Question

How did the nathpanthis, siddhas and yogis influence the Bhakti tradition in northern India?

Answer 1

Instructions:

There should be at least 5 points here.

• Write about who these people were and what they rejected.
• Write about their solutions and what they advocated to achieve the solutions.
• Write about their popularity.

Solution:

• The nathpanthis, siddhas and yogis were a band of disciples who followed the Bhakti tradition in northern India.
• This group, like the other religious groups of the period, rejected ritualistic practices, conventional religion, and social hierarchies.
• They favoured renunciation and believed in meditation and oneness with the formless reality.
• In order to achieve this feat, they advocated training the mind and body, through yogasanas, breathing exercises, and meditation.
• The messages of the nathpanthis, siddhas and yogis were having an effect as they started to become popular among the lower rungs of the society.
• They criticised conventional religion and promoted devotional religion, which gained much popularity in northern India.