Explain with examples what historians mean by the integration of cults.
During the period of the 10th Century to the 17th Century, an important trend noticed in the religious life in India is the worship of God in many forms. Many God and Goddesses appear in the scultures and texts but they are various forms of the original deities only. These original deities are Vishnu, Shiva, and Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Parvati. Historians have noticed the two marked trends in the socio-religious life of those days. The first was dissemination of the Brahminical ideas. The Brahminical texts were reproduced in simple Sanskrit. They were now made available to women and shudras, who did not have access to Brahminical literature by and large. The second was the Brahmins who were working on the beliefs and practices. It was a process of
evolution, wherein traditional classical traditions were getting new shapes continuously as they were being impacted by the traditions of common people
throughout the land. Now let us look at the two of the following examples.
1.A very good example of the above description is the temple of Jagannatha at Puri in Orissa. The temple is of Lord Jagannatha who is another form of Vishnu only. The word Jagannatha means one who owns the world.
2.There were many local gods; their statues were often created by wood and stones by tribals. Even families began to have Kul Devata. The Goddeses were also created in wood and stone. They all were in various forms only often of Vishnu.
Write a note on the Kitab-ul-Hind.
How were the lives of forest dwellers transformed in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries?
Discuss the extent to which Bernier’s account enables historians to reconstruct contemporary rural society.
Discuss the ways in which panchayats and village headmen regulated rural society.
On an outline map of the world mark the countries visited by Ibn Battuta. What are the seas that he may have crossed?
Discuss Al-Biruni’s understanding of the caste system.
Examine the role played by zamindars in Mughal India.
What were the distinctive features of the Mughal nobility? How was their relationship with the emperor shaped?
Analyse the evidence for slavery provided by Ibn Battuta.
What do you think was the significance of the rituals associated with the mahanavami dibba?
Discuss the ways in which the Alvars, Nayanars and Virashaivas expressed critiques of the caste system.
Describe the process of manuscript production in the Mughal court.
Discuss Al-Biruni’s understanding of the caste system.
Fig. 7.33 is an illustration of another pillar from the Virupaksha temple. Do you notice any floral motifs? What are the animals shown? Why do you think they are depicted? Describe the human figures shown.
How were the water requirements of Vijayanagara met?
Discuss the picture of urban centres that emerges from Bernier’s account.
What have been the methods used to study the ruins of Hampi over the last two centuries? In what way do you think they would have complemented the information provided by the priests of the Virupaksha temple?
What are the problems in using the Ain as a source for reconstructing agrarian history? How do historians deal with this situation?
On an outline map of the world, mark the areas which had economic links with the Mughal Empire, and trace out possible routes of communication.
What do you think was the significance of the rituals associated with the mahanavami dibba?