minhaj Siraj. • 1240 –
Sultanate Period Mamluk 1206-1290 CE serious rebellion broke out in Sirhind under
Khalji 1290-1320 CE Thuglaq 1320-1413 CE Altuniya (governor). • Bahram (another son of
Sayyid 1414-1451 CE Lodhis 1451-1526 CE Iltutmish) was pit to throne by Turkish nobles.
MAMLUK DYNASTY • After the death of Ghiyas Uddin Balban: • Also known as Ulugh
Muhammad Ghori, Slave (Ghulam) or Mamluk khan. • He was one of the main architects of
Dynasty was established by Kutub Uddin Aybak. the Delhi Sultanate. • According to him, the
• Aibak is considered as real founder of Muslim Sultan was God’s shadow on earth (Zil-i-Ilahi)
rule in India. and recipient of divine grace (Nibyabat-i-
Qutub-ud-din Aibak: • He founded First Khudai). • He broke the power of the Turkan-i-
independent Turkish Kingdom in India & chahalgan. • Introduced Persian festival
assumed the title ‘Sultan’. • He is Known as Nawrouz. • Called himself Nasir-amir-ul-momin
‘lakh Baksh’ or giver of lakhs as he gave a lot of (Caliph’s right-hand man). • He separated
liberal donations. • Aibak issued coins in gold, Diwan-i-wizarat (Finance Department) from the
silver, billon and copper. He discarded carving Diwan-iArz (Military Department). • He
the name of Abbasid caliph on it. • He Made followed policy of blood & iron. • Excluded
Lahore his capital non-Turks from administration. o Indian
• Aibak constructed 2 Mosques: Quwwat-ul- Muslims did not given important posts. • He
Islam (Delhi), and Arhai din ka Jhonpara appointed spies to monitor the activities of the
(Ajmer). • He Started construction of the Qutub nobles. • Introduced sijada (prostration) and
Minar dedicated to Sufi Saint, Khwaja paibos (kissing the Sultan’s feet) to prove his
Qutubuddin Bakthiyar Kaki – later completed superiority over the nobles.
by Iltutmish. • He patronized Hasan Nizami who KHALJI DYNASTY • Khalji nobles headed by
wrote Tajul-Ma’asir, the first official history of Jalaldduin, overthrew the incompetent
the Delhi Sultanate. successors of Balban in 1290 and established
Iltutmish: • Iltutmish the son in law of Qutub the Khalji dynasty - ‘Dynastic Revolution’ of
Uddin Aiykab disposed Aram Shah. • He 1290. Jalaluddin Khalji: • He was the first
belonged to Ilbari tribe hence named Ilbari sultan of Delhi Sultanate to have a benevolent
dynasty. • He was the real consolidator of attitude towards Hindus - state cannot become
Turkish rule in India. • He shifted the capital a truly Islamic. • He was murdered by his son-
from Lahore to Delhi. • He introduced Arabic in-law Alauddin Khalji in 1296 and usurped
coinage into India – first ruler in India used the throne. • He was appointed as Amir-i-Tuzuk
name of Caliph on Coins. o Silver tanka became (Master of Ceremonies) and Ariz-iMumalik
a standard coin in medieval India and also (Minister of Law) by Jalauddin Khalji.
issued Copper jital. • He created a new class of • Jalauddin’s policy of tolerance was reversed
ruling elite of forty powerful military leaders, by Alauddin Khalji; awarded harsh punishment
the forty (Turkan-i-chahalgani). • He followed who opposed him. • He was first sultan who
hereditary succession in India – nominated his separated religion from politics. He proclaimed
daughter Raziya as his successor. “Kingship knows no kinship”. • Ziauddin Barani
Raziya Sultana: • She is the first and only wrote book ‘Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi’ and Fatwa-
female ruler in Delhi Sultanate. • She discarded iJahandari’. • Patronized poets like - Amir
female apparel and purdah, adopted male Khusrau and Mir Hasan Dehlv. • Amir Khusrau:
attire, went for hunting and let army thud o Created qawwali, a form of Sufi devotional
aroused resentment among Turkish nobles. • song. o He invented Sitar o He introduced
She was not acceptable to Muslim theologians Tarana and Trivat compositions in Hindustani
and nobles. • Minhaj-i Siraj, recognised that she Music. o He is recognized as the first major
was more able and qualified than all her Urdu poet. • He adopted the title of Sikander-i-
brothers. But he was not comfortable at having Azam and gave Amir Khusrau the title of Tuti-i-
a queen as ruler. Nor were the nobles happy at Hind (Parrot of India).
 2

• Architecture: Famous gateway known as Alai • He Built fort of Adilabad and the city of
Darwaza, Hauz Khas, Mhal Hazaar Satoon, Jahanpanah.. • During his time three South
Jamait Khana Mosque, Alai Minar and Indian kingdoms emerged: Vijayanagar,
constructed a new capital at Siri. • He is the Bahamani, and Madurai. • Transferred capital
first sultan to have large permanent standing from Delhi to Devagiri (Daulatadab) and shifted
army & paid in cash from royal treasury. back after two years because of the lack of
• He introduced Chehra and Dagh systems in water supply. • He issued token bronze coins at
defence: o Chehra – detailed description of par with the value of the silver tanka coins.
each soldier o Dagh – Branding of horse. • He had also introduced the copper currency
• Revenue was half of the produce & was based system. Later withdrew both. • He set up
on land under cultivation. • First ruler to fix Diwan-i-amir-kohi a separated department to
land revenue in cash. It enabled him to pay his extend cultivation by giving loans to cultivators
soldiers in cash. • To gain support of common (takkavi loans) – Failed due to corrupt officials.
people and to maintain large army he Firoz Shah Thuglaq: • He appointed Khan-i-
introduced some important market reforms: o Jahan Maqbal, a Telugu Brahmin as Wazir or
He fixed cost of all commodities. For this prime minister. • He revived the iqta system
purpose, he set up three markets – one for and made it hereditary. • Malik Muhammad
food grains, second for costly and third for Jaisi author of “Padmavat” was contemporary.
horses, slaves etc. o He appointed Shahna-I- • To appease theologians, Firoz took following
Mandi, Naib-I-Riyasat & Diwan-I-Riyasat to keep decisions: o Prohibited practice of Muslim
check on these markets. o He also received women going out to worship. o Gave
daily reports of markets from Barids concessions to theologians o Made jizya a
(intelligence officer) and munhiyans (secret separate tax. Earlier it was part of land revenue.
spies) Only children, women, disabled exempted. o
THUGLAQ DYNASTY • Last Khalji ruler, Erased wall paintings in his palace. • He set up
Khusro Khan, was a Hindu slave who had been hospitals for poor called – Dar-ul-shifa. •
forcibly converted to Islam and then served the Established town of Hissar and Firozabad. •
Delhi Sultanate as the general of its army for Diwan -i-Khairat – to make provisions for
some time. • After the death of Alauddin Khalji, marriages of poor girls. • Diwan -i-Bandagan –
Khusro Khan killed his son Mubarak Khalji. Department for slaves. • He was first Sultan to
• He lacked the support of the Muslim nobles impose Sharb (irrigation tax). Nasiruddin
and aristocrats of the Delhi Sultanate. Muhammad Thuglaq: • Taimur’s invasion
• Delhi's aristocracy invited Ghazi Malik, then (1398) during his reign weakened the sultanate
the governor in Punjab under the Khaljis, to SAIYYAD DYNASTY • Before his departure from
lead a coup in Delhi and remove Khusro Khan. India, Timur appointed Khizr Khan as Governor
• After assuming power, Ghazi Malik renamed of Multan. • He captured Delhi and founded
himself Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq – thus starting the Sayyid dynasty in 1414. • He was succeeded
and naming the Tughlaq dynasty. by, Mubarak Shah (1421-1433 CE) and
Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq: • He took the title Muhammad Shah (1434-1443 CE). • ‘Tarikh-I-
‘Ghazi’. • He is the first Sultan to start Mubarakshahi’ by Yahya bin Ahmad Sirhindi.
Irrigation. • Last ruler Alauddin Alam Shah handed over
• Built a strong fort called Tughlaqabad near the throne to Buhlul Lodi and retired to
Delhi.• Amir Khusrau’s famous work “Tughlaq Badaun.
Nama” deals with the rise of Ghiyasuddin LODHI DYNASTY • Bahlul Khan Lodi was the
Tughlaq. Mohammad Bin Tughlaq: • His reign chief of the Pashtun Lodi tribe - an Afghan
marks the zenith of the Delhi Sultanate but also dynasty Sikandar Lodi: • He founded city Agra
saw the beginning of disintegration. and transferred capital from Delhi to Agra.
• He defeated Mongols. • Ibn-Batuta (native of • He abolished the octroi duty on grains and
Morocco) was a contemporary to Muhammad established a new measurement of the yard
Tughlaq and was his envoy to China. • He Built called the Gaz-i-Sikandari. • Sikandar was
fort of Adilabad and the city of Jahanpanah. orthodox and a bigot king. he reimposed the
 3

