5th May 2022 | Advent of Islam and its impact on Indian Society – Nature and significance of Bhakti and Sufi Movements; Contribution of Kakatiya, and Vijayanagara rulers to Language, Literature, Art and Architecture | Laex Secure

Syllabus- Advent of Islam and its impact on Indian Society – Nature and significance of Bhakti and Sufi Movements; Contribution of Kakatiya, and Vijayanagara rulers to Language, Literature, Art and Architecture.

Number of questions- Mains: 02, Prelims – 10

Mains Questions of the day- 

1.Give an account of the impact of Islam on the Indian Culture with respect to society, religion and fine arts. 

Introduction: –

Write briefly about impact of Islam on the Indian Culture.

Body: –

Write about impact of Islam on Indian culture in respect of society, religion and fine arts.

Conclusion: –

• We can conclude that the contact between Hinduism and Islam has fabricated into a new synthesis on cultures and religions.

Content: –

Impact of Islam on Indian society: –

• Before the emergence of Islam, the Arabs had trade relations with the southern part of India. 
• In 712 A.D. the Arabs invaded Sindh, was the first time under the leadership of Muhammad Bin Kasim.
• The Muslims had attacked India, gained political supremacy to rule over the Indian territory and ruled for the next five centuries.
• They gradually spread their religion in India, ranging from the 13th century till the arrival of the Mughals in 1526 A.D. brought a remarkable change in the socio-cultural scenario of India. 
• It all happened due to two religious’ movements: –

• Bhakti Movement and 
• Sufi Movement.

Social Impact:

• The coming of Islam to India left a mark on the social structure. 
• The Hindu leaders recasts the Smritis, to strengthen the Hindu society.
• The position of women in society greatly deteriorated and were denied the status of equality with men, which they earlier enjoyed.
• The Hindu adopted the practice of infanticide (killing girls at the time of their birth). 
• The Pardah system, was also the result of the Muslim rule which was unknown in the previous periods of history. The Hindu women took to pardah with a view to protect themselves against this Jihad (kidnapping of Hindu women.)
• Child marriage was also largely the result of the Muslim rule in India. 
• It was emphasised that the proper age for the marriage of girls was seven and that marriage after the age of eleven or twelve was sinful.
• Another evil was slavery which was a common feature of the Muslim society and keeping of slaves was a fashion and a symbol of position and status.
• No doubt slavery was known to the Indians even before the advent of Muslims, but the Muslim rulers specially patronized it. The Hindu lords also started observing the practice of slavery. 
• The food habits of the high class Hindus also underwent a change. They started taking non-vegetarian dishes like pulao, kebab, kofta etc. like the Muslims. 

Impact on Religious Field:

• The Hindu leaders, reformers and preachers openly advocated that Hinduism and Islam were two paths leading to the same destination. 
• Islam influenced the Hindu society in two ways: –
• The missionary zeal of Islam which aimed at conversion of the maximum number of Hindus to Islam gave rise to conservatism. 

• The Hindu leaders thought that they could save their religion and culture only by adopting more orthodox outlook.
• Greater emphasis was laid on rigid religious life as per Smritis. 
• Strict rules were laid down regarding diet, marriage, and general conduct. 
• Some of the democratic principles of Islam found their way into the Hindu society.

• The Bhakti movement was to a large extent influenced by Islam and the Hindu reformers preached fundamental equality of all religions and the unity of God. 
• Sufism exercised considerable influence on the Hindu society and the Sufi saints attracted the attention of the Hindus.

• This system grew during the regime of Akbar. 
• In short we can say that the Hindu leaders realized that a liberal treatment of the Sudras and the untouchables was essential in the order to protect their religious community.

Impact on Fine Arts:

• Probably the deepest impact of Islam was in the field of fine arts. 
• The spirit of assimilation and synthesis between the Hindu and the Muslim cultures led to the evolution of a new type of architecture and music.
•  In which the basic elements were those from the Hindu culture and the finish and outward form from the Persian culture.
• Rajput rulers imitated the Mughal style of architecture and introduced it in their palaces. 
• Hindu temples could not remain immune from the influence of the Mughal architectural forms”.

2.Why is the Vijayanagara period considered as the golden age of literature in south India? Explain.

Introduction: –

Write briefly about Vijayanagara Empire.

Body: –

To write about literary advancement during Vijayanagara period.

Conclusion: –

Thus, Vijayanagara regime can be considered as the watershed moment and golden age in South Indian literature history, which was able to emerge from the shadows of Sanskrit tradition and reach its current form.

Content: –

The Age of Vijayanagara (1336-1647) AD:

• In 1336, Vijayanagar kingdom was established by Harihara and Bukka, who served in the army of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq. 
• They established an independent state with the capital of Vijayanagar on the banks of river Tungabhadra in 1336.
• Harihara and Bukka were helped and inspired by contemporary scholar and a saint Vidyaranya for the establishment of their kingdom.
• Krishna Deva Raya was a scholar and patron of many languages which includes Telugu, kannada, tamil and Sanskrit.
• During Vijayanagara period the development of Kannada, Telugu, Sanskrit and Tamil literature which was written in the Jain and Vaishnava traditions.
• Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu language witnessed voluminous literature during Vijayanagar period.

Following are the Literature during Vijayanagara Empire:

• Few Sanskrit works are.

• Gangadevi wrote- Madhuravijayam
• Krishnadevarya wrote – usha parinayan, jambavanti kalyanam, madalasa charita.
• Guru vidyaranya wrote—Raja kalanirnaya
• Literary works in Kannada.

