Religious Pluralism and Social Harmony in Medieval India

Abstract

In the medieval period there was a rich and varied social and cultural environment in India with people of different religious backgrounds living together, with contact and exchange of ideas. The research paper explores the importance of religious pluralism for social harmony during the medieval period and the contributions of various religious groups, spiritual movements and cultural traditions in building understanding and living together among religious communities. The study is directed to the interactions of the various religious traditions: Hinduism, Islamic, Jain, Buddhist, Sikh and others, with respect to common place, common ideas, observance of religion and common community life. Special attention was given to the Bhakti and Sufi movement, which was an attack on the dogma of rigid social divisions and the emphasis on universal values of equality, compassion, tolerance and spiritual unity. It also examines the impact of rulers, religious scholars, saints and local communities in creating inclusive social settings in spite of political conflicts and differences in ideas. A qualitative historical research method is adopted, which draws its primary sources from medieval literary texts, religious documents, inscriptions and chronicles, and secondary sources from historians and scholars of medieval Indian society. Religious pluralism in the study is not simply an idea of the co-existence of various religions but a process of cultural interaction which played an important role in shaping the composite heritage of India. The outcomes have revealed that the dialogue between communities and the syncretic practice and traditions of the communities have played an important role in preserving social stability and harmony. The results of the study reveal that the lessons learnt during the medieval period of India are immensely beneficial to the present modern world as it deals with the issue of social diversity and faces its challenges under the banner of tolerance, inclusion and understanding each other in terms of religion.