• Masnavi - by Babur-Turkish translation of

Jizya on Hindus. • He was a poet of repute, Rumi’s Sufi work. • Ali Sher Navai - Poet -
composed under the pen-name of Gulruk. Patronaged By Him • Guru Nanak –
• The two books compiled in Sikander lodhi's contemporary of Babur • Aaram Bagh - oldest
time was Ma'adan ul Shifa on medicine and Mughal Garden – Agra – by Babur
Lehjat e Sikander Shah (Nazir Ahmed) on music. • He was a devotee of Shaikh Ubaidulla Ahrar -
Ibrahim Lodi: • He was the last Lodi Sultan of Naqshabandi Sufi saint • He didn’t destroy any
Delhi. • Ibrahim was defeated in 1526 at the Hindu temple, but destroyed Jain Dieties in
Battle of Panipat by the Babur. Urwa valley ~ naked statues • Mir Baqi -
• This marked the end of the Lodi Dynasty and Ayodhya governor under Babur destroyed Ram
the rise of the Mughal Empire in India Temple • Babur's Mosque - Panipat – built by
MUGHAL EMPIRE Babur • Babur popularized the gun powder,
• The Mughals were descendants of two great cavalry and artillery in India. (Gunpowder used
lineages of rulers. • Babur: founder of the earlier in India, but Babur popularized its use).
Mughal Empire in India was related to Timur • He had assumed title of Padshah
from his father’s side and to Chengiz Khan HUMAYUN (1530-40 & 1555-56) • Humayun
through his mother. • Babur succeeded his – meaning: Fortune ~ original name Nasiruddin
father as the ruler of Farghana (Uzbekistan), Muhammad • Succession crisis with brothers –
but soon lost his kingdom. • Financial Kamran (Kabul & Kandahar) + Askari (Sambhal)
difficulties, apprehension of Uzbek attack on + Hindal (Alwar) • He had to deal with the rapid
Kabul and invitation of Rana Sanga to invade growth of power of the Afghans & and Bahadur
India forced Babur to look towards India. shah of Gujrat. • Battle Daurah - Defeated Sher
BABUR (1526-1530 AD) • Babur – meaning: sha Suri – Captured Chunar fort.
Tiger in Persian • He was the ruler of Farghana • At the battle of Chausa (1539) & battle of
> lost to Uzbegs > seized Kabul in 1504 • Daulat Kanauj (1540) Sher Shah Sur, defeated
Khan Lodhi+Rana Sanga (Mewar) - invited to Humayun and forced him to flee India.
India against Ibrahim Lodhi. • First Battle of • Stayed in Amarkot - ruled by Rana Prasad, he
Panipat (1526) – Babur decisively defeated promised Humayun to help.
Ibrahim Lodhi. • Used Cannon – helped by two • But he left India – lived under Shah Tahmasp
ottoman master gunners – Ustad Ali & Mustafa (Safavid dynasty) of Persia • Agreement with
– Tulugama warfare - attack from both side and Shah Thamsasp ~ Qandahar • Persians showed
rear conquered Delhi + sent Humayun to seize no eagerness – Humayun captured Qandahar in
Agra + title “Emperor of Hindustan”. 1545 ~ defeated his brothers.
• Battle of Khanwa (1527) – Babur defeated • In 1555, following the breakup of Suri Empire
Rana Sangha and assumed title of Ghazi he recaptured Delhi but died next year.
• In Baburnama – Babur blames Rana Sanga for • Battle of Sirhind (1555) - defeated Sikandar
breaking his promise – didn’t support Babur Suri – restored Mughal Rule. • After six months-
against Ibrahim Lodhi • Battle of Chanderi died - fall from the staircase of his library.
(1528) – Medini Rai was defeated and with this • Humayun built a new city at Delhi which he
resistance across Rajputana was completely named “Dinpanah” ~ Delhi -three Gates - Talaqi
shattered. • Battle of Ghagra (1529) – Babur Gate + Bara Darwaza + Humayun Gate
defeated Mahmud Lodhi who aspired to the • Mosques: Jamali mosque and mosque of Isa
throne of Delhi. • Babur Introduced Char-Baghs Khan at Delhi. • Purana Qila/Old Fort - built by
and symmetrically laid out gardens. Humayun • Gyarah Sidi (Eleven steps) -
• Built mosques at Panipath and Sambhat in astrological observatory By Humayun.
Rohilkhand.• Babur wrote Tuzuk-I-Baburi • His widow Amida Benu Bhegum built
(Babarnama) & Masnavi. o Abdur Rahim Khan Humayun’s tomb (UNESCO site) ~ 1st Garden
translated Tuzuk I Baburi into Persian as Tomb of India - by Akbar - ‘dormitory of the
‘Baburnamma’ • Babur died at Agra - body Mughals’-buried 150 Mughal family members –
taken to Kabul – buried. orso of Dara Shikoh buried here • The
 4

foundation for the Mughal painting was laid by Shah took people belonging to different ethnic
Humayun when he was staying in Persia. groups in such a way that his dynastic interest
• He brought with him two painters – Mir could be safeguarded. o No group was strong
Sayyid Ali and Abdal Samad to India, who enough to assume the shape of a pressure
became famous during Akbar’s reign. group. The establishment of pure Afghan
• “Princes Of The House Of Timur” – famous nobility was never a consideration with Sher
painting by Abdal Samad • Humayun’s sister, Shah. • Mauza (village) was the lowest level of
Gul Badan Begum, wrote “Humayun- administration. • There were also many
Nama//Qanun-IHumayuni” ~ written that administrative units called iqtas.
Babur died of poisoning • Land survey was carefully done. He
SHER SHAH SURI (1540-45) • Founder of Sur introduced a schedule of crop rates (ray).
dynasty and second Afghan Empire (after • Improved land revenue by adopting zabti-i-
Lodhi). • Sher Shah’s rule lasted for five years ~ har-sal (land assessment every year).
siege of Fort of Kalinjar - severely wounded on • All cultivable lands were classified into three
account of explosion and died soon after (22 classes – good, middle and bad
May 1545). • Purana Qila (Old Fort) and its • he state’s share was one third of the average
mosque, Mausoleum at Sasaram were produce and it was paid in cash or crop. Land
constructed during this period. • He continued was measured using Sikandari gaz (32 points).
the central administration developed during • He built the Shahi (Royal) road from the Indus
the Sultanate period. • Important officials: Valley to the Sonar Valley in Bengal.
• Diwan i Wizarat / Wazir – Revenue and • This road was renamed the Grand Trunk (GT)
Finance. • Diwan i Ariz – in charge of Army. road during the British period, connecting
• Diwan i Rasalat – Foreign Minister. Calcutta and Peshawar. • He also built Sarais
• Diwan i Insha – Minister for Communications. (lodging) which also served as post office. Many
• Barid – Intelligence • Sher Shah seems to sarais developed into market towns.
have been inspired by the history of Sultan • He followed branding of horses from Alauddin
Alauddin Khalji’s (l296-1316) reign. Khalji and maintained his personal royal force
• He adopted most of the rules and regulations called Khasa Kail. • Islam shah overpowered
introduced by the Khalji Sultan. • The village and eliminated many senior and experienced
was the primary fiscal unit. nobles who supported his elder brother Adil
• The sarkar comprised a number of parganas, Khan. • Islam Shah shifted his capital from Agra
each pargana consisting of a number of villages. to Gwalior and also brought his father’s
• In the doab region, the sarkar (the successor treasures from Chunar. • He took away the
of shiqq under the Khaljis) was the iqtas of the nobles and brought the whole
administrative-cum-fiscal unit. Empire under khalisa. • The officers were paid
• Wilayat - a number of sarkars in the outlying in cash instead of iqtas
regions, such as Bengal, Malwa, Rajputana and ISLAM SHAH-• Islam Shah – 1545 to 1553 --
Sind and Multan were retained for the failed to consolidate the state any further. o
convenience of defence. • Chief Shiqdar (law Most of the time – problems with brothers •
and order) & Chief Munsif (judge) - Incharge of Soon after Islam Shah’s death, • Mubariz Khan
the administration in each sarkar. murdered Islam’s son Firuz and ascended the
• Shiqdar (military officer), Amin (land throne with the title of Adil Shah. • Sedition
revenue), Fotedar (treasurer), Karkuns and rebellions marred the entire country and
(accountants) were in charge of the the Empire broke into ‘five’ kingdoms • Created
administration of each pargana. ideal climate for HumayuN
• The noble posted as incharge of sarkar or AKBAR (1556 - 1605) • Jalaluddin
wilayat was not given unlimited powers - Muhammad Akbar - greatest ruler of Mughal
regularly directed through royal farman to Empire. • Mother: Hamida Banu Begum •
implement new rules and regulations. o The Young Akbar was captured by Kamran(uncle)-
spies informed the king about the conduct of treated well. • Crowned at Kalanaur -age 13
the officers. • In organizing his nobility, Sher years -Bairam Khan (regent) ~ title: Khan
 5

