Early Medieval India – Religious Spheres

Early Medieval age religious spheres as discussed by Harsh

After the fall of Guptas as a major power in North India, the new regional principalities emerged in Indian subcontinent. The early Medieval denotes an intermediate period between the ancient and medieval period of Indian history. This period was roughly from 6th century AD to 12^th century AD. There were some developments in the spheres of religious life.

New philosophies and sects emerged during this age because of the efforts made by the scholars like Shankaracharya.

Also Read : Early Medieval Age – Land Grants, Rural Society and Administration of South-Indian States

Early Medieval Age – Rajput Clans, Early Medieval Age – Eastern India, Kashmir and North-Western India

Early Medieval Age – Sources and Political Narrative & Structure

Buddhism in Early Medieval India

The Chinese traveler Xuan Zang wrote in detail about the situation of Buddhism during early Medieval India. He mentioned flourishing Buddhist monasteries of Nalanda, Tilodaka and Bodh Gaya. According to him, there were large high assembly halls in the middle of building, storage chambers and turrets of varying height, with doors facing eastwards. Monasteries of Sanchi and Amravati continued to flourish till the 12-13^th century AD.

The Palas of Bengal and Bihar were patrons of Buddhism. Various monasteries like Nalanda, Odantapuri, Vikaramshila and Somapuri flourished in their kingdom. Bodhicharyavatara of Shantideva describes the Mahayana rites of worship. Early medieval period saw the ascendency of Tantric Buddhism which combined ritual, magic and meditation.

Major centres of Jainism

Jainism was popular in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. Xuan Zang account suggested that Digambara sect of Jainism was more widespread than Svetambara sect of Jainism. They received royal patronage from Chapas of Gujarat, Paramaras, Ganges, Rashtrakutas, Western Chalukyas and Kadambars.

Caves were flourished during this age. The caves of Ellora and Udayagiri-Khandagiri is example of the same. Temples also built during this age, for example, Dilwara temple of Mt. Abu, temple at Shravan Belagola and temples at Koppana and Halebid. There also donative inscriptions founded, belonged to Cholas, Pandyas and Pallavas.

Shankara and Advaita Vedanta

Shankara-digvijaya of Madhava provided some important information about Shankara and Advaita Vedanta. According to this, Shankara travelling all over country, meeting and debating with other philosophers. He was one of the most influential proponents of Vedanta. His version of Vedanta came to known as Advaita Vedanta.

He said that the worldly objects were similar to things seen in a dream. Reality is one (Advaita) and idea of plurality is due to Maya (idea of Gaudapada) that later developed by Shankara who tries to demonstrate that Upanishads and Brahmasutra contained a systematic and unified philosophy. His major works includes Bhashya (commentary) on Brahmasutra.

According to him, the performance if Vedic sacrifices was for peoples who wanted to attain material and worldly gains. The Upanishads contains the supreme knowledge. Brahman (God) is ultimate reality and without qualities (nirguna). He identifies two levels of reality; conventional reality and absolute reality. The reason for mistaking conventional reality for absolute reality is ignorance.

The goal of Advaita Vedanta is liberation from the cycle of rebirth, which consists of realization of oneness of Atman (soul) and Brahman. Some scholars suggested that Shankara’s Advaita Vedanta was key factor in decline of Buddhism in India. He is supposed to have founded the Dashanami sect and to have established four or five monasteries known as the Amanaya mathas. The Shringeri matha was established in 14^th century AD, during Vijayanagara period.

Tantricism

It was a religious and spiritual movement of India during the early Medieval age. It was originated around the 6^th century AD and most practiced in north-India. Tantricism is English version of Sanskrit word “Tantra”. Tantra is divinely revealed body of teaching. It explains what is necessary and what is hindrance in worship of God. It also describes initiation and purification ceremonies that considered necessary prerequisite in Tantricism.

Tantricism manifested most commonly in the form of Shiva and Shakti. Vajrayana Buddhism was also a manifestation of Tantricism. Tantric Vaishnavism came to be known as Pancharatra. Rituals enjoyed place of central significance and these revolve around worship of deities. Tantricism empowered visualization and identification of an individual with supreme deity.

Worshipper emerges himself to supreme deity and teacher or Guru enjoyed as a great significance as he initiates a novice into religious system. it accorded high status to women and emphasis on the revaluation of status of women and role of women. Analytical thinking is basic of Tantricism as the idea was revolve around correlation between microcosmic (events related to an individual) and macroscopic (events related to level of universe).

Tantricism emphasized that positive mental state shall be discarded. The teachings of Tantricism were passed orally from teacher to disciple in one-to-one relationship.

Thus, the early Medieval age saw new developments in the sphere of religious life.