SUFIS OF GULBARGA DURING THE PERIOD OF BAHAMANI
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65009/4cjyw314Keywords:
Sufism; Islamic Mysticism; Sufi Saints; Karnataka; Gulbarga; Bahamani Dynasty; Adil Shahi Dynasty; Deccan; Khwaja Bande Nawaz (Gesu Daraz); Chishti Order; Sufi Orders (Silsilas); Dargahs; Khanqah System; Social Harmony; Hindu–Muslim Relations; Cultural Synthesis; Medieval Deccan; Sufi Teachings; Art and Architecture; Sufi Literature.,,Abstract
Sufism, the mystical dimension of Islam, played a vital role in shaping the religious,
social, and cultural life of the Deccan during the medieval period. This paper examines the
emergence, growth, and influence of Sufi saints in Gulbarga during the Bahamani period
(1347–1538 A.D.), when the region became a prominent center of Islamic mysticism. Facilitated
initially by Arab trade contacts and later by royal patronage, Sufism found a congenial
environment in Karnataka. The Bahamani rulers extended support to Sufi saints, who in turn
exerted moral and spiritual influence on society and politics. Eminent Sufis such as Shaikh Siraj
ud-Din Junaidi, Khwaja Bande Nawaz (Gesu Daraz), and others contributed significantly
through their teachings of love, tolerance, equality, and social responsibility. Their khanqahs and
dargahs became centers of spiritual learning, social reform, art, architecture, and literature. The
study highlights how Sufi ideals helped promote communal harmony and cultural synthesis in
Gulbarga, leaving behind a lasting legacy that enriched the region’s pluralistic traditions.
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