Submitted To, Submitted By,

Professor, AKM Shahnewaz MD. Nayeemul Islam

Department of History ID No : 2021594630
North South University, Dhaka. Course Code : HIS (101)
Section : 04
Mystic religious practices of medieval Bengal :

‘Mystic' is a term used to describe anything that is beyond the intellect, profound, or
concealed. In a religious context, however, a mystic is someone who
wants to interact with God and other forces that influence the
universe; who seeks God via contemplation and self-surrender; and
who believes in spiritual awareness of truths above worldly religious
activity. 1

Every religion has its own set of fundamental rules or instructions.

Islam contains five essential principles, referred to as the five pillars
of Islam (Shahada, Salat, Jakat, Sawm, and Hajj). If you're talking about
Hinduism, they have four principles known as Pururthas (Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha).
Every religion, however, has only one goal: to find God. The fundamental goal, regardless of
whether the route follows the principles or not, is to establish a connection with God. As a
result, some individuals do not always believe in the fundamental norms established as
religious beliefs. The relationship with God, they believe, will be direct. 2

It is not uncommon for Mystic philosophers to appear in society. According to our history,
Mystic Philosophers arrived in Bengal when there was no one to lead them and they were in
the dark. They came to dispel the darkness that had engulfed them and replace it with light.
Their behavior toward others, their compassion, and their love for God drew a large number of
ordinary people to them. They tend to follow the philosophers. Some labeled them Sufi, while
others referred to them as Guru or Sadhu. They first appeared in Bengal (to preach or promote
their own religion) around the end of the 11th century during the Sena dynasty and continued
to do so throughout the medieval period. They introduced their own religion to Bengal's
ordinary people. . At that time there were 2 kinds of religious practices that were followed –

 Sufism Order
 Neo Vaishnavism

1
https://www.google.com/search?
q=mystic+meaning&rlz=1C1UEAD_enBD945BD945&oq=mystic+me&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j69i59j46j0l4j69i60.6519j
0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

2
https://en.wikipedia.org
SUFISM ORDER:
Sufism refers to a number of Muslim saints' mystic or spiritual activities. Sufism in Bengal is akin
to that of the Indian subcontinent as a whole. For a long
period, the Sufis prospered in Bengal. Sufism's mystic
practices readily captivated the hearts of the general
public, particularly spiritual truth seekers. They were the
most key component in Bengal's conversion to Islam. They
arrived in Bengal and had a huge impact on the indigenous
inhabitants. Many individuals are still affected by Sufism to
some extent nowadays. Sufism in Bengal, or presently
Bangladesh, is also known as Pirism, after the sufi pir or
fakir. Sufis are mostly saints whose religious practices differed
significantly from those of other religious folk. Their life philosophy was to win Allah by a new
route. Rather of following any common Islamic path, they believed in communicating directly
with Allah. Many of them even believed that they were a portion of Allah who had been sent to
earth for some unexplained cause. 3

During Bengal's Medieval period, a number of Sufis arrived and preached Islam. They did not,
however, have to aggressively promote Islam. The Bengalis, on the other hand, were heavily
inspired by Sufi saints on their own. Vijayasena founded the Sena Empire at the end of the 11th
century AD, following the collapse of the final Pala ruler RamPala. In western and northern
Bengal, the Senas reigned for nearly a century. The Hindu (Brahmin) monarchs were not
friendly to other religions, according to the Sena. Buddhists had no choice but to seek refuge in
Nepal. Some of those who remained in Bengal were advised to remain hidden to avoid the
Hindu authorities' hostility. Even among Hindus, they established distinct castes. The so-called
upper caste Brahmins maintained their dominance, while low caste Hindus were frequently
denied of their rights. Brahmins' faith did not include love for man. Low-caste Hindus were
brutally tormented, and they lacked any of the privileges that a Brahmin possessed. They had
been devoid of love and respect for so long that when Sufis arrived and showed them the
respect and love they deserved, they immediately accepted Islam. 4

