Question

The impact of bhakti and sufi movements is best visible during Akbar's retgn.

Answer 1

Akbar was a ruler who practiced religious tolerance and patronized all religions.Infact, the religion he founded Din-i-lahi had aspects of all the major religions.He patronized all those alternate paths that preached religious harmony and brotherhood.Bhakti and Sufi saints preached righteousness and simple religious beliefs in a simple manner to appeal to the common man.Sufi saints were equally revered by Hindus and Muslims and thus, promoted religious harmony and brotherhood.Akbar himself was a devotee of the Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer.Most Bhakti and Safi saints like Kabir,Ramananda,Ravidas,Tulsidas,Surdas,Chaitanya,Mirabai and Guru Nanak preached and popularized the movement in the 16th century i.e, during Akbar's reign in various parts of North India.The dargahs and sisilas of the Sufi saints became popular and attracted devotees from all backgrounds in the 16th century.Thus,Akbar's reign was the highest point of the Bhakti and Sufi saints.