Bhakti and Sufi Movements

Bhakti and Sufi movements are two of the most prominent movements in Hinduism and Islam respectively. The Bhakti movement is a tradition that has its roots in Hinduism, while Sufi is an Islamic practice to refers to a wide range of mystical and religious movements. In this article, we will compare and contrast these two traditions in terms of their history, their beliefs about God, the nature of man’s relationship with God, and some famous adherents.

History

Both Bhakti, as well as Sufi, are ancient traditions which date back centuries. The origins of each tradition can be traced back to ancient India for the former and Middle Eastern countries such as Iran or Afghanistan for the latter. The early history of the Bhakti tradition is hard to track but generally, most scholars place it around the first half of the first millennium CE (Common Era). The Sufi movement, on the other hand, can be traced back to the 11th century CE. However, there is evidence that states that the Sufi movement also had its roots in ancient India as well.

Literature

The Bhakti movement saw a surge in literature during the medieval period with famous poets such as Surdas, Mira Bai, Kabir and Tulsidas who composed devotional songs and poems such as “Rāsa Līlā” and “Gopī-Bān”, respectively. The Sufi literature is also very rich in terms of poetry and has hundreds of famous poets such as Attar, Rumi, Ghazzali, Jalaluddin Rumi, etc. In fact, Sufi literature is considered to be some of the best known and classical literature in the Islamic world.

Beliefs about God

Both Bhakti and Sufi followers share the belief that there is one all-powerful God (Hindu: Ishvara), who loves people unconditionally and is beyond all concepts like gender, colour or creed. They all worship this same Almighty God who can be called by many different names.

What is the Bhakti Movement?

Bhakti is a form of devotion or love for the Divine. Bhakti (Sanskrit: bhaktivināţa) literally means “devotion” in Sanskrit. It can be considered as a way of union with God based on devotion and love for Him. The concept of God as a loving father is very common in Hinduism, and Bhakti has greatly contributed to this. Many popular deities such as Krishna, Rama, Shiva and Ganesha are thought to be manifestations of the divine in human form, who give themselves fully to those who pray and seek their help. The concept of God is also seen as all-knowing, all-merciful and beyond human comprehension.

What is the Sufi movement?

Sufism is a mystical, devotional and spiritual tradition within Islam. It can trace its origins to the Prophet Mohammed himself, who according to Sufi tradition was the “thirteenth” in a chain of prophets that began with Adam. The word “Sufi” comes from the Arabic root meaning “woollen cloak”.

Difference between Bhakti and Sufi Movement

1) History

Bhakti tradition can trace its origins to the end of the first millennium CE, while the Sufi movement only came into prominence centuries later.

2)Literature

Bhakti literature is rich in terms of poetry, while Sufi literature on the other hand is considered to be some of the best known classical literature in the Islamic world. They both share a common theme of being devoted to one all-powerful God who is beyond human comprehension and love for Him.

3)Beliefs about God

Both traditions believe that God is all-merciful and loves people unconditionally. However, Sufis believe that He loves Muslims above all else.

4) Beliefs about God

Both traditions believe that God is all-knowing, all-merciful and beyond human comprehension. However, Sufis believe that He loves Muslims above all else.

5) Nature

Bhakti focuses on prayer and meditation, while the Sufi tradition is more mystic in nature.

Conclusion:

The Bhakti movement and the Sufi movement are two of the most prominent movements in Hinduism and Islam respectively. The Bhakti movement is a tradition that has its roots in Hinduism, while Sufi is an Islamic practice to refers to a wide range of mystical and religious movements. In this article, we have tried to highlight the difference between these two traditions in terms of their history, their beliefs about God, the nature of man’s relationship with God and some famous adherents.