Sufism is an Islamic spiritual philosophy in which one of the goals is to purify one's soul in order
to have a direct contact with Allah. The basic principles of Sufism were originally given to Hazrat
Muhammad (SM) through his Companions and son-in-law Hazrat Ali (R). Later on, numerous
people followed in their footsteps, gaining the Sufi ideology. Sufism was further developed by
numerous poets, comments, and works of many thinkers after Hazrat Muhammad (SM) and his
3
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sufism_in_Bangladesh
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associates. As a result, numerous doctrines
and tariqas arose across the world over
time. 1. Qadiriyyah tariqah, which was
founded by Hazrat Abdul Qadir Gilani (R)
2. Hazrat Khawja Muinuddin Chisti
established the Chishtiya tariqah (R), 3.
Naqshbandiyya, which is named after
Khawja Bahauddin Naqhshbandi (R) and
4. Mujaddadiyah, which follows Shaikh
Ahmad Sirhindi (R). Sufis arrived in Bengal
around the middle of the 11th century with
Muslim immigrants from Arab, Persia, and Turkey. For the following six centuries, they
continued to come in Bengal. In the 11th and 12th centuries, a number of renowned Sufis (Shah
Sultan Rumi, Shah Sultan Balkhi, Baba Adam, and others) arrived to Bengal. Even from the
beginning of the Medieval period, they preached Islam to the people without interfering with
politics. Humanity in Bengal were initially apprehensive to approach them, but after they
witnessed their commitment and reverence for God, as well as their ultimate love for people,
they were blown away. They were far more powerful than the people imagined. For instance, in
1303 AD, Hazrat Shah Sultan Rumi came in Madanpur in the Netrokona area. The monarch of
the region invited the Muslim saint and offered him poisoned food to put him to the test.
Sultan Rumi, on the other hand, ate the meal without suffering any adverse effect. The king was
astonished to witness this miracle. Along with his members of his court, he adopted Islam
straight away. Following it, many individuals in the area began to adopt Islam. As a sign of
dedication and respect, the monarch gave Sultan Rumi some land so that he might live in it and
spread Islam door to door.5

The medieval period began in 1203 AD, when the last Sena monarch, Lakhshman Sena, was
defeated by Bakhtyar Khalji. Islam's expansion surged at that period. The Sufis made it their
mission to promote Islam. And a large number of individuals enthusiastically replied. Shah Jalal
Tabrizi, Ismail Khan Ghazi, and Shaih Alaul Haque in Gaur Pandua, Shah Jalal Yameni in Sylhet,
Khan Jahan Ali in Khulna, Jafar Khan in Hugli Pandua, and many more were among those who
played a key role in this respect. Because Muslim rulers dominated Medieval Bengal, teaching
Islam was almost unrestricted. Sufi saints were tremendously encouraged as a result of this.
They were given their own Khanka to reside in (Sufi Shelter). When people needed something,
they used to aid them with everything they had at the khanqah, which included a mosque,
hospital, and a Langar Khana (a site where food was given for the needy). And it was for this
reason that people were mesmerized by Sufis.

5
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Following their arrival in Bengal, Sufis disseminated Islam over the following 600 years. As a
result, Bengal was becoming more and more aware of Islam. Bangladesh has now evolved into
a mostly Muslim country. Despite the fact that it is referred to as a secular country, Islam is the
religion of the majority of the population. Sufism, without a doubt, had a significant impact on
this aspect.6

Influences of Sufism in society of Bengal:

Islamization was the major effect Sufi saints had on Bengal. At initially, just a few individuals were aware
of Islam. However, Sufis arrived and took people to every Islamic landmark, which drew a large crowd.
When the Hindu low caste impoverished were unable to obtain food from their own people, Sufis
stepped in to help. When their own people forbade them from reading and writing, Sufis permitted
them to do so. Sufis were cured of their sickness because their own upper caste Brahmins ignored them.
There were several more factors that drew individuals to see Islam's blessings. And they truly adopted
Islam with their hearts. After a while, a large number of individuals in Bengal converted to Islam, and
this was Sufis' greatest success to yet.

There is no record of Sufis meddling in kings' politics prior to the Middle Ages. However, several
researchers claim that during the medieval period, when Muslim monarchs controlled Bengal, they used
to exert political influence over the authorities. For example, since they had a solid relationship with the
state's commoners, they would occasionally get crucial news before the rulers. So, if they learned of any
non-Muslim plan against the state, they would tell the ruler so that the state might take precautionary
measures.

Sufi Saints had a significant impact on Bengali literature. People used to write about them on a regular
basis. There were even books written based on the counsel they gave to the residents of their khanqah.
They played a significant role in the growth of literacy in Medieval Bengal. There was a lot of Bengali
literature written on them during the Mughol period.

Sufi Saints have a strong relationship with the ordinary people. For their rigorous treatment of them, as
well as the love and compassion with which they were treated, Bengali people held them in high regard.
And because of their special position in people's hearts, they could have a significant impact on Bengali
history.

