Adikal and Bhaktikal: Poets and Works
Adikal and Bhaktikal: Poets and Works
This topic supplies two questions and Bhaktikal is by far its larger half. The paper asks for the four branches of devotion, the main poets of each, their works and their language, so a four-column table of branch, poet, work and language is the most useful preparation.
Major Works of Adikal
| Work | Author |
|---|---|
| Prithviraj Raso | Chandbardai |
| Khuman Raso | Dalpati Vijay |
| Bisaldev Raso | Narpati Nalh |
| Parmal Raso | Jagnik |
| Padavali, Kirtilata | Vidyapati |
Prithviraj Raso is regarded as the first epic in Hindi and Chandbardai is called the first poet of Hindi. Vidyapati wrote in Maithili and his Padavali stands on the border between love poetry and devotion.
The Four Branches of Bhaktikal
| Stream | Branch | Main poets |
|---|---|---|
| Nirgun | Gyanashrayi (Sant) | Kabir, Nanak, Raidas, Dadu |
| Nirgun | Premashrayi (Sufi) | Jayasi, Kutuban, Manjhan, Usman |
| Sagun | Ramashrayi | Tulsidas |
| Sagun | Krishnashrayi | Surdas, Mirabai, Nanddas |
This four-branch frame answers almost every question on Bhaktikal. Note that Nirgun has two branches and Sagun has two, making four in all.
✗ Jayasi belongs to the Sagun stream | ✓ He belongs to the Premashrayi or Sufi branch of the Nirgun stream
Major Poets and Their Works
| Poet | Major works |
|---|---|
| Kabir | Bijak — Sakhi, Sabad, Ramaini |
| Jayasi | Padmavat, Akhravat, Akhiri Kalam |
| Tulsidas | Ramcharitmanas, Vinay Patrika, Kavitavali |
| Surdas | Sursagar, Sursaravali, Sahitya Lahari |
| Mirabai | Narsi ji ka Mayra, Geet Govind Tika |
The Bijak is not a work written by Kabir himself but a collection of his verses compiled by his disciples, and it has three parts — Sakhi, Sabad and Ramaini. Padmavat is Jayasi's finest work and is written in Awadhi.
One more distinction is useful in the exam — the basic difference between Nirgun and Sagun. Nirgun devotion treats God as formless, which is why Kabir opposes idol worship and outward ritual. Sagun devotion accepts God in a form, which is why Tulsi describes the deeds of Ram and Sur those of Krishna.
भाषा भी याद रखिए: तुलसी और जायसी ने अवधी में लिखा, सूर और मीरा ने ब्रजभाषा में, तथा कबीर की भाषा सधुक्कड़ी कहलाती है।
TRE pointer: Fix the four-branch table first, since it answers most Bhaktikal questions. That Jayasi belongs to the Premashrayi branch of Nirgun is the commonest mistake. Hold the language pairs too — Tulsi and Jayasi in Awadhi, Sur and Mira in Braj, Kabir in Sadhukkadi.
60-Second Recap
- Prithviraj Raso by Chandbardai is taken as the first Hindi epic.
- Vidyapati was a Maithili poet; his main work is the Padavali.
- Bhaktikal has four branches — Gyanashrayi, Premashrayi, Ramashrayi, Krishnashrayi.
- Kabir, Jayasi, Tulsidas and Surdas represent the four branches.
- The Bijak has three parts — Sakhi, Sabad and Ramaini.
- Tulsi and Jayasi wrote in Awadhi, Sur and Mira in Braj.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the four branches of Bhaktikal?
Two under the Nirgun stream — Gyanashrayi or Sant poetry and Premashrayi or Sufi poetry; and two under the Sagun stream — Ramashrayi and Krishnashrayi. Kabir represents the first, Jayasi the second, Tulsidas the third and Surdas the fourth.
What is the Bijak?
It is a collection of Kabir's verses compiled by his disciples, since Kabir himself is held to have been unlettered. It has three parts — Sakhi in couplets, Sabad in sung verses and Ramaini in the chaupai form. All three names are asked.
Which branch does Jayasi belong to?
The Premashrayi or Sufi branch of the Nirgun stream. He treated love as the path to the divine and wrote Padmavat in Awadhi. Placing him in the Sagun stream is the commonest error in this topic, so it is worth fixing separately.
What are the major works of Tulsidas?
Ramcharitmanas is his greatest work and was written in Awadhi. Besides it, Vinay Patrika, Kavitavali, Dohavali and Geetavali are well known. Vinay Patrika is in Braj while Ramcharitmanas is in Awadhi, and that difference is sometimes asked.