Chapter 6 Devotional paths to the Divine summary with NCERT Solution 2025

 Class 7 - Social Science - History - CBSE - NCERT

Chapter 6 Devotional Paths to the Divine

Summary of Devotional Paths to the Divine with NCERT Solution

In the past, people worshipped many gods and goddesses in different ways. But as kingdoms grew and people came together, new religious ideas developed. One important belief was that all living beings go through many births and rebirths based on their good and bad deeds. Some people felt that social divisions were unfair and looked for new ways to reach God. This led to the rise of Bhakti (devotion) and Sufism (Islamic mysticism).  

The Bhakti Movement  

Bhakti means deep love and devotion to a single god or goddess. It teaches that anyone, rich or poor, high caste or low caste, man or woman, can worship God with a pure heart. The Bhagavad Gita, a Hindu holy book, talks about Bhakti.  

In South India, the Nayanars (devotees of Shiva) and Alvars (devotees of Vishnu) spread the idea of Bhakti through beautiful songs and poems. They traveled from village to village, singing praises of God. Their poetry was collected in books like Tevaram and Divya Prabandham. The Chola and Pandya kings later built temples where these saints had worshipped.  

Famous Bhakti Saints  

1. Shankara (8th century) – A famous saint from Kerala who taught that God (Brahman) is formless and that the world is an illusion.  

2. Ramanuja (11th century) – A saint from Tamil Nadu who believed that devotion to Vishnu was the best way to reach God. He taught that while people could unite with God, they still remained separate souls. His ideas influenced North Indian Bhakti saints.  

3. Basavanna and Virashaivism – In Karnataka, Basavanna started the Virashaiva movement, which rejected caste discrimination, idol worship, and rituals.  

Bhakti Saints in Maharashtra  

Between the 13th and 17th centuries, many saints in Maharashtra like Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Eknath, and Tukaram wrote devotional songs in Marathi. They worshipped Vitthala (a form of Vishnu) and believed in simple devotion rather than rituals. They also rejected caste discrimination and said true devotion means serving people and understanding their suffering.  

Sant Tukaram wrote that God loves the poor and helpless people, while Chokhamela, a saint from the “untouchable” Mahar caste, wrote about the unfair treatment of lower castes.  

Bhakti Saints in North India  

1. Kabir – He rejected both Hindu and Muslim religious traditions and said God is formless. He taught that people should love God in their hearts, not through rituals. His poems are in the Bijak, Guru Granth Sahib, and Panch Vani.  

2. Guru Nanak – Founder of Sikhism, he rejected caste, idol worship, and rituals. He taught that people should live honest lives, help others, and pray together. His followers met at places called gurdwaras, where everyone ate together in a langar (free kitchen). His teachings were collected in the Guru Granth Sahib.  

3. Tulsidas and Surdas – Tulsidas wrote Ramcharitmanas, which told the story of Lord Rama, while Surdas wrote about Krishna’s life and love.  

4. Mirabai – A Rajput princess and Krishna devotee, she left her royal life to worship Krishna. She wrote devotional songs that are still sung today.  

Sufism – Islamic Devotion  

Sufism is a spiritual movement in Islam that focuses on love and devotion to God. Sufis believed that rituals were not important, but loving God and serving humanity was. They lived in khanqahs (hospices) and welcomed people from all religions. Some famous Sufi saints were:  

1. Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (Ajmer)  

2. Baba Farid (Punjab)  

3. Nizamuddin Auliya (Delhi)  

4. Sheikh Nuruddin (Nund Rishi) (Kashmir)  

Sufis used music, poetry, and dance to express their love for God. Rumi, a Persian Sufi poet, wrote that God is inside every person’s heart.  

The Bhakti and Sufi movements taught that love and devotion are the best ways to reach God. They rejected caste, rituals, and strict religious rules. Their teachings, songs, and poems became part of India’s culture and are still followed today.  

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Chapter 6 Devotional Paths to the Divine

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