-I Khanan. • Battle of Tughlaqabad/Battle of • Akbar abolished pilgrim tax > abolished

Delhi - Hemu (General of Adil Shah -Bengal) - practice of forcible conversion of prisoners of
defeated mughals led by Tardi Beg Khani war > Abolished jizya > prohibited cow-killing
(executed by Bairam Khan for his failure) • He abolished Sati + banned slavery
• In 1556, in the second battle of Panipat, he • Forts - Agra Fort, Lahore fort, Allahabad fort
defeated Hemu (Sur’s wazir). • Abul-fazl - • Agra Fort - red sandstone - Jahangiri Mahal -
prasied hemu for his courage • Between 1556- Delhi Gate - Amar Singh Gate • ‘Khairul
60, Akbar ruled under Bairam Khan’s regency. Manazil’ - Delhi Madarasa - built by Abul Samad
• Akbar removed Bairam Khan as per his • Fatehpur Sikri – city near Agra -known as
request – Send to Mecca – he was killed in Second capital + Buland Darwaza • To
alwar by Haji khan a war general of hemu, to commemorate Gujarat victory • Jodha Bai’s
take revenge against him for killing his King palace, Birbal palace, Panch Mahal (5 storeys)
Hemu. • Akbar married his widow – brought up • Ibadat Khana-Hall of Prayer-used to conduct
Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan ~ Bairam’s son religious discussions - Buddhist not participated
Urdu poet – devotee of Lord Krishna ~ wrote + Dastur Maharji Rana (Parsi), Hira Vijaya Suri
couplets in Hindi in praise of Lord Krishna. (Jain, title ‘jagat guru’ given by akbar),
• Maham Anaga - foster mother/Nurse In Chief Purushottam Das (Hindu), Aquaviva and
Of Akbar + her son:Adham Khan - defeated Baz Monserrate – Christian (Portuguese)
Bahadur (Malwa sultan) - his wife Rani • After few years - debates discontinued -as it
Roopamati committed suicide-massacared-not led to bitterness among religions
sent booty to Akbar – removed -he claimed • Guru Ramdas(3rd sikh guru) - given "Palace of
post of wazir -Akbar threw him down from the Amritsar"- by Akbar • Govind Dev temple–
Agra Fort. • Mirza Hakim-Akbar’s btother - Vrindavan + Cambay - Akbar's Church - Akbar
revolted from Kabul • Mullayazdi - member of saw sea for first time + Surat - Gate Way If
Ulema - issued Fatwa against Akbar • Sheikh Mecca -1 st ruler to organize Haj pilgrimage at
Ahmad Sirhindi – known as Mujaddid Alf Thani the expense of the state. • Gold Mohur – coin
– opposed relegious policies of Akbar. by Akbar - bore figures of Sita and Ram
• Garh-Katanga (Gondwana) - attacked by Asaf • Ilahi(gold coin) + Jalali(silver coin)
Khan (governor of Allahabad) - Rani Durgavati • He built his own tomb - at Sikandra (near
fought bravely – died • Ahmednagar - attacked Agra) – don’t have middle dome • Baswan,
by prince Murad & khan i kahan Abdul rahim - Miskina, Daswant -painters of Akbar’s court
Chand Bibi fought bravely – died + deccan • Daswant - son of a palanquin bearer –t
annexations started during Akbar + Bijapur rained by Persian master AbdulṢamad (Master
Sultan Ali Adil Shah established diplomatic of Imperial Mint) • Tasvir Khana - dedicated
relations with Akbar • Asirgarh fort (Satpura warehouse for paintings • Hamzanama/Dastan-
Ranges,MP)-known as 'Babe Deccan’ – Key to e-Amir Hamza - consisted of 1200 paintings
the Deccan/Door to South India - capatured by • Ain I Akbari – 3 rd Volume of Akbar Namma
akbar • Man Singh (included in Navaratna) – by Abul Fazl • Maktab Khana - translation
son of Bhagwant Das - governor of Bihar. department – Started by Akbar
• Manbhawati Bai / Man sister of Man Singh- • Razmnama – ‘The Book of War’ ~ Persian
married to Jehangir (Salim) – mother of Khusru translation of Mahabharata ~ by Abul Faizi –
– she committed suicide by consuming poison brother of Abul fazl • Haji Ibrahim Sarhindi -
• Battle of Haldighati (1576)- Akbar defeated translation of Atharva Veda • Tansen of Gwalior
Rana Paratap following most of the Rajput - patronaged by Akbar+ Megh Malhar(rain) –
rulers accepted Akbar’s suzerainty ~ Man Singh Deepak(fire) • Tazkireh-i-Humayun va Akbar -
• Akbar defeated Gujarat ruler Muzaffar Shah – by Bayazid Bayat • Tulsidas – Ramacharitmanas
to commemorate this victory, he built Buland – devotee of Lord Rama • Surdas - blind poet -
Darwaza at Fatehpur Sikri. • Roshanai rebellion book ‘Sur Sagar’ – inspiration frm
- Khyber pass blocked by rebellious tribes Vallabhacharya + devotee of Lord Krishna
uppressed - but Birbal lost his life. • Zabti/Bandobast system - revenue system of
• Sikka Elchi coin - issued after Chittor victory Akbar - based on Sher Shah’s land revenue
 6

system + improved by Raja Todar Mal (Dahsala • Educational syllabus – revised - more
system) emphasis mathematics and on secular subjects
• Uniform system of measurement + revenue such as agriculture, geometry, astronomy etc.
was fixed on the basis of the yield of past 10 • Jharokha Darshan - daily practice of
years + 1/3rd tax should pay in cash addressing public audience from the balcony
• Polaj - cultivated every year • Akbar’s navratnas (nine jewels): 1. Abul Fazl -
• Parauti - once in 2 years • Chachar - once in 4 Akbarnama, Ain-i-Akbari + led Mughal army in
years • Banjar - once in 5 or more years Deccan war + killed by Bir Singh Bundela
• Karoris - Officials responsible for tax (plotted by Prince Salim) 2. Abul Faizi - Persian
collection • Gaj-I-Illahi –.uniforms measuring poet + Brother of Abul Fazl + Razm Nama -
standard - invented by Fethullah Shirazi – Mahabharata translation + translated Lilavati
Persian engineer worked for Akbar (work on mathematics) 3. Mian Tansen -
• Mansabdari System – adopted from Deepak and Megh Malhar – ragas 4. Raja Birbal
Mongolia - bureaucratic system - Mansab - rank -- Mahesh Das + died on fighting Roshanai tribe
assigned to an officer–highest rank (5000) – 5. Raja Todar Mal - revenue minister +
lowest (10) - Mirza Aziz Koka and Raja Man introduced standard weights and measures +
Singh - honoured with rank 7000 • Tajwiz – worked under Sher Shah + title of “Diwan-i-
application to join service + appointments, Ashraf”. 5. Raja Man Singh - son of Bhagwant
promotions and • dismissals were made by Das - won Battle of Haldighati 6. Fakir Aziao Din
emperor himself. • Zat Rank – rank in the army - Sufi mystic + chief advisors of Akbar. 7. Abdul
+ salary based on Zat • Sawar Rank – number of Rahim Khan-i-Khanan - Son of Bairam Khan -
cavalrymen (sawars) required to maintain + poet - translated Baburnama into Persian -
Every sawar has to maintain at least two devotee of Lord Krishna 8. Mirza Aziz Koka -
horses. • Ranks below 500 zat – Mansabdars; known as Khan-i-Azam/Kotaltash – Foster
above 500 – Amirs; • Amir (Zat < 1000) + Amir- brother of Akbar + appointed Subedar of
al-Kabir (Zat > 2000) + Amir-al-Umara (Zat > GujaraT
5000) • Even if the Sawar rank was higher
mansabdar’s position not be affected - decided
only by the Zat rank. • Du-aspah and Sih-aspah
- added by Jahangir – elected nobles allowed to
maintain a larger quota of troopers, without
raising their Zat rank. • ‘du-aspah’ (trooper with
2 horses) +‘sih-aspah’(trooper with 3 horses)
• Naqdi-mansabdar - paid in cash; • Jagirdars-
mansabdar - paid through land (Jagirs ~ not
hereditary) • Sulh-i-Kul (peace to all) –
propagatee by Akbar • Mahzarnama/Decree of
Infallibility - Akbar asserted religious powers -
was entitled to choose any of the
interpretations of Quran, if there were a
difference of opinion among the ulamas
• Din-i-Ilahi/Tawhid-i-Ilahi (Divine Monotheism)
- new relegion by Akbar - believes in one God
and Sulh-i-Kul + drafted by Abul Faizi + only 15
followers including Birbal +approvel of Akbar
required to become members + did not force
anyone to join • Dastane Mazahib – by Mohsin
Fanni - discusses about Din-i-Ilahi
• Jashn-E-Chiraghan (festival of lights)-Sringar-
Diwali celebration
 7

VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE • ‘Matla-us-Sadain wa Majma-ul-Bahrain’ (The

DYNASTIES OF VIJAYANAGARA Rise of the Two auspicious constellations and
SANGAMA SULUVA TULUVA ARAVIDU the Confluence of the Two Oceans)
• ‘Karnataka Empire / Kingdom of Bisnegar’ ~ • Diwan Khana – forty Pillered Palace to Keep
called by Portuguese • ‘The Forgotten Empire’ Records + office of Scribes • Virupaksha Temple
(1901) - by Robert Swell - about Vijayanagara • - by Lakkan Dandesha - nayaka of Deva Raya II
Narapati – Vijayanagara Kings; Gajapati – • After his death - dynasty became weak; last
Odisha kings; Ashvapati – Deccan sultanate. king was Virupaksharaya - outsted by his
SANGAMA • Founded by Harihara And Bukka - commander - Saluva Narsimharaya I > Saluva
served under Vira Ballala III – muhammad bin dynasty
tuglaq took them as prisoners- converted to SULUVA DYNASTY
islam – brought back to Hinduism by saint • Narasimha raya II - greatest ruler • During
Vidyaranya – ‘Raja Kalanirnaya’ (book by Narasa nayaka -Vasco da Gama landed in
Vidyaranya) • Hampi – capital - southern banks Calicut ~1498. • Narasa nayaka installed his son
of Tungabhadra - Near Hoylsala town Veeranarsimha on throne > he started Tuluva
Hosapattana (by vira Ballala III) - known as dynasty.
Pampakshetra of Kishkindha. TULUVA DYNASTY • Krishnadeva Raya –
• Harihara I > Bhukka I > Harihara II > Devaraya Greatest ruler of Tuluva dynasty o
I > Devaraya II • Pancha Sangamas - five Contemporary of Babur o Baburnama mentions
Sangama Rulers - Bitragunta inscription Krishnadeva Raya as the strongest ruler of his
• lbn Batuta visited court of Harihara I reign • Krishnadevaraya was a Vaishainaite -
• Bukka I’s son Kamparaya - annexed Madurai - Vallabhacharya and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu -
‘Madhuravijayam’ (Sanskrit) - by Gangadevi visited his court + Vyasathirth a(Dvaita saint) –
(wife of kamparaya) - Madura not annexed was his Rajaguru
• Sayana and Madhava - ministers under Bukka • Domingo Paes - Portuguese traveler -
I and Harihara II - learned commentator on the Krishnadeva Raya – mentioned him as the most
Vedas leared and perfect king • Ashtadiggajas - 8
Devaraya I - 1st important king scholars - golden age of Telugu literature:-
• Constructed dam on Tungabhadra Allasani Peddanna + Nandi Thimmana +
• Defeated by Bahamani sultan Feroz shah - to Madayagari Mallana + Tenali Ramakrishna +
control Raichur doab - land between rivers Dhurjati + Ayyalaraju Ramabhadra Kavi + Pingali
Krishna and Tungabhadra in south. Surana + Ramaraja Bhushana • Allasani
• Main rival - Sultans of Madurai • Peddanna - book ‘Manucharitram’ - Andhra
‘Haravilasam’ – by Telugu poet Srinatha Kavita pitamaha • Nandi Thimmana - book
• ‘Pearl Hall’- palace where he honored men of ‘Parijathapaharanam’ • Nilakantha Somayaji-
eminence • Nicholo de conti - visited mathematician -lived during Krishnadevaraya
Vijayanagar • Sangita Suryodaya - Lakshmi Narayan
Deva Raya II was the greatest ruler of the • Sangitasara – Vidyaranya
Sangama dynasty • Titles of Krishnadevaraya: Andhra Bhoja;
• Titles - Gajabetekara/Elephant Hunter, Andhra Pitamaha; Kannada Rajya Rama
Dakshinapathada Chakravarti, Immadi Ramana; Mooru Rayara Ganda (King of Three
Devaraya/Proudha Devaraya Kings) • Wrote work ‘Amuktamalyada’in
• He wrote, ‘Mahanataka Sudhanidhi’(sanskrit) Telugu-wedding of Vishnu and Andal.
+ ‘Sobagina Sone’(Kannada) • He inducted • Other works: Satyavadi Parinaya;
muslim archers into army + 1st vijayanagara Rasamanjari; Jambavati Kalyana (sanskrit); Usha
ruler to collect tributes from cylon. parinaya; Madalasa charita. • Krishnadevaraya
• Abdur Razzak Samarqandi ~ Persian Timurid Dinachari - his personal diary written in
chronicler and Islamic scholar - envoy of Shah Kannada • Hazara Rama temple and
Rukh, visited Vijaynagara + book Vittalaswami temple – built by him o Common
• Amman shrines-added to existing temples - animal found in his pillars - Horse
placed wife of chief diety • Founded
 8