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NEO VAISHNAVA MOVEMENT:

The Neo Vaishnava movement, or Neo Vaishnavism, is a Hindu

religious and social movement. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a
well-known Indian saint, initiated this well-known movement.
Bhakti Andolan, or devotional movement, was another name
for this movement. Its goal was to restore light to Hindu
society, which had been dimmed by Hindu laws and caste
systems for a long time. Muslim Sufi saints began to take their
position in Hindu culture, and Hindus began to change their
religion to Islam in large numbers. As a result, Sri Chaitanya
stepped forward to preserve the Hindu Society from
extinction. Despite the fact that Sri Chaitanya founded the
Vaishnava Movement in the 16th century, the movement
predates the middle Ages. To be clear, Vaishnavism dates back
to the Ancient Period, specifically from the time of Sri Krishna. Sri Krishna
was also known as Vishnu. He was the first to bring Vaishnavism to the world. And it's known as
Vaishnavism (from the name of Vishnu). As a result, Sri Chaitanya did not introduce the people to any
new religion.

The Hindu religious folk in Bengal were robbed of love and respect during the Sena Dynasty. Because the
Sena rulers divided them into castes. People from the upper castes (Brahmins) used to enjoy all the
respect and amenities, while those from the lower castes were tormented and deprived of food,
education, and safety. They have to observe a plethora of pointless regulations. When the Sufi Saints
began to arrive in Bengal, however, the landscape was swiftly altering. During the Medieval era,
numerous Sufi saints traveled to Bengal to teach Islam. The Sufi Saints were the most kind and
respectful people the low caste Hindus had ever encountered. The Sufi Saints captivated the hearts of
Bengalis in a short period of time. The Sufis supplied food, housing, medical treatment, and other
necessities to the poor. People began to hold them in high regard, and they became drawn to Islam as
the greatest faith. Before the Neo Vaishnava Movement, Sufis propagated Islam in Bengal for over 500
years. And many individuals converted to Islam at that time period. At that point, due to the fear of
losing Hinduism permanently, Sri Chaitanya came forward with this Vaishnava movement to save the
religion and the people. He started to give back all the rights they deserved and all the facilities they
should get. This is how the Neo Vaishnava Movement started. Through concepts derived from Sufi
philosophy, Sri Chaitanya Dev established a new type of Vaishnavism. He accepted the concepts of
Jivatma (the human soul) and Paramatma (the everlasting soul), as well as Dvaitadvaita tattva (the idea
of God and soul being simultaneously diverse and united). This concept implies that the human soul may
be connected with the eternal via love and dedication.7 8

7
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8
https://www.wikipedia.org/
Influences of Neo Vaishnava movement in society of Bengal:
The rebuilding of Hindu religion was a major impact of the Neo Viashnava movement on Bengali culture.
It was something that completely transformed Hinduism's condition. It was the most powerful effort to
preserve the Hindu faith from the upper caste Brahmins. At some time, this movement has affected
Hindu culture today. And for this movement, people call Sri Chaitanya as Mahapravu or the
reincarnation of Vishnu (Krishna).

The Biographical Literature of Bengal has evolved massively via this trend. The Brahminian who chose
Sanskrit and the Sufis who used Arabic and Persian as a medium for hyper-education Chaitanya Dev
contributed also to the development of
Bangladesh language and literatures for
centuries. As a result, Chaitanya set out to
restore the Bangla language to its rightful
place. Sufis also attempted to interact with
people in Bangla in order to explain their
spirituality and views. But it never progressed
as far as Sri Chaitanya did. As a result, it may be
argued that Bangla literature had a golden age.
Furthermore, we are aware that there are no
recent historical texts that may aid us in learning about our past. So, here's the question: how did people
learn about this movement's history? To respond to that issue, while we may not have any current texts,
we do have a large number of contemporary Bengali literature from which we may learn all of this
history.

Unfortunately, with Chaitanya Dev's death, the high castes shied away from vaishnavism for fear of
losing their social standing. Even when Chaitanya was alive, the high castes were hostile to this new
notion since it went against their caste system's regulations. As a result, the Vaishnava Movement began
to fade away over the following hundred years, and by the 18th century, it had lost its social power.

In Medieval Bengal, mystic religious activities were conducted in this manner. Religious practices went
through numerous ups and downs as a result of many reasons, yet these changes transformed the face
of Bengal.9 10

9
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10
https://www.wikipedia.org/