• Chamarasa wrote – prabhulingaleele
• Kanakadas wrote- Ramadhanacharite, nala charite, mohantarangini
• Kumaravyasa wrote – Karnataka katha manjari
• Purandardas — keertanas
• Literary works in Telugu

• Krishnadevaraya wrote – Amuktamalyada
• Allasani pedanna wrote – Manucharita
• Nandi timanna wrote – Parijathaparahana etc

• Ashtadiggajas– eight great poets of Telugu literature flourished in the court of Krishna deva raya.
• Krishna Deva Raya himself wrote Amuktamalyadam, a literary work in Telugu language which is considered one of the Panchakavyas of Telugu literature. He was conferred with the title Andhrabhoja for this.
• He wrote other important or notable literature such as Madalasa Charitra, Ushaparinayam, Jambavatiparinayam, Sakalakathasaram in Telugu language.
• They patronised  AllasaniPeddana, who wrote Manucharitram in Telugu language which was in form of Prabandha. Krishna Deva Raya was called as ‘father of Prabandha‘.
• They were responsible for developing and nurturing Carnatic musical tradition by providing shelter to musicians such as VyasaRaya, who was the propagator of Haridasa movement in Karnataka.
• They encouraged classical dance forms such like Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi, which reached its height during the reign of Krishna Deva Raya.

Prelims Questions of the day: –

1.What was the term used to represent the districts in the Vijayanagar Empire?    

1. Nadu
2. Khurram
3. Kottain
4. Janpad

Answer: A

Explanation: –

• The Vijayanagar Empire was divided into six provinces (Mandalam or Rajya). 
• These provinces were placed under a governor, who was responsible for its overall administration.
• The provinces were further divided into districts called ‘Nadu” and ‘Grawa’. 
• Villages were governed by hereditary officials.

2.Who was among the following kings belongs to Vijayanagara kingdom sent an ambassador to China?

1. Bukka I                       
2. Harihar I          
3. Harihar II                     
4. Devaraya II      

Answer: A

Explanation:

• Bukka Raya I was the emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire from the Sangama Dynasty. 
• The early life of Bukka and his brother Hakka are relatively unknown and most accounts of their early life are based on various theories. 
• Bukka l was the first Vijayanagar king who sent an Ambassador to China.

3.The first capital of Vijayanagar Empire was Hampi. Where was its second capital?

1. Vijayanagar                 
2. Kanchi
3. Bellore             
4. Penukonda

Answer: D

Explanation: –

Penukonda served as the 2nd capital of Vijayanagar Kingdom after the fall of Hampi and was earlier called as Ghanagiri or Ghanadri.

4.Who of the following Vijayanagar kings had assumed the tittle ‘Andhra Bhoja’?

1. Devaraya I
2. Devaraya II
3. Krishnadeva Raya
4. Virupaksha II

Answer: C

Explanation: –

• Krishnadeva Raya, the king of Vijavanagara had assumed the title ‘Andhra Bhoja’,  Mooru Rayara Ganda and Kannada Rajya Rama Ramana. 
• He became the dominant ruler of the peninsula of India by defeating the Sultans of Bijapur, Golconda and the Raja of Odisha.

5.The foreign traveler, who was among the following visited Vijayanagar soon after its fall in the battle of Talikota?

1. Abdur Razzak               
2. Ceasar Frederick
3. Nicolo Conti
4. Nuniz

Answer: B

Explanation: –

• The foreign traveler who visited Vijayanagar soon after its fall in the battle of Talikota was Ceaser Frederick.
• Ceasar Frederick, he was foreign traveller from Venice, Italy travelled in the East from 1563 to 1581 and left behind an account of social, economic and cultural life of people in India during Vijayanagara period.

6.Who was the founder of Gajapati dynasty of Orissa?

1. Purushottama
2. Vidhyadhara
3. Kapilendra
4. Prataprudra

Answer: C

Explanation: –

• The Gajapati’s were a Hindu dynasty that ruled over Orissa, large parts of Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, and the eastern and central parts of Madhya Pradesh and the southern parts of Bihar from 1434-1541. 
• Gajapati dynasty was established by Kapilendra Deva (1434-66).

7. Which of the following inscription which states that Rudrama Devi, defeated Yadava king Mahadeva?

1. Bidar 
2. Motupalli
3. Anumakonda
4. All the above

Answer: A
Explanation: 

Bidar inscription explains that Rudramadevi defeated the Yadav King Mahadeva forcing him to cede territory in western Andhra.

8.Who constructed ‘Swayambhu Temple in Hanumakonda’?

1. Betaraju-I 
2. Prola raju-II
3. Betaraju-II 
4. Rudramadevi

Answer: B

Explanation: 

Swayambhu Temple built by Prola raju-II in Hanumakonda, is a Shiva Temple found in Warangal fort

9.Who had the title of ‘Abinava Dandi’?

1. Tikkana 
2. Gona Buddha Reddy
3. Nannaya 
4. Ketana

Answer:  D

Explanation: 

Ketana is called as Abhinava Dandi because he translated Dasakumara Charitra (Story of Ten Youths) written by Dandi in Sanskrit, and dedicated it to Tikkana.

10.Who had the titles ‘Kavibramha’ and ‘Ubhaya kavi mitra’?

1. Nannaya 
2. Tikkana
3. Errana.
4. Rudra deva
   

Answer: B

Explanation: 

Tikkana was famed as Kavibramha and Ubhyakavi Mitra because he was an expert in Telugu and Sanskrit.