Nagalapuram – new city - named after his • Varadharaja temple + Ekamparanatha temple
mother. • Treaty with Alfanso de Alburque, -Kanchipuram – by krishnadevaraya
Portugese governor > Portugese captured Goa • Ekamparanatha temple - tallest Raya
from Bijapur Sultan - helped the Portuguese. Gopuram • Lepakshi temple - mural painting -
• Portuguese travelers - Domingo Paes + Durate largest nandi sculpture • Virupaksha Temple -
Barbosa – visited after Krishnadevaraya‘s death during Deva Raya II - dedicated to lord Shiva
- younger brother Achyutadevaraya became • Vijayanagar temples - surrounded by strong
king + succession disputes started with enclosure wall + pillared kalyanamandapa
Ramaraya (son-in-law of Krishnadevaraya) - (marriage halls - used for seating diety on
Achyutadevaraya supported by Chellappa festival) + tall rayagopurams (towers at the
greatest Nayak of Tamil Nadu Region. entrance of the temple) • Shunya sampadane –
• Nuniz - visted during achyuthdevaraya collection of vachanas - sayings in kannada by
• Laws of Aliya Santana - law of inheritance is Veershaiva movement - led by Basavanna
through females prevalent among Tuluvas • Mahanavami dibba - huge elevated square
• Marichi Parinayam – wrote by mohanangi, platform + water tank nearby + used by Kings
wife of King Ramaraya • Commercial treaty for watching the army march pasts
with Portuguese + stopped horse supply to • Muslims - employed in administration +
Bijapur + divide and rule policy > turned Muslim allowed to build mosques • Indo Islamic
powers against one another. • Battle of Architecture - Queen’s Bath + Elephant Stables
Talikota - Deccan states (Ahmednagar, Bijapur, + Lotus Mahal • Elephant Stables – hampi
Golconda, and Bidar) joined hands against elephants house + long line of 11 chambers
RamaRaya - under leadership of Ali Adil Shah • Lotus Mahal – Hampi - known as Kamal
• Rama Raya was captured and executed + Mahal/Chitragani Mahal - designed as a palace
Vijayanagar city destroyed for royal ladies – inside Royal Enclosure
ARIVIDU • Aravidu Dynasty - founded by • Amaranayaka System -similar to Iqta System
Rama Raya’s brother Tirumala • New capital at of Delhi + Nayaka/Poligars - commanders of
Penugonda > Chandragiri(Later). • Thirumala, Vijayanagar - given land (Amaram) for
Sri Ranga and Venkata II were important rulers administration - he is responsible for expanding
• Venkata II - contemporary to Akbar + shifted agricultural activities in his area + amara-
capital to Chandragiri • Sri Ranga III - last ruler nayakas sent tribute to king annually +
• Battle of Vandavasi – he defeated by Mir personally appeared in royal court with gifts
Jumla of Golconda • Vijyanagar empire came to • These amaranayakas enjoyed autonomy- had
end with this. right to issue coins - right to impose new tax +
• Prant/Rajya - Provinces – total 6 Rajyas - Naik Amaramkani - Nayaka's Share – 1/16th
–Governor • Rajyas > Mandalams > Nadus > • Karya Karta - Agents of Nayakas • Ayagar
Sthalas > Gramas. • Mandaleshwar/Nayaka - System – village administration • Body of 12 -
governor of Mandalam. • Child marriage, known as Ayangars - conducted village affairs -
polygamy, sati - prevalent. • Prostitution + included headmen (gauda or maniyam)
Devdasi system - became more popular. • Manyams – tax free land given to ayagars
• Prapannamritam - by Madanantacharya - • Bandarvadha Land– Crown Village
conversion of king virupaksharaya to Varaha/Pagoda - gold coin + Perta - half a
Vaishnavism • Vijayanagar temple architecture Varaha + Fanam – one tenth a pertha. Tar -
- provida style – hard stone tradition silver coin +Jittal - copper coin • lbn Batuta
• Hazara Ramasami temple – Hampi - By from Morocco - Harihara I ~ wrote book Rihla
Krishna Devaraya - dedicated to Lord Rama - • Nicolo de Conti from Italy – Devaraya I ~
private temple of royal family - story of wrote Slavery was prevalent • Abdur Razzaq
Ramayana carved on stone walls from Persia – Devaraya II ~ stayed at court of
• Vittalaswamy temple - Hampi- By Krishna Zamorin • Athanasius Nikitin from Russia -
Devaraya - 56 musical pillars -SaReGaMa pillars- Virupaksha Raya ~ wrote ‘Voyage to India’ -
can hear musical notes if tap the pillars described conditions of Bahamani under
Muhammad shah III • Duarte Barbosa from
 9

Portugal - Krishna Deva Raya • Dominigo Paes • There was no elimination of Brahmanical
from Portugal - Krishna Deva Raya rituals such as worship of idols, recitation of the
• Fernao Nuniz from Portugal - Achyuta Deva Vedic mantras and pilgrimages to sacred places
Ray in spite of the overriding emphasis on bhakti as
BHAKTHI & SUFISM the superior mode of worship. • The Brahman-
• Bhakti is a religious concept - devotional dominated temples played an important role in
surrender to a personally conceived Supreme the growth of South Indian bhakti movement.
God for attaining salvation. • The origin of • The Brahmans had to accept the right of the
Bhakti can be traced to both the Brahmanical ‘low-caste’ to preach, to have access to bhakti
and Buddhist traditions of ancient India and to as a mode of worship and to have access even
various scriptures such as the Bhagvat Gita to the Vedas. • After 10th century – the early
Religious effects 1. Saked Hinduism 2. Lowered Bhakti Prasthana of South India gradually
the prestige of the Brahmins 3. Checked the assimilated into the conventional Brahmanical
propagation of Islam. 4. Emergence of Sikhism religion
5. Setback to Buddhism Social impact 1. • Thirumurai - a twelve-volume compendium of
Improvement in the social relation between the songs or hymns in praise of Shiva in the Tamil
Hindus and Muslims 2. The better social status language from the 6th to the 11th century CE
of lower casts 3. Promotion of social service 4. by various poets in Tamil Nadu. oNambiyar
Development of composite art in the society 5. Nambi compiled first seven volumes by Apar,
Enrichment of literature Sambandar and Sundarar ~ Thevaram.
DEVELOPMENT OF BHAKTI • First phase – oThiruvasakam – 8 th Volume ~ by
Development of Bhakti in South India manikkavasagar oNambi’s work – 11th volume.
➢ Age of Nayanars and Alvars ➢ Age of oPeriya Puranam – life depiction of all the 63
Acharyas: Ramanucharya, Madhavacharya, Nayanars – by Shekkizhar • Tirumurai + Vedas +
Nimbarka etc • Second phase - Spread into Saiva Agamas > basis of Shaiva Siddhantha
North India ➢ Non-sectarian movements: philosophy • Shekkizhar was a contemporary to
Ramananda, Ravidas, Kabir, Nanak, Sena, Kolutunga Chola. • The Divya Prabandham sings
Sadhana etc • Development in North and the praise of Narayana (or Vishnu) and his
Central India ➢ Vaishnavite cults – Radha many forms. • The Alvars sang these songs at
various sacred shrines known as the Divya
Krishna bhakti ➢ Vithola cult or Vidobha cult or
Desams. • Ubhaya Vedanti – one who follows
Pandharpur movement ➢ Sikhism Vedas and Tiruvaymoli ~ Tamil veda in Sri
BHAKTI IN SOUTH INDIA • Saiva Nayanar saints Vaishnavism. • The works of Nammalvar were
and Vaishnava Alvar saints – saint poets - compiled by Madhurakavi as four different
between the 7th and the 10th century. • Some works, the Thiruvaimozhi, Thiruviruttam,
of these saints came from the lower castes and Thiruvaasiriam and Periya Thiruvanthadi.
some were women. • They preached bhakti in • Thiruvaymozhi – 3 rd portion of Divya
an intense emotional manner and promoted Prabandham
religious egalitarianism. • The Alvar and BHAKTI AND SOUTH INDIAN ACHARYAS
Nayanar saints used the Tamil language and not Ramanucharya (11th Century) – first Acharya
Sanskrit for preaching and composing • Propagator of Vishishtadvaita Vedanta or
devotional songs ~ popular character. Qualified monism ~ a plurality and distinction
• They were The Alvar and Nayanar saints used between Atman (soul) & Brahman
the Tamil language and not Sanskrit for (metaphysical, ultimate reality). • One of the
preaching and composing devotional songs. most important exponents of the Sri
• The Buddhists and Jains were its main targets, Vaishnavism tradition within Hinduism
not the Brahmans. • Nayanars and Alvars • Ramanujacharya had 74 disciples, called the
resisted the authority of the orthodox Simhasanadhipatis • He tried to establish a
Brahmans by making bhakti accessible to all careful balance between orthodox Brahmanism
without any caste and sex discrimination. and popular bhakti which was open to all - did
• It never consciously opposed Brahmanism or not support the idea of the ‘lower’ castes
the varna and caste systems at the social level.
 10

