Medieval History (Part-I)

The Lingaraja Temple in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, is a monumental shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva as Harihara, a fusion of Shiva and Vishnu. Built in the 11th century AD under King Jajati Keshari, the temple showcases Kalinga architecture, with its towering vimana (55 meters) and intricate carvings. It holds profound religious significance, housing the Svayambhu Linga, a self-manifested Shiva idol believed to grant moksha.

The temple is also a symbol of Shaivism and Vaishnavism coexistence, located in Ekamra Kshetra. Major festivals like Maha Shivaratri and Ashokashtami draw thousands of devotees.

These Bhakti saints were disciples of Saint Ramananda. Thus, among Ramananda's disciples was Ravidas, who was a cobbler by caste; Kabir, who was a weaver, Sena, who was a barber; and Sadhana, who was a butcher.

The ideas of Bhakti were carried to the north by scholars as well as by saints. Among these, mention may be made of the Maharashtrian saint, Namadeva, who flourished in the first part of the fourteenth century.

Ramananda who is placed in the second half of the fourteenth and the first quarter of the fifteenth century. Namadeva was a tailor who it is said had taken to banditry before he became a saint.

• During the Mughal period in India, the port of Surat was referred to as “Babul Makka,” which means the “Gate of Mecca.”
• This name was given to Surat due to its significance as a major port for trade and commerce, connecting India with the rest of the world, including the Middle East and Mecca.
• Surat was a crucial departure point for pilgrims from different regions of India who embarked on their journey to Mecca by sea.
• The port of Surat facilitated the movement of pilgrims, serving as a gateway to their religious journey. It is familiar for its textiles and now, it is one of the main centres of “diamond cutting and polishing.”
• It is an important seaport in the history of the world, during the medieval period.
• The title “Babul Makka” highlights the religious and commercial importance of Surat during the Mughal Period.

Shah Jahan assumed the Mughal throne on 24 January 1628 in Agra, a few days after the death of Jahangir.

He inherited a vast and rich empire; and at mid-century this was perhaps the greatest empire in the world, exhibiting a degree of centralized control rarely matched before.

Shah Jahan expanded his empire in all directions: he annexed the Rajput kingdoms of Baglana and Bundelkhand to the west, and in 1635 he captured the kingdoms of Bijapur and Golconda in the Deccan.

• Saint Ramananda, who was born into a Brahman Family, spent the majority of his life in the holy city of Varanasi.
• His birth and death dates are unknown, but historical evidence suggests he was one of the early saints and a pioneering member of the Bhakti movement as it rapidly flourished in North India between the 14th and mid-15th centuries, during the Islamic rule period.
• Tradition holds that Saint Ramananda was motivated by the south Indian Vedanta scholar Ramanuja while developing his philosophy and devotional themes, but evidence also reveals that Saint Ramananda was influenced by Nathpanthi ascetics of the Yoga school of Hindu philosophy.
• He was a prominent Rama worshipper and the founder of the Bhakti movement in northern India. He was a social reformer who opened the door to Bhaktism to everybody without regard for birth, caste, creed, or gender.
• He wrote and discussed his teachings in Hindi, making religion more accessible to the general public.

About Shah Jahan

• The death of Emperor Jahangir in 1627 led to a brief struggle for succession, ending with Prince Khurram ascending the Mughal throne in 1628 as Emperor Shah Jahan.
• Known for his grand architectural legacy and military prowess, Shah Jahan presided over a period often called the “Golden Age” of the Mughal Empire.
• His reign, marked by magnificence and prosperity, elevated Mughal architecture and art to new heights, leaving behind iconic structures and monuments still celebrated today.