having access to the Vedas. • Literary works: authored by Shankaracharya. He also wrote
Vedartha Sangraham, Sri Bhashyam, Gita commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita, the
Bhashyam • Kulottanga Chola who was a Brahma Sutra and the Upanishads. • The
Shaivite punished Ramanujacharya for followers of Shankaracharya are called as
preaching Vaishnavism Smratas • ‘Brhat Sankara Vijaya’ by Citsukha is
• The Matha at Melkote was established by him the oldest biography of Shankara • He was the
after he converted Hoysala king organizer of the Dashanami monastic order and
Vishnuvardhana from Jainism unified the Shanmata tradition of worship.
Nimbarka • Disciple of Ramanujacharya • Vallabhacharya (1479-1531) ~ Banaras
Believed in total devotion to Krishna and Radha • Belonged to the Rudra sect established by
~ the first to introduce the Radhamadhav cult Vishnusvamin. • His philosophical system was
which was centered on the worship of Radha pure nondualism (shuddhadvaita)
and Madhav • Propounded the philosophy of • He prescribed Pushtimarga as the means for
‘bheda-abheda’ or Dwita Advaita (the God, the salvation (extreme devotion to God)
soul and the world were identical yet distinct) • • Vallabhacharya emerged victorious in a
He also founded the Sanak Sampradaya. • He religious and philosophical debate in the royal
wrote Dashasloki and Vedanta • Thus Nimbarka court of Vijayanagar King Krishna Deva Raya.
stressed bhakti yoga, the yoga of devotion and • The king accorded him the Kanakabhishekam
faith (honour with gold)
Madhava – 13th Century ~ like Ramanuja, did • First to promote Krishna Bhakthi on the basis
not dispute orthodox Brahmanical restriction of Maha Bhagvad Purana • He penned
on the Vedic study by the Sudras. • ‘Subodhini’ and ‘Siddhant Rahasya’ , the great
Propounded the philosophy of complete literary and philosophical treatises of that time.
pluralism- the ‘Dvaita Vedanta • He was a critic • Vallabhacharya along with his eight poet
of Shankara and Ramanuja. • He founded the disciples enriched the Braj language with their
Brahma Sampradaya. • He believed that bhakti religious hymns and songs soaked in the
provided an alternate avenue of worship to the devotion and bhakti of Lord Krishna. • These
Sudras. • His philosophical system was based eight poets were collectively called Vallabha’s
on the Bhagvat Purana. • He founded the Ashta Sakhas (Eight pals of Vallabha)
Krishna Mutt at Udupi BHAKTI IN NORTH INDIA The ideas of Bhakti
Vidyapati (14th Century) • Shiva as Ugna – were carried from the south to the north by
poetry dedicated to Shiva • Vidyapati (1352– saints , after 12th century.
1448 AD) was a Maithili and Sanskrit poet, Namadeva (Maharashtrian saint- first part of
musician and writer. • He is also known as 14th century) was prominent among them. •
'Mathil Kavi Kokil’. • He was a devotee of Shiva, He was a tailor, and was bandit before he took
but also wrote love songs and devotional up Bhakti. • Wrote poems in Marathi
Vaishnava songs Ramananda (1299-1411) ~ Namadeva’s disciple
Another contemporary saint - Shankaracharya • He substituted Rama in place of Vishnu.
– 9 th Century ~ propounded advaita. • He was • He was part of Saguna cult. • He disregarded
a devotee of Shiva. • He was opposed to the ban on people of different castes cooking or
Buddhist philosophers ~ Pracchhanna Buddha eating their meals together. • The credit for the
• Vedas are the fountainhead of true spread of Vaishnava religion in northern India
knowledge • Advaita rejects the concept of a goes to Ramananda. • He believed in
God who creates, gives laws and demands Vishistadvaita philosophy of Ramanuja and
recognition, praise and obedience. carried his teachings much further.
• The reality of the world is denied and • He strongly opposed sectarianism and rites
Brahman is considered the only reality (World is and insisted on adoption of Hindi in place of
Maya). • He laid emphasis on knowledge (gyan) Sanskrit. • Ramananda accepted disciples
as that can alone lead to salvation without discriminating anyone by gender, class,
• Upadesasahasri, Vivekachudamani, Bhaja caste or religion. • His disciples included - Kabir,
Govindum Stotra are some of the works Ravidas etc • His verse is mentioned in the Sikh
 11

scripture Adi Granth. • Some of his works God. He too denounced idol worship and
include - ’Gyan lila’ and ‘Yogcintamani’ (Hindi), pilgrimages. • Guru Granth Sahib, the
‘Vaishnava Mata Bhajabhaskara’ and renowned Sikh text, contains his teachings.
‘Ramarcana paddhati’ (Sanskrit). • He intended to blur the lines between Hindus
• He popularized the Bhakti of Lord Rama and and Muslims to foster a climate of peace,
Sita through his spiritual ideas. • He claimed friendliness, and reciprocal giving and taking.
the total devotion to and pure Bhakti of Lord Dadu Dayal (1544-1603) • He was a Kabir
Rama is the only way of attaining salvation. devotee who thought that God is independent
• He even rejected the Karma marga (way of of all religions and sects. • He was a
action) & Jnan marga (way of knowledge) and contemporary of Akbar, the Mughal emperor
gave emphasis to Bhakti of Lord Rama only • His supporters formed the Dadu Panth.
Kabir Das (1398 or 1440 - 1518) Sankaradeva • In the late fifteenth century,
• Contemporary of Sikandar Lodhi • Kabir was Shankaradeva emerged as one of the leading
raised by a Muslim family after being born into proponents of Vaishnavism in Assam.
a Hindu family. He was a Ramananda disciple. • Unlike, Vallabha and Chaitanya, Shankaradeva
• He was a Nirguna saint who publicly criticized is not popular outside Assam. Even the books
major religions such as Hinduism and Islam for and works, dealing with Bhakti movement,
their traditional teachings. • He emphasized the mention hardly anything about Shankaradeva
idea of the unity of Gods, whom he refers to by • His teachings, often known as the Bhagavati
numerous names, including Allah, Rama, dharma because they were based on the
Rahim, Hari, and others. • He was a vocal Bhagavad Gita and the Bhagavata Purana,
opponent of the discriminatory caste system, focused on absolute surrender to the supreme
particularly untouchability. • He described deity, in this case Vishnu. • He emphasized the
himself “Kabir is the child of Allah and Ram”. need for naam kirtan, recitation of the names
• He equated Rama with Rahim (the Merciful) of the Lord. • He also encouraged the
and it went a long way to make the bhakti establishment of satra or monasteries for the
movement a unique religious experience transmission of spiritual knowledge and naam
. • Banis – his poems ~ writings are collected as ghar or prayer halls • His major compositions
‘Bijak’ • He wrote in Hindi and used Avadhi, include the Kirtana ghosha • Compositions of
Braj, and Bhojpuri words. • A religious borgeets (hymns), anklanaat (dance drama),
community known as ‘Kabir Panth’ was sankirtans (recitals) • Sankaradeva,
founded by him and the members of this forum Vallabhacharya and Chaitanya –
are referred to as ‘Kabir Panthis’. contemporaries • His disciples and followers
• Kabir Das’ ideologies were greatly influenced included Bhutanese, Brahmins, Muslims,
by Vaishnava saint Swami Ramananda who Ahoms, Garos, Nagas, Mikirs, Bhutias,
accepted Kabir as his disciple. • Bijak, Sakhi Kaivartas, Mishing, Karbi, Rabha and others.
Granth, Kabir Granthawali and Anurag Sagar • Particularly, women too became his
are some of his works • His verses are found in followers participating in all activities. As all
Guru Granth Sahib and the major part of his were treated equal and as devotees made to
work was collected by the fifth Sikh guru, Guru feel so in their day to day activities,
Arjan Dev. egalitarianism prevailed. • The name of the
Nanak (1469 - 1539)• Born in Talwandi poetic work of Sankardeva are Kirtan Ghosa,
(present Pakistan) • Inspired by Kabir Das Harischandra upayana, Rukminiharana, Ajamil
• Nanak laid great emphasis on the purity of opakhyana, Bali Chalona, Kurukshetra Yatra,
character and conduct as the first condition of Gopi Uddava Samvada, Amtrita Manthana etc.
approaching God. He too denounced idol • Contribution to Drama - Sankardev denoted
worship and pilgrimages • He travelled far and the beginning of the Assamese drama in
wide, to Srilanka in the south and Mecca and fifteenth century which mentioned as Angkia
Madina in the west. • Nanak laid great Naat. - a unique kind of dance-drama.
emphasis on the purity of character and • Angkia Naats are complete composition of art
conduct as the first condition of approaching with slokas, bhatimas, dance, songs and
 12

dialogues, contributing to create a kind of Basava’s life and ideas are narrated in a
superhuman loveliness. • Borgeet are a number 13th century sacred Telugu text, the Basava
of the foremost classic devotional songs. Purana by Palkuriki Somanatha • Basavanna
• The tune and rhythms of those songs are set spread social awareness through his poetry,
within the dhrupara tradition and are fixed for popularly known as Vachanas. • He rejected
all times. • They’re sung within the same tune gender or social discrimination, superstitions
and rhythms as within the lifetime of the saint and rituals but introduced Ishtalinga with an
without conscious variation • Satriya dance or image of the Shiva Liṅga, to every person
Sattria Nritya - a major Indian classical dance. regardless of his or her birth, to be a constant
It's a dance-drama performance art with origins reminder of one’s bhakti (devotion) to Shiva.
within the Krishna centred Vaishnavasim • He established the Anubhava Mantapa (the
monasteries of Assam, and attributed to the “hall of spiritual experience”), a place that
15th century Allamaprabhu and Akka Mahadevi became a
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (15th Century) part of. • Anubhava Mantapa was established
• Bengal • Considered an avatar of Lord Krishna as a spiritual and socio religious academy. It
by his followers. • Chaitanya founded Gaudiya welcomed men and women from all
Vaishnavism, which is a religious movement socio economic backgrounds to discuss
that promotes Vaishnavism or worship of Lord spiritual and mundane questions of life, in open
Vishnu as the Supreme Soul. • Basava was later conferred the title of
• Gaudiya Vaishnavism teaches the acceptance Basavanna (Basava, the elder brother).
of Bhakti yoga as a method to realize the • The sharana movement by Basavanna
ultimate truth. • Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is enabled people from the lower rungs of society
credited with popularizing the ‘Maha Mantra’ to raise their voices against the dominant caste
or ‘Hare Krishna Mantra’ • He is also known for structures. • Basavanna was, perhaps, the first
composing in Sanskrit a prayer of eight verses, person in the world who wrote about the novel
known as ‘Siksastakam.’ • Said to have been and revolutionary idea that work is worship.
born with features similar to that of Lord • He organized people from the lowest strata of
Krishna, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a child the society to realise this worthy objective
prodigy, and became a scholar at a very young • He worked hard to spread the concept of one
age. • ‘Siksastakam,’ a 16th century prayer of God. He emphasized the importance of
eight verses, is the only written record of education and insisted on gender equality.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s teachings. • Basavanna introduced an adult education
• The teachings and philosophy of Gaudiya system which led many people from the lower
Vaishnavism are based on this Sanskrit text. castes to become writers – vachanakaras or
• Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s teachings are writers of vachanas. • These vachanas could be
divided into 10 points and are centered on the considered the first writings produced by dalits
glorification of Lord Krishna. • The message of and other lower castes, as well as women.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu or Gaudiya School of • He was a propagator of Visishtadvaita.
thought is now propagated through ISKCON • He founded Lingayaism or Veerashaivism
Movement across the world. BHAKTI MOVEMENTS IN MAHARASHTRA
• It has participation of devotees from around • The Bhakti movement in Maharashtra
the world. centred around the shrine of Vithoba or Vitthal,
Basavanna • Born in 1130 in Karnataka the residing deity of Pandharpur, who was
• Statesman, philosopher, poet, Lingayat saint considered the manifestation of Krishna. • This
and Hindu Shaivite Social reformer during the movement is also known as the Pandharpur
reign of the Kalyani Chalukya/Kalachuri dynasty movement and it influenced the social and
• Reached his peak of influence during the rule cultural developments in Maharashtra. • This
of King Bijjala II in Karnataka, India • Basavaraj movement is also known as the Pandharpur
Devara Ragale by the Kannada poet Harihara movement and it influenced the social and
(c.1180) is the earliest available account on the cultural developments in Maharashtra
life of the social reformer • A full account of
 13

. treatise on the Advaita Vedanta in the Marathi

• Two sects: • Varakaris – The mild devotees of language • His other works are Karunashtaken,
God Vitthala of Pandharpur, who are more Janasvabhavagosanvi and Manache Sloka. • He
emotional, theoretical and abstract in their was strictly against caste distinctions and
viewpoint. • Dharakaris – The heroic followers encouraged women to take part in religious
of the cult of Ramadasa, the devotee of God work
Rama, who are more rational, concrete and SIKHISM • Guru Nanak was the founder of
practical in their thoughts. Sikhism. He was born in Talwandi near Lahore
Jnaneswar or Jnanadeva (1275 to 1296) • He preached – God is supreme, all-powerful,
• Mystical poet saint of Maharashtra who formless, fearless, universal, self-existent,
wrote a commentary of Bhagavad Gita called everlasting, creator of all things, the eternal
Jnaneswari ~ foundation of the Bhakti ideology and absolute truth. He rejected the authority of
in Maharashtra • He was strictly against caste the Vedas. • He guided people to follow the
distinctions and believed that the only way to principles of conduct and worship; sach (truth),
attain God was through Bhakti. • He composed halal (lawful earning), khair (wishing well for
– Amritanubhava (immortal experience) – others), niyat (right intentions) and service to
based on the philosophy of the Upanishads + the Lord. • His philosophy consists of three
Haripatha – songs admiring Hari (Vishnu) basic elements – a leading charismatic
Namadeva (1270-1350) • Namadeva was a personality (the Guru), ideology (Shabad) and
tailor who is said to have taken to banditry organisation (Sangat). • He denounced idol
before he became a saint. • He is considered worship and rejected the theory of incarnation.
one of the five revered gurus in the Dadupanth • He introduced the concept of langar
tradition within Hinduism, the other four being (community kitchen). • He conceptualised God
Dadu, Kabir, Hardas and Ravidas. • It is believed as Nirguna (attributeless) and Nirankar
that his Abhangas were included in the Guru (formless). • His main teachings can be
Granth Sahib.Sant Eknath (1533 – 1599) • He summed up as: • Faith in one true Lord.
was a scholar of Varkari sampradaya and • Worship of the name. • The necessity of the
Vaishnavism, the branch of Hinduism that is Guru in the worship of the name
characterised by devotion to God Vishnu and WOMEN IN BHAKTI MOVEMENT
his incarnations (avatars). • He also tried to • Akka Mahadevi: She was a poet of Kannada
shift the emphasis of Marathi literature from Language. She is known to have considered the
spiritual to narrative composition and god Shiva as her husband. Her mystical poems
introduced a new form of Marathi religious have notable contribution to Kannada
song called Bharood. • He was against caste literature. • MeeraBai: MeeraBai a mystical
distinctions and spread the message that there poet and singer known for her songs of
was no distinction in God’s eyes between devotion to Lord Krishna. Mira is a symbol of a
Brahmin and outcaste or between Hindu and liberated woman who risked all to protect her
Muslim. independence, freedom, and love towards
Tukaram (1608 – 1650) • A contemporary of Krishna. She was a contemporary of Chaitanya
Maratha ruler Shivaji Maharaj and saints like Mahaprabhu • Andal: A well-known South
Eknath and Ramdas. • His poetry was devoted Indian poet and only female among 12 Alwars
to Vithoba or Vitthala, an avatar of the Hindu of TamilNadu • Lal Ded: The Muslim poetess
God, Vishnu. • He is known for his Abangas from Kashmir Lalded&HabbaKhatun,
(dohas) in Marathi which are a rich heritage of represented the saint tradition of Bhakti and
the Gatha – devotional poetry and was also wrote Vakhs (maxims), which are peerless gems
responsible for creating a background for of spiritual experience. • Jana Bai: Janabai was
Maratha nationalism (Parmaratha). • He laid influenced by teachings of Saint Namdev. Her
emphasis on community-based worship with poetry encompasses the discrimination faced
spiritual songs called Kirtans. Ramdas (1608 – by women & sudras. This awakens the sudras
1681) • Contributed to building the Maratha and women for their rights
empire under Shivaji. • He wrote Dasabhoda, a
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Fifteen popular saints of bhakti movement; 1. • Silsila is continuous link between Murshid
Ramanuja 2. Nimbarka 3. Madhava 4. (teacher) and Murid (student). They lived in
Vallabhacharya 5. Ramananda 6. Chaitanya Khanqah - hospice of worship. • Names of
(1486—1533) 7. Kabir 8. Guru Nanak 9. Dadu Silsila were based on name of founding figure
Dayal (1554—1603) 10.Mira Bai (1498—1546) SILSILA FOUNDER /Qadiri- Abdul Qadir Gilani
11.Tulsidas (1532—1623) 12. Sur Das 13. Maluk /Suhrawardi -Abu al-Najib Suhrawardi/
Das (1574—1682) 14. Sundardas (1596—1689) Naqshbandi- Baha' al-Din Naqshband /Chishti -
15. Birbhan Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti
SUFISM=• Sufism is the mystical arm of Islam. • Sufism took roots in both rural and urban
Sufis represent the inner side of the Islam creed areas and exercised a deep social, political and
(tasawwuf). • A Sufi is a Muslim who seeks cultural influence on the masses. • Sufism
annihilation of the ego in God. • ‘Suf’ means believes that devotion is more important than
wool: People who wear long woolen clothes fast (Roza) or prayer (Namaz).
were called as sufis. • Sufi means wool: People • Sufism discards caste system. • Sufism has
who wear long woolen clothes were called as adapted extensively from the Vedanta school of
sufis. • It is based on Pir-Murid (Teacher- the Hindu philosophy. • The Doctrine of Fana -
student) • Sufism sprang from the doctrine of annihilation of human attributes through Union
Wahadut-ul-wajud (unity of being) propounded with God.: 1. Complete surrender to the will of
by Ibn-ul-Arabi [1165-1240 AD]. • Early Sufis: God; 2. Annihilation of the self; 3. Becoming a
Rabia of Basra, Mansur Bin Hallaj etc • Sufi perfect person • A perfect being - Wali (saint) ~
order are broadly divided in two: 1. Bashara – literally means ‘sincere friend
those who followed Islamic laws 2. Beshara – SUFISM AND MUSIC
those who didn’t followed Islamic laws • Self • Sufism encourages music as a way of
discipline was considered an essential condition deepening one’s relation with God,
to gain knowledge of God. • Sufism entered in remembering God by zikr (reciting name) sama
India between 11thand 12th Al-Hujwari was or performance of mystical music. • The most
first Sufis who settled in India and died in 1089 notable sufi writer were Amir Khusrau the
AD who is popularly known as Data Ganj Naksh follower of Nizamuddin Auliya. • Sufi saints are
(Distributor of unlimited treasure). ➢ The credited with invention of sitar and tabla.
earliest formal treatise on Sufism in Persian - • It contributed to evolution of classical music -
Kashf al Maḥjūb (lit. 'Revelation of the Hidden') Khayal style • Amir Khusro gave unique form to
• Multan and Punjab were the early centre and sama. • Khusrow is sometimes referred to as
later on, it spread to Kashmir, Bihar, Bengal and the “Parrot of India”. His songs are sung in
the Deccan. several dargahs across the country.
ESSENTIAL CHARACTARISTICS • Fana: Spiritual • Khusrow is regarded as the “Father of
merger of devotee with Allah • Insan-e-kamil: Qawwali”. SUFISM AND MUSIC • Famous saints
Perfect human with all good virtues, • Zikr- of the Chishti Order are: Qutbuddin Bakhtiar
tauba: remembrance of god all the time(zikr), Kaki, Fariduddin Ganjshakar, Nizamuddin Auliya
• Wahadatul-wazudi: one god for entire and Alauddin Ali Ahmed Sabir Kalyari.
universe; unity of god and being. • Sama: • Urs – death anniversary of a Sufi saint
spiritual dance and music to promote their Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (1142–1236) • He
concepts, though music is un-Islamic. settled in Ajmer to preach the principles of
• The Sufis rejected the elaborate rituals and Sufism to all who wished to learn them.
codes of behaviour demanded by Muslim Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki (1173-1235)
religious scholars. • They believed that God is • He was the disciple of Khwaja Moinuddin
‘Mashuq’ and Sufis are the ‘Ashiqs’. Chishti and later proceeded to become his first
• Sufism was divided into 12 orders (Silsila) and spiritual successor. On his master's wishes, Kaki
each under a mystic Sufi saint of which 4 most moved to Delhi during the reign of Iltutmish in
popular ones were Chistis, Suhrawardis, the early 13th century. • He is credited for
Qadiriyahs and Naqshbandis. establishing the order of Chisti Sufi Mysticism in
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Delhi, which was previously confined to Ajmer to India - got the title ‘Malik ul Tujjar’ (Chiefs of
and Nagpur Merchants) by Humayun Shah. o Poet – Wrote,
Baba Farid (1173-1265) • 12th-century Punjabi Riyaz ul Insha and Manazirul Insha • Under
Muslim preacher and mystic who went on to Muhammad Gawan, the Bahmani kingdom
become "one of the most revered and reached the zenith • He introduced the use of
distinguished Muslim mystics" of the medieval Gunpowder in the war against Vijayanagar -
period. His poetry and verses became a big part learned the explosive technology from the
of both Sufi and Sikh literature. • He was a Persian scientists • Built Madrasa of
great disciple of Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki. He Muhammad Gawan at Bidar + large library •
spent most of his time in Hansi and Ajodhan (in Muhammad Gawan divided the entire kingdom
modern Haryana and the Punjab, respectively). into eight provinces called Tarafs, governed by
• His outlook was so broad and humane that Tarafdars. • A tract of land called Khalisa was
some of his verses are later found quoted in the set apart for the expenses of the Sultan. •
Adi-Granth of the Sikhs. • He avoided the Deccan Muslims - jealous of him – conspired >
company of the Sultan and the Amirs King Muhammad Shah sentenced him to death
Nizamuddin Auliya (1238 - 1325) • Nizamuddin • After the execution of Gawan – the Bahamani
Auliya (d. 1325) a chief successor of Baba Farid Sultanate started to decline. • Athanasius
was undoubtedly the most famous Chishti saint Nikitin- Russian traveller - spent 4 years in the
at Delhi under whom the Chishtis reached their sultanate • Kalimullah - last king > Sultanate
high water mark. • He lived and worked at disintegrated into 5 kingdoms • Ahmadnagar,
Delhi for fifty years during a period of great Bijapur and Berar – 1490 • Bidar – 1492 and
political upheaval - end of Balban's dynasty and Golkonda – 1512 • The nobles of Bahmani
the rise to power of Alauddin Khalji, the kingdom were categorized in two categories
troubled period following the death of and ruled by total 14 Bahaman Sultans:
Alauddin, and the rise of the Tughlaqs • He 1. Afaquis :-> nobles of foreign origin. 2.
survived through these repeated changes of Deccanis :-> nobles of native origin
dynasties and rulers because of the Chishti AHMADNAGAR SULTANATE • Ruled by Nizam
philosophy of staying away from politics, and Shahis • Murtaza Shah - annexed Berar • Chand
not associating with rulers and nobles. Bibi - queen – fought against the Mughal
BAHMANI SULTANATE & DECCAN invasion. • Malik Ambar served Chand Bibi and
SULTANATES Murtaza Nizam Shah II o Malik Ambar was an
BAHMANI SULTANATE ~ from 1347 to 1527 Abyssinian slave, who assumed full power as
DECCAN SULTANATES 1. Nizam Shahis of the defacto ruler under Murtuza II ~ Siddhi –
Ahmednagar 2. Adil Shahis of Bijapur 3. Qutub oromo African from Ethiopia aka Abyssinia •
Shahis of Golconda 4. Imam Shahis of Berar 5. Annexed by Aurangazeb (Deccan Governor) -
Barid Shahis of Bidar during Shahjahan
ALAUDDIN HASAN BAHMAN SHAH BIJAPUR • Ruled by Adil Shahis • Muhammad
• Persianised Muslim + cultural link between Adil Shah - built Gol Gumbaz - second largest
the South & the North. • Alauddin Hasan dome - whispering gallery - when one whispers,
Bahman Shah/Hasan Gangu – founder • Turkish echo is heard in opposite corner. • Ibrahim Adil
officer of Devagiri + during Muhammad bin Shah II - introduced ‘Dakhani’ as court language
Tughlaq – Vijayanagara (1336) + Bahmani • He was deeply interested in music and
(1347) • Rivalry with Vijayanagar for Raichur composed a book called Kitab-i-Nauras (Kitab I
doab • His coins – title - ‘Second Alexander’ Niwas) – in Dakhini Urdu ~ songs were set to
Muhammad Shah-I • 2nd ruler – defeated various musical modes or ragas
Bukka-I • Built Gulberga Jama Masjid - having • He was very solicitous of the poor, and had
no minar Muhammad Shah II - governance the title of ‘Abla Baba’ or friend of the poor.
inspired Marathas + created a system of eight • Shivaji revolted against Bijapur - founded
ministers – AshtaPradhan Muhammad Shah III - Maratha Kingdom – Afzal Khan(commander) –
ruler at age 9 • Muhammad Gawan – regent ~ killed by Shivaji • Bijapur lost Goa - Portuguese
Prime Minister o Persian merchant – who came
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– Krishna Devaraya Alliance • Annexed by

Aurangzeb in 1687
GOLCONDA • Ruled by Qutub Shahi • Built
Golconda fort + made it capital. • Qutb Shahi
dynasty rulers were Shia Muslims.
• He founded Hyderabad city (Bhagyanagar) +
also built Charminar. • Annexed by Aurangzeb
in 1687
BERAR SULTANATE • Ruled by Imad Shahis •
Capital – Daulatabad • He helped Mahmud
Gawan in his expeditions • Annexed by rulers of
Ahmednagar
BIDAR SULTANATE • Bidar - ruled by Barid
Shahis • Smallest of five Deccan sultanates. •
Karez system - underground water harnessing
system • Annexed by Bijapur rulers. • Battle of
Talikota/Rakshashi/Tangradi - four Deccan
Kingdoms (exclude Berar ) fought against Rama
Raya